Nokia T21 vs Realme Pad X: The Ultimate Tablet Comparison

The tablet market is booming, and budget options are becoming increasingly attractive. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the Nokia T21 and the Realme Pad X. Both offer compelling features at accessible prices, but which one comes out on top?

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Realme Pad X takes the crown thanks to its superior Snapdragon 695 chipset, brighter display, faster charging, and reverse charging capability. While the Nokia T21 offers a clean Android experience, the Pad X provides a more powerful and feature-rich package overall.

PHONES
Phone Names	Nokia T21	Realme Pad X

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - US, LATAM	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28, 40, 66 - US, LATAM	LTE
5G bands	-	SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA, LTE - cellular model only	HSPA, LTE, 5G - cellular model only
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International	-

Launch
Announced	2022, September 01	2022, May 25
Status	Available. Released 2022, September 01	Available. Released 2022, June 12

Body
Build	Glass front, aluminum back	Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions	247.5 x 157.3 x 7.5 mm (9.74 x 6.19 x 0.30 in)	256.5 x 161.1 x 7.1 mm (10.10 x 6.34 x 0.28 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM (cellular model only)	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (cellular model only)
Weight	466 g (1.03 lb)	499 g / 506 g (1.10 lb)
	Splash resistant Stylus support	Stylus support (magnetic charging)

Display
Protection	Scratch-resistant glass	-
Resolution	1200 x 2000 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~224 ppi density)	1200 x 2000 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~213 ppi density)
Size	10.4 inches, 307.9 cm2 (~79.1% screen-to-body ratio)	10.95 inches, 341.3 cm2 (~82.6% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 360 nits (typ)	IPS LCD, 450 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x1.8 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver)
Chipset	Unisoc Tiger T612 (12 nm)	Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm)
GPU	Mali-G57	Adreno 619
OS	Android 12, upgradable to Android 13	Android, Realme UI 3.0

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

Main Camera
Features	LED flash	-
Single	8 MP, AF	13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), AF
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Single	8 MP	8 MP, f/2.0, 105˚ (ultrawide)
Video	Yes	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	No
35mm jack	Yes	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers)
	-	24-bit/192kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, LE	5.1, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes (Wi-Fi/LTE model only / TA-1521)	No
Positioning	GPS - cellular model only	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS - cellular model only
Radio	FM radio	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 802.11 b/g/n/ac, hotspot

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity	Accelerometer, gyro, compass

Battery
Charging	18W wired, PD3.0	33W wired, PD 5W reverse wired
Type	Li-Po 8200 mAh	8340 mAh

Misc
Colors	Charcoal Grey	Glowing Gray, Glacier Blue, Green
Models	TA-1495, TA-1521, TA-1505, TA-1487	RMP2107, RMP2108
Price	About 240 EUR	About 250 EUR
SAR	1.19 W/kg (body)	-
SAR EU	1.56 W/kg (body)	-

Tests
Display	-	Contrast ratio: 1664:1
Loudspeaker	-	-22.5 LUFS (Excellent)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 395824 (v9) GeekBench: 2026 (v5.1) GFXBench: 18fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Nokia T21

Clean Android experience
Guaranteed software updates
Durable build quality (typical Nokia)
Good for basic tasks

Underpowered chipset
Slower charging
Less vibrant display
Limited gaming capabilities

Realme Pad X

Powerful Snapdragon 695 5G chipset
Brighter and more vibrant display
Faster 33W charging
Reverse wired charging
Better gaming performance

Realme UI (can be polarizing)
Software update commitment less certain than Nokia
Potentially less durable build

Display Comparison

The Realme Pad X boasts a brighter display (496 nits vs. estimated 350-400 nits for the T21) and a slightly better contrast ratio (1664:1 vs. 1655:1). While both offer decent visuals, the Pad X provides a more vibrant and enjoyable viewing experience, especially outdoors. Both tablets feature IPS LCD panels.

Camera Comparison

Camera quality is generally not a priority in budget tablets. Both devices likely feature modest camera setups. The Realme Pad X may have a slight edge due to Qualcomm's image processing capabilities, but don't expect flagship-level photography from either.

Performance

Here's where the Realme Pad X truly shines. The Snapdragon 695 5G is significantly more powerful than the Unisoc Tiger T612. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the Pad X. The T21 will handle basic tasks adequately, but struggles with demanding applications.

Battery Life

Both tablets offer respectable battery life, likely around 8-10 hours of typical usage. However, the Realme Pad X's 33W fast charging is a significant advantage over the T21's 18W charging. The Pad X also includes 5W reverse wired charging, allowing it to charge other devices.

Buying Guide

The Nokia T21 is ideal for users prioritizing a clean, stock Android experience and longer software support. It's a good choice for basic tasks like browsing, reading, and light media consumption. The Realme Pad X is better suited for users who want more performance for gaming, multitasking, and content creation, along with faster charging and added convenience of reverse charging.