Nokia C21 Plus Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

The Nokia C21 Plus is a budget-friendly smartphone that packs a punch. With its sleek design and durable build, it offers a premium feel at an affordable price. The 6.52-inch IPS LCD display provides a vibrant and immersive viewing experience. Powered by the Android 11 Go edition, it ensures smooth performance with its Unisoc SC9863A chipset and octa-core processor. Capture stunning photos with the dual 13MP + 2MP main camera setup, and take impressive selfies with the 5MP front camera. The Nokia C21 Plus also offers ample storage options, with variants available in 32GB and 64GB. The long-lasting Li-Ion battery and fingerprint sensor add convenience to your daily usage. Available in Dark Cyan and Warm Gray, this device is the perfect companion for those seeking a feature-packed smartphone without breaking the bank. Prices start at €109.99 / $233.00 / £86.50 / ₹9,700.

Design and Build Quality

The Nokia C21 Plus features a design that is simple yet aesthetically pleasing. It sports a sleek and compact form factor with dimensions of 164.8 x 75.9 x 8.6 mm, making it comfortable to hold and easy to carry. The device weighs 178 g or 191 g, depending on the variant, which adds to its portability.

The phone has a glass front, an aluminum frame, and a plastic back, giving it a premium look and feel. The combination of these materials ensures durability and robustness, making it capable of withstanding daily wear and tear. The construction of the phone is solid, and the fit and finish are commendable.

The Nokia C21 Plus features a 6.52-inch IPS LCD display with slim bezels, offering an immersive viewing experience. The scratch-resistant glass provides added protection for the screen, ensuring that it remains free from scratches and marks.

In terms of ergonomics, the placement of buttons and controls on the device is well thought out, enabling easy one-handed usability. The back panel of the phone has a textured finish, which enhances grip and prevents accidental slips.

Overall, the Nokia C21 Plus boasts a sleek design with premium finishing touches. Its sturdy build quality, coupled with its lightweight and portable nature, makes it an attractive option for users seeking a reliable and stylish smartphone.

Display

The Nokia C21 Plus features a 6.52-inch IPS LCD display with a screen-to-body ratio of approximately 82.1%. With a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels and a pixel density of around 269 ppi, the display offers decent clarity and sharpness for everyday use. The aspect ratio of 20:9 provides a narrow and elongated screen, making it suitable for media consumption and multitasking. While it may not offer the highest resolution or pixel density compared to more premium devices, it still delivers satisfactory visuals for its price range.

In terms of color accuracy and vibrancy, the Nokia C21 Plus's display performs reasonably well, allowing for enjoyable multimedia experiences. The brightness levels are adequate, ensuring good visibility even in outdoor environments, although direct sunlight may still pose some challenges. The display also lacks features like HDR and a wide color gamut, which are commonly found in higher-end smartphones.

The Nokia C21 Plus's display offers decent viewing angles, allowing for comfortable viewing from different orientations. However, it does not come with an anti-reflective coating, so reflections may be more noticeable in brightly lit environments. Additionally, the device does not have a notch design, which some users may prefer for a more uninterrupted display. The bezels surrounding the screen are noticeable but not overly thick.

Unfortunately, there is no mention of any display protection such as Gorilla Glass, which could potentially affect the screen's durability and resistance to scratches. The device also lacks features like an always-on display and a blue light filter for added convenience and eye comfort. However, it does come with adaptive brightness, which adjusts the screen brightness based on ambient lighting conditions, and screen calibration options to fine-tune the display settings according to personal preferences.

Performance

The Nokia C21 Plus is powered by the Unisoc SC9863A chipset, which is built on a 28nm process. The octa-core CPU consists of four Cortex-A55 cores clocked at 1.6 GHz and four Cortex-A55 cores clocked at 1.2 GHz. This configuration ensures a decent level of performance for everyday tasks and light multitasking. However, it may struggle with more demanding applications and heavy multitasking scenarios.

