Old Phone Lab: meet the three phones and how I test them
Short answer: the Old Phone Lab is my small set of older phones (a Redmi Note 5, a Huawei Nova 5T and a Nokia 7.2) that I use to check what older hardware can still do in 2026. Every test uses the same method: a restarted phone, the same timed tasks and a visible stopwatch.
The three phones
- Redmi Note 5
- Released 2018. Snapdragon 636. Running Android 9.
- Huawei Nova 5T
- Released 2019. Kirin 980. Running Android 9.
- Nokia 7.2
- Released 2019. Snapdragon 660. Running Android 11 (near-stock Android).
Why test old phones at all
Millions of people still use phones like these, and most app reviews are done on new flagships. I want to know what an older phone can still do in 2026, what feels slow, and what still works well. I also use the phones to check how Orbitika behaves on older hardware.
How I test
Every test follows the same simple rules so the numbers can be compared:
- Restart first, so nothing is cached from earlier.
- Same starting point: similar battery level and the same network setup, noted each time.
- Timed on camera. A stopwatch is visible in the video, so you can check my numbers yourself.
- The same few tasks: cold boot to the home screen, camera to first photo saved, and opening a heavy app to its first loaded screen.
- No tricks. I note the Android version and whether anything was changed on the phone.
What these tests cannot tell you
These are one person's measurements on single devices. Your phone may be faster or slower depending on its age, storage, battery and installed apps. Treat the results as a guide, not a benchmark.
Where the results appear
Each test goes up as a short video on X first, then gets a full write-up here with the numbers.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the Old Phone Lab?
The Old Phone Lab is a small set of older Android phones (a Redmi Note 5, a Huawei Nova 5T and a Nokia 7.2) that I use to test what older hardware can still do in 2026.
How are the tests done?
Each phone is restarted, started at a similar battery level and timed on camera with a visible stopwatch. I measure cold boot, camera to first photo, and how long a heavy app takes to load.
Do you test Orbitika on these phones too?
Yes. I use the same phones to check how Orbitika behaves on older hardware, and I will share those results as well.
Can I trust the numbers?
They are honest measurements from single devices, so they show what happened on my phones. Your phone may differ.