The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Nokia G21 and Samsung Galaxy A13 are two strong contenders. Both offer compelling features at an affordable price, but which one delivers the best overall experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Nokia G21 boasts significantly longer battery life and a slightly better display, while the Galaxy A13 offers a more powerful chipset and faster charging. Ultimately, the G21 wins for battery endurance, but the A13 provides a smoother overall experience 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, March 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, February 15 | Available. Released 2022, March 23 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 164.6 x 75.9 x 8.5 mm (6.48 x 2.99 x 0.33 in) | 165.1 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm (6.5 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 190 g (6.70 oz) | 195 g (6.88 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~83.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 400 nits (typ) | PLS LCD |
| 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 4GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
5 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 8 MP, f/2.2, (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 | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@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, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| 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, compass |
| | - | 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, White, Peach, Blue |
| Models | TA-1418, TA-1477, TA-1415, TA-1405, TA-1404, TA-1412 | SM-A135F, SM-A135F/DS, SM-A135M, SM-A135U, SM-A135U1, SM-A135N |
| Price | About 90 EUR | € 94.99 / $ 129.99 / £ 89.00 |
| SAR | 1.00 W/kg (head) 1.10 W/kg (body) | 0.49 W/kg (head) |
| SAR EU | 0.34 W/kg (head) 1.05 W/kg (body) | 0.37 W/kg (head) 1.39 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: 1324:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
-30.7 LUFS (Below average)
|
-29.7 LUFS (Average)
|
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 171299 (v9)
GeekBench: 1193 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 8.9fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 122822 (v8), 136286 (v9)
GeekBench: 588 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 5.2fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Nokia G21
- Exceptional battery life (126h endurance)
- High contrast ratio display (1631:1)
- Clean Android experience
- Durable build quality
- Slower performance compared to A13
- Lower screen brightness (500 nits)
- Slower charging (18W)
Samsung Galaxy A13
- Faster performance (Exynos 850)
- Brighter display (587 nits)
- Faster charging (15W)
- Samsung's One UI software
- Shorter battery life (114h endurance)
- Lower contrast ratio display (1324:1)
- Can experience software bloat
Display Comparison
The Nokia G21 features a contrast ratio of 1631:1 (nominal) and a measured brightness of 500 nits. The Samsung Galaxy A13 has a contrast ratio of 1324:1 (nominal) and a brighter 587 nits. While the G21's contrast is impressive, the A13's higher brightness makes it more usable outdoors. Both use similar LCD panels, so color accuracy is decent but not exceptional.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer a multi-camera setup, but image quality varies. The Galaxy A13 typically captures slightly more detailed and vibrant photos, especially in good lighting. Low-light performance is comparable, with both struggling to produce clear images without significant noise. Video recording capabilities are similar, offering 1080p resolution.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A13's Exynos 850 chipset (8nm) generally outperforms the Nokia G21's Unisoc T606 (12nm). The A13's CPU configuration (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) provides a noticeable boost in everyday tasks and gaming. The G21's CPU (2x1.6 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55) is adequate but can feel sluggish under heavy load.
Battery Life
The Nokia G21's standout feature is its exceptional battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 126 hours. This is significantly better than the Galaxy A13's 114-hour rating. The G21's larger battery capacity contributes to this impressive longevity.
Buying Guide
The Nokia G21 is ideal for users prioritizing exceptional battery life and a high contrast display. The Samsung Galaxy A13 is a better choice for those who value performance, a brighter screen, and faster charging speeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone has better battery life?
The Nokia G21 has significantly better battery life, with an endurance rating of 126 hours compared to the Galaxy A13's 114 hours.
❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy A13 faster than the Nokia G21?
Yes, the Samsung Galaxy A13's Exynos 850 chipset generally provides faster performance than the Nokia G21's Unisoc T606.
