Nokia C21 Plus vs Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS

The Nokia C21 Plus (2022) runs on the Unisoc, while the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS (2022) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888/888+ 5G. By overall MobileRank rating, the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS leads — 34/100 vs 10/100 (a 24-point difference). Key differences: the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS has the bigger battery (4500 mAh vs 4000); the main camera is 13 MP vs 64 MP; the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS has NFC for contactless payments, the Nokia C21 Plus doesn't; the Nokia C21 Plus is noticeably lighter (178g vs 220g).

The Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS significantly outperforms the Nokia C21 Plus by 24 points (34/100 vs 10/100).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Nokia C21 Plus
Performance 0
Display 0
Camera 0
Battery 12
Design 77
Value for money 92
Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS
Performance 0
Display 100
Camera 43
Battery 49
Design 25
Value for money 55
What makes Nokia C21 Plus better?
  • Lighter: 178g vs 220g

  • Better design/ergonomics (77/100 vs 25/100)
  • Better value for money (92/100 vs 55/100)
What makes Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS better?
  • Bigger battery: 4500 vs 4000 mAh
  • Faster charging: 120W vs 10W
  • Better main camera: 64MP vs 13MP

  • Better camera (43/100 vs 0/100)
  • Longer battery life (49/100 vs 12/100)
  • Better display (100/100 vs 0/100)
Comparison verdict

Comparing the Nokia C21 Plus vs the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS, the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS scores 24 points higher (34/100 vs 10/100). In the "camera" category, the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS leads (43/100 vs 0/100). In the "battery" category, the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS leads (49/100 vs 12/100). In the "value for money" category, the Nokia C21 Plus leads (92/100 vs 55/100). In the "performance" category, both devices are on the same level — 0/100. In the "display" category, the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS significantly outperforms the Nokia C21 Plus (100/100 vs 0/100). In the "camera" category, the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS significantly outperforms the Nokia C21 Plus (43/100 vs 0/100). In the "battery" category, the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS significantly outperforms the Nokia C21 Plus (49/100 vs 12/100). In the "design" category, the Nokia C21 Plus significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS (77/100 vs 25/100). In the "value for money" category, the Nokia C21 Plus significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS (92/100 vs 55/100).

Nokia C21 Plus: The Nokia C21 Plus is a better fit for budget-conscious buyers.
Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS: The Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS is a better fit for everyday use.
Specs comparison
Specification Nokia C21 Plus Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS
Processor Unisoc Qualcomm Snapdragon 888/888+ 5G
AnTuTu
Geekbench Single
Geekbench Multi
Display 6.5" IPS LCD 6.7" AMOLED
Resolution 720x1600 1080x2400
Refresh rate 144 Hz
Battery 4000 mAh 4500 mAh
Charging 10W 120W
Main camera 13 MP 64 MP
Ultrawide 0 MP 8 MP
Telephoto 0 MP 5 MP
Front camera 5 MP 20 MP
RAM 2GB / 3GB / 4GB 8GB / 12GB
Storage 32GB / 64GB 256GB
OS Android 11 (Go edition) Android 12, Joy UI 12.8
Brightness (peak) 1300 nits
NFC no yes
Dimensions 164.8×75.9×8.6 mm 163.7×76.2×9.9 mm
Weight 178 g 220 g
Price $260
Camera comparison
Nokia C21 Plus
  • Main: 13MP
  • Front: 5MP
0
camera
Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS
  • Main: 64MP f/f/1.8
  • Ultrawide: 8MP
  • Telephoto: 5MP
  • Front: 20MP
43
camera
Display comparison
Nokia C21 Plus
  • 6.5" IPS LCD
  • Resolution: 720x1600
  • Refresh rate: —
0
display
Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS
  • 6.7" AMOLED
  • Resolution: 1080x2400
  • Refresh rate: 144 Hz
100
display
Battery and charging
Nokia C21 Plus
  • 4000 mAh
  • Wired: 10W
  • No wireless charging
12
battery
Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS
  • 4500 mAh
  • Wired: 120W
  • No wireless charging
49
battery
Benchmarks
Price and availability
Nokia C21 Plus
$260
Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS
Price unknown
Detailed category analysis
performance

In the "performance" category, both devices are on the same level — 0/100.

display

In the "display" category, the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS significantly outperforms the Nokia C21 Plus (100/100 vs 0/100).

camera

In the "camera" category, the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS significantly outperforms the Nokia C21 Plus (43/100 vs 0/100).

battery

In the "battery" category, the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS significantly outperforms the Nokia C21 Plus (49/100 vs 12/100).

design

In the "design" category, the Nokia C21 Plus significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS (77/100 vs 25/100).

value for money

In the "value for money" category, the Nokia C21 Plus significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS (92/100 vs 55/100).

Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Nokia C21 Plus or the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS?

The Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS significantly outperforms the Nokia C21 Plus by 24 points (34/100 vs 10/100).

What is the rating of the Nokia C21 Plus and the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS?

The Nokia C21 Plus has a MobileRank rating of 10/100, the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS — 34/100.

Which has the better camera: the Nokia C21 Plus or the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS?

The Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS leads on camera score (43/100 vs 0/100).

Should you choose the Nokia C21 Plus over the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS?

The Nokia C21 Plus is a better fit for budget-conscious buyers. The Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS is a better fit for everyday use.