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In my almost desperate search to find credible alternatives to Xiaomi in the under €200 segment, this time I let myself be tempted by Oukitel. [b][b]I had never tested a phone of this brand before but the Oukitel C21 has a very aggressive price positioning (around 100€) for similar characteristics to a Redmi Note 9.[b][b]Oukitel is not a recent brand, the company was founded in 2007 in China. Oukitel sells smartphones as well as electronic cigarettes and portable batteries...it's a rather particular combination of products, I hope this Oukitel C21 will not go up in smoke.[b][b][b][b][b]linkManufacturer web site:https://oukitel.com/[b]linkSite where I have bought the Oukitel C21: https://www.banggood.com/custlink/KmKhHSbEf9[b]
Structure of my tests
I test the phones according to a pre-established structure (see below) to provide you with as much information as possible. Unfortunately, this takes a long time. Some tests like network performance tests take several days and for photo tests I sometimes have to wait until the weather is suitable to take pictures in good conditions. I am therefore obliged to publish the tests step by step, so I invite you to come back if the test is not complete at the time of your visit.[b] How are my tests different from others on the web?
- I usually buy the devices with my own money, so price is just as important as you are! - I keep the devices for at least a few weeks (sometimes more) to see what they are worth in real conditions. - I answer (when possible) your questions to help you decide before you buy - no one pays me to do these reviews, so I'm completely neutral and independent... - My pages are not filled with ads
The list below shows the prices for the Oukitel C21 from more than 50 sites around the world. If you are not satisfied with any price, you can subscribe to a price alert to be the first to be notified when the price drops.[b]bb
helpThe above links are affiliate links from companies such as Amazon, Gearbest, Aliexpress,... If you appreciate my work, I would be grateful if you could purchase these products through these links. It costs you absolutely nothing but I get a small commission that allows me to buy the material I test. Thank you very much!
Timeline
28/10/2020 I bought the Oukitel C21 on Banggood[b]12/11/2020 I have received the Oukitel C21 and the test can begin[b][b]
Why this phone?
As I wrote in the introduction of this article, I was looking for an alternative to Xiaomi and I finally bought 3 phones: an Umidigi A9 Pro, an Elephone U5 and finally the Oukitel C21.[b][b]I bought this phone for less than 100€ and yet it offers a price/performance ratio equivalent to a Redmi Note 9 and is cheaper. Usually Xiaomi offers the best price/performance ratio. Beyond the price, other features caught my attention.[b][b]The Oukitel C21 has a metal coating, which is quite rare in this price range. It is quite light and the screen occupies 85% of the front surface. The screen is quite large and offers a resolution of 1080 x 2310 where even Xiaomi is happy with 720p in this price range.[b][b]So this phone looks very interesting, I'm curious to see what it's made of.[b][b]
Unpacking
[b]The Oukitel C21 is delivered in an orange box with no distinguishing mark. The box contains the phone, a transparent plastic cover (directly installed on the phone), a manual, a USB cable type C, a charger and a needle to open the sim drawer.[b][b]I have never felt like I had a 100€ phone in my hands. At first glance the phone can compare with what you find around 200€.[b][b]
3add_a_photo
[b]
Length : 157.3 Width : 75.5 Thickness : 8.7 Weight : 170 Jack output : No USB Type : Type C Infrared port : No
First configuration
The initial configuration of the Oukitel C21 follows the same path as most phones running Android. Oukitel has not added anything to register you to an unwanted service or application. [b][b]
22add_a_photo
[b][b]
Finish
[b][b]The Oukitel C21 is my first Oukitel. I had no preconceived ideas about the level of finish, I didn't expect anything extraordinary because in this price range the finish is often quite basic. [b][b]This Oukitel C21 surprised me positively. Its coating is partially metal and the smartphone is in its entirety quite well finished. The big photo block on the back hardly comes out of the back of the smartphone where Xiaomi produces phones with a photo block that comes out quite strongly on the back.[b][b]The buttons on the right are placed high up but are easy to access. The fingerprint sensor on the other hand is located in the photo block at the back, it is a very unusual place that will require some time to adapt because after a few days, I still had a tendency to put my finger on the camera rather than on the fingerprint sensor.[b][b]Underneath there is a USB type C port and a sound sensor but no audio jack connector, so you have to go through a USB to jack adapter. There is no USB to jack adapter in the box and I find this deplorable as it will force you to buy one separately.[b][b]The SIM drawer can hold 2 SIMs or 1 SIM + 1 memory card.[b][b]The display takes up 85% of the front of the phone, it is above average and the borders are quite thin. The front camera is offered as a punch in the top left corner, it is bigger than what is found on more expensive models but it is rather well integrated into the screen.[b][b]The Oukitel C21 offers a much higher level of finish than other phones in this price range. I recently tested a Redmi 9C which sells for the same price but offers a lower level of finish. I would even say that the Oukitel C21 offers a level of finish comparable to smartphones like the Nokia 5.3, the Redmi Note 9 or the Samsung Galaxy A21s...these phones cost twice as much![b][b]
