Table of Contents
🔥 Intro: Is Nokia Back With a Bang in 2025?
Nokia’s making waves again—and not just with nostalgia. With its robust battery, sharp 120Hz display, and surprisingly seamless 5G experience, the Nokia Lumia 500 5G is an unexpected mid-range entry. Priced competitively in India, it feels like Nokia is taking a solid shot at reclaiming relevance in the Android space.
But is it enough to compete with giants like iQOO, Realme, and Samsung? Let’s break it down.
📱 Display: Bright, Smooth & Surprisingly Sharp
The Lumia 500 5G features a 6.6-inch Full HD+ AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. It’s one of the brightest displays in its price segment, peaking at 1000 nits, making outdoor use a breeze.
Media consumption? A delight. Colors are punchy, blacks are deep, and thanks to the smooth refresh rate, scrolling and gaming feel snappy.
📸 Camera: Capable but Not a Shooter’s Dream
A 50MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide, and a 2MP macro lens are all included by Nokia. The main shooter does well in daylight—colors are natural and dynamic range is decent.
However, low-light performance lags a bit behind rivals like the Realme Narzo 70 or Redmi Note 13.
Front camera: 16MP shooter delivers social-media-ready selfies with good edge detection.
⚙️ Chipset & Performance: Solid for Daily Use
Under the hood is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1, paired with up to 8GB RAM and 128GB UFS 2.2 storage.
The Lumia 500 excels in daily activities like multitasking, social media, light gaming, and browsing. PUBG Mobile and COD: Mobile run fine on medium settings, though it’s not built for hardcore gamers.
🔋 Battery: Easily Gets You Through the Day
This is where Nokia has nailed it. The Lumia 500 has a 5000mAh battery that supports 33W rapid charging.
- Screen-on time: Easily crosses 7 hours
- Charging time: Around 1 hour 15 minutes for a full top-up
Great for travelers, binge-watchers, or people constantly on the go.
📶 Network & Connectivity: Fully Future-Ready
- 5G bands: Supports 9 5G bands including n1, n28, n78
- Dual SIM 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3
- NFC and USB Type-C included
The device offers good carrier aggregation and stable signal reception, even in low-signal zones.
🧠 Software: Clean & Light UI
The Lumia 500 runs on Android 14 (near-stock) with 2 years of OS updates and 3 years of security patches, as per Nokia’s promise.
- Bloatware? None
- Ads? Nope
- Monthly security updates? Yes, confirmed
You will enjoy this experience even if you detest custom skins.
⚙️ Sensors & User Experience: Everything You Need
- In-display fingerprint scanner – fast & accurate
- Face unlock – works well in good lighting
- Gyroscope, proximity, ambient light, and all essential sensors are present
The haptic feedback could’ve been stronger, but it’s acceptable for this price.
🇮🇳 India Launch & Pricing
Flipkart and Nokia’s official website now offer the Nokia Lumia 500 5G in India.
- Launch date: July 5, 2025
- 6GB/128GB costs: ₹16,499
- 8GB/128GB costs: ₹17,999
- Colors: Midnight Blue, Frosted Silver, Sunset Copper
🔄 Lumia 500 vs. Rivals: Truth Table
| Feature | Nokia Lumia 500 | iQOO Z10 R | Redmi Note 13 5G |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.6″ FHD+ AMOLED 120Hz | 6.67″ AMOLED 120Hz | 6.6″ AMOLED 120Hz |
| Processor | Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 | Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 | Dimensity 6100+ |
| Main Camera | 50MP | 50MP | 50MP |
| Battery | 5000mAh, 33W | 5000mAh, 44W | 5000mAh, 33W |
| OS | Android 14 (clean) | Funtouch OS 14 | MIUI 14 |
| 5G Bands | 9 Bands | 7 Bands | 5 Bands |
| Price (Base Variant) | ₹16,499 | ₹15,999 | ₹16,999 |
📋 Full Specifications Nokia Lumia 500
- Display: 6.6″ FHD+ AMOLED, 120Hz
- Processor: Snapdragon 6 Gen 1
- RAM & Storage: 6GB/8GB + 128GB
- Rear Camera: 50MP + 8MP + 2MP
- Front Camera: 16MP
- Battery: 5000mAh, 33W charging
- OS: Android 14 (Stock UI)
- 5G Bands: 9
- Security: In-display fingerprint, Face Unlock
- Build: Plastic back, Gorilla Glass 5 front
✅ Pros and ❌ Cons
Pros:
- Sharp AMOLED display with 120Hz
- Clean Android experience
- Excellent battery life
- Strong 5G connectivity
- Great value for money
Cons:
- Cameras struggle in low light
- Haptics could be better
- No stereo speakers
🧑💼 Who Should Buy the Nokia Lumia 500?
Perfect For:
- Students and professionals needing reliable battery and 5G
- Android purists who hate bloatware
- Casual gamers and content streamers
- Budget-conscious users looking for clean UI
Not For:
- Hardcore mobile gamers
- Photography enthusiasts
🧠 Final Verdict: Nokia Lumia 500
The Nokia Lumia 500 5G is a genuinely well-rounded smartphone for under ₹18K. While it doesn’t dominate in one area, it checks almost every box that matters—great display, clean software, solid performance, and strong battery life.
If you’re looking for a no-nonsense, reliable 5G phone with stock Android feel, this one should be on your radar.
❓ FAQs
1. Is the Nokia Lumia 500 good for gaming?
It handles casual and mid-level gaming smoothly, but isn’t meant for high-end gaming like Genshin Impact on max settings.
2. Does the Lumia 500 have Gorilla Glass protection?
Yes, it comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on the front.
3. Will it get Android 15 and 16 updates?
Yes, Nokia promises 2 major OS updates, which includes Android 15 and 16.
4. Does it support carrier aggregation in India?
Yes, the phone supports multiple 4G/5G bands and offers solid network stability.
5. Is it better than iQOO Z10 R?
If you prefer clean Android over custom skins, yes. For charging speed and UI features, iQOO has an edge.