Nokia XR21 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 XR21 is a rugged smartphone that combines toughness and innovative features. With its IP68/IP69K rating, it can withstand water submersion up to 1.5 meters for 60 minutes and endure drops from a height of 1.8 meters. The device boasts a 6.49-inch IPS LCD display with Gorilla Glass Victus protection, delivering crisp visuals. Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G chipset and 6GB of RAM, it offers smooth performance. The dual rear camera setup captures stunning photos with a 64MP main lens and an 8MP ultrawide lens. The 4800mAh battery ensures long-lasting usage, and the 33W wired charging quickly replenishes it. With a price tag starting at €554.82, the Nokia XR21 offers great value for those seeking a durable and feature-rich smartphone.

Design and Build Quality

The Nokia XR21 boasts a design that combines durability and functionality. With its rugged build, it is designed to withstand harsh conditions and accidental drops. The device features a glass front with Gorilla Glass Victus, a plastic back, and a plastic frame. Its IP68/IP69K rating ensures resistance to dust and water, allowing it to be submerged up to 1.5m for 60 minutes. The phone is also drop-resistant from up to 1.8m and MIL-STD-810H compliant. These features make the XR21 suitable for outdoor activities and challenging environments.

In terms of physical appearance, the Nokia XR21 has a sleek and premium look. Its dimensions of 168 x 78.6 x 10.5 mm and weight of 231g provide a solid and robust feel. The 6.49-inch IPS LCD display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus and offers a 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring a smooth and responsive touch experience. The slim bezels and 77% screen-to-body ratio enhance the immersive viewing experience.

The device's design elements focus on ergonomics and one-handed usability. The placement of buttons and controls, including a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, allows for easy access and comfortable handling. The textured back panel provides a secure grip, further enhancing the phone's usability in various conditions.

Overall, the Nokia XR21 excels in its build quality, construction, and form factor. It combines a rugged exterior with a sleek design to create a device that not only withstands tough conditions but also offers a premium look and feel.

Display

The Nokia XR21 boasts a 6.49-inch IPS LCD display with a screen-to-body ratio of approximately 77.0%. This sizable screen provides an immersive viewing experience for users. The display has a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, offering a pixel density of around 406 pixels per inch. This ensures sharp and detailed visuals, making it suitable for multimedia consumption and gaming.

With a 120Hz refresh rate, the display of the XR21 delivers smooth and fluid scrolling and animations, enhancing the overall user experience. The high refresh rate also contributes to improved touch responsiveness, making interactions with the device feel more immediate and seamless.

The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, which provides excellent resistance against scratches and drops. This robust protection ensures the durability of the screen, making it suitable for rugged usage.

In terms of brightness, the XR21 offers 450 nits of typical brightness and 550 nits of maximum brightness (HBM). This allows for good visibility even in bright outdoor conditions. Additionally, the display supports HDR (High Dynamic Range) content, providing enhanced contrast and vibrant colors for a more immersive visual experience.

The XR21's display also benefits from wide viewing angles, allowing for comfortable viewing from different orientations. It is worth mentioning that the device features an anti-reflective coating, which helps reduce glare and improves visibility under direct sunlight.

Moreover, the XR21 offers an always-on display feature, allowing users to check notifications, time, and other important information at a glance without waking up the device. Additionally, it includes a blue light filter and adaptive brightness, which help reduce eye strain and optimize the display's brightness according to the surrounding lighting conditions.

Overall, the display of the Nokia XR21 provides a combination of sharpness, smoothness, and durability, making it suitable for users who prioritize a vibrant and immersive visual experience.

Performance

The Nokia XR21 boasts impressive performance capabilities thanks to its powerful chipset and efficient GPU. Equipped with the Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) chipset, this smartphone delivers smooth multitasking and lag-free performance. The octa-core CPU, consisting of 2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold and 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver cores, ensures fast app loading speeds and efficient processor performance.