15add_a_photo
[b][b]
Specifications
[b]The information below comes from the Device Info HW application. The application provides detailed technical information about the tested phone.I tested the 4Gb / 64 Gb version and here are the main features of the phone:[b][b]
As I wrote in the previous paragraph, the Oukitel C21 is not a performance-oriented telephone. I expected to get an Antutu score close to the Redmi Note 9 but I got a lower score without really noticing a noticeable difference in use.[b][b]I scored 148637 points with Antutu. If I look in the same price range I have about 110,000 points with the Redmi 9C. The Oukitel outperforms a Samsung A21s (150-200€) and approaches the Nokia 5.3 (150-200€). The Oukitel C21 therefore offers a very good price/performance ratio.[b][b]
6add_a_photo
[b][b]
Antutu score : 148637 Antutu CPU : 61981 Antutu GPU : 25540 Antutu UX : 33004 Antutu Mem : 28112 3D Mark Open GL : 1170
[b]Top 10 - performance ranking based on Antutu 1. Poco F5 - 910362 2. Poco F4 Gt - 853016 3. Realme Gt - 811858 4. Black Shark 4 Pro - 759986 5. Poco X4 Gt - 714577 6. Oppo Find X2 Pro - 605184 7. Oneplus 8t - 595000 8. Poco F3 - 589677 9. Xiaomi Mi 10t Pro - 581650 10. Oneplus 8 Pro - 579417
Number of smartphones in the ranking:155 Position of this smartphone in the ranking:100/155
Note: this ranking only contains the phones I tested as well as a few others that I added for reference. [b]Gaming[b]To test the performance in game, I download the mobile PUBG game and evaluate the in-game experience, graphics level and depth of vision. This game is quite demanding and should help you evaluating the performance of a phone.[b][b]I tested PUBG Mobile on the Oukitel C21 and despite the low performance of this phone, PUBG Mobile is perfectly playable. The textures are degraded but I didn't feel any jerks in game, the animations were also quite correct.[b][b]
Network performance
The Oukitel C21 provides basic frequency coverage that will allow telephone use in most countries except where operators use frequency B28 (700 Mhz).[b][b]
3G frequencies : B1 (2100), B8 (900) 4G frequencies : B1 (2100), B3 (1800), B7 (2600), B8 (900), B19 (800), B20 (800) Bluetooth : Bluetooth 5.0 LE Volte : Yes NFC : No Number measurements : 1101 Average signal (reference) : -92.04 Average signal (telephone) : -94.99 Average deviation reference/telephone : -2.95 Min/Max signal (reference) : -90 / -97 Min/Max signal (phone) : -92 / -95
Choose your country to check if your phone is compatible:
The frequencies displayed below will allow you to see if this phone is compatible with your operator or if you will be able to use it in the country where you are going on vacation.
Signal 4G (before december 2020)[b]The ability to pick up the network correctly is an essential element for a phone but it is only very rarely measured. To measure a phone's ability to pick up the network, I perform a large number of measurements on the same cells to be able to compare phones under similar conditions. The signal is measured in dBm, a value of -90dBm indicates a worse signal than -70dBm. These measurements are therefore taken under real conditions and not in a laboratory, they are not scientific but give a good indication of performance. [b][b]Network signal sensitivity rating
Phone tested:
Average signal (dBm)
Number of measurements:
Xiaomi Mi 9t Pro
-88
1600
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
-91.305
600
Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite
-93
788
Samsung Galaxy A70
-94.511
1975
Nokia 5.3
-94.98
531
Realme 6
-95.14
2301
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro
-95.922
1599
Xiaomi Mi A3
-95.95
1000
Huawei Y6 2019
-95.95
1199
Doogee S58 Pro
-96.22
856
Redmi 9a
-96.48
1000
Meizu Note 9
-96.68
937
Motorola G8 Power
-96.88
1032
Xiaomi Redmi Note 7
-97.01
1430
Redmi 9c
-97.04
1000
Umidigi S3 Pro
-97.13
1200
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8
-97.34
879
Samsung Galaxy A21s
-97.78
1000
Umidigi F1
-97.82
298
Ulefone Armor 7e
-98.7
1000
Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
-99
1000
Honor 9x
-99.14
899
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9s
-99.4
1860
Poco F2 Pro
-99.8
1247
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9
-100.79
1785
Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5g
-100.88
1198
Poco X3
-101.19
821
Umidigi F2
-101.47
712
[b][b]Signal 4G (from December 2020)[b]I decided to change the methodology for measuring the network because I noticed that the configuration of the mobile network changes over time. This makes it more difficult to compare phones because the conditions are no longer exactly the same.[b][b]To overcome this problem, I set up a device that captures 24 hours a day about ten parameters from the mobile network (ex: cell id, rssi, rsrq, snr, frequency,...). I then place the phone next to the device for 24 to 48 hours taking the same measurements so that I can compare them. [b][b] Overview of the phones tested with this methodology[b][b]
Phone tested:
Measurements
Avg signal (reference)
