It is a phone with low-level specs but high price. It’s not Chinese after all.
Nokia has released the G21 here in the Philippines a little later than other manufacturers. However, it’s not something to be excited about as the phone has some questionable specs for the asking price of Php9999. We’ll list down the specs below.
Nokia has a reputation in the Philippines for having European-quality design but also, underwhelming specs for the price. Its longevity is their main selling point but the others like camera, display, and chipset are left in the dust, making it comparable to sub 6K budget phones.
The phone has, sadly, a 6.5in. HD+ (1600x720px) IPS LCD screen with 90Hz refresh rates. At its price range, you can get a phone like the Realme Narzo 50 with FHD+ screens and a less outdated dot notch. The Nokia G21 feels out of place for the class as it is one of the very few phones at sub-Php 10K to still use the waterdrop cutout. The display is not even Full HD.
The chipset is also underpowered versus other phones at similar prices. It uses a 12nm UNISOC Tiger T606 processor which has the same performance as the Snapdragon 662 or the Mediatek Helio G80. Not a good sign as this is the type of chipset you will commonly find on sub-7K handsets. Other phones would have adjusted to either the Helio G95 or the Snapdragon 680 if it is a phone without 5G at this price range, and Dimensity 700 or 800U if it has 5G. It is paired with 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage.
The cameras are the usual flavour. A 50mp main camera along with the useless 2mp depth and macro. Cameras you would only normally see on phones at sub-Php5K. In this price range, you would normally see at least an ultrawide helper. The front camera is 8mp wherein others would have opted for 16mp, double the resolution.
Longevity is not the only selling point you should rely on. Yes, it is still using Stock Android or Android One plastered inside the device. There’s also a side-mounted fingerprint scanner and IPX2 water resistance which feels gimmicky. In terms of battery, it’s the usual 5050mAh battery with 18W fast charging.
SPECS:
- 6.5in. HD+ (1600x720px) IPS LCD, 90Hz refresh rate
- UNISOC Tiger T606 (12nm)
- CAMERAS:
- 50mp (main)
- 2mp (depth)
- 2mp (macro)
- FRONT: 8mp
- 5050mAh, 18W fast charging
- Android 11, Android One
- Wi-Fi ac, 5G services, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, IPX2 water resistance
- Side-mounted fingerprint scanner, 3.5mm jack, dual Nano-SIM
- Nordic Blue, Dusk
- PRICE:
- Php 9,990
The phone is available to pre-order and purchase on Nokia’s Shopee page.
Source: Nokia