Nokia XR21 vs Samsung Galaxy A51 5G UW: A Head-to-Head Showdown

Choosing a new smartphone can be overwhelming. The Nokia XR21 promises rugged durability and a clean Android experience, while the Samsung Galaxy A51 5G UW offers a familiar Samsung ecosystem and a strong feature set. Let's break down which phone comes out on top.

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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A51 5G UW generally edges out the Nokia XR21 thanks to its superior processor, faster charging, and more refined camera system. However, the XR21's rugged build and longer software support make it a compelling choice for those prioritizing durability and longevity.

PHONES
Phone Names	Nokia XR21	Samsung Galaxy A51 5G UW

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 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	2, 4, 5, 13, 66
5G bands	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 20, 25, 28, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA	260, 261 mmWave
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G

Launch
Announced	2023, May 03	2020, August 14
Status	Available. Released 2023, June 11	Available. Released 2020, August 14

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, plastic frame	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, aluminum frame
Dimensions	168 x 78.6 x 10.5 mm (6.61 x 3.09 x 0.41 in)	158.8 x 73.4 x 8.6 mm (6.25 x 2.89 x 0.34 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)	Nano-SIM (pre-installed)
Weight	231 g (8.15 oz)	188.8 g (6.67 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	-

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 (~405 ppi density)
Size	6.49 inches, 101.7 cm2 (~77.0% screen-to-body ratio)	6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~87.5% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 120Hz, 450 nits (typ), 550 nits (HBM)	Super AMOLED

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver)	Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm)	Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm)
GPU	Adreno 619	Adreno 620
OS	Android 12	Android 10, One UI 2

Memory
Card slot	Unspecified	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	128GB 6GB RAM	128GB 6GB RAM
	-	UFS 2.1

Main Camera
Dual	64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm	-
Features	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, second LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad	-	48 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Single	-	5 MP, AF
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps; gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	-	HDR
Single	16 MP, f/2.4 (wide)	32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX Adaptive	5.0, 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
Radio	Unspecified	FM radio, RDS, recording
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, barometer	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
	-	ANT+

Battery
Charging	33W wired, PD2.0, QC3	15W wired
Stand-by	-	Up to 672 h
Talk time	-	Up to 5 h
Type	Li-Po 4800 mAh	Li-Po 4500 mAh

Misc
Colors	Midnight Black, Pine Green	Prism Bricks Blue
Models	-	SM-A516V
Price	About 570 EUR	About 470 EUR
SAR	-	0.70 W/kg (head) 1.25 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	-	0.59 W/kg (head) 1.32 W/kg (body)

Nokia XR21

Rugged and durable design
Clean Android experience
Guaranteed software updates (4 years)
Decent battery life

Slower processor
Less vibrant display
Slower charging speed
Less versatile camera

Samsung Galaxy A51 5G UW

Faster processor
Vibrant AMOLED display with 120Hz
Versatile camera system
Faster charging

Samsung's One UI can be bloated
Less durable design
Shorter software update support compared to Nokia

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A51 5G UW boasts a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering vibrant colors and smooth scrolling. The Nokia XR21 has a 6.43-inch IPS LCD display, which is decent but lacks the punch and fluidity of the AMOLED panel. Samsung wins here.

Camera Comparison

The Galaxy A51 5G UW features a versatile quad-camera system with a 48MP main sensor, offering excellent image quality and a variety of shooting modes. The XR21 has a dual-camera setup with a 64MP main sensor, which is good but lacks the versatility of the Samsung's system. Samsung takes the camera crown.

Performance

The Snapdragon 765G in the Galaxy A51 5G UW is noticeably faster than the Snapdragon 695 in the XR21. Expect smoother performance in demanding games and apps on the Samsung. The XR21 is still capable for everyday tasks, but the A51 5G UW has a clear advantage.

Battery Life

Both phones offer decent battery life, but the XR21's larger battery (4470 mAh vs 4500 mAh) gives it a slight edge in longevity. However, the A51 5G UW's 15W charging is significantly faster than the XR21's 33W charging.

Buying Guide

The Nokia XR21 is ideal for users who need a durable phone for outdoor activities or demanding work environments and appreciate a clean Android experience with guaranteed updates. The Samsung Galaxy A51 5G UW is a better fit for users who prefer Samsung's One UI, want a more powerful processor for gaming and multitasking, and value a more versatile camera system.