Avg signal (phone)
Min/Max (reference)
Min/Max (phone)
Samsung Galaxy S10+
457
-93.06
-97.39
-89 / -98
-97 / -99
Xiaomi Mi 9t Pro
669
-93.69
-95.84
-90 / -95
-92 / -98
Poco F2 Pro
1438
-91.02
-94.99
-89 / -94
-94 / -96
Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5g
1645
-90.77
-95.02
- 88 / -98
-95 / -100
Poco X3
821
-94.89
-103.19
-91 / -97.7
-101 / -104
Umidigi Bison
2343
-92.71
-96.46
-90 / -99
-94 / -102
Oukitel C21
1101
-92.04
-94.99
-90 / -97
-92 / -95
Poco M3
1116
-92.09
-91.74
-88 / -98
-90 / -99
Xiaomi Mi 10t Pro
1071
-90.61
-94.03
-88 / -94
-94 / -96
Umidigi A9 Pro
981
-90.40
-94.01
-88 / -95
-93 / -95
Redmi Note 9t
1201
-92.149
-91.71
-90 / -97
-91 / -97
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10
999
-92.35
-93.99
-88 / -97
-92 / -98
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro
877
-89.72
-90.56
- 88 / -92
-89 / -95
Poco X3 Pro
1876
-91.45
-92.91
-90 / -94
-90 / -96
Poco F3
1382
-90.79
-94.2
-89 / -94
-93 / -98
Oneplus Nord N100
896
-91.23
-96.005
-88 / - 99
-96 / -99
Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite
2875
-91.36
-91.49
-87 / -96
-90 / -96
Samsung Galaxy A52
1427
-89.27
-93.39
-87 / -98
-92 / -96
Doogee S96 Pro
1259
-94.2
-91.21
-90 / -102
-88 / -95
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10s
957
-92.07
-97.62
-90 / -102
-96 / -102
Poco M3 Pro
1247
-91.76
-102.97
-99 / -104
-88 / -98
Realme Gt
843
-96.49
-94.02
-93 / -101
- 92 / -96
F150 R2022
1002
-92.4
-105.1
-90 / -97
-98 / -110
Umidigi Bison Pro
936
-94.2
-104.98
-91 / -98
-95 / -105
Redmi 10
2141
-94.74
-100.92
-92 / -98
-99 / -101
Tcl 10 Pro
871
-93.43
-94.001
-92 / -96
-93 / -95
Poco M4 Pro
570
-93.71
-96.78
-91 / -98
-95 / -99
Google Pixel 5
1444
-91.02
-97.02
-90 / -94
-97 / -101
Xiaomi 11t
1576
-92.305
-92.003
-90 / -96
-92 / -93
Redmi Note 11
1223
-92.5
-91.32
-92/-97
-90 / -93
Black Shark 4 Pro
2383
-95.178
-95.42
-90 / -100
-93 / -101
Redmi Note 11 Pro
349
-95.33
-93
-89 / -101
-92 / -94
Poco M4 Pro 4g
1202
-90.85
-88.95
-87 / - 95
-88 / -98
Tcl 30 Se
567
-92.11
-92.85
-88 / -98
-99 / -93
Poco X4 Pro
562
-92.06
-94.01
-90 / -95
-95 / -93
Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus 5g
945
-93.5
-93.54
-91 / -97
-92 / -97
Poco F4 Gt
832
-95.02
-93.09
-90 / -99
-93 / -97
Oukitel Wp18
1351
-95.94
-92.92
-91 / -97
-92 / -97
Poco X4 Gt
387
-96.99
-96.505
-96 / -98
-95 / -98
Poco F4
524
-95.78
-95.04
-93 / -99
-94/-96
Oneplus Nord 2t
1340
-98.83
-96.305
-95 / -102
-90 / -99
Redmi 10a
707
-89.026
-97.97
-87 / -91
-97 / -103
Poco M5
762
-95.18
-95.07
-98 / -93
-99 / -94
Unihertz Tank
1426
-91.21
-93.97
-90 / -95
-89 / -96
Poco X5 5g
2234
-92.3
-99.1
-91 / -95
- 100 / -98
Google Pixel 6a
853
-91.8
-95
-90 / -94
-95 / -97
Redmi Note 12
1023
-89.6
-96.99
-88 / -93
-95 / -97
Redmi Note 12 Pro
1576
-91.96
-94.93
-89 / -96
-93 / -95
Unihertz Luna
1133
-91.7
-91.94
-89 / -95
-92 / -94
Poco F5
1321
-91.69
-95.05
-90 / -97
-94 / -97
[b][b]The Oukitel C21 is the second phone I have tested with the new network protocol and I have obtained really interesting results. [b][b]My measuring device obtained an average signal of - 92.04 dBm over the duration of the test (1101 measurements). The Oukitel obtained an average signal of -94.99 dBm. The deviation is 2.95 dBm where the Poco X3 (first device measured) obtained a deviation of 8 dBm. The Oukitel C21 therefore scores very close to my measuring device and this is an indication that it is able to pick up the network correctly.[b][b]
[b][b]On the graph I see that the Oukitel obtains measurements very close to those obtained by the measuring device but what is also interesting is to see the stability of the signal. The measurements of the Oukitel result in an almost perfect circle where the measuring device shows irregularities. [b][b]In summary, the Oukitel C21 offers good sensitivity to the 4G network and also manages to keep a very stable signal.[b][b][b][b]Download/Upload speed[b]To test the download speed, I have identified some 4G cells offering good performance where I test all my devices several times to see what download and upload speed they can achieve.[b]Top 10 - speed ranking in download 1. Samsung Galaxy S20 D:351Mbps U: 20Mbps 2. Poco X3 D:232Mbps U: 55Mbps 3. Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5g D:223Mbps U: 52Mbps 4. Poco F2 Pro D:207Mbps U: 53Mbps 5. Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite D:153Mbps U: 68Mbps 6. Xiaomi Mi A3 D:150Mbps U: 60Mbps 7. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9s D:150Mbps U: 60Mbps 8. Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite D:149Mbps U: 60Mbps 9. Samsung Galaxy A21s D:147Mbps U: 51Mbps 10. Huawei Y6 2019 D:145Mbps U: 61Mbps
Number of smartphones in the ranking:30 Position of this smartphone in the ranking:0/30
Note: the theoretical maximum speed of a telephone is often limited by the configuration of the mobile network and the congestion of the network at the time of the measurement. So maybe you could get a higher speed on another network [b][b]
Wifi performance
To test a phone's ability to receive the network properly, I take measurements near my router and then remotely (and always at the same place). This gives me an average in dBm where a value of -90 dBm indicates poorer performance than a value at -30 dBm.[b]
