Category: Nokia Asha 501

Nokia Asha 502 Quick Review

Bob Freking Leave a comment

Almost half a year ago, we had encountered the reimagining of the feature phone through the Nokia Asha 501. You can revisit our review of that here, but to cut it short, we called that device a phone of extreme potential. Months more given, the Finnish company outs the refined Nokia Asha 502. Has the brand evolved further since its creation? Only one way to find out.

Nokia Asha 502

As much as we want to give out full coverage on the Asha 502, we can only do as much since we have been given limited time with the device. Anyway, we’d like to start by saying that there aren’t much differences though – most of the elements remain exactly the same. Nokia took the Asha 501 and just added gloss all over it. Gone is the physical back button (now changed into the capacitive kind), a crystal casing now encloses the past chassis of the Asha 501 & there’s a camera flash.

Nokia Asha 502

Sexy, slippery & slimy

The new build of the device that covers the color with glass feels rather cheap than classy to be honest. We really prefer the old matte design of the Asha 501 all because it feels much more suiting, and besides, this just makes the device a fingerprint magnet. Add in a little bit of oil & this thing could pass for a soap bar. On the plus side however, I can’t discredit Nokia for their creativity and their solid build quality. In this respect, the Asha 502 remains quite unparalleled.

Nokia Asha 502

Nokia didn’t fix the problem

Not much has changed really, especially with the spec sheet. The Nokia Asha 502 packs the same 3-inch display with a low resolution of 240 x 320, giving out a pixel density of only 133 ppi. The viewing angles & the colors are exactly like the Asha 501′s, and this is yet again the problem of the 502. Even the iPhone 3G has a better display than this.

Nokia Asha 502

Another improvement in the hardware are the additions of more megapixels & a camera flash. From the 3 megapixel shooter in the 5o1, the Asha 502 now takes it a step further with 5 megapixels. It doesn’t necessarily improve much when it comes to quality based on our usage, it just gives you more room to work with. Besides, the Asha 501′s camera is already great for its class. The camera flash is also a plus for low light situations.

Nokia Asha 502

Speaking of the camera, Nokia removed all forms of control over the camera software. All you have is the gallery, photo mode & video mode; you won’t even get control over your camera flash. Just tap the screen and it takes a picture, much like Motorola’s camera software. The Asha Platform is also still the same, but with a few steps forward such as: you can now select individual notifications to clear & the camera is now accessible from the lock screen. These are small improvements, but big enough changes to make the consumer experience a lot better.

Nokia Asha 502

For a price of Php4,800, we can easily recommend the Nokia Asha 502 to most people just because it works. It offers a good balance of everything such as its predecessor, only with a few improvements (nothing drastically changed & mind blowing). It’s still on 2G though & the battery spec lowered down quite a bit, but no major effects are noticeable. The rest of the story is just about a recycled Asha 501.

If you need something more or less, the Asha 500, the 501 & the 503 are all available to look at as well.

Nokia Asha 502 specifications:
Dual-SIM, Dual standby
3-inch 256K-color QVGA TFT capacitive touchscreen, @ 240×320 pixels, 133ppi
Scratch-resistant glass
128MB internal storage, 64MB of RAM
Expandable up to 32GB via microSD
5 megapixel camera w/ LED flash
QVGA (240 x 320) video recording at 15fps
GPRS/EDGE
WiFi
Bluetooth 3.0
FM radio tuner
Li-Ion 1,010mAh battery
Asha platform 1.0
Dimensions: 99.6 x 59.5 x 11.1 mm
Weight:  100 g

What we liked about it:

  • Asha’s Fastlane UI works great, improved
  • Camera is great for a feature phone
  • Loud and clear speakers
  • Unique & eye-catching design
  • Affordable
  • Fast, even with 64MB RAM

What we didn’t like about it:

  • Low-res display is inexcusable
  • Apps still need improvement
  • Fingerprint magnet

The post Nokia Asha 502 Quick Review appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

Nokia Asha 502 Quick Review

Bob Freking Leave a comment

Almost half a year ago, we had encountered the reimagining of the feature phone through the Nokia Asha 501. You can revisit our review of that here, but to cut it short, we called that device a phone of extreme potential. Months more given, the Finnish company outs the refined Nokia Asha 502. Has the brand evolved further since its creation? Only one way to find out.

Nokia Asha 502

As much as we want to give out full coverage on the Asha 502, we can only do as much since we have been given limited time with the device. Anyway, we’d like to start by saying that there aren’t much differences though – most of the elements remain exactly the same. Nokia took the Asha 501 and just added gloss all over it. Gone is the physical back button (now changed into the capacitive kind), a crystal casing now encloses the past chassis of the Asha 501 & there’s a camera flash.

