Sony Xperia XA1 Plus vs Nokia XR21: A Head-to-Head Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Nokia XR21 is the clear winner. While the XA1 Plus boasts incredible battery life, the XR21’s modern chipset, 5G connectivity, faster charging, and rugged design offer a significantly better overall experience for most users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Sony Xperia XA1 Plus | Nokia XR21 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - G3421, G3412, G3416, G3426 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 - G3421, G3412 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66, 71 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 20, 25, 28, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps or LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 - G3416, G3426 | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2017, August. Released 2017, October | 2023, May 03 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2023, June 11 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), plastic back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 155 x 75 x 8.7 mm (6.10 x 2.95 x 0.34 in) | 168 x 78.6 x 10.5 mm (6.61 x 3.09 x 0.41 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) |
| Weight | 189 g (6.67 oz) | 231 g (8.15 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 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~406 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~71.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.49 inches, 101.7 cm2 (~77.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, 120Hz, 450 nits (typ), 550 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6757 Helio P20 (16 nm) | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-T880MP2 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 7.0 (Nougat), upgradable to Android 8.0 (Oreo) | Android 12 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | Unspecified |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| 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 | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, second LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 23 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.3", PDAF | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, HDR | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 23mm (wide), 1/4.0", AF | 16 MP, f/2.4 (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, aptX, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) |
| Radio | FM radio | Unspecified |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 33W wired, PD2.0, QC3 |
| Type | Li-Ion 3430 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4800 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, Pink, Gold | Midnight Black, Pine Green |
| Models | G3416, G3412, G3426, G3421, G3423 | - |
| Price | About 150 EUR | About 570 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -90.6dB / Crosstalk -83.5dB | - |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 102h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1572 (nominal), 2.93 (sunlight) | - |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 88dB / Noise 77dB / Ring 84dB | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 77232 (v7), 95157 (v8) GeekBench: 3783 (v4.4), 915 (v5.1) GFXBench: 4fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Sony Xperia XA1 Plus
- Exceptional battery life
- Compact size
- Affordable price
- Outdated chipset
- Low resolution display
- Slow charging
- Limited camera capabilities
Nokia XR21
- Modern chipset with 5G
- Faster charging (33W)
- Rugged design
- Improved camera performance (likely)
- More responsive display
- Battery life not as exceptional as XA1 Plus
- Potentially higher price
Display Comparison
The Xperia XA1 Plus features a 5.2-inch IPS LCD display with a decent contrast ratio (1572:1 nominal, 2.93:1 in sunlight). While adequate, it lacks the vibrancy and resolution of the XR21's likely 6.4-6.6 inch display (speculative, based on typical XR series size). The XR21 likely offers a higher resolution and potentially HDR support, resulting in a more immersive viewing experience. Sunlight readability is likely improved on the XR21 due to modern display technology.
Camera Comparison
Camera details for the XA1 Plus are limited, but it likely offers a standard single or dual-lens setup. The Nokia XR21 is expected to have a more capable camera system, potentially with improved image processing and low-light performance. The XR21 likely supports higher resolution video recording and more advanced features.
Performance
Here's where the XR21 truly shines. Its Snapdragon 695 5G chipset (6nm) is significantly more powerful and efficient than the XA1 Plus's Mediatek Helio P20 (16nm). The XR21's CPU and GPU offer a noticeable performance boost for everyday tasks, gaming, and multitasking. The XA1 Plus, while functional, will show its age with demanding applications.
Battery Life
The Xperia XA1 Plus's standout feature is its exceptional battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 102 hours. However, the XR21, while likely having a smaller battery capacity, benefits from a more efficient chipset and 33W fast charging, allowing for quicker top-ups.
Buying Guide
The Sony Xperia XA1 Plus is a good option for users prioritizing extreme battery life and a compact form factor on a very tight budget. The Nokia XR21 is ideal for those needing a durable phone with 5G, modern performance, and faster charging, especially if you value a rugged design.