Wifi signal[b]Not yet available / tested[b][b][b]Top 10 - wifi sensitivity ranking 1. Poco F2 Pro -11dBm 2. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro -12dBm 3. Realme Gt -12dBm 4. Redmi Note 12 Pro -13dBm 5. Samsung Galaxy A21s -13dBm 6. Redmi Note 11 Pro -13dBm 7. Poco F5 -14dBm 8. Oneplus Nord N100 -15dBm 9. Poco X3 Pro -15dBm 10. Poco F3 -15dBm
Number of smartphones in the ranking:74 Position of this smartphone in the ranking:0/74
[b]Download/Upload speed[b]To test the speed in Wifi, I connect to my router in 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz (if available) and use the Ookla application to measure the speed.[b]Top 10 - wifi download speed ranking 1. Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus 5g 866Mbps 2. Redmi Note 12 Pro 866Mbps 3. Poco F4 866Mbps 4. Google Pixel 6a 866Mbps 5. Poco F4 Gt 866Mbps 6. Poco X4 Gt 866Mbps 7. Oneplus Nord 2t 866Mbps 8. Black Shark 4 Pro 866Mbps 9. Poco F5 866Mbps 10. Poco M4 Pro 4g 433Mbps
Number of smartphones in the ranking:72 Position of this smartphone in the ranking:0/72
Note: I have a 400Mbps line and a modem capable of delivering higher speed, but I can never be sure how much bandwidth is available when doing a test. [b]
GPS performance
[b]To test the quality of the GPS signal I use the Offline Maps application and I make the same train trip in pedestrian mode. Why? In pedestrian mode, the GPS does not artificially correct the signal to stick to the road, it has no markings, so you can see the actual position. I then use an application to measure the accuracy of the signal. [b][b]The Oukitel is equipped with a Mediatek CPU and this often results in good performance for GPS. My test confirms this as I obtained a level of accuracy of 1m on a clear sky. I then moved under the trees and the accuracy returned to 2m. The trees had no leaves but this means that the Oukitel C21 is picking up the GPS signal well even under the trees. [b][b]However, I have no signal with the Galileo network.[b][b][b]Top 10 - GPS accuracy ranking 1. Poco M5 1m 2. Poco X4 Gt 1m 3. Unihertz Tank 1m 4. Oukitel C21 1m 5. Redmi 9a 1m 6. Redmi 10a 1m 7. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10s 1m 8. Doogee S96 Pro 1m 9. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 1m 10. Umidigi Bison Pro 1m
Number of smartphones in the ranking:44 Position of this smartphone in the ranking:4/44
Note: An accuracy of 3 meters or less can easily be corrected by a good GPS application. Phone performance also plays a role in how fast your display updates, so good accuracy could be compromised by too slow a display. [b]
Battery range
Capacity : 4000 Fast charge : Yes W max : 18 Range (100% brightness) : 497.00 Range (50% brightness) : 1324.00 Charging time : 167.00 Discharge speed (100%) : 0.20 Discharge score (100%) : 8.05 Discharge speed (50%) : 0.08 Discharge score (50%) : 3.02 Charging speed : 0.60 Charging score : 23.95
From March 2020, I replaced my subjective battery test with a technical test to better measure the real behaviour of the battery. Now I test the autonomy and charging time under absolutely identical conditions. I perform several measurements, so this test alone takes several days during which I cannot use the phone for anything else.
Battery life - methodology To test the battery life, I measure the battery consumption every minute in strictly identical conditions to be able to compare phones and also to allow you to evaluate your phone in the same conditions. I rule out any influence of applications that could interfere with the measurement. The autonomy is not linear, the battery sometimes discharges much faster at the end. This is a frustrating phenomenon but with my measurements, you will know if you need to find a charger quickly.
Battery life The battery of the Oukitel C21 has a capacity of 4000 mAh and has discharged from 100% to 1% in 497.00 minutes with 100% brightness, it has discharged from 100% to 1% in 1324.00 minutes with 50% brightness. I obtain in this way an average discharge speed of 0.20% per minute with 100% luminosity and 0.08% per minute with 50% luminosity, the consumption is therefore 8.05 mA per minute with 100% luminosity and 3.02 with 50% luminosity. To be able to compare the efficiency of the phone and its influence on the battery, you have to compare the 8.05 (or 50%) score with that of other smartphones, the figure should be as low as possible.
Charging time - methodology To test the charging time, I always use the same charger with the same cable. I measure the charging time minute by minute to see the evolution of the charge as well as the charging speed. The charging speed of a battery is not linear, it is often faster at the beginning and slower at the end. The charger is compatible with fast charging.
Charging time The battery of the Oukitel C21 has a capacity of 4000 mAh and has been charged from 1% to 100% in 167.00 minutes. This gives me an average charging speed of 0.60% per minute and therefore an increase of 23.95 mA per minute. To compare the performance of the Oukitel C21 compared to other phones, you should use the 23.95 per minute score, this score should be as high as possible.
Important note: the charging speed is not always linear, the graph below gives you an indication of the battery behaviour.
The following table lists the phones tested with the technical battery test, they are ranked in order of efficiency. A higher battery capacity should logically result in a higher battery life but it is not always the case and it does not give any indication of the efficiency of a phone.
