Lumia 520 Review - The most affordable Nokia Windows Phone

Windows Phone Primal's review of the the Lumia 520, the cheapest Nokia Windows Phone nonetheless

The Lumia 520 is a well-priced Windows Phone for an entry-level model. The option itself provides consumers an affordable Windows Phone that doesn't accept a negative touch on on the user feel. The beauty of the Lumia 520 is ane would assume it runs Windows Telephone vii.viii and uses a CTF display, but we're talking most Windows Phone 8 hardware here.

That said, this is even so a upkeep smartphone and you should not brand the purchase with the same expectations of a Lumia 720 or Lumia 920. At that place are features missing and corners cut to save on price, but note this: it's a superb Windows Telephone and we'd never grumble at the toll.

Cheap, looks good, feels comfortable to agree and sports a super-sensitive touch display.	Lacks numerous features, including back-lit capacitive buttons, flash, forepart-facing camera and more.
Nokia has not just tackled the high-stop and in-betwixt markets, but the company is too reaching out to the demographic that enjoys choosing the cheapest models on the store shelf. The entry-level device certainly raises confined in terms of quality and is light years alee of similar competitor products.

The Torso

Launching aslope the Lumia 720, Nokia has made sure the Lumia 520 is both bonny and solid for every-solar day utilize. Post-obit conform of the Lumia 620 and Lumia 820, there's a vanquish that can be swapped for deviation colours (note there's no extra functionality here – wireless charging nor NFC) and popped off to reveal the battery, as well every bit the microSIM and microSD slots. Weighing in at just 124g, information technology's significantly lighter than the Lumia 920 for comparison (185g).

The body is simply thinner than the Lumia 920 (9.9mm versus 10.7mm). Nokia does manage to create an illusion that the rear of the Lumia 520 is thinner than reality with the curved back plate. It'south comfy to hold, which is e'er an added do good. The issue the Lumia 520 has is that it feels slightly cheap. While in that location'south comfort and ergonomics at play, the side buttons are a prime instance of how Nokia has managed to go on the manufacturing cost downwardly. They're not atrocious, but non ceramic either.

Let's non throw in the towel, but considering there are some cutting backs. The Lumia 520 sports a 4-inch display and while it's not well-nigh 5-inches, which is what appears to exist the norm these days with high-end models, it'due south still larger than the previous generation Lumia 800.

Returning to the back plate. There are a variety of colours available: yellow, cyan, ruby-red, white and blackness. This pick helps keep the Windows Phone looking fresh and we've not had any trouble popping the plate off for piece of cake access to the insides. At that place'south not a great bargain of choice though, compared to the Lumia 620. You'll not meet crazy lime green colours or hip orangish, only again this is a budget device and nosotros shouldn't await the world - Nokia does manage to include the main Lumia colour scheme.

Overall, while there are certain elements that brand the Lumia 520 feel inexpensive in areas, information technology'south not going to affect the overall feel and the dorsum plates feel comfortable to agree. We experience as though Nokia has balanced both sides of the calibration rather well here. There's not a lot of compromise for the toll, which is exactly what Windows Telephone requires with its low-end pick of hardware.

The Display

Equally noted above, the Lumia 520 sports a iv-inch IPS display, which is at 800x480 resolution. In that location's no ClearBlack engineering science included, merely Nokia has decided to add together Super-sensitive touch, enabling owners to utilise their Windows Telephone while wearing gloves, etc. It'south impressive technology that was highlighted on the Lumia 920. That's what we like well-nigh the Lumia 520; it doesn't take all the bells and whistles but there are a few tricks up its sleeve.

At that place's too no PureMotion (60Hz screen refresh rate sported by the Lumia 920) and no Corning Gorilla Glass (so be that little bit more than careful when handling the device – it can't quite withstand nuclear fallout), but for the price tag we're not fussed. We didn't experience whatsoever issues when using the Lumia 520, unless you're exterior. Information technology tin can prove to be a struggle if you're attempting to read text on-screen with the glare of the lord's day behind you.

What was interesting is because there's Super-sensitive touch on, information technology was a breeze to use the bear on screen and there was not a single moment when we felt required to really put pressure level on the glass for our gestures to register. That's a existent bonus for a low-end smartphone and was something the previous Lumia 710 suffered from (or then we plant with our review unit of measurement).

And so in that location's no quick refresh rate, no ClearBlack technology and no Gorilla Glass, but what Nokia has achieved here with the virtually affordable Windows Phone, we applaud the visitor. The included Super-sensitive touch is a really welcomed addition and improves the experience 10-fold.

The Hardware

The Lumia 520 packs a rather squeamish dial, equally does each and every other Windows Phone in the current generation of hardware. The absolute minimum is a dual-cadre Snapdragon S4 CPU at 1GHz, which is what we've got here and it's certainly no slouch. There's a noticeable difference when put next to a loftier-terminate Windows Phone with a i.5GHz dual-core chip, but the user feel is never at take chances of being sub-par.

Games are rendered well, without stuttering (or "lag") and apps open promptly. Forth with the 1GHz dual-cadre, the Lumia 520 also sports 512MB RAM, which -- dissimilar the 256MB issues – runs all apps on the Windows Phone Store. We've not had the situation where we couldn't go an app to run, only as games become more and more than advanced on the platform, at that place could well be bug in the hereafter - it's worth noting that even the high-finish hardware volition become obsolete at some betoken equally applied science improves.

Unfortunately, as this is a low-end device there's no NFC and no wireless charging. This bring us back to the interchangeable back plates. The optional coloured accessories are simply just shells and do not innovate any functionality. For battery nosotros're looking at 1430mAh, which is larger than the Lumia 620. Every bit Nokia's most affordable Windows Phone doesn't sport all the bells and whistles nether the sun, the small bombardment shouldn't be a problem with daily use. We had no problem in our tests.

