The Nokia C21 and Samsung Galaxy A03s represent the extreme end of the smartphone price spectrum. Both aim to deliver essential functionality at a minimal cost, but they achieve this through different approaches to hardware and software. This comparison dissects their key specifications to determine which device offers the best value for users prioritizing affordability.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user seeking a slightly more responsive experience, the Samsung Galaxy A03s emerges as the better choice. Its Mediatek Helio P35 chipset, built on a 12nm process, provides a noticeable performance edge over the Nokia C21’s Unisoc SC9863A, despite both phones sharing similar battery endurance ratings.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 - International | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| 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 | 2, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 14, 25, 26, 41, 66, 71 - SM-A037U |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, February 28 | 2021, August 18 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, May 03 | Available. Released 2021, August 18 |
| 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) | 164.2 x 75.9 x 9.1 mm (6.46 x 2.99 x 0.36 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 195 g (6.88 oz) | 196 g (6.91 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 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | PLS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.35 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Unisoc SC9863A (28 nm) | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) |
| GPU | IMG8322 | PowerVR GE8320 |
| OS | Android 11 (Go edition) | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1 Core |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM | 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR | LED flash |
| Single | 8 MP | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Triple | - | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), AF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | - |
| Single | 5 MP | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| 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 |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, removable | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Dark Blue, Warm Gray | Black, Blue, White |
| Models | TA-1356, TA-1352 | SM-A037F, SM-A037F/DS, SM-A037M, SM-A037G, SM-A037U, SM-S134DL, SM-A037W, SM-A037U1, SM-S135DL |
| Price | About 70 EUR | $ 65.65 / £ 82.99 / ₹ 10,800 |
| SAR EU | 0.43 W/kg (head) 1.55 W/kg (body) | 0.36 W/kg (head) 1.09 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 122h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1718:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-27.4 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 103465 (v8), 101299 (v9)
GeekBench: 889 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 5.5fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Nokia C21
- Potentially cleaner Android experience (depending on software updates)
- Lower price point (likely)
- Simple and straightforward design
- Significantly weaker processor performance
- Lower display brightness
- Limited charging speed
Samsung Galaxy A03s
- More powerful Mediatek Helio P35 processor
- Brighter display for better outdoor visibility
- Faster 15W charging
- Samsung’s One UI may include bloatware
- Potentially higher price than the Nokia C21
- Camera quality likely similar to Nokia C21
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A03s boasts a measured peak brightness of 488 nits, significantly enhancing visibility in outdoor conditions compared to the Nokia C21, which lacks published brightness data. Both displays share a 1718:1 contrast ratio, suggesting similar levels of black depth. However, the A03s’ higher brightness is a tangible advantage for everyday use, particularly for users who frequently consume content outdoors. The lack of detailed display specifications for the C21 makes a precise comparison difficult, but the A03s clearly holds an advantage in this area.
Camera Comparison
Both devices list 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack specific details regarding sensor size or image processing. Given the price point, it’s reasonable to assume both rely on basic camera modules. The absence of information prevents a meaningful comparison beyond acknowledging that both will likely struggle in low-light conditions. The inclusion of a 2MP macro lens on the A03s is unlikely to provide significant photographic benefit, serving more as a marketing feature than a practical improvement.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A03s’ Mediatek Helio P35, fabricated on a 12nm process, offers a clear architectural advantage over the Nokia C21’s Unisoc SC9863A (28nm). The Helio P35’s Cortex-A53 cores, clocked up to 2.35 GHz, are more efficient and deliver higher single-core performance than the C21’s Cortex-A55 cores peaking at 1.6 GHz. While both are octa-core CPUs, the A03s’ processor will handle multitasking and app loading with greater fluidity. The larger process node of the Unisoc chip in the C21 suggests potentially higher power consumption for similar tasks.
Battery Life
Both the Nokia C21 and Samsung Galaxy A03s achieve an endurance rating of 122 hours, indicating comparable battery life under similar usage patterns. The A03s supports 15W wired charging, offering a faster recharge time than the C21, which lacks published charging specifications. While both phones will likely last a full day on a single charge for moderate users, the A03s’ faster charging capability provides a convenience advantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Nokia C21 if you prioritize a simple, clean Android experience and are comfortable with a more basic level of performance for essential tasks like calls, messaging, and light social media use. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A03s if you prefer a slightly more powerful processor for smoother multitasking, occasional gaming, and a brighter display for better outdoor visibility. The A03s is also a better fit for users who prefer Samsung’s One UI.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Mediatek Helio P35 in the Galaxy A03s get noticeably warm during extended use, like video playback?
The Helio P35 is a relatively efficient chip, and given the A03s’ plastic build, thermal throttling is unlikely to be a significant issue during typical use cases like video playback or social media browsing. However, demanding games may cause some warming, but it shouldn’t reach uncomfortable levels.
❓ Is the Nokia C21 likely to receive regular Android updates and security patches?
Nokia has historically offered a relatively clean Android experience and committed to software updates for its budget devices. However, the C21 is a very low-end model, so the number of major Android version updates is likely limited to one. Security patches are more likely to be consistent, but long-term support cannot be guaranteed.
❓ How much storage space is realistically usable on the Samsung Galaxy A03s after system software is installed?
The Samsung Galaxy A03s typically comes with 32GB or 64GB of internal storage. After accounting for the operating system and pre-installed apps, users can expect around 20-50GB of usable storage, depending on the configuration. A microSD card slot is available for expansion.
