Nokia's budget smartphone lineup offers reliable options, but choosing between models can be tricky. We're pitting the Nokia C21 against the Nokia G21 to see which one delivers the best value for your money. This comparison will cover everything from display quality to battery life and performance.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Nokia G21 emerges as the clear winner. While the C21 is a basic option, the G21's superior chipset, faster charging, and significantly better battery life make it a more compelling choice for most users, despite a potentially slightly higher price.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 - International | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 - International |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - LATAM, Brazil | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 28, 40, 66 - LATAM |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, February 28 | 2022, February 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, May 03 | Available. Released 2022, February 15 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame, plastic back | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 169.9 x 77.9 x 8.8 mm (6.69 x 3.07 x 0.35 in) | 164.6 x 75.9 x 8.5 mm (6.48 x 2.99 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 195 g (6.88 oz) | 190 g (6.70 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~77.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 400 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x1.6 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Unisoc SC9863A (28 nm) | Unisoc T606 (12 nm) |
| GPU | IMG8322 | Mali-G57 MP1 |
| OS | Android 11 (Go edition) | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM | 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | - |
| Single | 5 MP | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Video | 720p | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio, RDS |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 18W wired, PD3.0 |
| Type | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, removable | Li-Po 5050 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Dark Blue, Warm Gray | Nordic Blue, Dusk |
| Models | TA-1356, TA-1352 | TA-1418, TA-1477, TA-1415, TA-1405, TA-1404, TA-1412 |
| Price | About 70 EUR | About 90 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.00 W/kg (head) 1.10 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.43 W/kg (head) 1.55 W/kg (body) | 0.34 W/kg (head) 1.05 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 126h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1631:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-30.7 LUFS (Below average)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 171299 (v9)
GeekBench: 1193 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 8.9fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Nokia C21
- Very affordable
- Durable build quality (typical of Nokia)
- Reliable for basic tasks
- Slow performance
- Low brightness display
- Limited features
- Slower charging
Nokia G21
- Excellent battery life
- Faster performance
- Brighter display
- Faster charging (18W PD3.0)
- More modern chipset
- Potentially slightly more expensive than C21
- Camera details are limited
Display Comparison
Both phones feature similar contrast ratios (1631:1), but the G21 boasts a measured 500 nits max brightness, offering better visibility in sunlight compared to the C21's likely lower brightness. The G21's display is generally considered slightly better due to this brightness advantage and potentially better color accuracy.
Camera Comparison
While both phones are described simply as 'Photo / Video', the G21's more powerful chipset likely allows for better image processing and potentially slightly improved camera performance. Expect the G21 to handle low-light conditions a bit better. Specific camera specs (megapixels, aperture) are not provided, making a definitive comparison difficult.
Performance
The Nokia G21's Unisoc T606 chipset (12nm) is a significant upgrade over the C21's Unisoc SC9863A (28nm). The G21's CPU configuration, with Cortex-A75 cores, provides a noticeable performance boost for multitasking and demanding apps. The C21 will feel sluggish by comparison.
Battery Life
The Nokia G21's standout feature is its exceptional battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 126 hours. This is a massive advantage over the C21, which, while decent, doesn't come close to this level of longevity. The G21 also supports 18W wired charging and PD3.0, offering faster charging speeds.
Buying Guide
The Nokia C21 is best suited for users who need a very basic smartphone for calls, texts, and light app usage, and are extremely budget-conscious. The Nokia G21 is ideal for those who want a longer-lasting battery, smoother performance, and faster charging without breaking the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Nokia C21 worth buying?
The Nokia C21 is a viable option if you're on an extremely tight budget and only need a phone for basic tasks. However, the G21 offers significantly better value for a small price increase.
❓ How does the Nokia G21's battery life compare to other phones?
The Nokia G21's 126-hour endurance rating is exceptional and places it among the best battery performers in its price range.
