Nokia G21 review: specs, battery & used prices

Summary

The Nokia G21 is Nokia's 2022 budget endurance model: a 6.5-inch 90 Hz LCD, a Unisoc T606, and a 5,050 mAh battery at a $190 launch price. Used 4/128 GB units sell for around $112 with a small sample — a phone for buyers whose entire requirement list fits on an index card.

Display and design

The 6.5-inch IPS LCD refreshes at 90 Hz with a 480-nit peak — screen quality 29/100 on our axis — in a 190 g body with compactness at 86/100. No formal IP rating; the clean Nordic design language is the brand's signature at this tier.

Performance

The Unisoc T606 is an entry-level platform, and our gaming score of 0/100 is the plainest statement we can make: this phone is not for games. Everyday responsiveness of 25/100 covers messaging, calls, and light browsing at a patient pace.

Camera

The camera pairs a 50 MP main sensor with a 2 MP close-up lens; our camera score of 16/100 sits near the catalog floor. Daylight snapshots in good light are the realistic envelope.

Battery and charging

The 5,050 mAh battery scores 41/100 on battery life — the phone's genuine selling point, running multiple days at this workload — while 18 W charging scores 0/100, the slowest routine we track. The 90 Hz refresh softens the entry-level panel's feel more than the resolution numbers suggest.

Verdict

At around $112 used, the Nokia G21 is a first-phone or backup-phone candidate: multi-day battery, clean software, and honest limitations. Anything beyond that mission profile — gaming, photography, heavy multitasking — belongs to a higher tier. The Galaxy A12 is the same-tier Samsung volume alternative; the Moto G30 adds a 90 Hz panel and an ultrawide lens nearby in price.