Nokia Asha 502

Sexy, slippery & slimy

The new build of the device that covers the color with glass feels rather cheap than classy to be honest. We really prefer the old matte design of the Asha 501 all because it feels much more suiting, and besides, this just makes the device a fingerprint magnet. Add in a little bit of oil & this thing could pass for a soap bar. On the plus side however, I can’t discredit Nokia for their creativity and their solid build quality. In this respect, the Asha 502 remains quite unparalleled.

Nokia Asha 502

Nokia didn’t fix the problem

Not much has changed really, especially with the spec sheet. The Nokia Asha 502 packs the same 3-inch display with a low resolution of 240 x 320, giving out a pixel density of only 133 ppi. The viewing angles & the colors are exactly like the Asha 501′s, and this is yet again the problem of the 502. Even the iPhone 3G has a better display than this.

Nokia Asha 502

Another improvement in the hardware are the additions of more megapixels & a camera flash. From the 3 megapixel shooter in the 5o1, the Asha 502 now takes it a step further with 5 megapixels. It doesn’t necessarily improve much when it comes to quality based on our usage, it just gives you more room to work with. Besides, the Asha 501′s camera is already great for its class. The camera flash is also a plus for low light situations.

Nokia Asha 502

Speaking of the camera, Nokia removed all forms of control over the camera software. All you have is the gallery, photo mode & video mode; you won’t even get control over your camera flash. Just tap the screen and it takes a picture, much like Motorola’s camera software. The Asha Platform is also still the same, but with a few steps forward such as: you can now select individual notifications to clear & the camera is now accessible from the lock screen. These are small improvements, but big enough changes to make the consumer experience a lot better.

Update: You need to long press the camera screen to access the controls. Thanks for the tip ingenieur!

Nokia Asha 502

For a price of Php4,800, we can easily recommend the Nokia Asha 502 to most people just because it works. It offers a good balance of everything such as its predecessor, only with a few improvements (nothing drastically changed & mind blowing). It’s still on 2G though & the battery spec lowered down quite a bit, but no major effects are noticeable. The rest of the story is just about a recycled Asha 501.

If you need something more or less, the Asha 500, the 501 & the 503 are all available to look at as well.

Nokia Asha 502 specifications:
Dual-SIM, Dual standby
3-inch 256K-color QVGA TFT capacitive touchscreen, @ 240×320 pixels, 133ppi
Scratch-resistant glass
128MB internal storage, 64MB of RAM
Expandable up to 32GB via microSD
5 megapixel camera w/ LED flash
QVGA (240 x 320) video recording at 15fps
GPRS/EDGE
WiFi
Bluetooth 3.0
FM radio tuner
Li-Ion 1,010mAh battery
Asha platform 1.0
Dimensions: 99.6 x 59.5 x 11.1 mm
Weight:  100 g

What we liked about it:

  • Asha’s Fastlane UI works great, improved
  • Camera is great for a feature phone
  • Loud and clear speakers
  • Unique & eye-catching design
  • Affordable
  • Fast, even with 64MB RAM

What we didn’t like about it:

  • Low-res display is inexcusable
  • Apps still need improvement
  • Fingerprint magnet

The post Nokia Asha 502 Quick Review appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

Nokia Asha 501 free on Globe Plan 299

Daniel Morial Leave a comment

The popular Nokia Asha 501 is now available on postpaid for as low as Plan 299. Globe has announced the Asha 501 ca be had for free under Best Ever My Super Plan 299.

The Nokia Asha 501 is offered for free under the Best Ever My Super Plan 299. It is the latest among the Asha line up of Nokia and it runs the newest Asha Platform 1.0. The Asha 501 comes in an array of colors to fit your liking namely Bright Red, Bright Green, Cyan, Yellow, White and Black. Colors are subject to availability but you could purchase an additional back cover if you wish.

The Plan 299 will give you a 500 peso value that you may use for the combos you want to avail. You may choose from text, call or surfing combos. IDD combo is also present. Just mix and match to suit your needs.

You can read our review of the Nokia Asha 501 to know more about it.

The Nokia Asha 501 retails with a suggested retail price of Php4,490 in Nokia stores.

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The post Nokia Asha 501 free on Globe Plan 299 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

Nokia Asha 501 Review

Bob Freking Leave a comment

When you first look at the Nokia Asha 501, you might think it’s a smaller Lumia. The solid and beautiful build is wrapped by a matte polycarbonate body and the device runs on Nokia’s totally new Asha Platform. Is it cute enough to make the cut? Find out in our full review.

