TCL 501 vs Nokia C32
Here we compared two budget smartphones: the 6-inch TCL 501 (with MediaTek Helio G36) that was released on February 26, 2024, against the Nokia C32, which is powered by Unisoc SC9863A1 and came out 1 year before. On this page, you will find tests, full specs, strengths, and weaknesses of each of the devices.
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Key differences
Reasons to consider the TCL 501
- More energy-efficient CPU – Helio G36
- Compatible with Wi-Fi 5 wireless networks
- More recent OS version: Android 14 versus 13
- The phone is 1 year newer
- Weighs 20.9 grams less
- 8% faster in single-core GeekBench 6 test: 221 and 205 points
Reasons to consider the Nokia C32
- Water-resistant body (IP52 classification)
- Comes with 2000 mAh larger battery capacity: 5000 vs 3000 mAh
- Newer Bluetooth version (v5.2)
- Has a 0.5 inch larger screen size
- Fingerprint scanner
- Has 50% more RAM: 3GB versus 2GB
- 33% higher pixel density (270 vs 203 PPI)
- The front-facing camera can record video at 1080p
Review
Display
Screen quality, color accuracy, brightness
Camera
Photo and video recording quality
Performance
CPU and memory performance (apps, system)
Gaming
Capabilities for playing modern games
Battery
Battery life, charging type and speed
Connectivity
Networks, ports, data transmission
Scores with a red asterisk (*) are approximate and may change in the future as we gather more data.
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Value for money (Beta)
Tests and specifications
Comparison table of technical specifications and testsDisplay
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Size | 6 inches | 6.5 inches |
| Resolution | 540 x 1092 pixels | 720 x 1600 pixels |
| Aspect ratio | - | 20:9 |
| PPI | 203 ppi | 270 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Adaptive refresh rate | No | No |
| Max rated brightness | 400 nits | 450 nits |
| HDR support | No | No |
| Screen protection | Tempered glass | Tempered glass |
| Screen-to-body ratio | 78.7% | 81.7% |
Design and build
| Height | 156.5 mm (6.16 inches) | 164.6 mm (6.48 inches) |
| Width | 74.9 mm (2.95 inches) | 75.9 mm (2.99 inches) |
| Thickness | 9.7 mm (0.38 inches) | 8.55 mm (0.34 inches) |
| Weight | 178.5 g (6.3 oz) | 199.4 g (7.03 oz) |
| Waterproof | No | IP52 |
| Rear material | Plastic | Plastic |
| Frame material | Plastic | Plastic |
| Colors | Black, Blue | Black, Green, Pink |
| Fingerprint scanner | No | Yes, in-button |
Screen-to-body ratio
Performance
| Chipset | MediaTek Helio G36 | Unisoc SC9863A1 |
| Max clock | 2200 MHz | 1600 MHz |
| CPU cores | 8 (4 + 4) | 8 (4 + 4) |
| Architecture | - 4 cores at 1.8 GHz: Cortex-A53 - 4 cores at 2.2 GHz: Cortex-A53 |
- 4 cores at 1.2 GHz: Cortex-A55 - 4 cores at 1.6 GHz: Cortex-A55 |
| Manufacturing | TSMC | - |
| Lithography process | 12 nanometers | 28 nanometers |
| Neural processor (NPU) | No | No |
| Graphics | PowerVR GE8320 | PowerVR GE8322 |
| GPU shading units | 32 | 64 |
| GPU clock | 680 MHz | 550 MHz |
| FLOPS | ~43.5 GFLOPS | ~70.4 GFLOPS |
Benchmarks
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
| Single-core score | 221 | 205 |
| Multi-core score | 840 | 846 |
AnTuTu Benchmark 11
| CPU | 79863 | 87814 |
| GPU | 15894 | 10969 |
| Memory | 49532 | 46341 |
| UX | 57816 | 68628 |
| Total score | 203105 | 213752 |
| Samples | Less than 3 | Less than 3 |
PCMark 3.0
| Web score | 4956 | 4595 |
| Video editing | 3145 | 3827 |
| Photo editing | 8255 | 8415 |
| Data manipulation | 3284 | 3481 |
| Writing score | 4465 | 5029 |
Memory
| RAM size | 2 GB | 3 GB |
| Memory type | LPDDR4X | LPDDR4X |
| Memory clock | 1600 MHz | 1800 MHz |
| Channels | 2 | 2 |
| Storage size | 32 GB | 64 GB |
| Storage type | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Memory card | MicroSD | MicroSD |
| Memory card max size | Up to 512 GB | Up to 256 GB |
Software
| Operating system | Android 14 | Android 13 |
| ROM | Go edition | - |
Battery
| Capacity | 3000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Max charge power | 10 W | 10 W |
| Battery type | - | Li-Po |
| Replaceable | No | No |
| Wireless charging | No | No |
| Reverse charging | No | No |
| Fast charging | No | No |
| Full charging time | - | 2:10 hr |
Main camera
| Matrix | 5 megapixels | 50 megapixels |
| Zoom | Digital | Digital |
| Flash | LED | LED |
| Stabilization | Digital | Digital |
| 8K video recording | No | No |
| 4K video recording | No | No |
| 1080p video recording | Up to 30FPS | Up to 30FPS |
| Slow motion | No | No |
| Lenses | 1) Standard: 5 MP |
1) Standard: 50 MP 2) Macro: 2 MP |
| Camera features | - | - Bokeh mode - Pro mode |
| Image resolution | 5 MP | 50 MP |
| Aperture | f/2.2 | - |
| Autofocus | Phase autofocus | Phase autofocus |
| Stabilization | Digital | Digital |
| Image resolution | - | 2 MP |
| Aperture | - | f/2.4 |
| Stabilization | - | Digital |
Selfie camera
| Megapixels | 2 megapixels | 8 megapixels |
| Image resolution | - | 3264 x 2448 |
| Aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.0 |
| Sensor | - | CMOS |
| Autofocus | No | No |
| Stabilization | No | No |
| Video resolution | 720p at 30 FPS | 1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS |
| Depth sensor (TOF 3D) | No | No |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi standard | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) | Wi-Fi 4 (802.11 b/g/n) |
| Wi-Fi features | - Dual Band - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display |
- Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot |
| Bluetooth version | 5.1 | 5.2 |
| Bluetooth features | LE | LE |
| USB type | USB Type-C | USB Type-C |
| USB version | 2 | 2 |
| USB features | - Charging - USB-Storage mode |
- Charging - USB-Storage mode |
| GPS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo |
| NFC* | No | No |
| Infrared port | No | No |
| Number of SIM* | 2 | 2 |
| Type of SIM card | Nano | Nano |
| Multi SIM mode | Standby | Standby |
| eSIM support* | No | No |
| Hybrid slot | No | No |
| LTE Cat* | 4 | 4 |
| 5G support | No | No |
Sound
| Speakers | Mono | Mono |
| Headphone audio jack | Yes | Yes |
| FM radio | - | Yes |
| Dolby Atmos | No | No |
Other
| Category | Budget | Budget |
| Announced | February 2024 | February 2023 |
| Release date | April 2024 | February 2023 |
| Launch price (MSRP) | $70 | $149 |
| Sensors | - Accelerometer | - Proximity sensor - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Fingerprint |
| Bundled charger | Yes, 10 W | Yes, 10 W |
*Disclaimer! NFC, GSM network support, and some other specs can be different depending on the country.
Conclusion
After analyzing all the data, we think that the Nokia C32 is definitely a better buy.
Cast your vote
Total votes: 7