Smartphone
Capacity (mAh)
Battery life (minutes)
Efficiency Score
Battery life (minutes) / 50%
Efficiency Score / 50%
Charging time
.Score charging
Honor 9x
4000
770.00
5.19
1333.00
3.00
151.00
26.49
Nokia 5.3
4000
549.00
7.29
1096.00
3.65
199.00
20.10
Samsung Galaxy S20
4000
565.00
7.08
1217.00
3.29
136.00
29.41
Oukitel C21
4000
497.00
8.05
1324.00
3.02
167.00
23.95
Google Pixel 5
4080
773.00
5.28
1559.00
2.62
81.00
50.37
Umidigi A9 Pro
4150
552.00
7.52
1562.00
2.66
112.00
37.05
Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5g
4160
749.00
5.55
1541.00
2.70
163.00
25.52
Realme 6
4300
704.00
6.11
1104.00
3.89
162.00
26.54
Google Pixel 6a
4410
534
8.26
1935
2.28
111
39.73
Samsung Galaxy A52
4500
652.00
6.90
1239.00
3.63
165.00
27.27
Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus 5g
4500
525.00
8.57
1211
3.72
24
187.50
Realme Gt
4500
574.00
7.84
1057.00
4.26
87.00
51.72
Tcl 10 Pro
4500
465.00
9.68
889.00
5.06
133.00
33.83
Poco F4
4500
554.00
8.12
1141
3.94
98
45.92
Black Shark 4 Pro
4500
425.00
10.59
937.00
4.80
29.00
155.17
Oneplus Nord 2t
4500
693
6.49
1492
3.02
121
37.19
Poco F3
4520
657.00
6.88
1840.00
2.46
122.00
37.05
Poco F4 Gt
4700
365.00
12.88
1082
4.34
38
123.68
Poco F2 Pro
4700
1150.00
4.09
1536.00
3.06
180.00
26.11
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10s
5000
636.00
7.86
1556.00
3.21
161.00
31.06
Poco M3 Pro
5000
657.00
7.61
1647.00
3.04
131.00
38.17
Poco X4 Pro
5000
643.00
7.78
1361
3.67
74
67.57
Umidigi Bison Pro
5000
610.00
8.20
1632.00
3.06
255.00
19.61
Redmi 10
5000
664.00
7.53
1684.00
2.97
165.00
30.30
Poco M4 Pro
5000
634.00
7.89
1600.00
3.13
123.00
40.65
Xiaomi 11t
5000
476.00
10.50
1204.00
4.15
97.00
51.55
Redmi Note 11
5000
592.00
8.45
1 376.00
3.63
69.00
72.46
Oneplus Nord N100
5000
808.00
6.19
1278.00
3.91
663.00
7.54
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10
5000
691.00
7.24
1728.00
2.89
193.00
25.91
Poco X5 5g
5000
493
10.14
1058
4.73
228
21.93
Motorola G8 Power
5000
912.00
5.48
2792.00
1.79
311.00
16.08
Redmi Note 12 Pro
5000
618
8.09
1294
3.86
120
41.67
Redmi Note 12
5000
637
7.85
1517
3.30
81
61.73
Samsung Galaxy A21s
5000
729.00
6.86
1283.00
3.90
166.00
30.12
Redmi Note 9t
5000
766.00
6.53
2054.00
2.43
148.00
33.78
Redmi 9a
5000
694.00
7.20
1902.00
2.63
195.00
25.64
Redmi 9c
5000
656.00
7.62
1915.00
2.61
170.00
29.41
Redmi 10a
5000
682
7.33
1820
2.75
163
30.67
Umidigi Bison
5000
550.00
9.09
1471.00
3.40
238.00
21.01
Tcl 30 Se
5000
650
7.69
1 225.00
4.08
172
29.07
Poco M4 Pro 4g
5000
723.00
6.92
1 500.00
3.33
77.00
64.94
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro
5020
625.00
8.03
1557.00
3.22
213.00
23.57
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9s
5020
663.00
7.57
1876.00
2.68
224.00
22.41
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9
5020
650.00
7.72
1808.00
2.78
162.00
30.99
Poco X4 Gt
5080
726.00
7.00
1538
3.30
113
44.96
Umidigi F2
5150
927.00
5.56
1854.00
2.78
299.00
17.22
Poco X3
5160
653.00
7.90
1654.00
3.12
181.00
28.51
Poco X3 Pro
5160
648.00
7.96
1688.00
3.06
138.00
37.39
Doogee S58 Pro
5180
845.00
6.13
1908.00
2.71
177.00
29.27
Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
5260
827.00
6.36
1609.00
3.27
208.00
25.29
Ulefone Armor 7e
5500
768.00
7.16
1140.00
4.82
179.00
30.73
Poco M3
6000
842.00
7.13
1898.00
3.16
217.00
27.65
Doogee S96 Pro
6350
929.00
6.84
1405.00
4.52
424.00
14.98
F150 R2022
8300
879.00
9.44
1498.00
5.54
243.00
34.16
Oukitel Wp18
12500
2 733.00
4.57
2859
4.37
362
34.53
helpHow to read these figures? The battery capacity is an important element in determining the autonomy of a phone but it is not the only factor. A phone with a large battery may have a shorter battery life if it consumes more power. If I had to take an example from everyday life, I would use the universe of the car. If a car has a large fuel tank, it should be able to drive a longer distance unless its average fuel consumption is higher. The battery efficiency score works the same way, it should be as low as possible and represents the energy consumption of the phone. These differences in efficiency are often related to the brightness of the screen, large bright screens will tend to consume more energy and even if they have a large battery, their range will be shorter.