NOKIA ASHA 501 official 2

“Feature phone resurrected.”

Design and Construction

I’m not really the biggest fan of small phones as I have really big hands. However, when I got the Asha 501, a few things about my perceptions of this feature phone were changed.

First, the size feels like the total opposite of the norm. We have been so fed up with large phones for years now and the idea of a compact phone is just so refreshing. It fits perfectly in the hand even if it is quite thick, and despite that, it is still very manageable.

“I want a yellow phone too.” and “That is so cool / cute.” is what I hear most from my friends.

The design of Nokia’s Lumia line is already fun enough to begin with, so when you take that and put it in a smaller and a more rounded form factor – what you actually create is something cuter and more fun to look at.

As for the placement of the external buttons, nothing is found on the left and bottom sides of the device, while on the right side is where the volume rocker and the power button are placed; and on the top side is the micro USB port, the charging port and the 3.5mm audio jack. One thing to note here is that, while a proprietary Nokia charger is provided, you can also charge via the micro USB port.

The phone does not attract that much dirt, and if it does, it will most likely happen on the back cover (in which it can easily be wiped by a clean piece of cloth). With all of that said, the Nokia Asha 501 doesn’t need to be premium, and it doesn’t feel cheap. Rather, it’s already great at being what it is.

It would be nice to see if Nokia marketed different back covers for this phone though.

Display

At 3-inches at 240 x 320 pixels, the size is still manageable, but it won’t be the nicest experience (movies, reading & browsing). Text and icons look crappy and very pixilated on the screen especially with a pixel density of just 133ppi. However, for whatever is lost in display resolution, it makes up for in colors as everything else was vibrant.

NOKIA ASHA 501 REVIEW

Just as expected from an LCD display, viewing angles aren’t the best either.

OS, Apps and UI

The Asha 501 runs on Nokia’s new OS – the Asha platform. We have an in-depth look at it through the video below.

After taking a look at that, we have a few additional test notes.

What’s missing:

  • There is no way to click through a popping notification. You need to go through the notification bar.
  • Search bars are hard to find, but usually, it can be accessed through swiping down when you’re on top of the list.
  • App selection is not the best out there. We’re expecting to find the Facebook & Twitter apps to work very well at least, but not even that was a good experience. It was slow, and syncing took ages.
  • We found no way to import Google contacts or group; that may be a problem for some as contacts are really messy.
  • No copy-paste functionality.

What we loved:

  • Everything is easy to navigate and use.
  • Swiping from the sides to close apps feels good on the small form factor.
  • UI design elements are polished.
  • Works amazingly fast even with low specifications.
  • Even with the small display, I found myself enjoying typing on a QWERTY keyboard with minimal error. For T9 enthusiasts, one is also available (Tagalog language too).
  • There’s a 5-number security code option for your lockscreen.
  • The home screen is very intuitive.
  • Glance screen works great and doesn’t drain much battery.

Multimedia & Camera

It’s quite hard to figure out where the speaker grilles are since it’s embedded right into the opening of the battery door. The speakers on this phone never failed to impress; I had music playing in the classroom and people on the other corner could sing-along, and while everyone in the computer shop had headphones on, everyone looked at me when the Nokia ringtone started playing because of an incoming call.

Now, when you think about a 3.15 megapixel camera on a budget-friendly phone, you might immediately think that it sucks. That’s most certainly not the case here.

Nokia does wonders with its high-end PureView cameras, and their imaging prowess is still evident on phones like the Asha 501. The phone has a good dynamic range, and it does pretty well in handling noise. Everything was vibrant and clear for the most part, and we can’t really ask for more.

sample shot 2

For a cameraphone of this caliber, you might say that it will eventually turn bad once you bring it to low-light. Again, it does pretty good really. It might not handle motion blur as well as other devices, but it can surely capture some good shots.

The same can be said with video, although sad to say, we only have low-resolution shooting.

Performance & Battery Life

The Nokia Asha 501 is amazingly fast, even with just a 1GHz prcoessor and 64MB RAM. The phone doesn’t lag on regular use, and even if you do add heavy load, it just slows down; it doesn’t drop frames or crash.

For a phone of this size, a 1,200mAh battery should be more than enough and we were actually right. Unfortunately, we can’t loop video playback on this device, so we’ll just have to report on the battery life with usage of the week.

ASHA BACK

I never turned off Glance Screen, which means the display of the phone is always on, displaying the time and other details. Note that the display isn’t AMOLED, which means even the blacked out colors are lighting up through extremely dark gray pixels.