At that place is one expanse that appears to be limited - and that's internal storage. Nokia has but installed 8GB of storage for apps and games, also as other settings and temporary files. Some power users may find this lack of space an outcome. While a microSD slot is available for cards up to 64GB in capacity, the expansion can only cater for media files. Nokia did manage to pack in WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, only no compass so don't get likewise excited as yous'll non be able to apply HERE Metropolis Lens.

The Audio

We can sum up the speaker on the Lumia 520 with a single word: loud. It'due south actually rather impressive only how loud it is. We can crank the volume up to well-nigh 26 (out of xxx) before the sound begins to misconstrue, just for a depression-end device this is perfect. The sound quality from the speaker is slightly tinny and is located on the bottom correct-manus side of the back.

Unfortunately at that place'south no equaliser or other audio setting that's sported by other Lumia Windows Phones. The entry is present on the chief Settings menu, merely the "audio" configuration screen is bare when loaded. Testing the sound through headphones (pair of Razer Blacksharks) with numerous tracks streamed from Xbox Music showed u.s.a. the Lumia 520 tin handle playback like whatsoever other smartphone. No problems here, simply in that location's a notable difference betwixt this device and playback on loftier-end hardware.

Call quality is also good, which is e'er a bonus for a mobile phone. It's easy to hear the recipient on the other terminate of the line, but it'southward not the best experience we've had. Overall, if y'all've used a Windows Phone before and are even so to buy a Windows Phone 8 device, you'll not be disappointed.

The Shooter

Every bit the Lumia 520 is a depression-stop Windows Phone, there's merely an f/two.four 28mm 5MP rear shooter. What'south more than, at that place'south no flash and no front-facing camera for Skype and other video conference apps. Also, information technology's worth noting there's no Carl Zeiss lens. With all that down on paper, you'd assume the results would be pretty poor, correct? Well, you'd be half-wrong.

The 5MP is nothing special, especially when you compare images captured with the Lumia 520 against the Samsung ATIV S or Lumia 920, just there's enough sharpness and colour balance to really make a difference here. Camera technology has come a long fashion and fifty-fifty 5MP shooters can produce results that are proficient enough for Facebook and sharing with friends.

That is until the sun goes down. There's no flash. We attempted to have a shot in the night only to encounter how it handled no calorie-free at all. You tin can give it a go if yous own a Windows Phone that doesn't sport OIS for low-light photography. Plough the flash off and attempt to take some shots.

Here are some sample shots taken with the Lumia 520:

And hither'south a video sample:

Video is the same story. Owners can enjoy recording footage, but without OIS (optical image stabilisation) there'south bound to be some jolting. Also, there are no HAAC microphones then don't attempt to use the Lumia 520 to record a concert. As with other Windows Phone viii devices, the Lumia 520 sports similar camera settings (save the flash configuration):

• Scenes: Auto, Close-up, Night, Nighttime Portrait, Sports, Backlight
• ISO: Auto, 100-800
• Exposure Value: -2 through + 2
• White Balance: Auto, Cloudy, Daylight, Fluorescent, Incandescent
• Aspect Ratio: xvi:9, 4:3

Only what the Lumia 520 does have access to is Nokia'due south Cinemagraph, Panorama and Smart Shoot Lenses to add together more functionality.

The Phone

You lot've read through what'due south inside the Lumia 520 and how its hardware rates as a low-end Windows Telephone, only how is the smartphone to utilize each and every day as a mobile device? The story is exactly the aforementioned as whatsoever other Windows Phone: it'due south an fantabulous experience. It'south not huge or heavy, is affordable and boasts some exciting features. What more than could an owner inquire for?

There are downsides, however. Since it is a budget smartphone, at that place are drawbacks to what's on offer. The lack of flash hurts depression-light photography and really limits what's possible with the camera. Nokia cuts back on numerous features, including backlit capacitive keys, no front-facing photographic camera, slower processor and less available RAM. The 8GB internal storage will injure many too, particularly with the large games.

Sound quality is pretty decent, every bit mentioned already in this review. If you really use a smartphone to phone call friends and family, you'll have no problems with the Lumia 520. At that place are no advanced call settings, including telephone call blocking and more than, just every bit a standard experience it'southward adept enough. The Lumia 520 sports some rather interesting features that even mid-range Windows Phones lack. These include:

• Multiple lens apps, including Cinemagraph, Panorama and Smart Shoot
• Full HERE Drive license (able to use in all supported markets and regions)
• Super-sensitive display

For a really cheap smartphone, ane tin concur that information technology's not a bad deal at all. In fact, the Lumia 520 is that practiced, it'southward easy to meet why it'south slowly becoming one of the more popular Windows Phones. Also, because of the price, it'southward easier to purchase the phone from a retailer and be washed with mobile operator availability, relying on them for the SIM and contract lone.

So where tin yous option one up? Check with your local retailers and online stores if your mobile operator doesn't currently comport the Windows Phone.

Terminal thoughts: if y'all desire an affordable Windows Phone that doesn't suffer from operation issues and sports some unique features, the Lumia 520 is a superb option that should be taken seriously. Nokia has done well to shake up the market place and offer such an experience for literally next to nothing.

Oh Dear

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Business Insider has today published a follow-up report with more than details about Microsoft'due south canceled HoloLens 3 augmented reality headset. The partnership with Samsung is said to include a headset with a gear up of screens inside, powered by a Samsung phone in your pocket.

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/nokia-lumia-520-review-most-affordable-windows-phone

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