In summary When the screen brightness is pushed to 100%, the phone consumes 2.6 times more than with 50% brightness. This puts the Oukitel C21 at the bottom of the table for battery life with the screen brightness at maximum. If I measure the range at 50%, the Oukitel C21 scores better than average.[b][b]This difference between 50% and 100% can be seen quite clearly on the following graph:[b]
[b][b]100% energy efficiency is therefore not very good. You have to reduce the brightness to find the ideal configuration.[b][b]Battery charging time is in the average of phones with the same type of battery.[b][b][b]
Photo camera test
To test the quality of photos produced by a phone, I do a technical test (resolution, sharpness, chromatic aberration,...) in studio (identical conditions) to evaluate the technical part objectively. From the second half of 2020, I built my own laboratory to take completely objective technical measurements. I then take pictures in real conditions to see how the camera performs. I then evaluate these photos according to my criteria but I publish the photos so that you can evaluate the result according to your criteria.[b]
The Oukitel C21 uses an Omnivision OV16880 sensor as the main sensor at the rear and the Samsung S5K3T1 for the selfie camera. I have not yet tested a phone with this combination of sensors, so I would not be able to compare the results with another phone using the same hardware.[b][b]Default app[b]The default photo application is quite basic because the Oukitel C21 has only two sensors on the back (the main sensor + one macro sensor). [b][b]The main sensor is supported by a depth sensor and an auxiliary sensor. So there are three physical sensors for one picture.[b][b]The application offers the following modes:[b]- video[b]- bokeh (for portraits)[b]- image[b]- beauty (for selfies)[b]- Extra: pro, macro, filters[b][b]The photo application is therefore nothing extraordinary, but it has the advantage of being very simple and not drowning the user in thousands of options.[b][b]When the brightness drops, I notice that the camera stutters a little, you can feel the lack of power to process the image quickly enough.[b][b][b]
Photoquality
Photo test / studio[b]
[b][b]For this first studio photo test, I didn't take a lot of pictures because I can only test the main sensor and the macro sensor.[b][b]The main sensor produces a very good result. The photo could be a bit more exposed but the sharpness is good and the colours are correctly rendered (with a bit of underexposure). [b][b]The macro sensor also delivers good results for this kind of sensor. The resolution is too low (2 MP), so the photo is pixelated but if it is displayed at the right size, the quality is not bad at all. Usually macro sensors deliver a poor quality photo, this is not the case here. [b][b]I am positively surprised by the quality of these photos in the studio, I am curious to see if this phone will be able to produce such good photos in real conditions.[b][b]
5add_a_photo
[b][b][b]Photo test / sunny[b]
[b][b]When I test entry-level phones like this Oukitel C21, I don't expect very good photo results. The Oukitel C21 produces fairly good results for this price range. The quality of the photos is obviously not comparable to a 500€ phone but the result is interesting.[b][b]When the light is good, the C21 is able to capture many details, and the sharpness is sometimes too pronounced. The colour temperature is a little too warm but on the introductory photo to this paragraph it is not disturbing. The photo was taken at the end of November, so the sun is quite low and produces a more orange light which is well reproduced on this photo. On the other hand, the phone needs one or two seconds to focus, so sometimes you need to pay attention before pressing the shutter button.[b][b][b]
[b][b]The problem of colour temperature can be seen a bit more in this picture, the vegetation is actually not as reddish.[b][b]
[b][b]At the end of the day, the reddish effect is even more visible. When the brightness drops, the differences between light and dark areas become more pronounced and the Oukitel is not very good at compensating for this difference (there is no HDR). This means that one will soon find oneself with either a white sky or a ground completely in shadow. By playing a little with the pro mode it is possible to reduce the problem but I doubt that many users have the patience to use this mode.[b][b]The Oukitel C21 is not the smartphone of the century for photography but we must not lose sight of the fact that this phone sells for around 100€ and that for this price, the result is not as bad.[b][b]
15add_a_photo
[b][b][b][b]Photo test / cloudy[b]Not yet available / tested[b][b][b]Test photo / night[b][b]
Video quality
Stabilisation[b][b][b]The Oukitel C21 does not stabilise videos, which is not surprising because in this price range no phone is capable of stabilising a video correctly. [b][b]Video normale conditions[b][b]The Oukitel C21 is capable of producing 1080p videos but they are not of exceptional quality. The phone obviously needs time to focus and if there is movement, the transition from blur to sharpness is quite visible. For static videos, the problem is less visible, the video is actually quite sharp.[b][b]The colour temperature is a little too high, giving a reddish colour to the vegetation, it is the same as for the photos as it is the same sensor.[b][b][b][b]In a vertical position, rapid movements will not be corrected quickly enough and a blur of movement will appear. With a slow movement, this problem is much less present.[b][b]Video low light[b]
Audio quality
To test the quality of the phone's audio output, I connect the device's audio output to a measuring tool, then play sounds on all frequencies and measure the differences between the original sound and the sound produced by the phone. In this way I measure the phone's ability to correctly reproduce all sounds.[b]
Frequency Response[b]This test is intended to test the device's ability to correctly reproduce all frequencies. The white line in the middle of the graph is the ideal situation and the other colors come from tests on different phones. A deviation from the reference line indicates a deviation from the ideal situation. To see good sound at all frequencies, it is therefore necessary to get as close as possible to the reference line.
[b][b]The Oukitel C21 is capable of reproducing most frequencies correctly, it offers a performance equivalent to the Redmi 9C. This frequency coverage is also quite comparable to other more expensive phones such as the Redmi Note 9s.[b][b]Dynamic Range[b]This test is designed to test a phone's ability to play sounds at different volume levels. Here too, the phones must be as close as possible to the reference.
