Nokia 3110 Evolve vs. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G: A Battle of Eras

The Nokia 3110 Evolve evokes nostalgia with its classic design, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G represents the pinnacle of modern smartphone technology. This comparison explores how these two vastly different devices stack up against each other, catering to distinct user needs and budgets.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is the clear winner in terms of features, performance, and camera capabilities. However, the Nokia 3110 Evolve offers incredible value and simplicity for those seeking a basic, reliable phone for calls and texts, prioritizing longevity and ease of use over advanced functionality.

PHONES
Phone Names Nokia 3110 Evolve Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands-HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - SM-G998U1
5G bands-2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-G998U1
EDGEClass 10-
GPRSClass 10-
Speed-HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSMGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-G998B
Launch
Announced2007, December. Released 20082021, January 14
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2021, January 29
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions108.5 x 45.7 x 15.6 mm, 72 cc (4.27 x 1.80 x 0.61 in)165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm (6.5 x 2.98 x 0.35 in)
SIMMini-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight87 g (3.07 oz)227 g (Sub6), 229 g (mmWave) (8.01 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Stylus support
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution128 x 160 pixels (~114 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~515 ppi density)
Size1.8 inches, 10.2 cm2 (~20.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 112.1 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeTFT, 256K colorsDynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1500 nits (peak)
 5-way navigation key Downloadable wallpapers, screensaversAlways-on display
Platform
CPU-Octa-core (1x2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.80 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A55) - InternationalOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) - USA/China
Chipset-Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - InternationalQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - USA/China
GPU-Mali-G78 MP14 - InternationalAdreno 660 - USA/China
OS-Android 11, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1
Memory
Call records20 dialed, 20 received, 20 missed calls-
Card slotmicroSD (dedicated slot)No
Internal9MB128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM
PhonebookYes-
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
Features-Laser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Quad-108 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 72mm (telephoto), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 10 MP, f/4.9, 240mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video
Single1.3 MP-
VideoYes8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single-40 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.7µm, PDAF
Video-4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
 No-
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Alert typesVibration; Downloadable polyphonic, MP3, AAC ringtones-
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth2.0, A2DP5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFC-Yes
PositioningNoGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioStereo FM radioFM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent)
USBminiUSBUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANNoWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
BrowserWAP 2.0/xHTML-
GamesDownloadable-
JavaYes, MIDP 2.0-
MessagingSMS, MMS, Email-
Sensors-Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 MP3/MP4/AAC+/3gp/WMA player Organizer Voice memo Voice command Predictive text input Push to talkSamsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging-25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
Stand-byUp to 380 h-
Talk timeUp to 3 h 30 min-
TypeRemovable Li-Ion 1020 mAh battery (BL-5C)Li-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsGreyPhantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Titanium, Phantom Navy, Phantom Brown, Navy
Models-SM-G998B, SM-G998B/DS, SM-G998U, SM-G998U1, SM-G998W, SM-G998N, SM-G9980
PriceAbout 100 EUR$ 240.01 / C$ 353.20 / £ 202.99 / € 264.99
SAR1.10 W/kg (head)     0.33 W/kg (body)0.77 W/kg (head)     1.02 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.96 W/kg (head)0.71 W/kg (head)     1.58 W/kg (body)
Pricing
128GB 12GB RAM-$ 384.99
256GB 12GB RAM-$ 998.00
512GB 12GB RAM-$ 1,179.99
RENEWED-$ 459.00
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 114h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.5 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 657150 (v8) GeekBench: 3518 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)
OUR TESTS
Battery (old)-Endurance rating 114h
Camera-Photo / Video
Display-1023 nits max brightness (measured)
Loudspeaker--25.5 LUFS (Very good)
Performance-AnTuTu: 657150 (v8) GeekBench: 3518 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Nokia 3110 Evolve

  • Extremely long battery life
  • Durable and reliable
  • Simple and easy to use
  • Affordable
  • Classic Nokia design

  • Limited functionality
  • Basic camera
  • Low-resolution display
  • No advanced features (e.g., 5G, NFC)

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G

  • Stunning display
  • Powerful performance
  • Exceptional camera system
  • 5G connectivity
  • Ample storage options

  • Expensive
  • Complex interface
  • Battery life, while good, isn't as exceptional as the Nokia
  • Larger and heavier

Display Comparison

The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G boasts a stunning Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1023 nits, offering vibrant colors and exceptional clarity. The Nokia 3110 Evolve features a small, basic LCD screen, suitable for simple tasks but lacking the resolution and visual fidelity of the Samsung.

Camera Comparison

The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G's camera system is a standout feature, offering incredible versatility with multiple lenses and advanced features like 108MP main sensor, 3x and 10x optical zoom. The Nokia 3110 Evolve has a basic VGA camera, suitable for very low-resolution snapshots.

Performance

The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G's Exynos 2100 or Snapdragon 888 chipset delivers blazing-fast performance, effortlessly handling demanding apps and games. The Nokia 3110 Evolve's processor is designed for basic functions like calls and texts, offering limited processing power.

Battery Life

The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G offers excellent battery life with an endurance rating of 114 hours. The Nokia 3110 Evolve, due to its limited functionality, provides exceptional battery life, potentially lasting for days or even weeks on a single charge.

Buying Guide

The Nokia 3110 Evolve is ideal for users who want a simple, durable phone for basic communication, those seeking a secondary device for travel or emergencies, or individuals nostalgic for classic Nokia phones. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is perfect for power users, photography enthusiasts, and anyone who demands the latest technology, a stunning display, and top-tier performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Nokia 3110 Evolve a smartphone?
No, the Nokia 3110 Evolve is a feature phone, offering basic functionalities like calls, texts, and a simple camera. It does not run a full smartphone operating system.
❓ What is the price difference between the two phones?
The Nokia 3110 Evolve is significantly more affordable, typically costing under $100. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G can range from $385 to over $1180 depending on storage configuration.