Nokia XR21 vs Google Pixel 7a: A Head-to-Head Showdown
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Google Pixel 7a emerges as the overall winner thanks to its superior camera, smoother performance powered by the Tensor G2, and vibrant display. However, the Nokia XR21’s rugged design and longer software support make it a solid choice for those prioritizing durability and longevity.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Nokia XR21 | Google Pixel 7a |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66, 71 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71 - GWKK3, G0DZQ |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 20, 25, 28, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GWKK3 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GHL1X, G82U8 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2023, May 03 | 2023, May 10 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, June 11 | Available. Released 2023, May 10 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 168 x 78.6 x 10.5 mm (6.61 x 3.09 x 0.41 in) | 152 x 72.9 x 9 mm (5.98 x 2.87 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 231 g (8.15 oz) | 193.5 g (6.84 oz) |
| IP68/IP69K dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 60 min) Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.8m MIL-STD-810H compliant | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~406 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.49 inches, 101.7 cm2 (~77.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz, 450 nits (typ), 550 nits (HBM) | OLED, HDR, 90Hz |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) | Google Tensor G2 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Mali-G710 MP7 |
| OS | Android 12 | Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | Unspecified | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, second LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.4 (wide) | 13 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX Adaptive | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC |
| Radio | Unspecified | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 33W wired, PD2.0, QC3 | 18W wired, PD3.0 7.5W wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4800 mAh | Li-Po 4385 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Midnight Black, Pine Green | Charcoal, Snow, Sea, Coral |
| Models | - | GWKK3, GHL1X, G0DZQ, G82U8 |
| Price | About 570 EUR | € 179.90 / $ 150.00 / £ 170.00 / ₹ 25,980 |
Nokia XR21
- Rugged and durable design
- Long software support (4 years of OS updates)
- 33W fast charging
- Expandable storage (microSD card slot)
- Less powerful processor
- Lower display brightness
- Subpar camera compared to Pixel 7a
- Less refined software experience
Google Pixel 7a
- Excellent camera with Google's computational photography
- Smooth and responsive performance (Tensor G2)
- Bright and vibrant display
- Wireless charging
- Clean Android experience
- Less durable design
- Shorter software support compared to Nokia XR21
- Slower wired charging (18W)
- No expandable storage
Display Comparison
The Pixel 7a boasts a significantly brighter display (1070 nits) compared to the XR21, offering better visibility outdoors. While the XR21's display is adequate, the Pixel 7a's vibrant colors and higher brightness provide a more enjoyable viewing experience. Both phones feature OLED panels, ensuring good contrast and deep blacks.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 7a's camera is a clear winner. Google's computational photography expertise shines through, producing consistently excellent photos and videos in various lighting conditions. The XR21's camera is decent, but lacks the Pixel's dynamic range, detail, and overall image quality. The Pixel 7a also benefits from features like Magic Eraser and Photo Unblur.
Performance
The Google Pixel 7a's Google Tensor G2 chipset delivers noticeably faster and smoother performance than the Nokia XR21's Snapdragon 695. The Tensor G2's architecture, with its Cortex-X1 core, excels in demanding tasks and AI-powered features. The XR21 is capable for everyday use, but may struggle with graphically intensive games or heavy multitasking.
Battery Life
The Nokia XR21 has a larger battery capacity (4470 mAh) than the Pixel 7a (4385 mAh), but the Pixel 7a's endurance rating (76h) suggests superior battery optimization. While the XR21 supports 33W charging, the Pixel 7a offers both 18W wired and 7.5W wireless charging, providing more flexibility.
Buying Guide
The Nokia XR21 is ideal for users who need a durable phone that can withstand tough conditions and appreciate long-term software updates. The Google Pixel 7a is perfect for photography enthusiasts and those who want a smooth, responsive Android experience with Google's signature features.