When I first held the Nokia G21 in my hands, a wave of nostalgia hit me. For many of us who grew up with Nokia’s legendary 1100 or Lumia phones, this brand still holds a special corner in our hearts. But 2025 is a different world. The smartphone market is full of feature-packed budget phones from Xiaomi, Realme, and Samsung. So, the big question is — does Nokia still stand a chance?
I spent a few days using the Nokia G21 as my daily driver to find out if the old Nokia spirit still lives on or if it’s just another name from the past. Let’s get into it.
First Impressions: The Classic Nokia Feel
Right out of the box, the Nokia G21 gives off that classic solid feel Nokia was always known for. The design is simple yet sturdy — it doesn’t scream for attention but feels dependable. The phone has a matte plastic finish at the back, which keeps fingerprints away and gives you a confident grip.
It’s slightly on the heavier side at 189 grams, but that adds to the solid “Nokia” vibe. The 8.5mm thickness makes it comfortable to hold even during long calls or movie sessions.
On the front, you get a 6.5-inch HD+ IPS display with a 90Hz refresh rate. Now, let’s be honest — at this price, the display isn’t something extraordinary, but it’s bright enough for indoor and outdoor use. I tested it under Indore’s afternoon sun, and it held up decently. The colors are fine, though a bit muted compared to AMOLED screens from competitors.
Display and Multimedia Experience
The waterdrop notch design looks a bit dated, but for a budget phone, that’s forgivable. The bezels, especially the chin, are quite thick. When watching YouTube videos, you’ll notice the black borders — not ideal, but still acceptable for casual viewing.
Brightness peaks around 400 nits, which is usable in most conditions. The side viewing angles are average; tilt it too much, and the display looks darker.
Audio-wise, the single bottom speaker is loud enough for daily use, but don’t expect any surround-sound magic. Headphone users will be happier — the 3.5mm jack is still here, and the output through wired earphones is surprisingly clear.
Performance: Not Built for Speed, But Stable
The Nokia G21 runs on the Unisoc T606 processor, paired with 4GB or 6GB of RAM depending on the variant. If you haven’t heard of Unisoc before, it’s not as popular as Snapdragon or MediaTek, but it gets the basic job done.
In daily tasks like calling, WhatsApp, Instagram, and YouTube, the phone handles smoothly. However, if you start multitasking heavily — like switching between Chrome, camera, and games — you’ll notice slight lags.
Here’s a quick look at its key specs:
| Feature | Nokia G21 Specification |
| Display | 6.5-inch HD+ IPS LCD (90Hz refresh rate) |
| Processor | Unisoc T606 |
| RAM/ROM | 4GB / 6GB RAM with 64GB / 128GB storage |
| Rear Camera | 50MP (main) + 2MP (macro) + 2MP (depth) |
| Front Camera | 8MP |
| Battery | 5050mAh with 18W fast charging (10W charger in box) |
| OS | Android 11 (Stock Android) |
| Weight | 189 grams |
I ran a few benchmark tests just out of curiosity — the AnTuTu score hovered around 1,99,000, which is decent for a 12,000–13,000 phone. In PUBG (or BGMI), it runs smoothly only at low or balanced settings. Frame drops do happen occasionally, but for casual gaming, it’s fine.
Camera: Decent Shots, Slow Processing
The 50MP main camera sounds great on paper, but in real-world use, it’s more of a mixed bag. In daylight, photos come out bright with good colors, but you’ll notice the details missing when you zoom in.
Portrait mode does a decent job of separating the subject from the background, but sometimes it over-blurs the edges. The 2MP depth sensor and 2MP macro lens are more like fillers — they work, but you won’t use them much.
What surprised me was the front 8MP camera. It captures realistic skin tones and works well for video calls. However, the shutter speed is slightly slow, which means you’ll have to stay still for a second to get a clear shot.
In low light, the pictures tend to lose sharpness and show a bit of grain. Nokia does offer a Night Mode, but it’s not very effective — it brightens the scene but softens the details.
Software Experience: Clean and Refreshing
One of the best things about the Nokia G21 is its stock Android experience. There’s no bloatware, no random ads, and no unnecessary notifications. It feels refreshing, especially when most budget phones today come loaded with unwanted apps.
The G21 runs on Android 11, but Nokia promises 2 years of Android updates and 3 years of security patches. This commitment to software support is where Nokia quietly shines. While the hardware may not compete head-to-head with Chinese rivals, the smooth, ad-free software experience gives it a clear edge for many users.
Battery Life: The Real Hero
If there’s one area where the Nokia G21 truly impressed me, it’s battery life. The 5050mAh battery easily lasts more than a day on medium usage — and if you’re a light user, you can stretch it to almost two days.
Streaming videos, using social media, and a bit of gaming didn’t drain it quickly. Nokia claims up to three days on a single charge, which might be possible with lighter use.
Charging, though, is a different story. While it supports 18W fast charging, the box only includes a 10W charger. It takes almost 2.5 hours for a full charge. I wish Nokia included a faster charger in the box, but maybe that’s part of their cost-cutting.
Why Nokia Still Feels Different
In a market full of flashy, spec-heavy phones, the Nokia G21 feels grounded. It doesn’t try too hard to impress with gimmicks. Instead, it focuses on stability, clean Android, and strong build quality — things Nokia has always been known for.
Of course, it’s not perfect. The display could have been brighter, the processor a bit more powerful, and the cameras faster. But when you hold it, you get that sense of reliability — the same feeling that made Nokia the “people’s phone” years ago.
So, Is Nokia Still Worth Buying in 2025?
That depends on what you expect from your phone. If you’re looking for high-end specs or heavy gaming performance, the Nokia G21 isn’t for you. But if you want a no-nonsense phone with clean software, long battery life, and the trust of a reliable brand, it’s worth considering.
At around 12,000, it offers decent value for everyday users — students, parents, or anyone who prefers a simple, stable smartphone without ads or drama.
Final Thoughts
Testing the Nokia G21 reminded me why people loved Nokia in the first place — not for flashy specs, but for its trustworthiness and simplicity. It’s not a phone that shouts for attention; it quietly gets the job done.
Sure, Nokia may not dominate the market like before, but with phones like the G21, it’s carving a niche for users who value clean Android, long battery life, and solid build quality over short-term hype.
If Nokia continues refining its software and pricing strategy, who knows? We might just see the legendary brand rise again in the coming years.