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MagyarNokia XR21 review - Robust smartphone for everyday tasks with IP69K certification
The Nokia XR21 from HMD Global is the direct successor to the Nokia XR20. The manufacturer keeps the same design concept, aiming to offer a particularly robust and long-lasting smartphone to the customers, without getting as bulky as classic rugged smartphones.
This already worked really well last year, and HMD has improved the XR21 in many areas, particularly its robustness. The battery capacity has increased, the refresh rate is higher, there is a new camera, and a more current SoC is also included. To make up for this, the MSRP has increased by 20 Euros (~$22) to 599 Euros (~$656), and the more affordable entry-level model with reduced storage is not available anymore.
27.07.2023: Android 13 is now available for the phone.
Possible Competitors in Comparison
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Drive | Size | Resolution | Best Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82.3 % | 06/2023 | Nokia XR21 SD 695 5G, Adreno 619 | 231 g | 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.49" | 2400x1080 | |
| 82.6 % | 12/2022 | Gigaset GX6 Dimensity 900, Mali-G68 MP4 | 278 g | 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.60" | 2412x1080 | |
| 81.9 % | 08/2022 | Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro SD 778G 5G, Adreno 642L | 235 g | 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.60" | 2408x1080 | |
| 88.5 % | 11/2022 | Google Pixel 7 Tensor G2, Mali-G710 MP7 | 197 g | 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.30" | 2400x1080 | |
| 79.7 % | 05/2023 | CAT S75 Dimensity 930, IMG BXM-8-256 | 268 g | 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.58" | 2408x1080 |
Case - The Nokia XR21 resists a 100-bar water stream
The Nokia XR21 is available in the colors Midnight Black and Pine Green. At a thickness of 10.45 mm (~0.41 in), it definitely is not a slim smartphone, but it is still slimmer than a classic rugged phone such as the CAT S75 and especially also noticeably lighter. However, the design still looks a bit aged, with the rather mediocre display-to-surface ratio of 77% also contributing to this impression.
The rubberized smartphone corners aren't very visible, but you can still feel them. HMD Global calls them dampening TPU shocks. The back is made of shock resistant polycarbonate, and the front is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. The Nokia XR21 leaves a high-quality and particularly robust impression, presenting itself with clean workmanship.
The smartphone is not only dust and waterproof according to IP68 but also offers an IP69K certification, allowing it to withstand a water stream with a pressure of 100 bars. Drops from a height of 1.8 meters (~5.9 ft) won't create any problems for the XR21. According to the MIL-STD-810H standard, it is certified against drops from a height of 1.5 meters (~4.9 ft) and can be used in temperatures between -20 and +55 °C (-4 to 131 °F). It can also be operated with wet hands or gloves.
The case of the Nokia XR21 is made of 100% recycled aluminum, and HMD Global also makes a short environment impact profile of the smartphone available.
Equipment - Nokia smartphone without microSD
In contrast to the XR20, the Nokia XR21 only offers a USB-2.0 port without giving the option for storage expansion via microSD card.
But at least, the audio port remains. Since connected headphones also serve as an antenna, the port is also necessary to operate the analog radio receiver. In addition, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, and two quick access keys are also available.
Software - Android 12 with 4 years of updates
The Nokia XR21 is still delivered with Google Android 12, which is kept very purely. But there are also several third-party apps preinstalled, which can all be uninstalled. HMD Global promises three large updates for the XR21 and monthly security patches for four years, starting from the global market introduction. While this initially sounds good, unfortunately the XR21 isn't delivered directly with Android 13, although version 14 is already in the starting blocks and the predecessor has even received the update already last year. In addition, the plan to distribute the security patches monthly is already not working, since at the time of this test, our test unit is still at the level of March 5, 2023.
July 27, 2023 update: An update to Android 13 is now available that includes July 2023 security patches.
Communication and GNSS - Wi-Fi 6 with the brakes applied
The Nokia XR21 supports all the current mobile communication standards including 5G-Sub6, offering an extensive amount of frequency bands, so that it should be able to create a connection without any trouble in most parts of the world. The communication characteristics are good in the city environment during our test.