In terms of GPU performance, the Nokia C21 Plus features the IMG8322 GPU. While this GPU is not known for its high-end gaming capabilities, it should be sufficient for casual gaming and less graphically intensive titles. Gaming experience on the Nokia C21 Plus is likely to be smooth for simpler games, but it may struggle with more demanding games that require higher graphics settings.

To assess the performance of the Nokia C21 Plus, it is important to consider benchmark tests and scores. Unfortunately, there is limited information available regarding benchmark scores for this specific device. However, it is reasonable to expect that the device's performance will be in line with other smartphones in its price range.

The overall performance of the Nokia C21 Plus should provide a smooth user experience for everyday tasks such as web browsing, social media, and multimedia consumption. App loading speeds and multitasking performance should be adequate for most users. However, it is important to note that the device's 2GB or 3GB RAM options may limit its ability to handle heavy multitasking or memory-intensive applications.

The Nokia C21 Plus benefits from system optimization, which helps enhance its performance and provide a lag-free experience. Additionally, thermal management is crucial for maintaining performance over extended periods. While specifics about the device's thermal management capabilities are not readily available, it is expected to handle normal usage scenarios without significant overheating issues.

In summary, the Nokia C21 Plus offers a decent level of performance for its price range. Its chipset and GPU combination allows for smooth operation of everyday tasks and casual gaming. While it may struggle with more demanding applications and heavy multitasking, it should provide a satisfactory user experience for most users. However, it is important to consider the device's limited RAM options and keep expectations in check for high-end gaming or resource-intensive tasks.

Software and User Interface

The Nokia C21 Plus runs on the Android 11 (Go edition) operating system, providing users with access to the latest features and security updates. Being a Go edition, it is optimized for entry-level devices, ensuring smooth performance even with limited hardware resources. The software offers a clean and user-friendly interface, making it easy for users to navigate and operate the device. It comes with minimal bloatware and pre-installed apps, allowing users to customize their device according to their preferences. This ensures that users have more control over the apps and features they want to use, without unnecessary clutter. The Android 11 (Go edition) also offers improved privacy and security features, protecting user data and providing a safe browsing experience. With regular updates, users can expect the software to stay up to date and enjoy the latest improvements and enhancements. Overall, the software on the Nokia C21 Plus provides a user-friendly and customizable experience, making it suitable for users who prefer a clean and streamlined interface without unnecessary frills.

Camera

The Nokia C21 Plus comes equipped with a dual-camera setup on the rear, featuring a 13-megapixel primary lens and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. While the camera specifications may not be at par with flagship devices, it offers decent functionality for everyday photography needs. With its wide aperture and autofocus capability, the Nokia C21 Plus captures images with sufficient sharpness and detail in daylight conditions. The camera's image stabilization feature helps in reducing motion blur and ensuring steady shots. The device performs reasonably well in outdoor photography, producing images with natural colors and a good dynamic range. However, in low-light situations, the camera struggles a bit and may require the use of the built-in LED flash for better results. The Nokia C21 Plus also offers various camera features such as portrait mode, HDR, and panorama mode. It supports video recording at 1080p resolution, but lacks 4K video capability. The camera's video stabilization feature ensures smooth footage, and users can also experiment with slow-motion and time-lapse video recording. Overall, while the Nokia C21 Plus may not excel in terms of camera performance, it offers a satisfactory photography experience for its price range.

Battery Life

The Nokia C21 Plus is powered by a non-removable Li-Ion battery with a capacity of either 4000mAh or 5050mAh, depending on the variant. This sizable battery ensures a decent battery life, allowing users to go through their day without constantly worrying about running out of power. The phone supports 10W wired charging, which is not particularly fast but gets the job done. Unfortunately, the Nokia C21 Plus does not support wireless charging, so users will have to rely on traditional wired charging methods. The battery performance of the device is generally satisfactory, providing a reliable backup for everyday use. The phone also offers battery optimization features to maximize power efficiency and increase battery longevity. With these features, users can expect a decent screen-on time and standby time without excessive battery drain. Overall, the Nokia C21 Plus delivers a decent battery experience, ensuring that users can stay connected and productive throughout the day.

