Nokia Asha 501 Review

Despite the fact that smartphones buzz has all been around for a few years now, approximately 85 percent people are still using feature phones. We can say that half of the world’s mobile phones, five years down the line, will be these affordable feature phones.

On the other hand, mobile phone users are aspiring for the latest smartphones, even though they cannot actually afford them. This is the main reason why majority of feature phones now are giving smartphone like features such as access to social networks, apps web and so on. And, these new feature phones are getting better day by day giving rise to a new segment of smart feature phones. Examples include the Nokia Asha series. Asha has been a great success around the world thanks to its affordability and smart features.

With the Nokia Asha Series, Nokia has created an Asha Software platform especially for these phones and the Asha 501 is the first phone to feature this new operating system. The phone is aimed for emerging markets as its low price point and barebones functionality will fit in nicely in those specific areas, however, you will have to compromise on its design. It’s an entry-level package, a cheap and dual-SIM phone.

While unboxing the Nokia Asha 501, you will get everything inside the retail box that you need to get started with this phone.

• A Nokia charger
• A single piece pink headset (for the Black Asha 501 flavor
• A 4GB microSD card already inserted in the memory slot
• However, there is no USB cable inside

Note: The Asha 501 can charge off USB with standard microUSB cables and chargers.

As you know that a mobile phone that is aiming to be under a specific price tag, its display is going to be affected a lot. And, this is the case with the Nokia Asha 501. It comes with a 3" TFT unit of QVGA (240 x 320) resolution display with 133ppi. Though, it is not the sharpest thing out there, nor does it to attract our eyes with its dull color reproduction but in this class capacitive touchscreen with multi-touch support are still considered nice extras, so you shouldn't expect Retina-beaters.

On the whole, colors are nice and effective and the screen is sensibly bright. However, size and resolution may be an issue, but the responsiveness has been remarkably improved from what we remember with the older Asha phones.

Furthermore, browsing the web and watching videos is not a compelling experience as you can expect with a screen of that screen size and resolution of course.

Now, let us talk something about its design. The design of the Nokia Asha 501 as compared to its low quality display is far better and fascinating. The size of the phone it quite comfortable to hold and is hand friendly as well. Moreover, its color plastic casing is like icing on the cake. Quite frankly, it’s a light weight and cute handset. We truly have to show Nokia our appreciation with this one chiefly for the reason that it comes up with a stylish edge for an entry-level device that is targeted for emerging markets.

To cut a long story short, the Nokia Asha 501 is a small, cute handset with a decent build quality, and still has a fashionable side to its overall design that makes it a pleasing offering. We can say that this is something that other manufacturers need to bear in mind when making similar offerings. Nokia has embraced a brand new yet recognizable design language for the Asha 501. The vivid colors and matte finish give it a very upscale charm as compared to the shiny, plasticky handsets seen in the category.

Being an entry level phone, the Asha 501 is not outfitted with all the gear that we are acquainted with finding on most modern smartphones. If truth be told, features that truly stand out in the Asha 501 are its 3.2 megapixel rear camera, microSD card slot, 2G connectivity, and 1,200 mAh battery. Moreover, the battery gives you 17 hours of talk and 48 days of standby time.

Updated Asha Touch takes after MeeGo. It has been said that Nokia’s Asha touch user interface has been borrowed heavily from Meego, but the Asha 501 is a complete different story. The phone relies on a new technology adopted by smartphones therefore, it means that the Asha 501 runs on a revamped user interface.

For all intents and purposes, it can be broken up into two particular aspects – one being your customary icon-based menu listing, another being referred to as the Fastlane that provides you a list of features that are used the most. For example, access to social networking, favorite apps, and favorite contacts. All together, it is simple, easy, straightforward, and hassle-free. For example, you can dispose any app by swiping from right to left. Furthermore, the homescreen is a collection of all the applications you have in your phone. Moreover, to get your reminders, recent messages and mails as well as music player, you can always swipe to the left. The phone comes with all the intuitive qualities that make for a low learning curve out of the box.