Nominally, the XR21 supports Wi-Fi 6 just like last year's model. However, in the test with our Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 reference router, the transfer speeds turn out surprisingly low, even though they remain stable. The speeds are at the level of a rather mediocre ac WLAN. Although the speed was already not outstanding in the XR20, it was still significantly higher. Probably HMD Global will still make some improvements in this regard.
| Networking | |
| Nokia XR21 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 |
|
| Gigaset GX6 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz |
|
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz |
|
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz |
|
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz |
|
| Google Pixel 7 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz |
|
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz |
|
| CAT S75 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 |
|
| Nokia XR20 | |
| iperf3 transmit AX12 |
|
| iperf3 receive AX12 |
|
| Average of class Smartphone | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz |
|
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz |
|
| iperf3 receive AX12 |
|
The Nokia XR21 is able to use all global satellite networks and can even create a connection indoors. Even though the latter takes more time, it still finds a fairly accurate location within several seconds. As expected, this works much faster and is more accurate outdoors.
We compare the smartphone with a Garmin Venu 2 on a short bike ride. The difference in the recorded route is 60 meters (~197 ft) over an almost 10 km (~6,2 miles) total route, but XR21 reported a significantly higher amount of altitude traversed. The route recording is fairly accurate in the detail view, allowing us to attest the Nokia smartphone with good locating capabilities.
Telephone Functions and Voice Quality
The Nokia XR21 offers full dual-SIM support, either with two physical Nano-SIM cards or alternatively, you can also replace one of them with an eSIM. Other functions such as VoLTE and WLAN calls are also supported.
The voice quality is decent. In quiet surroundings, both conversation partners are easy to understand, sounding natural with a low amount of noise. Minor noise interference is filtered out. In speaker mode, we hear some slight accompanying crackling noise, and the microphones record spoken words only quietly.
Cameras - Nokia XR21 with a new dual-camera
The front camera of the Nokia XR21 has a 16-MP resolution, but since it uses pixel binning, the resulting pictures have a resolution of only 4.1 MP. The pictures are fairly decent and able to impress with an attractive image composition. But the sharpness could have turned out a bit higher. Videos are only recorded in Full HD at 30 FPS, and fast movements can also result in some visible streaking.
The dual-camera system in the back uses a main sensor with a 64-MP resolution. Unfortunately, it doesn't offer optical image stabilization (OIS). The images are characterized by a very natural color representation but in some places a bit dark. Although many details are lost in low light conditions, the resulting pictures are still decent with the objects still easily recognizable. You can only zoom digitally (8x max). The quality is okay up to a 2x zoom level, but at higher levels the results are hardly usable. The ultrawide angle offers a lower resolution than that of the XR20 but still does a decent job. The depth sharpness is okay, but the images could also be slightly brighter here.
The Nokia XR21 also offers a Pro mode including RAW support. The full 64-MP resolution of the main sensor can also be used. Videos can be recorded in 1,080p (16:9) at 30 or 60 FPS at best. The electronic image stabilization works fairly well, but unfortunately the autofocus refocuses from time to time. Using cinema mode, you can also record videos in 21:9 format at 24 FPS, with the user having the choice of recording at either 20 or 50 Mbps. Thanks to OZO audio, voices are recorded fairly clearly.
Image Comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
HauptkameraHauptkameraUltraweitwinkel5-facher ZoomLow-Light
Accessories and Warranty - Charger not included with the XR21
The box of the Nokia XR21 only includes a USB cable and a SIM tool. A corresponding charger is not included, but HMD Global optionally offers one for around 35 Euros (~$38).
The XR21 has a 36-month warranty and a one-year warranty for replacing a defective display.
Input Devices and Operation - Two quick-access keys
The capacitive touchscreen of the Nokia XR21 recognizes up to ten touch points simultaneously, implementing the commands quickly and accurately. The sliding characteristics of the glass surface are very good. The ERM vibration motor is powerful enough to be easily noticeable, but it has a rather spongy feedback.
The XR21 offers two quick access keys: one on top and another on the left side of the frame. Both can be configured individually and occupied with either system elements, apps, or an emergency function. The keys can distinguish a short or long press, allowing you to assign two functions to each of the keys.
A fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button is available for biometric security. While its speed is fairly decent, the recognition rates are rather average. Additionally or alternatively, you can also configure less secure face recognition using the front camera, which works very quickly and reliably. The user's face is still recognized in the dark, since the smartphone increases the brightness of the panel for this purpose.
Display - LCD with 120 Hz and rich contrast in the XR21
The LCD display of the Nokia XR21 has shrunk to 6.49 inches and offers a high pixel density at Full HD+. The refresh rate can be adjusted by the system, switching between 60 and 120 Hz automatically in this case. You can also set it directly to 60 Hz. Nominally, the panel supports the HDR standards HLG and HDR10, but this might be rather questionable due to the low brightness.