[b]The Oukitel C21 delivers a powerful sound but despite this power, the distortion is very low and the frequency coverage is very good. I was surprised by this result because smartphones that deliver a powerful sound are often subject to distortion, which is not the case with the Oukitel C21.[b][b][b]Noise Level[b]This test aims to identify if the device under test is able to reproduce sounds without too much noise. A high score indicates a low parasite rate, a lower score indicates a higher presence of parasites.
[b][b]The Oukitel C21 does not present any interference problems, it is one of the telephones that comes closest to the reference.[b][b]I am not at the end of my surprises with this phone. The audio test reveals that it is capable of doing as well and sometimes even better than phones twice as expensive.[b][b]Concert recording[b]The purpose of this test is to measure the recording quality of the phone when there is a lot of ambient noise. Since I don't have the opportunity to go to a concert every time I test a phone, I simulate the noise of a concert in a closed environment.
Screen quality
To test the screen, I use a colorimetric probe that measures the color accuracy of a screen, as well as other parameters to see if a screen is able to correctly reproduce an image. I also test the brightness level to determine if the screen will be able to display an image in full sunlight.[b]
Screen size : 6.4 Resolution : 1080 x 2310 Ratio : 19.5:9 Type : TFT LCD % occupancy : 85 dE white : 6.5 dE red : 3.0 dE green : 5.5 dE blue : 4.6 dE jaune : 5.5 dE cyan : 4.9 dE magenta : 3.9 White temperature : 7474 Contrast : 1200:1 Brightness : 380
Colorimetry[b]
[b][b]The Oukitel C21 offers a resolution of 1080 x 2310 pixels and 85% occupancy of the front surface of the phone. This is not in itself a revolution except that this phone costs 100€ and at this price, you will hardly find a screen with such a good definition.[b][b]The resolution is not the only good surprise, the colorimetry is also quite good. I measured a dE 4.8 and again in this price range, it's very rare. This score is only slightly lower than what I got with the Poco X3. Beyond the score which is remarkable for this price range, I also see that the colour differences are fairly uniform. I usually measure larger deviations on some colours but here the deviations are more or less the same for all colours.[b][b]What I regret is that it is not possible to modify the colour temperature to try to lower the white temperature but at this price, one should not dream.[b][b][b]Top 10 - ranking of the best screens by colorimetry 1. Poco X4 Gt dE = 0.6 2. Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5g dE = 0.73 3. Xiaomi Mi 10t Pro dE = 0.83 4. Redmi Note 11 dE = 0.91 5. Redmi Note 12 Pro dE = 0.97 6. Google Pixel 6a dE = 1.01 7. Google Pixel 5 dE = 1.11 8. Realme Gt dE = 1.17 9. Redmi Note 12 dE = 1.17 10. Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite dE = 1.19
Number of smartphones in the ranking:75 Position of this smartphone in the ranking:60/75
Note: the colorimetric difference is measured in dE. After three, the human eye will perceive a colorimetric difference, so the dE should be the lowest. The tests were all carried out with a colorimetric probe. [b]Brightness / Contrast[b]I measured a maximum brightness of 380 cd/m², which is enough for everyday use but in full sunlight the screen may be harder to read. I tried to get a higher value by flooding the brightness sensor but this did not change the values.[b][b]Light Absorption/Reflection[b]The smartphone screen reflect light and sometimes turn them into a real mirror. This mirror effect makes it harder to read. [b][b]The absorption index below indicates the percentage of light absorbed by the screen. The readability of a screen is better when the absorption index is high.[b][b]
Phone tested:
% light absorption
Samsung Galaxy S10+
58
Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro
52
Honor 9x
65
Redmi Note 9s
55
Motorola G8 Power
60
Realme 6
54
Umidigi F2
48
Poco F2 Pro
52
Redmi Note 9
56
Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
53
Samsung Galaxy S20
47
Samsung Galaxy A21s
53
The phones tested have an average absroption rate of54 %
Biometry
The Oukitel C21 is equipped with a fingerprint sensor on the back but this sensor is in a rather unusual place and as I wrote above, it takes some getting used to. This sensor is located next to the photo sensor and when touching it, it is difficult to distinguish the two.[b][b]When the finger is positioned correctly, the sensor is quite fast and efficient.[b][b]
Operating system
[b][b][b]The Oukitel C21 runs on Android 10 without any overlay added by the manufacturer. It is therefore a streamlined version of Android that highlights Google's services for all common applications. Oukitel has not forced the installation of unwanted applications.[b][b]I haven't noticed any differences with other phones on Android 10, the phone is responsive enough to switch from one screen to another without latency, Android menus open quickly. [b][b]
Encoutered bugs
Not yet available / tested[b][b]
Accessories Oukitel C21
To better enjoy your experience with your smartphone, I offer links to all kinds of accessories that you might find useful
I assigned a score of 1 to 10 for each test that determines the strengths and weaknesses of a product. I am using 0 for criteria that have not (yet) been tested. A score of 1 to 3 indicates poor performance (and yes, it does), a score of 4 to 6 indicates average performance, a score of 7 to 8 indicates good performance, and a score of 9 and 10 indicates exceptional performance. . The score is calculated based on my measurements and when there are no measurements, it is a subjective opinion based on my experience.
The scores are not static, they change over time because the performance of new products changes and this must be taken into account.
