Nokia Asha 501: Impressive Low-end Touchscreen Phone for $99 • Hacker News Board

Re: Nokia Asha 501: Impressive Low-end Touchscreen Phone for $99

#11

Post by seanmcdirmid » Thu, May 09, 2013, 9:24 AM UTC

mtgx wrote: post #3

RyanZAG wrote: post #2

Hardly impressive - fairly pathetic really. Observe: http://androidandme.com/2013/04/smartphones-2/archos-reveals... http://www.androidforcheap.com/cell-phone-android-phone-c-58... http://www.pandawill.com/mobile-phone-c1/android-os-phone-c5... etc. Just Google around for tons more. Generally better in just about every way, and running a real OS that can run real apps.

I think there was a quad core 1080p Chinese phone for $160, too. Considering these are running Symbian, that's a lot less value for buck compared to an Android one, even if the price is "low". EDIT: This one iOcean X7 - quad core 1.2 Cortex A7, 1080p screen, PowerVR 5XT (1080p video support), 2 GB of RAM, 13 MP camera. Now that's impressive. And it doesn't look too bad either: http://android-sale.com/iocean-x7-phone.…

These are not running Symbian. From the article:

> Nokia Asha 501 represents the first fruit after Nokia bought Smarterphone, back in November 2012. And maybe thanks to the Smarterphone software, Nokia has managed to pack so much inside a tiny, 3inch touchscreen device.

As for the iOcean, I can't find a review about it anywhere on the web in English. Kind of risky.

Re: Nokia Asha 501: Impressive Low-end Touchscreen Phone for $99

#12

Post by cbg0 » Thu, May 09, 2013, 9:24 AM UTC

A nice, cheap, small phone with dual-sim? Isn't this just like every other Asha phone they make?

Re: Nokia Asha 501: Impressive Low-end Touchscreen Phone for $99

#13

Post by RyanZAG » Thu, May 09, 2013, 9:26 AM UTC

seanmcdirmid wrote: post #7

RyanZAG wrote: post #2

Hardly impressive - fairly pathetic really. Observe: http://androidandme.com/2013/04/smartphones-2/archos-reveals... http://www.androidforcheap.com/cell-phone-android-phone-c-58... http://www.pandawill.com/mobile-phone-c1/android-os-phone-c5... etc. Just Google around for tons more. Generally better in just about every way, and running a real OS that can run real apps.

Think of the difference between a namebrand and a white label. If you get a bland cheap Chinese android phone, everyone will know it and you'll lose face. An Asha is a bit more classier, well designed, higher quality, still very affordable.

I'm not so sure about that. For example, this phone:

http://www.androidforcheap.com/a7100-tv-wifi-smart-phone-and...

Without a careful inspection, most people will have a very difficult time telling it apart from newer Samsung phones, and it runs far, far better than the terrible Symbian OS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yx2ueazLvXI

Re: Nokia Asha 501: Impressive Low-end Touchscreen Phone for $99

#14

Post by seanmcdirmid » Thu, May 09, 2013, 9:29 AM UTC

RyanZAG wrote: post #8

RaduTyrsina wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indeed, the first one is good, but second one - Starting at: $219.00 + it's a no name. the same about the rest of them. archos' interesting though. but no, asha 501 is not pathetic at all

Sorry, my bad on the 2nd link, I pasted the wrong one. It was meant to be the 'cheap phones' link from that website. Here it is: http://www.androidforcheap.com/cell-phone-android-phone-c-58... Those devices are better specs, cheaper (some are under $50), and run a real OS. The third link is the same, with better specs and well under $99, so I'm not sure where you're coming from here. Asha 501 seems very pathetic to m…

All of those phones are pieces of junk.

If you are comparing specs, the Asha loses. If you are comparing size, design, build quality, reliability, etc...then there is no competition here.

Re: Nokia Asha 501: Impressive Low-end Touchscreen Phone for $99

#15

Post by moystard » Thu, May 09, 2013, 9:30 AM UTC

seanmcdirmid wrote: post #11

mtgx wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think there was a quad core 1080p Chinese phone for $160, too. Considering these are running Symbian, that's a lot less value for buck compared to an Android one, even if the price is "low". EDIT: This one iOcean X7 - quad core 1.2 Cortex A7, 1080p screen, PowerVR 5XT (1080p video support), 2 GB of RAM, 13 MP camera. Now that's impressive. And it doesn't look too bad either: http://android-sale.com/iocean-x7-phone.…

These are not running Symbian. From the article: > Nokia Asha 501 represents the first fruit after Nokia bought Smarterphone, back in November 2012. And maybe thanks to the Smarterphone software, Nokia has managed to pack so much inside a tiny, 3inch touchscreen device. As for the iOcean, I can't find a review about it anywhere on the web in English. Kind of risky.