HMD Global specifies the brightness in sunlight at up to 550 Nits. We reach a maximum of 503 cd/m2 in our measurements with the brightness sensor remaining deactivated. When we activate it, we are only able to get a maximum of 495 cd/m2 from the smartphone. At 0.45 cd/m2, the black value is decent, resulting in a high contrast ratio of 1,118:1.
The advantage of an LCD is that pulse width modulation (PWM) isn't used to control the brightness. Using our oscilloscope, we only see a high-frequency flickering, but this shouldn't create any problems for even very sensitive users.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 94 %
Center on Battery: 503 cd/m²
Contrast: 1118:1 (Black: 0.45 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 2.4 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 1.9 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
99.5% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.22
| Nokia XR21 TFT-LCD, 2400x1080, 6.49 | Gigaset GX6 IPS, 2412x1080, 6.60 | Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro PLS, 2408x1080, 6.60 | Google Pixel 7 OLED, 2400x1080, 6.30 | CAT S75 IPS LCD, 2408x1080, 6.58 | Nokia XR20 IPS, 2400x1080, 6.67 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | -8% | -96% | 52% | -34% | -11% | |
| Brightness middle | 503 | 505 0% | 510 1% | 936 86% | 566 13% | 599 19% |
| Brightness | 487 | 491 1% | 495 2% | 947 94% | 529 9% | 598 23% |
| Brightness Distribution | 94 | 93 -1% | 92 -2% | 95 1% | 83 -12% | 99 5% |
| Black Level * | 0.45 | 0.3 33% | 0.46 -2% | 0.47 -4% | 0.33 27% | |
| Contrast | 1118 | 1683 51% | 1109 -1% | 1204 8% | 1815 62% | |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 2.4 | 4.32 -80% | 7.41 -209% | 1.3 46% | 5.02 -109% | 4.52 -88% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 6.6 | 7.22 -9% | 13.26 -101% | 2.7 59% | 9.6 -45% | 7.6 -15% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 1.9 | 3 -58% | 10.6 -458% | 1.4 26% | 4.4 -132% | 4.2 -121% |
| Gamma | 2.22 99% | 2.268 97% | 2.518 87% | 2.25 98% | 2.248 98% | 2.279 97% |
| CCT | 6602 98% | 7098 92% | 10050 65% | 6664 98% | 7173 91% | 7309 89% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 55100 Hz |  | |
The display backlight flickers at 55100 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) . The frequency of 55100 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 17900 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. | |||
The color reproduction of the display cannot be adjusted by the user, so we were very surprised that the white balance is at a very good level. Even though the color calibration isn't quite as exact and successful, it is still at a good level.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 22.54 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 8.912 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 13.63 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 45 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (21.5 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 42.05 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 18.9 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 23.15 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 66 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.7 ms). | ||
The brightness sensor responds a bit sluggishly to changing light conditions, but this can be tolerated. Unfortunately, the maximum brightness isn't particularly high, so that you can hardly see anything on the display in bright sunlight.
In terms of the colors, the viewing angle stability of the LCD is very good. Even from very steep viewing angles, there are hardly any color inversions, but the brightness drops sharply. In the dark, there are neither any noticeable ghosting effects nor halos.
Performance - The Nokia XR21 uses the Snapdragon 695 5G
The Nokia XR21 is run by a Snapdragon 695 5G with 6 GB of working memory. In terms of its performance, the SoC is positioned in the lower midrange, enabling an attractive system performance.
In the benchmarks, the SoC performs at the expected level, placing almost at the same level as the Dimensity 900 in the Gigaset GX6 in terms of the CPU speed. But it has no chance against the Snapdragon 778G from the XCover 6 Pro.
| CrossMark - Overall | |
| Google Pixel 7 | |
| Average of class Smartphone (200 - 1474, n=165, last 2 years) | |
| CAT S75 | |
| Nokia XR21 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (521 - 606, n=18) | |
| UL Procyon AI Inference for Android - Overall Score NNAPI | |
| Google Pixel 7 | |
| Average of class Smartphone (207 - 84787, n=150, last 2 years) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (5442 - 9348, n=15) | |
| Nokia XR21 | |
| CAT S75 | |
| AImark - Score v3.x | |
| Average of class Smartphone (298 - 245629, n=105, last 2 years) | |
| Google Pixel 7 | |
| CAT S75 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (426 - 3080, n=7) | |
| Nokia XR21 | |
The Adreno 619 is already an old hat, and unfortunately this is also noticeable in the benchmarks, with the Nokia XR21 placing more at the lower end of the comparison field in the GPU benchmarks.