Oukitel C21
Finish quality
7.00
6.00
Battery performance
6.50
8.00
CPU performance
6.00
6.5
GPU performance
6.00
6.5
Screen quality
7.00
7.00
Photo quality
5.50
5.00
Video quality
5.50
5.00
Wi-Fi performance
6.00
7.00
Mobile download speed
6.00
5.00
Mobile network sensitivity
7.00
6.00
Frequency coverage
6.00
7.00
Audio quality
6.00
6.00
GPS performance
8.00
6.00
Operating system
7.00
8.00
Overall score
89.5
89
Global ranking 1. Black Shark 4 Pro 114 / 140 2. Realme Gt 112.5 / 140 3. Poco F2 Pro 111.5 / 140 4. Oneplus Nord 2t 111.5 / 140 5. Poco F5 111 / 140 6. Samsung Galaxy S20 111 / 140 7. Poco F4 Gt 110.5 / 140 8. Google Pixel 5 109.6 / 140 9. Poco F3 108.5 / 140 10. Poco X4 Gt 108 / 140 11. Google Pixel 6a 108 / 140 12. Poco X3 Pro 107.5 / 140 13. Samsung Galaxy S10+ 107 / 140 14. Xiaomi 11t 107 / 140 15. Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus 5g 106.5 / 140 16. Redmi Note 12 Pro 106 / 140 17. Xiaomi Mi 9t Pro 106 / 140 18. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro 105.5 / 140 19. Samsung Galaxy A52 104 / 140 20. Tcl 10 Pro 104 / 140 21. Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 104 / 140 22. Redmi Note 11 Pro 103 / 140 23. Poco X4 Pro 102.5 / 140 24. Poco M4 Pro 4g 102 / 140 25. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10s 102 / 140 26. Poco M4 Pro 101.5 / 140 27. Unihertz Luna 101.5 / 140 28. Redmi Note 11 101 / 140 29. Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5g 101 / 140 30. Poco X3 101 / 140 31. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 101 / 140 32. Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite 101 / 140 33. Redmi Note 9t 100.5 / 140 34. Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro 100 / 140 35. Unihertz Tank 99 / 140 36. Poco X5 5g 98.5 / 140 37. Poco M5 98.5 / 140 38. Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite 98 / 140 39. Doogee S96 Pro 98 / 140 40. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9s 98 / 140 41. Poco F4 98 / 130 42. Poco M3 Pro 98 / 140 43. Redmi 10 97.5 / 140 44. Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 97 / 140 45. Redmi Note 12 95.5 / 140 46. Umidigi Bison Pro 95 / 140 47. F150 R2022 95 / 140 48. Poco M3 94.5 / 140 49. Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 94 / 140 50. Realme 6 93 / 140 51. Umidigi A9 Pro 92 / 140 52. Umidigi Bison 92 / 140 53. Tcl 30 Se 92 / 140 54. Oukitel C21 89.5 / 140 55. Motorola G8 Power 89 / 140 56. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 89 / 140 57. Nokia 5.3 89 / 140 58. Xiaomi Mi A3 89 / 140 59. Oneplus Nord N100 88.5 / 140 60. Honor 9x 88 / 140 61. Redmi 10a 88 / 140 62. Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite 86 / 140 63. Meizu Note 9 86 / 140 64. Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 85 / 140 65. Umidigi S3 Pro 83 / 140 66. Umidigi F2 82 / 140 67. Samsung Galaxy A21s 82 / 140 68. Redmi 9a 81 / 140 69. Oukitel Wp18 81 / 140 70. Redmi 9c 80 / 140 71. Ulefone Armor 7e 80 / 140 72. Doogee S58 Pro 78.5 / 140 73. Honor 8x 78 / 140 74. Umidigi F1 77 / 140 75. Huawei Y6 2019 74 / 140 76. Xiaomi Mi 10t Pro 57 / 70 77. Samsung Galaxy S23 8 / 10 78. Elephone U5 0 / 0
Test / Review conclusion
[b]I chose to test the Oukitel C21 out of curiosity and also to find an alternative to Xiaomi in this price segment. I was positively surprised on many points such as the level of finish, the quality of the screen, the GPS signal and the price/performance ratio.[b][b]For a selling price of around 100€ you have a phone that on some points tickles phones priced at 200€. It's obviously not perfect but I haven't encountered any major problems so for some points it's just an average phone and on others it manages to out-perform more expensive phones. [b][b]If I go back to my original motivation, is the Oukitel C21 able to compete with the Redmi Note 9? I would say yes because the scores are very close while the C21 is cheaper. It will depend a bit on your priorities because the Redmi is a champion in autonomy and offers a more powerful operating system.[b][b]If I only look at the price you have to compare the C21 with the Redmi 9C. In this duel it is the Oukitel that wins with a good lead.[b][b][b][b][b]Strengths[b]Price/performance ratio[b]Finishing level[b]GPS performance[b][b][b]Weaknesses[b]Wifi signal[b]4G frequency coverage[b]Photo focus latency[b]Colour temperature for photos[b][b][b]Alternatives to this product[b][b]If I take the price as a reference, compare the Oukitel C21 with the Redmi 9C and in this comparison the C21 is the winner.[b][b]If I take the price out of the criteria, you have to compare the Oukitel with phones like the Redmi Note 9, the Honor 9x, the Samsung Galaxy A21s. These phones are all more expensive than the Oukitel and the choice between these phones will mainly depend on the strengths and weaknesses that are important for your daily use.[b][b]
Laurent Willen Instead of watching nonsense on TV or YouTube, I spend my time in the evenings testing products and sharing my passion for technology, travel and photography.
I run this site in my own name and completely independently, no one pays me to do so.
I have more than 20 years of experience in the digital world, I have managed and developed many high traffic websites in companies in Belgium such as Mobistar, Microsoft, Immoweb, BrusselsAirlines, Proximus, Orange,...
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