Nokia C21 Plus vs Nothing Phone (3a) Pro

The Nokia C21 Plus (2022) runs on the Unisoc, while the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro (2025) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3; estimated prices are $260 and $459. By overall MobileRank rating, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro leads — 43/100 vs 10/100 (a 33-point difference). Key differences: the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro has the bigger battery (5000 mAh vs 4000); the main camera is 13 MP vs 50 MP; the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro has NFC for contactless payments, the Nokia C21 Plus doesn't; the Nokia C21 Plus is noticeably lighter (178g vs 201g).

The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro significantly outperforms the Nokia C21 Plus by 33 points (43/100 vs 10/100).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Nokia C21 Plus
Performance 0
Display 0
Camera 0
Battery 12
Design 77
Value for money 92
Nothing Phone (3a) Pro
Performance 7
Display 100
Camera 62
Battery 44
Design 48
Value for money 78
What makes Nokia C21 Plus better?
  • Lighter: 178g vs 201g
  • Cheaper: $260 vs $459

  • Better design/ergonomics (77/100 vs 48/100)
  • Better value for money (92/100 vs 78/100)
What makes Nothing Phone (3a) Pro better?
  • Bigger battery: 5000 vs 4000 mAh
  • Faster charging: 50W vs 10W
  • Better main camera: 50MP vs 13MP

  • Higher performance (7/100 vs 0/100)
  • Better camera (62/100 vs 0/100)
  • Longer battery life (44/100 vs 12/100)
  • Better display (100/100 vs 0/100)
Comparison verdict

Comparing the Nokia C21 Plus vs the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro scores 33 points higher (43/100 vs 10/100). In the "camera" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro leads (62/100 vs 0/100). In the "battery" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro leads (44/100 vs 12/100). In the "value for money" category, the Nokia C21 Plus leads (92/100 vs 78/100). In the "performance" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is a bit better (7/100 vs 0/100). In the "display" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro significantly outperforms the Nokia C21 Plus (100/100 vs 0/100). In the "camera" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro significantly outperforms the Nokia C21 Plus (62/100 vs 0/100). In the "battery" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro significantly outperforms the Nokia C21 Plus (44/100 vs 12/100). In the "design" category, the Nokia C21 Plus notably outperforms the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro (77/100 vs 48/100). In the "value for money" category, the Nokia C21 Plus is a bit better (92/100 vs 78/100).

Nokia C21 Plus: The Nokia C21 Plus is a better fit for budget-conscious buyers.
Nothing Phone (3a) Pro: The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is a better fit for budget-conscious buyers.
Specs comparison
Specification Nokia C21 Plus Nothing Phone (3a) Pro
Processor Unisoc Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3
AnTuTu 1063102
Geekbench Single 1162
Geekbench Multi 3315
Display 6.5" IPS LCD 6.8" AMOLED
Resolution 720x1600 2392x1080
Refresh rate 120 Hz
Battery 4000 mAh 5000 mAh
Charging 10W 50W
Main camera 13 MP 50 MP
Ultrawide 0 MP 8 MP
Telephoto 0 MP 50 MP
Front camera 5 MP 50 MP
RAM 2GB / 3GB / 4GB 12GB
Storage 32GB / 64GB 256GB
OS Android 11 (Go edition) Android 15 / Nothing OS 3.1
Brightness (peak) 3000 nits
NFC no yes
Protection IP54
Dimensions 164.8×75.9×8.6 mm 163.5×77.5×8.4 mm
Weight 178 g 201 g
Price $260 $459
Camera comparison
Nokia C21 Plus
  • Main: 13MP
  • Front: 5MP
0
camera
Nothing Phone (3a) Pro
  • Main: 50MP f/f/1.9
  • Ultrawide: 8MP
  • Telephoto: 50MP
  • Front: 50MP
62
camera
Display comparison
Nokia C21 Plus
  • 6.5" IPS LCD
  • Resolution: 720x1600
  • Refresh rate: —
0
display
Nothing Phone (3a) Pro
  • 6.8" AMOLED
  • Resolution: 2392x1080
  • Refresh rate: 120 Hz
100
display
Battery and charging
Nokia C21 Plus
  • 4000 mAh
  • Wired: 10W
  • No wireless charging
12
battery
Nothing Phone (3a) Pro
  • 5000 mAh
  • Wired: 50W
  • No wireless charging
44
battery
Benchmarks
Price and availability
Nokia C21 Plus
$260
Nothing Phone (3a) Pro
$459

Price difference: $199. Nokia C21 Plus is cheaper by $199.

Detailed category analysis
performance

In the "performance" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is a bit better (7/100 vs 0/100).

display

In the "display" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro significantly outperforms the Nokia C21 Plus (100/100 vs 0/100).

camera

In the "camera" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro significantly outperforms the Nokia C21 Plus (62/100 vs 0/100).

battery

In the "battery" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro significantly outperforms the Nokia C21 Plus (44/100 vs 12/100).

design

In the "design" category, the Nokia C21 Plus notably outperforms the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro (77/100 vs 48/100).

value for money

In the "value for money" category, the Nokia C21 Plus is a bit better (92/100 vs 78/100).

Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Nokia C21 Plus or the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro?

The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro significantly outperforms the Nokia C21 Plus by 33 points (43/100 vs 10/100).

What is the rating of the Nokia C21 Plus and the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro?

The Nokia C21 Plus has a MobileRank rating of 10/100, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro — 43/100.

Which has the better camera: the Nokia C21 Plus or the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro?

The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro leads on camera score (62/100 vs 0/100).

Which is more powerful: the Nokia C21 Plus or the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro?

The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro leads on performance (7/100 vs 0/100).

Should you choose the Nokia C21 Plus over the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro?

The Nokia C21 Plus is a better fit for budget-conscious buyers. The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is a better fit for budget-conscious buyers.