NOKIA Asha 501 Pro Reviews

Nokia Asha 501 brings a number of features on a bargain price, which combined with its fresh look and solid build quality is bound to attract a large number of customers on a tight budget. At this point though, it's flying way too close to smartphone territory to be comfortable - it's up to Nokia to fix that with a price cut and set things right.

Despite its low-end specs, the Nokia Asha 501 performs remarkably well for a budget feature phone of this type. It has a fun, cute design, a sturdy build, and a functional OS straightforward enough that even people who shy away from technology could learn to use it quickly. The Asha 501 is not a premium device by any stretch, but it's not supposed to compete on that scale. For a device designed to cover the basics at a low entry cost, it has just enough power, apps, and style to be appealing, though it certainly isn't what you would call an impressive phone.

Nokia is selling the Asha 501 at a retail price south of $100 contract-free. As low as that sounds, at this price there is already a number of Android device like the Samsung Galaxy Pocket with better functionality. If you want the most apps and possibilities, an affordable Android phone would be a much better fit. Still, you have to appreciate the effort Nokia has put into making the Asha 501 a fun and easy to use device. The vibrant colors and interchangeable back covers, the dual SIM option and the swipe-based interface all come together for a nice experience and the addition of Nokia’s HERE maps is a welcome bonus. If you don’t care much about apps, but want the basics (calling, texting and mail) covered, the Asha 501 will not disappoint. The days of feature phones are numbered, but if there was a way to extend them, the Asha 501 is one.

A cheap, cheerful and well-made compact smartphone, but it’s far too slow