When it comes to gaming, the Nokia XR21 provides a stellar experience. The Adreno 619 GPU handles graphics-intensive games with ease, delivering stunning visuals and smooth gameplay. The GPU benchmarks of the XR21 showcase its impressive graphics scores, demonstrating its gaming capabilities. Gamers can expect a seamless gaming experience without any lag or stuttering.

In terms of overall performance, the Nokia XR21 excels in system optimization and thermal management. The smartphone's software is optimized to provide a smooth user experience, allowing for seamless navigation and effortless multitasking. The device's thermal management ensures that it stays cool even during extended gaming sessions, preventing any performance throttling.

The Nokia XR21 has also performed well in benchmark tests, showcasing its performance metrics. The synthetic benchmarks reveal the device's impressive processor efficiency and GPU efficiency, further emphasizing its capabilities. Gaming benchmarks highlight the smartphone's ability to handle graphically demanding games, earning it high scores in performance analysis.

Overall, the Nokia XR21 delivers a powerful performance that caters to both regular usage and gaming needs. With its efficient chipset, impressive GPU benchmarks, and smooth multitasking abilities, this smartphone offers a smooth and lag-free user experience. Whether it's loading apps, playing games, or multitasking between various applications, the Nokia XR21 ensures a seamless and enjoyable experience.

Software and User Interface

The Nokia XR21 runs on the Android 12 operating system, offering users the latest features and improvements in terms of performance, security, and user experience. Android 12 brings a refreshed design with a more customizable interface, allowing users to personalize their device according to their preferences. This includes options to change themes, icons, and fonts, creating a unique look and feel. The operating system also introduces new privacy features, such as enhanced app permissions and the ability to easily disable app tracking.

In terms of customization, the Nokia XR21 offers a range of options to tailor the device to individual preferences. Users can easily rearrange and customize the home screen layout, add widgets, and choose from a variety of wallpapers. The device also supports various launchers and icon packs, allowing for further customization and personalization.

When it comes to pre-installed apps, the Nokia XR21 provides a clean and bloatware-free experience. This means that users won't have unnecessary apps taking up storage space or cluttering the interface. The device comes with essential Google apps pre-installed, such as Gmail, Google Maps, and Google Assistant, ensuring users have access to the core functionality they need.

The user interface of the Nokia XR21 is designed to be user-friendly and intuitive. Navigating through the device is smooth and responsive, thanks to the powerful hardware and optimized software. The inclusion of features like a side-mounted fingerprint sensor adds convenience and enhances the overall user experience.

Overall, the software of the Nokia XR21 offers a seamless and user-friendly experience, with the latest Android version, customization options, and a clean interface free from bloatware. Users can expect a smooth and efficient performance, allowing them to make the most out of their device.

Camera

The Nokia XR21 boasts a powerful dual-camera setup that captures stunning images and videos in various conditions. With a primary 64 MP lens and an 8 MP ultrawide lens, this smartphone offers versatility and exceptional image quality. The wide aperture of f/1.8 allows for excellent low-light sensitivity, enhancing the phone's performance in challenging lighting situations. The camera's focal length and sensor size contribute to sharpness and detail in both daylight and indoor photography. Whether you're capturing landscapes or close-up shots, the XR21 produces vibrant and natural colors, thanks to its advanced image processing capabilities. The camera's image stabilization technology ensures steady shots, even when capturing moving subjects or shooting videos on the go. The device excels in night photography as well, with effective noise reduction and a dedicated night mode that enhances low-light performance. Additionally, the XR21 offers a range of camera features such as portrait mode, HDR, panorama mode, and pro mode, allowing users to unleash their creativity and capture professional-grade shots. When it comes to video recording, the XR21 supports 4K video with excellent video stabilization, ensuring smooth and cinematic footage. Slow-motion video and time-lapse capabilities further add to the device's versatility. Overall, the Nokia XR21's camera is a standout feature, delivering impressive image and video capabilities for photography enthusiasts.