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7: T-Rex Onscreen | 1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen
GFXBench 3.0: on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL | 1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen
GFXBench 3.1: on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | 1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen
GFXBench: on screen Car Chase Onscreen | 1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | 2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | 1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | 3840x2160 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen
| 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme Unlimited | |
| Google Pixel 7 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Gigaset GX6 | |
| Nokia XR21 | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme | |
| Google Pixel 7 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Gigaset GX6 | |
| Nokia XR21 | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Unlimited Score | |
| Google Pixel 7 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Gigaset GX6 | |
| Nokia XR21 | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Score | |
| Google Pixel 7 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Gigaset GX6 | |
| Nokia XR21 | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| CAT S75 | |
| 3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (Vulkan) Unlimited Physics | |
| Gigaset GX6 | |
| CAT S75 | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| 3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (Vulkan) Unlimited Graphics | |
| Gigaset GX6 | |
| CAT S75 | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| 3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (Vulkan) Unlimited | |
| Gigaset GX6 | |
| CAT S75 | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| 3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Physics | |
| Google Pixel 7 | |
| Gigaset GX6 | |
| Nokia XR21 | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| 3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Graphics | |
| Google Pixel 7 | |
| Gigaset GX6 | |
| Nokia XR21 | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| 3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited | |
| Google Pixel 7 | |
| Gigaset GX6 | |
| Nokia XR21 | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| CAT S75 | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Onscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Google Pixel 7 | |
| Nokia XR21 | |
| CAT S75 | |
| Gigaset GX6 | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Offscreen | |
| Google Pixel 7 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Gigaset GX6 | |
| Nokia XR21 | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| CAT S75 | |
| GFXBench 3.0 / Manhattan Onscreen OGL | |
| Google Pixel 7 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Gigaset GX6 | |
| CAT S75 | |
| Nokia XR21 | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| GFXBench 3.0 / 1080p Manhattan Offscreen | |
| Google Pixel 7 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Gigaset GX6 | |
| CAT S75 | |
| Nokia XR21 | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | |
| Google Pixel 7 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Gigaset GX6 | |
| Nokia XR21 | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| CAT S75 | |
| GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen | |
| Google Pixel 7 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Gigaset GX6 | |
| Nokia XR21 | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| CAT S75 | |
| GFXBench / Car Chase Onscreen | |
| Google Pixel 7 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Gigaset GX6 | |
| Nokia XR21 | |
| CAT S75 | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| GFXBench / Car Chase Offscreen | |
| Google Pixel 7 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Gigaset GX6 | |
| Nokia XR21 | |
| CAT S75 | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | |
| Google Pixel 7 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Gigaset GX6 | |
| Nokia XR21 | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| CAT S75 | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
| Google Pixel 7 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Gigaset GX6 | |
| Nokia XR21 | |
| CAT S75 | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | |
| Google Pixel 7 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Gigaset GX6 | |
| Nokia XR21 | |
| CAT S75 | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | |
| Google Pixel 7 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Gigaset GX6 | |
| Nokia XR21 | |
| CAT S75 | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| GFXBench / 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
| Google Pixel 7 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Gigaset GX6 | |
| Nokia XR21 | |
| CAT S75 | |
Surfing the web works without any problems with the Nokia XR21, but more complex websites tend to take a bit more time, which is also reflected in the benchmarks.
