Video: Nokia 5.4 Review and how it compares to the 5.3

While scientists are still trying to figure out Nokia Mobile’s release schedule, the Nokia 5.4 was announced near the end of last year and just started showing up in stores globally. So is it any good? What areas have been improved on from the 5.3, and what areas took a step back? You can watch my review below:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AHHgxj5EyM&w=560&h=315]

Here are the important takeaways from my perspective:

• The hardware design is definitely a big standout feature. The glossy back with the camera bump and graphics look really good. However, the quality of materials takes a step back compared to the 5.3. The plastic frame feels closer to the 3.4, and the glossy back does flex if you press hard enough on it. Having said that, you still can’t bend this phone no matter how hard you try.
• The 6.39″ LCD display is good. It is only limited to HD+ resolution but for day-to-day tasks, the colors, contrast, and viewing angles are really good. Even under direct sunlight, it remains usable.
• I wasn’t expecting big things from the SD662, but it does improve the day-to-day performance and the speed at which apps open. The phone feels snappy most of the time and can handle games at medium to high settings with good frame rate.
• Battery life saw a nice usage improvement despite having the same 4000mAh capacity. It gets about 20-30% more screen time compared to the 5.3. You’ll be able to push closer to 8 hours on WiFi and about 6h on 4G. I think the more efficient SD662 is to thank here. You are still limited to 10 Watts of charging speed though.
• The software experience has been a mixed bag though. I have faced multiple reboots on the first few days, but then things started improving in the last 2 days. I received one security patch update in the process. I still think better optimizing can be achieved.
• The main 48mp camera does improve things. It takes good pictures in daylight and decent pictures in low light. The autofocus is a lot more reliable than the 5.3 for still images, and the pictures captured are sharper as a result. Image processing still tends to add more saturation than I would like but doesn’t overdo it. The imaging algorithms feel newer and better compared to the 5.3.
• The rest of the cameras are identical to the 5.3. This is to say the ultra-wide 5mp camera is usable only in good light, and the 2MP macro camera is still a useless gimmick. The bokeh effect remains decent.
• The 16MP selfie camera sees a big improvement in terms of image quality.
• Overall thanks to the main camera this phone is a very capable shooter for its price.
• The video quality is… okay? In terms of actual video footage, it’s decent with good stabilization, and OZO audio improves the audio capturing immensely. The plethora of advanced options and cinema mode are a nice treat. The jumpy autofocus though does get in the way for me to give it excellent grades.
• The video output is limited to 1080p/60fps unstabilized and 1080p/30fps stabilized. Its predecessor could record in 4k though.
• Call quality is good, and the speaker performance is just okay in terms of loudness and clarity. The haptic motor is a notable step down compared to the 5.3. It vibrates too strongly with less precision than before.

The Verdict

Honestly? This is a good phone. If you own a 5.3 it makes no sense to upgrade, but if you are in the market for a solid budget-friendly midrange device with nice hardware, decent performance a solid main camera, and good battery life, the 5.4 will serve you well. The 128Gb of internal storage is also a nice future-proofing addition. The global recommended price is €189, while outside of Europe, most will be able to get it for around 189 USD.

Anything specific you would like to know? Feel free to ask in the comments!