Nokia G50 vs Nokia G21: The Ultimate Budget Showdown

Nokia's G-series consistently delivers reliable smartphones at affordable prices. The G50 and G21 are two strong contenders in this space, but which one offers the best value? We'll break down their key differences to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Nokia G21 takes the crown for its exceptional battery life and impressive display contrast. While the G50 boasts a 5G chipset for faster connectivity, the G21's longevity and screen quality make it the better overall choice for most users seeking a budget-friendly device.

PHONES
Phone Names	Nokia G50	Nokia G21

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - EU, ROW, China	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 - International
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 - EU, ROW, China	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International
5G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 28, 38, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - EU, ROW, China	-
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	2, 5, 7, 38, 41, 66, 71, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - NA	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 28, 40, 66 - LATAM

Launch
Announced	2021, September 22	2022, February 14
Status	Available. Released 2021, October 13	Available. Released 2022, February 15

Body
Build	-	Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions	173.8 x 77.7 x 8.9 mm (6.84 x 3.06 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	220 g (7.76 oz)	190 g (6.70 oz)

Display
Resolution	720 x 1560 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~252 ppi density)	720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density)
Size	6.82 inches, 114.2 cm2 (~84.5% screen-to-body ratio)	6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.6% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 450 nits (typ)	IPS LCD, 90Hz, 400 nits (typ)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 460 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 460)	Octa-core (2x1.6 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM4350 Snapdragon 480 5G (8 nm)	Unisoc T606 (12 nm)
GPU	Adreno 619	Mali-G57 MP1
OS	Android 11, upgradable to Android 13	Android 11, upgradable to Android 13

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM	64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM
	-	eMMC 5.1

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	8 MP, (wide)	8 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
Triple	48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 5 MP, (ultrawide) Auxiliary lens	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, (wide)	8 MP, f/2.0, (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, GALILEO, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO
Radio	FM radio	FM radio, RDS
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity

Battery
Charging	18W wired	18W wired, PD3.0
Type	Li-Po 5000 mAh	Li-Po 5050 mAh

Misc
Colors	Midnight Sun, Ocean Blue	Nordic Blue, Dusk
Models	TA-1358, TA-1390, TA-1370, TA-1367, TA-1361	TA-1418, TA-1477, TA-1415, TA-1405, TA-1404, TA-1412
Price	About 180 EUR	About 90 EUR
SAR	0.79 W/kg (head) 0.96 W/kg (body)	1.00 W/kg (head) 1.10 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	1.15 W/kg (head) 1.13 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 G50

5G Connectivity
Slightly better performance
Decent camera

Average display
Shorter battery life
Can be slow with demanding apps

Nokia G21

Exceptional battery life
Excellent display contrast
Reliable performance
PD3.0 Charging

Less powerful chipset
Standard camera
No 5G

Display Comparison

The Nokia G21 boasts a remarkable 1631:1 contrast ratio (measured at 500 nits brightness), delivering deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. The G50's display, while adequate, doesn't match this level of visual fidelity. The G21's display is noticeably better for media consumption.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature standard camera setups. The G50 generally produces slightly more detailed images in good lighting conditions due to its processor. Low-light performance is comparable on both, with noticeable noise. Video recording quality is adequate on both, but not exceptional.

Performance

The Nokia G50's Snapdragon 480 5G chipset offers a performance edge over the G21's Unisoc T606. This translates to smoother multitasking and slightly faster app loading times. However, both phones are best suited for everyday tasks and light to moderate usage. Demanding games may struggle on either device.

Battery Life

The Nokia G21's standout feature is its incredible battery life, achieving an endurance rating of 126 hours. This is significantly better than the G50. The G21 can easily last for multiple days on a single charge, making it a champion for longevity.

Buying Guide

The Nokia G50 is ideal for users who prioritize 5G connectivity and slightly better performance for gaming or demanding apps. The Nokia G21 is perfect for those who value long battery life, a vibrant display, and a dependable, no-frills experience.