Battery Life

The Nokia XR21 is equipped with a non-removable Li-Po 4800mAh battery, which ensures long-lasting power for your daily usage. With its power-efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G chipset and optimized software, the battery performance of the XR21 is impressive. The device supports fast charging, with a 33W wired charger included in the package. This means you can quickly juice up your phone and get back to using it in no time. Additionally, the XR21 also supports PD2.0 and QC3 charging technologies, adding versatility to its charging capabilities. The battery optimization features of the device, combined with its power-efficient chipset, help maximize battery life and minimize unnecessary drain. The battery backup of the XR21 is reliable, providing you with ample screen-on time and standby time. While wireless charging is not mentioned, the device's robust battery capacity and efficient charging options make the XR21 a reliable choice for users seeking long-lasting battery performance.

Connectivity and Networking

The Nokia XR21 offers an array of connectivity options to keep you connected wherever you go. With support for GSM, HSPA, LTE, and 5G networks, you can enjoy fast and reliable data speeds. The device also comes with dual SIM capabilities, allowing you to use two different phone numbers on the same device. When it comes to wireless connectivity, the Nokia XR21 is equipped with Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, ensuring compatibility with the latest Wi-Fi standards. Bluetooth 5.1 is also present, enabling seamless pairing with other devices and providing efficient data transfer. Additionally, NFC technology is available, allowing for convenient contactless payments and easy pairing with other NFC-enabled devices. The Nokia XR21 features a USB Type-C 2.0 port, providing a fast and reliable wired connection for charging and data transfer. GPS is included for accurate navigation, and the device supports multiple positioning systems such as GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, and QZSS. Overall, the Nokia XR21 offers a robust range of connectivity features, ensuring you stay connected and enjoy a seamless user experience.

Additional Features

- The Nokia XR21 comes with standout features that make it a rugged smartphone designed to withstand tough conditions. It has an IP68/IP69K rating for water and dust resistance, allowing it to be submerged in water up to 1.5m for 60 minutes. The device is also drop-to-concrete resistant from up to 1.8m and MIL-STD-810H compliant, ensuring durability in various environments.

- In addition to its ruggedness, the Nokia XR21 offers advanced sensors including an accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, compass, and barometer. These sensors provide a range of functionalities such as motion tracking, environmental monitoring, and enhanced user experiences.

- The smartphone supports wireless charging, including Qi wireless charging, allowing for convenient and cable-free charging. This feature eliminates the need for tangled wires and ensures hassle-free charging on the go.

- With its impressive water and dust resistance, advanced sensor suite, and wireless charging capabilities, the Nokia XR21 is a reliable and durable smartphone suitable for outdoor enthusiasts, adventurers, and those working in challenging environments.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

The Nokia XR21 is a rugged smartphone that aims to stand out in the market with its durability and long-lasting performance. When comparing it with related gadgets in the market, such as the Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro and the CAT S62 Pro, the Nokia XR21 holds its ground with its impressive specifications and features.

In terms of design and durability, the Nokia XR21 boasts an IP68/IP69K dust/water resistance rating, allowing it to withstand submersion in water up to 1.5 meters for 60 minutes. It also offers drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.8 meters and is MIL-STD-810H compliant. This puts it on par with the CAT S62 Pro, which is known for its ruggedness.

When it comes to performance, the Nokia XR21 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G chipset, coupled with 6GB of RAM. While not as powerful as flagship devices like the Samsung Galaxy S21, it still delivers smooth multitasking and efficient performance. The CAT S62 Pro, on the other hand, features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset, which is slightly less powerful than the XR21's chipset.

In terms of camera capabilities, the Nokia XR21 sports a dual-camera setup with a 64MP main sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide sensor. This allows for high-quality photos and videos. The Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro, in comparison, features a dual-camera setup with a 25MP main sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide sensor.

When considering pricing, the Nokia XR21 is positioned as a mid-range rugged smartphone, with a price tag of around €554.82 / $725.45 / £478.00. This places it in direct competition with devices like the Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro and the CAT S62 Pro, which are also priced similarly.

Overall, the Nokia XR21 offers a competitive package with its rugged design, solid performance, and capable camera system. While it may not offer the same level of performance as flagship devices, it provides a cost-effective option for those in need of a durable smartphone that can withstand harsh environments.

Pros and Cons