Only 1 SIM card was running during the test period of 2 days it did pretty well. I brought the phone to school for a day (standby & music playback), I did around more than 2 hours of phone calls, I sent 50 texts and I still have enough juice on the third day. To cut it short, the battery management on this thing is phenomenal.

Of course, since there’s little to no internet connectivity involved, the usage behavior is totally different compared to your standard smartphone.

Conclusion

Potential – that’s the word I’m stuck with before letting go of the Nokia Asha 501. It could have been the perfect feature phone for everyone if it weren’t for the low-res display and the lack of must-have apps.

NOKIA ASHA 501

The Nokia Asha 501 is both a king and a pawn.

The phone has a pretty good camera, great speakers, a beautiful design, and most of all, a very interesting OS. Asha’s Fastlane UI is one of the best I’ve seen, and while it still has a lot of things missing, we should not forget that it’s only version 1.0. There will be a lot of improvements along the way if only Nokia puts more focus in it.

For now, if you’re looking for an affordable feature phone that can text, make calls, take photos, play music, & last for days, here is the Nokia Asha 501; you may just have to live with slow Facebook, Email & Twitter syncing and other minor complaints.

Nokia Asha 501 specifications:
Dual-SIM, Dual standby
3-inch 256K-color QVGA TFT capacitive touchscreen, @ 240×320 pixels, 133ppi
Scratch-resistant glass
128MB internal storage, 64MB of RAM
Expandable up to 32GB via microSD
3.15 MP fixed-focus camera
QVGA (240 x 320) video recording at 15fps
GPRS/EDGE
WiFi 802.11 b/g
Bluetooth 3.0 with EDR
FM radio tuner
Li-Ion 1,200mAh battery
Asha platform 1.0
Dimensions: 99.2 x 58 x 12.1 mm
Weight:  98.2 g
Php4,490

What we liked about it:

  • Asha’s Fastlane UI is works great
  • Amazing camera
  • Loud and clear speakers
  • Solid, beautiful and compact build
  • Affordable
  • Fast, even with 64MB RAM
  • Long-lasting battery

What we didn’t like about it:

  • OS needs a few updates to improve
  • Lack of good first-party apps
  • Low-res screen
  • Not for watching or taking high-res video

The post Nokia Asha 501 Review appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

Nokia Asha 501 first impressions, unboxing

Bob Freking Leave a comment

Packing Nokia’s new OS, the Asha platform and an affordable price tag, the Nokia Asha 501 makes its way to the local market. It packs a 3-inch QVGA display, a 3.15MP camera, dual SIM capabilities and a lot more.

We have an unboxing video for you right here if you want to see what comes with the package:

The first thing you’ll notice is how small the device actually is, not to mention its appeal (or for the lack of a better term — cuteness).

Nokia Asha 501 hands on

Out of the box, you immediately see with the display, the earpiece and the single back button. On the right side, you’ll find the power button and the volume rocker, while on top you’ll find a charging port for Nokia’s own cable, a micro USB port and the 3.5mm audio jack. Nothing else is found on the remaining sides of the phone.

Nokia Asha 501 sides

Turning the device around, we are confronted with the removable back cover that paints the device with color, which in our case, is yellow. There is the camera on the top part and below that is the Nokia logo.

Nokia Asha 501 back

When we first booted up the device, a tutorial came up as expected. After a few minutes of hands-on, we’re glad to say Asha is very exciting. Having used the Firefox phone, and being a fan of MeeGo & Symbian’s design – Nokia’s new platform opens a lot of doors for the company.

For now, the Nokia Asha 501 seems like a very great deal for a budget phone and we’re pretty sure that there is a lot of potential for an OS and device of this caliber.

Nokia Asha 501

Nokia Asha 501 specifications:
Dual-SIM, Dual standby
3-inch 256K-color QVGA TFT capacitive touchscreen, @ 240×320 pixels, 133ppi
Scratch-resistant glass
128MB internal storage, 64MB of RAM
Expandable up to 32GB via microSD
3.15 MP fixed-focus camera
QVGA (240 x 320) video recording at 15fps
GPRS/EDGE
WiFi 802.11 b/g
Bluetooth 3.0 with EDR
FM radio tuner
Li-Ion 1,200mAh battery
Asha platform 1.0
Dimensions: 99.2 x 58 x 12.1 mm,
Weight:  98.2 g

The Nokia Asha 501 is now available locally for Php4,490. We have a full review coming up soon, so stay tuned.

The post Nokia Asha 501 first impressions, unboxing appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.