The tablet market offers diverse options, from budget-friendly to premium powerhouses. Today, we pit the Nokia T21, a solid contender in the affordable space, against the Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4, a flagship tablet boasting impressive specs. Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to determine which tablet deserves your attention.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4 is the clear winner, offering significantly superior performance, a faster charging speed, and a larger, higher-quality display. While the Nokia T21 provides a more budget-friendly option, the Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro delivers a premium tablet experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | N/A |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - US, LATAM | N/A |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28, 40, 66 - US, LATAM | N/A |
| EDGE | - | No |
| GPRS | - | No |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE - cellular model only | - |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | No cellular connectivity |
| | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, September 01 | 2022, August 11 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, September 01 | Available. Released 2022, August 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, aluminum back |
| Dimensions | 247.5 x 157.3 x 7.5 mm (9.74 x 6.19 x 0.30 in) | 285 x 185.2 x 6.7 mm (11.22 x 7.29 x 0.26 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM (cellular model only) | No |
| Weight | 466 g (1.03 lb) | 620 g (1.37 lb) |
| | Splash resistant
Stylus support | Stylus support (magnetic) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1200 x 2000 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~224 ppi density) | 1600 x 2560 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~243 ppi density) |
| Size | 10.4 inches, 307.9 cm2 (~79.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 12.4 inches, 445.8 cm2 (~84.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 360 nits (typ) | IPS LCD, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 500 nits |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x1.8 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585) |
| Chipset | Unisoc Tiger T612 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 | Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 12, upgradable to Android 13 | Android 12, MIUI Pad 13 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 3.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Features | LED flash | Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, AF | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP | 20 MP, f/2.2, 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| Video | Yes | 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers) |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (Wi-Fi/LTE model only / TA-1521) | No |
| Positioning | GPS - cellular model only | No |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2 video output |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, PD3.0 | 67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 60% in 36 min, 100% in 68 min |
| Type | Li-Po 8200 mAh | Li-Po 10000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Charcoal Grey | Black, Silver, Green |
| Models | TA-1495, TA-1521, TA-1505, TA-1487 | - |
| Price | About 240 EUR | About 400 EUR |
| SAR | 1.19 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 1.56 W/kg (body) | - |
Nokia T21
- Affordable
- Solid build quality
- Decent battery life
- Clean Android experience
- Underpowered chipset
- Slower charging
- Smaller display
- Mediocre camera
Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4
- Exceptional performance
- Stunning display
- Fast charging
- Premium design
- Excellent value for money
- Can be pricier than the Nokia T21
- Software updates can be inconsistent
Display Comparison
The Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4 boasts a massive 12.4-inch 2560 x 1600 LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering vibrant colors and smooth visuals. The Nokia T21 features a smaller 11.3-inch 2000 x 1200 IPS LCD display. The Xiaomi's larger size, higher resolution, and faster refresh rate provide a significantly better viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
While neither tablet excels in camera quality, the Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro generally offers slightly better image quality due to its more advanced hardware. Both cameras are primarily intended for video calls rather than serious photography. The Nokia T21 has an 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera. The Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro has a 13MP rear camera and an 8MP front camera.
Performance
Here's where the Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro truly shines. Its Snapdragon 870 5G chipset delivers exceptional performance, easily handling demanding games and applications. The Nokia T21's Unisoc Tiger T612 is adequate for basic tasks but struggles with more intensive workloads. The Snapdragon 870 is in a different league.
Battery Life
The Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4 has a larger 10,000 mAh battery and supports 67W fast charging, allowing for incredibly quick top-ups. The Nokia T21 has an 8,000 mAh battery and 18W charging. The Xiaomi's charging speed is a game-changer.
Buying Guide
The Nokia T21 is ideal for users seeking a basic, reliable tablet for media consumption, light productivity tasks, and casual gaming on a budget. The Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4 is perfect for power users, creatives, and anyone who demands high performance, a stunning display, and fast charging for demanding tasks like video editing and gaming.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Nokia T21 good for gaming?
The Nokia T21 can handle casual games, but it will struggle with demanding titles due to its less powerful chipset. The Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro is a much better choice for serious mobile gaming.
❓ Which tablet has better battery life?
While both offer decent battery life, the Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4 generally provides longer usage times due to its larger battery capacity.
