Nokia C30 vs Nokia G21: A Budget Showdown

Nokia's budget phone lineup offers reliable options, but choosing between them can be tricky. We're pitting the Nokia C30 and the Nokia G21 against each other to see which delivers the best value for your money. Let's dive into a detailed comparison!

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Nokia G21 emerges as the clear winner. While the C30 is a decent entry-level device, the G21's superior chipset, faster charging, and brighter display provide a significantly better overall experience, justifying its slightly higher price.

PHONES
Phone Names	Nokia C30	Nokia G21

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	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International	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
	1, 3, 7, 20, 28 - Australia, UK, Ireland	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 28, 40, 66 - LATAM

Launch
Announced	2021, July 27	2022, February 14
Status	Available. Released 2021, October 12	Available. Released 2022, February 15

Body
Build	-	Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions	177.7 x 79.1 x 9.9 mm (7.00 x 3.11 x 0.39 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
Weight	237 g (8.36 oz)	190 g (6.70 oz)

Display
Resolution	720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~257 ppi density)	720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density)
Size	6.82 inches, 112.3 cm2 (~79.9% 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 2GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM	64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM
	eMMC 5.1	eMMC 5.1

Main Camera
Dual	13 MP, (wide) Auxiliary lens	-
Features	LED flash	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	5 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	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Single	5 MP	8 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
Video	Unspecified	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, OTG	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	10W wired	18W wired, PD3.0
Type	Li-Po 6000 mAh	Li-Po 5050 mAh

Misc
Colors	Green, White, Dark Grey	Nordic Blue, Dusk
Models	TA-1357, TA-1377, TA-1369, TA-1360, TA-1359	TA-1418, TA-1477, TA-1415, TA-1405, TA-1404, TA-1412
Price	About 100 EUR	About 90 EUR
SAR	0.33 W/kg (head) 1.19 W/kg (body)	1.00 W/kg (head) 1.10 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	0.41 W/kg (head) 1.29 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)

OUR TESTS
Battery (old)	-	Endurance rating 126h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	1631:1 contrast ratio, 500 nits max brightness (measured)
Loudspeaker	-	-30.7 LUFS (Below average)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 171299 (v9) GeekBench: 1193 (v5.1) GFXBench: 8.9fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Nokia C30

Affordable
Durable build
Decent battery life
Android Go Edition

Slow performance
Limited storage
Slow charging
Dim display

Nokia G21

Better performance
Brighter display
Faster charging (18W)
Long battery life
More modern design

Slightly more expensive
Still a budget phone (compromises exist)

Display Comparison

The Nokia G21 boasts a brighter display (500 nits measured) compared to the C30, offering better visibility outdoors. Both have a high contrast ratio (1631:1), but the G21's brightness advantage makes a noticeable difference in everyday use. The G21's display also generally offers better color accuracy.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the G21 generally produces better image quality thanks to its more capable chipset and potentially better image processing algorithms. Expect more detail and better low-light performance from the G21. Specific camera specs (megapixels, aperture) are not provided, but the G21's hardware is likely superior.

Performance

The Nokia G21's Unisoc T606 chipset (12nm) is a significant upgrade over the C30's Unisoc SC9863A (28nm). The G21's CPU architecture, featuring Cortex-A75 cores, provides a noticeable performance boost for multitasking and demanding apps. The C30 feels sluggish in comparison.

Battery Life

Both phones advertise impressive battery life, with the G21 achieving an endurance rating of 126 hours. The C30's battery life is also good, but the G21's more efficient chipset contributes to its edge in this category. The G21 also supports 18W fast charging (PD3.0) compared to the C30's 10W wired charging, significantly reducing charging times.

Buying Guide

The Nokia C30 is ideal for users needing a basic smartphone for calls, texts, and light app usage. It's a great first phone or a backup device. The Nokia G21 is better suited for users who want a smoother experience, longer battery life, and a better camera, even on a budget.