Looking for a reliable smartphone without breaking the bank? The Nokia G21 and Samsung Galaxy A04s are both contenders in the budget phone arena. But which one offers the best value for your money? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Nokia G21 takes the crown thanks to its significantly longer battery life and brighter display. While the Galaxy A04s boasts a slightly more modern chipset, the G21's endurance and screen quality make it the better overall choice for most users.
| 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 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 28, 40, 66 - LATAM | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, February 14 | 2022, August 31 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, February 15 | Available. Released 2022, September 22 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164.6 x 75.9 x 8.5 mm (6.48 x 2.99 x 0.33 in) | 164.7 x 76.7 x 9.1 mm (6.48 x 3.02 x 0.36 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 190 g (6.70 oz) | 195 g (6.88 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~80.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 400 nits (typ) | PLS LCD, 90Hz, 400 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x1.6 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Unisoc T606 (12 nm) | Exynos 850 (8 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MP1 | Mali-G52 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 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 | 50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 720p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer |
| | - | Virtual Proximity Sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, PD3.0 | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5050 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Nordic Blue, Dusk | Black, Green, White, Copper |
| Models | TA-1418, TA-1477, TA-1415, TA-1405, TA-1404, TA-1412 | SM-A047F, SM-A047F/DS, SM-A047F/DSN, SM-A047M |
| Price | About 90 EUR | € 133.89 |
| SAR | 1.00 W/kg (head) 1.10 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.34 W/kg (head) 1.05 W/kg (body) | 0.52 W/kg (head) 1.23 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 126h
|
Endurance rating 114h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1631:1 (nominal) |
Contrast ratio: 1614:1 |
| Loudspeaker |
-30.7 LUFS (Below average)
|
-30.3 LUFS (Below average)
|
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 171299 (v9)
GeekBench: 1193 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 8.9fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 145123(v9)
GeekBench: 1100 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 11fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Nokia G21
- Exceptional battery life (126h endurance)
- Brighter display (500 nits)
- Clean Android experience
- Durable build quality
- Unisoc T606 chipset isn't the most powerful
- Charging speed is relatively slow (18W)
- Camera performance is average
Samsung Galaxy A04s
- Slightly more modern Exynos 850 chipset
- Samsung's One UI interface
- Decent display quality
- Shorter battery life (114h endurance)
- Lower display brightness (389 nits)
- 15W charging is slow
Display Comparison
The Nokia G21's display shines with a measured 500 nits of brightness, significantly outperforming the Galaxy A04s' 389 nits. Both offer excellent contrast ratios (1631:1 vs 1614:1), resulting in deep blacks and vibrant colors. However, the G21's higher brightness makes it more usable outdoors.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is generally comparable on both devices, offering decent image quality in good lighting conditions. Low-light performance is likely to be average on both. Specific camera features and software optimizations will influence the final image quality, but neither phone is a photography powerhouse.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A04s utilizes the Exynos 850 chipset, built on a more modern 8nm process, potentially offering a slight edge in performance compared to the Nokia G21's Unisoc T606 (12nm). However, in real-world usage, the difference is likely to be minimal for everyday tasks. Both phones handle basic apps and multitasking well.
Battery Life
This is where the Nokia G21 truly excels. Its endurance rating of 126 hours dwarfs the Galaxy A04s' 114 hours. This translates to significantly longer battery life, potentially lasting multiple days on a single charge with moderate usage.
Buying Guide
The Nokia G21 is ideal for users prioritizing battery life and a vibrant display for media consumption. The Samsung Galaxy A04s is a good option for those who need a slightly more powerful processor for basic gaming or multitasking, but are willing to compromise on battery and screen brightness.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone has better performance for gaming?
The Samsung Galaxy A04s' Exynos 850 chipset might offer slightly better performance for demanding games, but both phones are best suited for casual gaming.
❓ Is the Nokia G21's software experience good?
Yes, the Nokia G21 runs a clean and near-stock version of Android, providing a smooth and bloatware-free experience.
