Nokia is set to release its latest rugged smartphone, the Nokia XR21, an upgrade on the Nokia XR20, which received praise for its ruggedised design but fell short of expectations in terms of performance and imaging. According to the latest leak from WinFuture, the Nokia XR21 is expected to maintain its predecessor’s ruggedness, while packing noticeable performance improvements that should justify its premium price tag.
Design largely unchanged
From leaked images, it appears that the Nokia XR21 takes after the Nokia XR20, with a similar design from the front. On the right side, the volume and power button doubles up as the fingerprint reader, while on the left, the Google Assistant button. However, the Emergency key is now located at the centre at the top edge, instead of left corner as observed on the Nokia XR20. The rear panel is made from the same polymer composite material as before, but now features a grippier frame around the side, and a camera module in a rectangular layout to the top left, as opposed to the square layout previously. The weight of the Nokia XR21 remains the same as the previous model, coming in at 235g.
Screen and processors upgrades
The Nokia XR21 boasts a 6.49-inch full-HD+ display, which appears to be smaller than its predecessor. The new model also introduces a 120Hz screen refresh rate, a significant upgrade for the series that improves on the previous model. The display’s protection by Gorilla Glass Victus remains unaltered. Underneath the hood, the Nokia XR25 should have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 SoC, a step up from the previous model’s Snapdragon 480 SoC. There’s only one variant available, with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
Camera and battery upgrades
The Nokia XR21 features various upgrades in the camera department, including a 64-megapixel primary camera by Omnivision, an 8-megapixel telephoto with up to 8X hybrid zoom, and a 16-megapixel front-facing camera for selfies. The phone has a 4,800mAh battery, an upgrade on the previous model’s 4,630mAh unit, with a faster 33W charger. It is unknown whether Nokia has retained the XR20’s wireless charging feature. Buyers will also get Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, Wi-Fi 6, and a 3.5mm headphone port. The phone is expected to offer two nanoSIM slots and eSIM functionality, running on Android 12.
Launch and considerations
While the leak provides detailed information about the Nokia XR21, it is still a leak and should be taken with a pinch of salt. However, given the level of detail in the learnings, Nokia’s official launch may take place soon. If you’re in the market for a rugged phone and looking to upgrade from the Nokia XR20, the Nokia XR21 appears to offer notable improvements in various departments, making it worth considering.