| Jetstream 2 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Smartphone (13.8 - 351, n=173, last 2 years) | |
| Google Pixel 7 (Chrome 106) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro (Chrome 104) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (48.6 - 105.3, n=19) | |
| CAT S75 (Chrome 114) | |
| Nokia XR21 (Chrome 114) | |
| Nokia XR20 (Chrome 92) | |
| Speedometer 2.0 - Result | |
| Average of class Smartphone (14.9 - 445, n=157, last 2 years) | |
| Google Pixel 7 (Chrome 106) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (38.7 - 80.1, n=16) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro (Chome 104) | |
| CAT S75 (Chrome 114) | |
| Nokia XR20 (Chome 92) | |
| WebXPRT 4 - Overall | |
| Average of class Smartphone (22 - 202, n=160, last 2 years) | |
| Google Pixel 7 (Chrome 106) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (58 - 111, n=18) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro (Chrome 104) | |
| CAT S75 (Chrome 114) | |
| Nokia XR21 (Chrome 114) | |
| WebXPRT 3 - Overall | |
| Average of class Smartphone (39 - 304, n=122, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro (Chrome 104) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (75 - 156, n=12) | |
| Google Pixel 7 (Chrome 106) | |
| CAT S75 (Chromee 114) | |
| Nokia XR20 (Chrome 92) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Google Pixel 7 | |
| Average of class Smartphone (2228 - 89112, n=214, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro (Chrome 104) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (17849 - 31647, n=21) | |
| Nokia XR21 (Chrome 114) | |
| Gigaset GX6 (Chrome 107) | |
| CAT S75 (Chrome 114) | |
| Nokia XR20 (Chrome 92) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| Nokia XR20 (Chrome 92) | |
| CAT S75 (Chrome 114) | |
| Nokia XR21 (Chrome 114) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (1298 - 2501, n=18) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro (Chrome 104) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (388 - 9999, n=173, last 2 years) | |
| Google Pixel 7 (Chrome 106) | |
* ... smaller is better
The Nokia XR21 offers 128 GB of UFS 2.2 storage, which turns out slower than we might expect from the specifications. However, this can be traced back to the SoC, since we have been observing the same behavior in all the smartphones with the SD695.
| Nokia XR21 | Gigaset GX6 | Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | Google Pixel 7 | CAT S75 | Nokia XR20 | Average 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | 3% | 21% | 76% | 60% | -7% | 14% | 108% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 509.76 | 953.5 87% | 841.6 65% | 1280.81 151% | 991.21 94% | 485 -5% | 706 ? 38% | 1508 ? 196% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 465.31 | 454.7 -2% | 484.7 4% | 879.39 89% | 878.23 89% | 452 -3% | 513 ? 10% | 1118 ? 140% |
| Random Read 4KB | 187.51 | 194.9 4% | 170.6 -9% | 210.47 12% | 221.56 18% | 174.8 -7% | 188.9 ? 1% | 247 ? 32% |
| Random Write 4KB | 167.51 | 39.9 -76% | 204.2 22% | 253.92 52% | 233.91 40% | 146.2 -13% | 180.6 ? 8% | 272 ? 62% |
Games - They run but it's rarely pretty
Although the integrated Adreno-619-GPU is already somewhat aged, it continues to be completely sufficient for most casual games. However, things can look very different with graphicly demanding games, two of which we analyzed in more detail with GameBench.
In PUBG Mobile, you can select the HD setting at best and that is then also limited to 30 FPS. But at least those remain stable. In Genshin Impact, you should forego the highest detail level, since there continue to be some clear stutters with that setting. On the other hand, if you use the medium detail settings, you can already play fairly comfortably, even if the frame rates are reduced.
Emissions - The Nokia XR21 can get quite hot
Temperatures
While the surface temperatures of the Nokia XR21 give absolutely no reason for concern during idle operation, they increase under constant load. We simulated this using the Burnout benchmark, reaching higher than the 50 ºC mark (122 ºF). However, since such a high load will only very rarely occur in everyday operation, we don't consider this critical.
The SoC is not impacted by all the stress tests, always delivering a stabile performance.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 51 °C / 124 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 53.5 °C / 128 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 31 °C / 88 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.
3DMark Wild Life Stress Test
| 3DMark | |
| Wild Life Stress Test Stability | |
| Gigaset GX6 | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Nokia XR21 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Google Pixel 7 | |
| Wild Life Extreme Stress Test | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro | |
| Gigaset GX6 | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Nokia XR21 | |
| Google Pixel 7 | |
Speakers
The two speakers of the Nokia XR21 can get very loud, although their sound is only average. Particularly at full volume, they sound very tinny and make clanging noises. But if you don't turn up the volume too high, you will still get an acceptable quality.
The sound output via the 3.5 mm audio port (SNR: 70.21 dBFS), which is able to deliver a decent signal-to-noise ratio, is better. For a wireless connection, you can use Bluetooth 5.1, which supports a wide range of audio codecs (SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX TWS+, and LDAC).