Indeed, it is running on a modified version of the S40 platform.

Re: Nokia Asha 501: Impressive Low-end Touchscreen Phone for $99

#16

Post by RaduTyrsina » Thu, May 09, 2013, 9:30 AM UTC

seanmcdirmid wrote: post #11

mtgx wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think there was a quad core 1080p Chinese phone for $160, too. Considering these are running Symbian, that's a lot less value for buck compared to an Android one, even if the price is "low". EDIT: This one iOcean X7 - quad core 1.2 Cortex A7, 1080p screen, PowerVR 5XT (1080p video support), 2 GB of RAM, 13 MP camera. Now that's impressive. And it doesn't look too bad either: http://android-sale.com/iocean-x7-phone.…

These are not running Symbian. From the article: > Nokia Asha 501 represents the first fruit after Nokia bought Smarterphone, back in November 2012. And maybe thanks to the Smarterphone software, Nokia has managed to pack so much inside a tiny, 3inch touchscreen device. As for the iOcean, I can't find a review about it anywhere on the web in English. Kind of risky.

+1 to that. And, you won't be paying 100$. This is that type of phone you'll get for free on your carrier with a basic plan

Re: Nokia Asha 501: Impressive Low-end Touchscreen Phone for $99

#17

Post by RaduTyrsina » Thu, May 09, 2013, 9:31 AM UTC

cbg0 wrote: post #12

A nice, cheap, small phone with dual-sim? Isn't this just like every other Asha phone they make?

Yes, but look at more features, read the article and you'll see

Re: Nokia Asha 501: Impressive Low-end Touchscreen Phone for $99

#18

Post by RaduTyrsina » Thu, May 09, 2013, 9:33 AM UTC

RyanZAG wrote: post #13

seanmcdirmid wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Think of the difference between a namebrand and a white label. If you get a bland cheap Chinese android phone, everyone will know it and you'll lose face. An Asha is a bit more classier, well designed, higher quality, still very affordable.

I'm not so sure about that. For example, this phone: http://www.androidforcheap.com/a7100-tv-wifi-smart-phone-and... Without a careful inspection, most people will have a very difficult time telling it apart from newer Samsung phones, and it runs far, far better than the terrible Symbian OS. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yx2ueazLvXI

Ryan, there's some truth in your assertions BUT this is not ONLY Symbian. It's MeeGo + Symbian on the core + Smarterphone that Nokia has acquired = new Asha platform software.

Re: Nokia Asha 501: Impressive Low-end Touchscreen Phone for $99

#19

Post by moystard » Thu, May 09, 2013, 9:33 AM UTC

RyanZAG wrote: post #2

Hardly impressive - fairly pathetic really. Observe: http://androidandme.com/2013/04/smartphones-2/archos-reveals... http://www.androidforcheap.com/cell-phone-android-phone-c-58... http://www.pandawill.com/mobile-phone-c1/android-os-phone-c5... etc. Just Google around for tons more. Generally better in just about every way, and running a real OS that can run real apps.

To be perfectly honest, I have seen quite a few Chinese no name Android phones and I have never been impressed by any of them. On paper, everything looks great, but the reality differs a lot: stolen design, bad build quality, poor screen resolution/contrast/responsiveness, slow, under-performing battery, etc.

The 401 is not pathetic at all. It includes everything people from emerging country needs: a nice design with robust material, a solid battery life, and an OS good enough for Internet, and social network usage.

Re: Nokia Asha 501: Impressive Low-end Touchscreen Phone for $99

#20

Post by seanmcdirmid » Thu, May 09, 2013, 9:33 AM UTC

RyanZAG wrote: post #13

seanmcdirmid wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Think of the difference between a namebrand and a white label. If you get a bland cheap Chinese android phone, everyone will know it and you'll lose face. An Asha is a bit more classier, well designed, higher quality, still very affordable.

I'm not so sure about that. For example, this phone: http://www.androidforcheap.com/a7100-tv-wifi-smart-phone-and... Without a careful inspection, most people will have a very difficult time telling it apart from newer Samsung phones, and it runs far, far better than the terrible Symbian OS. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yx2ueazLvXI

Ah, I've seen that phone for real (my office is in Zhongguancun). Its a piece of crap; all the Shanzhai phones are actually. In Chinese they have a saying: 便宜没好货，好货不便宜, you get what you pay for.

What if I wanted to buy something for 7-800 kuai that wasn't a knockoff or a cheap piece of crap? The Asha promises "less" in terms of specs so it can offer more in other areas. Reasonable trade off.