Nokia T21: Performance and Battery Life Tested
The heart of the Nokia T21 is the Unisoc T612 octa-core processor. This 12nm chipset is configured with two ARM Cortex-A75 cores clocked at 1.8 GHz for performance-oriented tasks and six ARM Cortex-A55 cores at 1.8 GHz for efficient background operations. This combination is paired with a Mali-G57 MP1 GPU. In daily use, this hardware configuration translates to a experience that is decidedly adequate for its intended purpose. The T612 is not designed to compete with flagship Snapdragon chips or Apple’s Bionic series; its realm is reliable, everyday computing. Navigating the clean Android 12 operating system is generally smooth. Scrolling through menus, launching core apps like Gmail, YouTube, and Chrome is handled without significant hiccups. The 4GB of RAM is the minimum recommended for a modern Android experience, and it shows when multitasking. Switching between two or three lightweight apps is manageable, but expect apps to reload from scratch if you have a dozen tabs open in Chrome alongside a game and a social media app. The performance profile is best described as utilitarian. It gets the job done for web browsing, video streaming, email, and reading, but it does so with a deliberate pace rather than blazing speed.
Benchmarking the Nokia T21 provides quantitative context to these observations. In Geekbench 5, the tablet scores in the region of 350 for single-core performance and approximately 1200 for multi-core performance. These figures place it firmly in the entry-to-mid-range category. For comparison, it sits well below tablets powered by a Snapdragon 7-series but offers a modest uplift over older entry-level chips like the MediaTek Helio P22. The GPU performance, as measured by 3DMark’s Sling Shot Extreme test, yields results that confirm the T21 is not a gaming tablet. Casual titles like Alto’s Odyssey, Stardew Valley, and Among Us run perfectly fine with consistent frame rates. However, attempting to run graphically intensive games like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty: Mobile at medium-to-high settings will result in significant frame rate drops, stuttering, and compromised visual fidelity. For a enjoyable experience with such titles, settings must be dialed down to low. The 60Hz refresh rate of the display is a perfect match for the SoC’s capabilities; a higher refresh rate would have been wasted on this hardware.
Where the Unisoc T612 processor truly excels is in its power efficiency. Fabricated on a 12nm process, it is not the most advanced node, but it strikes a careful balance between performance and frugality. This efficiency is the cornerstone of the T21’s most compelling feature: its battery life. The tablet is equipped with a substantial 8,200mAh battery, a generous cell for a device of this size and performance tier. In standardized video loop tests, with the display brightness set to a consistent 150 nits and WiFi enabled, the Nokia T21 consistently achieved between 14 and 15 hours of continuous video playback. This is an outstanding result, placing it among the longest-lasting tablets in its price bracket. The tablet supports 18W charging via its USB-C port, but notably, the included charger in many regions is a 10W unit. A full charge from 0% using the 10W charger takes approximately three and a half to four hours. Using a compatible 18W PD charger reduces this time to just under three hours. While not fast by modern smartphone standards, the exceptional battery life means charging is typically an overnight affair rather than a daily concern.
Real-world battery usage patterns further solidify the T21’s endurance credentials. For a user who primarily consumes media, the tablet can easily last through multiple long-haul flights or a full weekend of intermittent viewing without needing a power bank. In a mixed-use scenario that includes two to three hours of video streaming, several hours of web browsing and social media, and light gaming, the T21 consistently delivered two full days of use on a single charge. Even under more strenuous conditions, such as prolonged video conferencing using the 8MP rear camera with its built-in stand for hands-free calls, the device managed over eight hours of continuous Google Meet usage. This makes it a reliable tool for remote learning or long business calls. The software enhancements contribute significantly to this stamina. Features like Adaptive Battery and the ability to put unused apps to sleep are standard in Android, but Nokia’s minimal software skin ensures there is little background bloat to drain power unnecessarily.
The thermal performance of the tablet is directly linked to both its processing capability and battery longevity. During sustained workloads, such as playing a game for 30 minutes or longer, the tablet exhibits a slight warmth on the rear panel, primarily concentrated near the top where the SoC is likely located. It never becomes uncomfortably hot, a testament to the low thermal output of the T612 and the aluminum body’s role as a passive heat sink. This conservative thermal management prevents the processor from throttling aggressively, maintaining a consistent, if modest, performance level during long sessions. However, it also means the chip will never burst to higher speeds for extended periods. The relationship between performance, thermals, and battery life is a tightly calibrated loop in the T21. The device prioritizes cool operation and long endurance over peak performance, a design philosophy that aligns perfectly with its target audience’s needs.
The display technology also plays a critical role in the overall power consumption equation. The 10.36-inch LCD panel features a resolution of 2000 x 1200 pixels, resulting in a sharp 224 pixels per inch. LCD technology, while not as power-efficient as OLED for displaying dark content, is generally less expensive. Nokia has incorporated several software features to maximize battery life. A scheduled Dark Mode can reduce power draw on the LCD, albeit to a lesser extent than on an OLED panel. More impactful is the ability to automatically adjust the screen refresh rate and lower the resolution. While the refresh rate is fixed at 60Hz, the software can tweak other rendering parameters to save power. The inclusion of Widevine L1 certification is a significant advantage for media consumers, allowing streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video to play content in High Definition. This ensures users are not forced to use power-hungry third-party workarounds to watch HD content, maintaining an efficient and high-quality viewing experience.
Comparing the Nokia T21’s stamina to competitors reveals its key market advantage. Against base model iPads, which typically offer 10 hours of video playback, the T21 provides a substantial 40-50% increase in battery life. When compared to other Android tablets in a similar price range, such as older Samsung Galaxy A-series models or Amazon Fire tablets, the Nokia T21 often matches or exceeds their endurance, while frequently offering a cleaner software experience and higher build quality. The combination of a power-efficient chipset, a large battery, and a minimally intrusive software layer creates a synergy that is difficult to beat for pure, unplugged longevity. For users whose primary concerns are web browsing, video consumption, video calls, and light reading, the performance of the Unisoc T612 is perfectly sufficient. The trade-off for not having flagship-level speed is an unparalleled battery life that empowers users to leave their charger behind with confidence. The tablet’s performance is a conscious compromise, one that is made to serve the greater goal of exceptional endurance, a calculation that will appeal strongly to students, families, and mobile professionals for whom battery anxiety is a primary concern.