In the same way, dragging from the top will bring in the settings for network, Wi-Fi, etc. From any page you can always click the back button to return to where you where. In addition to this, when you scroll thorough the apps, you will not find any lag at all that indicates that this is an operating system that fits perfectly on the hardware it's been assigned. The interface is easy to learn and remains responsive which is something that first time users will appreciate.

Many people who are using this mobile phone will also be using the mobile phone web browser for the first time, and the Asha 501 gives them a tabbed browsing which means they can have multiple pages opened at the same time. With this, the phone gives them an easy way of browsing. Moreover, this phone tries to be a smartphone in all respects.

The Asha 501 comes with a 3.15 mega pixel camera that can take pictures of up to 2048 x 1536 resolutions. The interface of camera is quite simple and provides a virtual on-screen shutter as well as a toggle so that you can switch between camera and the camcorder along with a gallery shortcut. The zoom slider and the additional setting options can be accessed upon tapping. Additional Settings include adjustable white balance, self-timer, live effects and shutter sound, which can be disabled too.

In addition, you can also preset the resolution of the images with a choice between 3MP, 2MP, 1MP and VGA. Images captured with the Asha 501 are passable and because of the fixed focus nature, you won’t be able to shoot close up photographs with the Nokia Asha 501. On the whole, the camera is good and the images are nice and vibrant but you will hardly find any details in images. Images taken at night time are too noisy. Furthermore, the lack of an LED flash means that you should probably refrain from shooting low light shots with the camera on the Asha 501.

With the Asha 501, you can also record videos as well but at a very disappointing QVGA resolution. Frame rates are limited to about 15 FPS. Sound is recorded in mono at 31Kbps and a sampling rate of 16kHz, the video bitrate hovers around 400 Kbps.

Talking about the connectivity in the Asha 501, we can say that the connectivity options are essentially limited to Bluetooth option as well as the built-in microSD card slot. Taking the built-in storage that is just 128MB into account, Nokia is bundling along a 4GB memory card with the intention that you can store your multimedia content on it. The card slot and one of the two SIM slots is located on the side. The other is placed below the battery. The Nokia Asha 501 is a dual band device (900 / 1800) and offers GPRS and EDGE class 12. There's no 3G (HSDPA) but you will find Wi-Fi in the Asha 501.

Bluetooth 3.0 comes with EDR and it handles things like wireless hands free dongles but also local file sharing. Downside in terms of connectivity is the absence of USB on-the-go support; however, the phone uses a microUSB port for both data connections and charging. What's more, the phone also features a memory card slot with a complimentary 4GB microSD card. This microSD card when coupled with a car reader gives you the fastest data transfer. And to end with, there's the standard 3.5mm audio jack.

The Nokia Asha 501 has the best battery life that we have seen in touchscreen mobile phones. It lasted over two days with all the playing around we did with the device. The Asha 501 comes in Dual SIM and Single SIM variants, and based on the variant you chose, the battery life varies a little bit. The Asha 501 has a 1200 mAh battery unit that can provide you 48 days of standby and 17 hours of calling.

Apart from its extraordinary battery life and all the good features the Asha 501 has to offer you, it does come with some shortcomings which are listed below:

• Below average camera
• No 3G
• Low-resolution screen
• Fixed-focus camera
• No smart dialing

The Nokia Asha 501 is going to be gaining much traction in emerging markets. The phone is something that converts to approximately $100, and with that outstanding standby time, the Asha 501 appeals to a mass audience mainly because of its simplicity and longevity. Furthermore, its great standby time is another specific feature that caters to its target audience.

The Nokia Asha 501 puts forward a very persuasive experience to a first time buyer plus it will also serve well as a second device for smartphone owners. Moreover, its refreshed design language along with MeeGo-esque operating system is surely a delight to take a look at.

At this price point, the Nokia Asha 501 surely is the best touchscreen phone with all the essentials needed in a device from this category and little else but that works out well here. The 501 offers a very appealing form factor along with good smart options in order to satisfy the entry level smartphone customers. This is truly a phone for the masses. At the last, the phone is the perfect choice for those who are tight on a budget and prefer something that will not be too complicated.