Connectivity and Networking

The Nokia C21 Plus offers a range of connectivity options to keep you connected on the go. It supports 4G LTE network compatibility, ensuring fast data speeds for browsing, streaming, and downloading. With its dual SIM capability, you can easily manage two different phone numbers on one device, allowing for greater convenience. When it comes to wireless connectivity, the Nokia C21 Plus features Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, providing reliable and fast internet access. Bluetooth 4.2 is also available, allowing you to connect wirelessly to other devices such as headphones or speakers. While it does not support NFC, the phone comes with a microUSB 2.0 port for charging and data transfer. Additionally, the Nokia C21 Plus includes GPS for navigation purposes, ensuring you can easily find your way around. Overall, the Nokia C21 Plus offers a solid range of connectivity features, making it a practical choice for staying connected on the go.

Additional Features

The Nokia C21 Plus comes with a range of standout features that enhance its functionality and user experience. While the device does not have water resistance or an official IP rating for being dustproof, it does offer splash protection. This means that it can withstand minor splashes and accidental spills.

In terms of additional features, the Nokia C21 Plus is equipped with an accelerometer, which allows it to detect motion and orientation changes. This sensor is useful for various applications, including gaming and fitness tracking. The device also includes other sensors like a proximity sensor, which enables it to detect the presence of nearby objects, and an ambient light sensor, which adjusts the screen brightness based on the surrounding lighting conditions.

However, it is important to note that the Nokia C21 Plus does not support wireless charging or have advanced environmental sensors like a gyroscope. Nonetheless, it offers a range of useful features that make it a reliable and affordable smartphone option.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

The Nokia C21 Plus is a budget-friendly smartphone that offers decent features at an affordable price point. When comparing it to related gadgets in the market, it is important to consider its specifications, performance, and value for money.

In terms of competitors, the Nokia C21 Plus faces tough competition from other budget smartphones such as the Xiaomi Redmi 9 and the Realme C11. These devices offer similar features and specifications at a comparable price range. However, the Nokia C21 Plus stands out with its clean and stock Android experience, which some users may prefer over the heavily customized interfaces of its competitors.

In terms of specifications, the Nokia C21 Plus features a 6.52-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels. While the resolution may not be the highest, it still offers decent clarity for everyday use. The device is powered by the Unisoc SC9863A chipset, which is an entry-level processor. It is paired with either 2GB or 3GB of RAM, depending on the variant, which may limit its multitasking capabilities compared to devices with higher RAM capacities.

When it comes to the camera, the Nokia C21 Plus sports a dual-camera setup on the rear, consisting of a 13MP primary lens and a 2MP depth sensor. The performance of the camera is decent for its price range, but it may not compete with devices that offer more advanced camera systems.

One advantage of the Nokia C21 Plus is its large 4000mAh or 5050mAh battery, which provides good battery life for everyday usage. However, it only supports 10W wired charging, which may not be as fast as some of its competitors that offer faster charging technologies.

In terms of pricing, the Nokia C21 Plus is positioned as an affordable option for budget-conscious consumers. Its pricing varies depending on the region, but it offers good value for money considering its features and specifications.

Overall, the Nokia C21 Plus competes well in the budget smartphone segment with its clean Android experience, decent specifications, and affordable price point. While it may not have the most advanced features or performance compared to higher-end devices, it offers a solid option for those looking for a budget-friendly smartphone.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Nokia C21 Plus offers a budget-friendly option for those seeking a reliable smartphone experience. With its solid build and splash protection, it provides durability for everyday use. The 6.52-inch IPS LCD display delivers decent visuals, although the resolution could be sharper. The device runs on Android 11 (Go edition) and is powered by the Unisoc SC9863A chipset, ensuring smooth performance for essential tasks. The storage options are adequate, and the dual-camera setup captures decent photos in well-lit conditions. However, the 5MP selfie camera might not satisfy selfie enthusiasts. The battery life is decent, but the 10W wired charging is relatively slow. Overall, the Nokia C21 Plus is a suitable choice for buyers on a budget, offering essential features at an affordable price point.