The Nokia T21 features a similar design to the T20, but with a few improvements. Is it, however, a better option than the Oppo Pad Air, Amazon Fire HD 10, or Samsung Galaxy Tab A8? That is what we will discover in this review.
Nokia returned to the tablet market in late 2021 with the T20, a low-cost 10-inch tablet with a sleek appearance. The corporation has now followed up with a replacement.
Design & build
- Charcoal grey aluminum finish
- IP52 rating
- MicroSD slot for expanding storage
With a thin frame and a premium-feeling aluminum shell, the Nokia T21 lives up to the design benchmark set by its predecessor. Nokia has ditched the blue for a more modest charcoal grey.
The tablet is 7.5mm thick and weighs 471g, making it ideal for fitting inside a bag while being light in the hand. There is no case included in the package, however Nokia sells a variety of accessories to protect it from knocks and bumps. It has an IP52 certification, which means it is resistant to light dust and water spray.
A USB-C charging connector is located on the bottom, while a 3.5mm headphone jack is located in the right-hand corner. The power button is on the top edge, and the volume controls, as well as a detachable tray that can receive both a SIM card (on LTE variants) and a microSD card, are on the right side.
The tablet does not come with a pen or keyboard, and there are no official Nokia T21 variants available. Third-party Bluetooth keyboards – and potentially a pen – should still work.
Screen & speakers
- 10.36in display
- 2K screen with 5:3 aspect ratio
- Stereo speakers with OZO software
Nokia has chosen a 10.36in screen with a 5:3 aspect ratio once more. Most tablets feature a 4:3 screen, which is somewhat broader but not ‘widescreen’ like a television.
The 2K IPS display is shielded by reinforced glass that is scratch resistant. As a low-cost gadget, it has a 60Hz screen with no high or variable refresh rate. The maximum brightness is 360 nits, which is a decrease from the previous generation.
Objectively, this is sufficient for indoor usage, but in broad sunshine, it can be difficult to see what’s on the screen, not least since the glass, like other tablets, is highly reflective.
The colors are adequate, and you may choose between natural, enhanced, and adaptable based on your preferences. The quality is superior to that of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8, which only has an FHD panel.
A pattern/passcode or face unlock may be used to unlock the tablet. I discovered that the latter functioned consistently, even while I was wearing glasses. Unfortunately, there is no fingerprint scanner, which is a more secure choice than the camera-based face unlock.
The Nokia T21 has two speakers on either end, as well as OZO Spatial Audio software. Playback is punchy and loud, but not nearly as spectacular as on more expensive tablets. Nonetheless, it’s adequate for Netflix, podcasts, and the occasional piece of music.
Specs & performance
- 4GB RAM
- 64GB or 128GB storage
- Unisoc T612 CPU
The T21 has a Unisoc T612 CPU, which is a modest improvement over the previous generation. This is combined with 4GB of RAM and either 64GB or 128GB of storage, although the microSD slot supports up to 512GB. It is available in both Wi-Fi and LTE variants.
Overall, performance isn’t as sluggish as it was on the T20, but it’s still about what you’d expect from a cheap tablet. It handles streaming, taking notes, reading e-books, and browsing the web well, although it may be sluggish to load and transition between programs at times.
There are, however, tablets available at a comparable price (or not much more) that perform substantially better. In benchmarks, the T21 outperformed the Samsung Tab A8 and S6 Lite in Geekbench 5, a CPU test, but fell short of the T10 in GFXBench graphics testing. However, this is rather moot because neither tablet is strong enough for gaming – save for casual games that don’t demand a lot of 3D oomph.
Nokia T21 benchmarks
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Although this isn’t a gaming device, the T21 was able to run Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp with no difficulty. A higher-end tablet is recommended for more powerful gaming or artistic apps.
Camera
- 8Mp front camera
- 8Mp rear camera
Tablet cameras aren’t normally as crucial as smartphone cameras. Nonetheless, Nokia has improved the T21’s configuration over the previous version.
The front-facing selfie camera has been increased from 5Mp to 8Mp. Colors are marginally improved, but textures are faint or fuzzy, and interior images appear considerably more washed out than when there is lots of light available outside. The majority of people will use this camera for video calls, which it is fully capable of.
The back 8MP camera is the same as in the T20. Again, in favorable light, the T21 can take some respectable photos. However, the colors can be a little dull, and the textures have a notable lack of crispness.
Battery life & charging
- 8200mAh battery
- 18W charging supported, but no brick included
The Nokia T21 is powered by an 8200mAh battery that Nokia claims may last up to three days. Of course, that is not common practice. In between work, I was able to utilize this gadget to stream, surf social media, and read for around two days on average.
Three days of use is possible if you use the tablet more cautiously, employing the battery-saving mode and turning the brightness down low. In our battery test, the T21 lasted nine hours and 23 minutes.
The Nokia T21 supports 18W charging but comes with only a USB-C cable in the package. This is a commitment to the company’s endeavor to eliminate packaging waste. However, it will be inconvenient if you don’t have a charger, and Nokia’s particular 18W charger costs £19.99.
Fortunately, I had an 18W charger on available, and the T21 charged from 0% to 14% in 30 minutes. The Nokia charger may be able to do better, but it’s recommended to charge this tablet overnight.
Software
- Android 12
- Can be used as a second screen with Windows devices
One of the most significant benefits of choosing a Nokia handset is that its software is virtually pure Android, therefore there are no significant UI variations for Google users.
All of the applications are neatly set up, with little bloatware like what you’d see on rivals like Xiaomi. It also has a broader selection of apps than the Amazon Fire HD 10.
The tablet comes pre-installed with Android 12. This isn’t the most recent Google operating system, but Nokia has promised two OS updates and three years of monthly security patches, meaning it will ultimately have Android 13.
All of the normal Google applications are included, as well as Google Entertainment Space and Kids Space. The former promotes videos from platforms to which you are subscribed, whilst the latter tailors the Android experience to younger users with educational app recommendations and adjustable content filters.
If both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, the T21 may be used as a second screen with Windows devices. This option is accessible in the drop-down menu, and you may then use the Windows and K keys on your laptop/PC to cast your screen to the T21.
It provides the tablet an advantage in terms of productivity and may be handy for someone who doesn’t have enough room in their home office for a large second display.
Price & availability
The Wi-Fi version of the Nokia T21 costs £199, while the LTE variant costs £239.
The tablet was not yet available in the US market at the time of writing, but if it does become available, we estimate it to cost roughly $250.
The tablet is available through Nokia’s monthly Circular subscription. This includes replacement components for the T21 if it is damaged or stolen, encouraging you to keep the gadget for a longer period of time. It also allows users to earn credits that can be used to support environmental initiatives.
Nokia T21: Specs
- OS: Android 12
- Processor: Unisoc T612 octa-core processor
- Memory: 4GB
- Storage: 64GB/128GB + microSD up to 512GB
- Cameras: 8Mp rear, 8Mp front
- Ports: USB-C, 3.5mm Headphone Jack, SIM, MicroSD
- Accelerometer
- GPS
- Ambient light sensor
- Hall sensor
- Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz), Bluetooth 5.0, 4G (on LTE models)
- Stereo speakers with dual microphones
- 8200mAh battery, 18W charging supported
- Dimensions: 157.3 x 247.5 x 7.5 mm
- Weight: 471g
- IP52 rating
- Charcoal Grey finish
- 10.36in 2K IPS display