Nokia XR21 audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (90 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 26.7% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (6.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.1% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (6.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.2% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (3.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (19.8% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 24% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 68% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 45% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 48% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Gigaset GX6 audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (80.2 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 29.4% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (8.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 5% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (6.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.9% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (3.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (22.4% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 41% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 52% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 60% of all tested devices were better, 6% similar, 33% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Battery Life - Nokia smartphone with 4,800 mAh
Power Consumption
The power consumption of the Nokia XR21 is not too high overall. However, it could have been lower at the maximum brightness level, even though it isn't very bright.
The battery has a capacity of 4,800 mAh and can be charged at up to 33 watts. To do that, the charger has to either support QC 3.0 or PD 2.0. Using a fast charger that fulfilled this requirement, the smartphone is fully recharged after 136 minutes. The 25% mark is reached after 17 minutes, the 50% mark after 67 minutes, 80% after 96 minutes, and 90% after 103 minutes.
| Off / Standby |   0.02 / 0.22 Watt |
| Idle |  0.83 / 2.29 / 2.32 Watt |
| Load |
4.41 / 6.12 Watt |
    
| |
| Nokia XR21 4800 mAh | Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro 4050 mAh | Google Pixel 7 4355 mAh | CAT S75 5000 mAh | Nokia XR20 4630 mAh | Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | 3% | 26% | 12% | 32% | 11% | -1% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 0.83 | 0.9 -8% | 0.89 -7% | 1.1 -33% | 0.7 16% | 0.886 ? -7% | 0.897 ? -8% |
| Idle Average * | 2.29 | 1.4 39% | 1.07 53% | 1.5 34% | 1.1 52% | 1.76 ? 23% | 1.452 ? 37% |
| Idle Maximum * | 2.32 | 1.8 22% | 1.2 48% | 1.9 18% | 1.6 31% | 1.92 ? 17% | 1.629 ? 30% |
| Load Average * | 4.41 | 4.7 -7% | 3.27 26% | 3.2 27% | 2.7 39% | 3.86 ? 12% | 5.55 ? -26% |
| Load Maximum * | 6.12 | 8.1 -32% | 5.5 10% | 5.2 15% | 4.9 20% | 5.45 ? 11% | 8.31 ? -36% |
* ... smaller is better
Power Consumption: Geekbench (150 cd/m²)
Power Consumption: GFXBench (150 cd/m²)
Battery Life
In terms of the battery life, just because of its large battery, the Nokia XR21 is able to leave many competitors in the comparison field behind. While it also delivers good run times during our test, the battery life of up to two days advertised by HMD Global can probably only be reached in practice, if the smartphone is used moderately.
| Nokia XR21 4800 mAh | Gigaset GX6 5000 mAh | Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro 4050 mAh | Google Pixel 7 4355 mAh | CAT S75 5000 mAh | Nokia XR20 4630 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | 15% | -28% | -21% | 2% | -15% | |
| Reader / Idle | 2344 | 1321 -44% | 1063 -55% | 1786 -24% | ||
| H.264 | 1085 | 856 -21% | 1230 13% | 895 -18% | ||
| WiFi v1.3 | 875 | 1002 15% | 768 -12% | 731 -16% | 896 2% | 927 6% |
| Load | 400 | 266 -33% | 302 -24% | 301 -25% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict - A slim rugged phone for everyday tasks
The Nokia XR21 doesn't really want to be seen as a real rugged smartphone but more as a robust companion for everyday tasks. With its IP69K certification, shock proof construction, and wide range of operating temperatures, the smartphone from HMD Global can easily fulfill this aspiration. In addition, the manufacturer also includes two quick access keys for a total of four different actions on button press. The powerful 4,800-mAh battery also delivers a really good battery life.
The Nokia XR21 is a tough everyday companion with a potentially long life.
With the competitors, you will also look in vain for a similar expanded warranty of 36 months with an additional warranty on the display. The nominally long update periods is slightly marred by the fact that the XR21 is still delivered with Android 12, even though the XR20 predecessor has already received Android 13. The WLAN speed also turns out slightly slower than expected. On the other hand, you get full dual-SIM including eSIM support. Only the display could have been brighter.
With an even more modular design, the Gigaset GX6 presents itself as an alternative, and the Galaxy XCover 6 Pro is probably also an interesting choice.
July 27, 2023 update: Android 13 is now available.
Price and Availability
The Nokia XR21 can be purchased directly from the manufacturer's online store for ~$500.
Nokia XR21
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06/21/2023 v7
Daniel Schmidt
Transparency
The present review sample was made available to the author as a loan by the manufacturer or a shop for the purposes of review. The lender had no influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review.
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