Nokia Nokia Nokia 5.4 DS Review

The Nokia 5.4 is an unlocked budget phone with a fantastic 48MP camera and great battery life. However, its sluggish performance and 720p display make it hard to recommend at its $479 price point when faster alternatives exist. It's a niche pick for camera and battery enthusiasts who can overlook its speed.

Looking for a budget phone that doesn't skimp on storage or battery? The Nokia 5.4 is a solid contender. It's an unlocked 4G smartphone with a 6.39-inch display, a hefty 128GB of storage, and a 4000mAh battery, all for under $500. It runs on Android 10 and includes a headphone jack, which is a nice touch for anyone not ready to go fully wireless. If you're after a simple, reliable phone for everyday tasks, this one's worth a look. But at $479, it's entering a price range with some stiff competition, so let's see if it holds up.

Under the hood, the Nokia 5.4 uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 processor paired with 4GB of RAM. In our performance benchmarks, it lands in the 39th percentile. That means it's fine for basics like social media, web browsing, and streaming, but you'll notice some lag if you try to run multiple apps at once or play anything more demanding than casual games. The 48MP main camera, however, is a standout, scoring in the 96th percentile. In good light, it takes surprisingly detailed photos. Just don't expect flagship-level processing in tricky lighting.

At $479, the Nokia 5.4 is in a tricky spot. Its camera and battery are genuinely impressive for a budget phone, but its overall performance and 720p display feel out of step with the price. You can find phones from Motorola or Samsung in this range that offer snappier performance and often better screens. The value here is really for someone who prioritizes camera quality and battery life above all else and is willing to accept slower day-to-day operation.

Let's talk competitors. The Motorola Moto G Power series often undercuts this price and delivers legendary battery life with similar or better performance. The Samsung Galaxy A-series around $500 will get you a sharper display and more consistent software support. And if camera prowess is your main draw, a used or older model Google Pixel will run circles around the Nokia in computational photography for a similar cost. The Nokia 5.4's camera hardware is good, but the overall package struggles to justify its price against these alternatives.

Skip the Nokia 5.4 if you're a power user, a mobile gamer, or just want a smooth, fast experience for your money. Its performance simply doesn't keep up. Also, avoid it if you want the latest Android updates, as it ships with Android 10. For a faster, more modern experience at this price, check out the Motorola Moto G Stylus or a Samsung Galaxy A35.

Should you buy the Nokia 5.4? Only in a very specific scenario. If you absolutely need a long-lasting battery and a capable main camera in a budget phone, and you don't mind a slower processor and a lower-resolution screen, it could work. But for nearly everyone else, the answer is probably no. At $479, the compromises are too significant. There are better all-rounders available that offer a more balanced experience for the same money or less.