Nokia XR21 vs Nothing Phone (3a)
The Nokia XR21 (2023) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G, while the Nothing Phone (3a) (2025) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3. By overall MobileRank rating, the Nothing Phone (3a) leads — 60/100 vs 46/100 (a 14-point difference). Key differences: the Nothing Phone (3a) has the bigger battery (5000 mAh vs 4800); the main camera is 64 MP vs 50 MP; the Nothing Phone (3a) is faster in AnTuTu (1,050,601 vs 592,015); the Nothing Phone (3a) is noticeably lighter (201g vs 231g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Nokia XR21
Nothing Phone (3a)
What makes Nokia XR21 better?
- Better main camera: 64MP vs 50MP
- Overall rating 46/100
What makes Nothing Phone (3a) better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 1050601 vs 592015
- Better Geekbench Single: 1161 vs 905
- Better Geekbench Multi: 3390 vs 2101
- Bigger battery: 5000 vs 4800 mAh
- Faster charging: 45W vs 33W
- Lighter: 201g vs 231g
- Higher performance (60/100 vs 46/100)
- Better camera (61/100 vs 43/100)
- Longer battery life (48/100 vs 42/100)
- Better display (79/100 vs 67/100)
- Better portability (54/100 vs 24/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Nokia XR21 vs the Nothing Phone (3a), the Nothing Phone (3a) scores 14 points higher (60/100 vs 46/100). In the "performance" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) leads (60/100 vs 46/100). In the "camera" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) leads (61/100 vs 43/100). In the "performance" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) is a bit better (60/100 vs 46/100). In the "display" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) is a bit better (79/100 vs 67/100). In the "camera" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) notably outperforms the Nokia XR21 (61/100 vs 43/100). In the "battery" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) is a bit better (48/100 vs 42/100). In the "portability" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) significantly outperforms the Nokia XR21 (54/100 vs 24/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Nokia XR21 | Nothing Phone (3a) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 | |
| AnTuTu | 592015 | 1050601 | |
| Geekbench Single | 905 | 1161 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 2101 | 3390 | |
| Display | 6.5" IPS LCD | 6.8" AMOLED | |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 2392x1080 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 4800 mAh | 5000 mAh | |
| Charging | 33W | 45W | |
| Main camera | 64 MP | 50 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 8 MP | 8 MP | |
| Telephoto | 0 MP | 50 MP | |
| Front camera | 16 MP | 32 MP | |
| RAM | 6GB | 8GB / 12GB | |
| Storage | 128GB | 128GB / 256GB | |
| OS | Android 12 | Android 15 / Nothing OS 3.1 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 550 nits | 3000 nits | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP68 | IP54 | |
| Dimensions | 168.0×78.6×10.5 mm | 163.5×77.5×8.4 mm | |
| Weight | 231 g | 201 g | |
| Launch price | — | $329 |
Camera comparison
Nokia XR21
- Main: 64MP f/1.8
- Ultrawide: 8MP
- Front: 16MP
Nothing Phone (3a)
- Main: 50MP f/1.9
- Ultrawide: 8MP
- Telephoto: 50MP
- Front: 32MP
Display comparison
Nokia XR21
- 6.5" IPS LCD
- Resolution: 1080x2400
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Nothing Phone (3a)
- 6.8" AMOLED
- Resolution: 2392x1080
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Battery and charging
Nokia XR21
- 4800 mAh
- Wired: 33W
- No wireless charging
Nothing Phone (3a)
- 5000 mAh
- Wired: 45W
- No wireless charging
Overall performance score
We compared Nokia XR21 and Nothing Phone (3a), covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Nothing Phone (3a) leads Nokia XR21 by 43.6% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Nokia XR21
Price unknownDetailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) is a bit better (60/100 vs 46/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) is a bit better (79/100 vs 67/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) notably outperforms the Nokia XR21 (61/100 vs 43/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) is a bit better (48/100 vs 42/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) significantly outperforms the Nokia XR21 (54/100 vs 24/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Nokia XR21 or the Nothing Phone (3a)?
The Nothing Phone (3a) is noticeably better than the Nokia XR21 — the overall rating gap is 14 points.
What is the rating of the Nokia XR21 and the Nothing Phone (3a)?
The Nokia XR21 has a MobileRank rating of 46/100, the Nothing Phone (3a) — 60/100.
Which has the better camera: the Nokia XR21 or the Nothing Phone (3a)?
The Nothing Phone (3a) leads on camera score (61/100 vs 43/100).
Which is more powerful: the Nokia XR21 or the Nothing Phone (3a)?
The Nothing Phone (3a) leads on performance (60/100 vs 46/100).
Should you choose the Nokia XR21 over the Nothing Phone (3a)?
The Nothing Phone (3a) is a better fit for active users.