I love the fact that tablets came back into the market in a big way since they are a convenient way to access digital content and perform tasks, while being highly portable and easy to use. With this portability and touch interface, tablets have become popular for uses like reading e-books, watching movies, gaming, and accessing apps and online services.
As much as I always have multiple smartphones with me for work, I always also have a tablet since I find them better for functions like Zoom and Teams meetings, as well as entertainment and gaming. I particularly appreciate the big screens for Netflix which is among the first apps I upload on any device that lands on my desk.
In the last few months, I’ve had the pleasure of using two Nokia’s tablets, the Nokia T10 which I reviewed here, and now the Nokia T21 which is what this article is about.
Design
Right off the box the Nokia T21 is an elegant looking device that immediately communicates sturdiness and class. It is sleek and compact with a two-tone charcoal grey back colour made of aluminum. Nokia has kept the back free of clutter with only the branding, camera casing and some subtle manufacturer information. The front of the tab is made of splash and scratch resistant glass, a thoughtful addition that adds to the tablet’s versatility especially since it is safe for kids to use.
The left side of the tab is completely free, while at the top we have the power button and loudspeakers. On the right we have the volume controls, two mics and the SIM tray and at the bottom there is the charging port and additional loudspeakers. These multiple speakers produce a good all rounded sound that does not get distorted even when one raises the volume.
The 10.4-inch display has a resolution of 1200*2000 pixels. The combination of a good size and a high resolution gave me a great experience especial for video consumption. At 421g the tablet is rather on the heavier and not so usable on one hand, but this is something that can be sorted with a folding stand. As is the trend, there is no 3mm jack and I was using this tab with Bluetooth headphones that came from Nokia as a PR gift.
What’s in the box?
The tab ships with the tab itself, a charging brick, a USB Type C cable, user literature and starter guide and a SIM ejector pin.
Battery
Battery has always been one of Nokia’s strongest points over the years and the T21 is no exception. The tab has a massive 8200mAh battery on which I was able to use the tab for almost two days of video without needing a recharge. I was not on it the whole time, but I can estimate that if I did use it throughout, I could squeeze in a full day of video on one charge and still not deplete completely. The tab also comes with 18W wired charging capabilities.
Performance
The Nokia T21 tab comes with Android 12 but with the company’s updates policy, users are assured to be bumped onto Android 13. It also comes with 124GB of ROM which is expandable to 512GB via MicroSD, and 4GB of RAM. These make it pretty decent for storage and for multitasking between apps without lags or glitches.
Cameras
The Nokia T21 has an 8MP back camera and an 8MP front camera. Though one may argue that device photography is offering more these days, I find this quite sufficient especially given than tabs are not primarily for photography. The cameras are quite good and clear when it comes to video calls, and they still do come in handy for clear photos and video when need be.
Kid mode
One feature that parents will really appreciate is Google’s Kids space. The tab is an excellent gadget for kids to watch and learn things online but with the internet, there is always the fear of kids over exploring or getting into spaces that their young minds shouldn’t. The Nokia tab comes with a dedicated consideration for kids to explore books, apps, and videos and at the same time keep safe by allowing parents to supervise and help manage.
Conclusion
For the price of Ksh.35,000/- give or take, the device packs a lot of features that give users value for money. It is quite versatile for use by everyone in the family, and sturdy enough to be handled by kids without damage.
