Going a digit behind the times, the Nokia G21 has arrived, attempting to deliver an affordable all-around package with an emphasis on battery life. Energy-saving tech and less powerful processing mean that Nokia claims you can wring three days of usage out of the G21 before reaching for the plug. Released earlier this year, the Nokia G21 slightly edges the battery stakes, offering 5050mAh and promising a cheaper, no-nonsense, easy-life smartphone experience, thanks to AI camera magic, extra security and a meaty 6.

I was sent the Nordic Blue model for review, although the phone also comes in a more muted Dusk colour.display supports a maximum refresh rate of 90Hz, it’s still only a simple IPS panel with a 720p resolution – and, as you’ll see later in this review, it’s pretty dire quality-wise. Currently, you’re seeing budget devices include some pretty impressive speakers; the unit here is mediocre. The review below goes into further detail as to why we weren’t all that impressed with the Nokia G21, but if you’re after a dirt-cheap smartphone, this discount makes it worth checking out.

High refresh screens have steadily been trickling in from the high end lately, but you won’t find anything above 60Hz for less than this. A clean and clear interface is always welcome, although these days we find ourselves pretty happy using most manufacturers’ third-party skins. It comes with a multi-functional magnet front protector as well which helps your case protect the front of the device via a glass protector. That being said, I don’t think the Nokia G21’s cameras can do enough to outweigh the phone’s long list of negatives. Does the G21 manage to retain smartphone quality, or does its striving for extra juice affect the experience?This is classic Nokia, which has for years been the primary proponent of “naked Android” initiatives such as Android Go and Android One. Sir Mo Farah has made his name by having it in abundance; so too Alexander the Great, Margaret Thatcher and Genghis Khan. In classic Samsung fashion, the company takes what’s popular and has made a bargain-bucket version of it for the masses. Thirty minutes of high-end gaming consumes 7% off the battery, suggesting that a full charge will last you a little over seven hours.

We don’t mind this less-saturated look at all –years of reviewing phones and their cameras tends to make you more sensitive to over saturation than the opposite – but you may feel differently. Shoot the same scene a second apart and the Nokia G21 might leave highlights overexposed in one photo, only to correctly handle them in the next. This doesn’t mean, however, that it should be given leeway when it comes to doing the basics – and more – correctly. In the Geekbench 5 single- and multicore tests, the Nokia G21 scored 311 and 1,190, which is about on a par with the Moto G31, but trails slightly behind the Nokia 5. The flip case with a stand function brings you more convenience to watch videos or play games anywhere, anytime.points to a screen that’s far from being considered colour-accurate, with wild inconsistencies throughout. The case is made of an environmentally friendly silicone and hard PC surface and has a built-in kickstand. The Nokia G21’s performance is uninspiring stuff, but nothing out of line with our expectations of a handset at this end of the market. The phone comes with a 50-megapixel primary sensor, which seems to be this week’s hot resolution, seen in flagship phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S22.