Nokia Asha 501 review: The candy store kid

05 August 2013
A nice little phone that looks fresh both on the inside and outside. That’s what we took from our first encounter with the Nokia Asha 501 and we do hope we managed to get that point across. You know, with phones that go a dime a dozen, you always risk...

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  • m
  • mx1234
  • Hkq
  • 06 Aug 2013

I gifted my mum a red one .....and this price is great!
me usin a NL720, the fastlane feature gives a LOT more than expected, the app loading times are surprisingly very less. Though it has scratch protection but screen guard is must, audio and video quality are far above competition. The build is something that even some flagships lack there are NO squeaks...and the colours are cool too.
the only thing that i don't like about the 501 is the lack of whatsapp
line and wechat cover that disadvantage somewhat, but still...
being a 720 user i don't use 3G on my phone because is pricey here in India and my data consumption is high, thus no3G is ok....
Nice review. By GSMarena

    • h
    • human
    • fxH
    • 06 Aug 2013

    Thanks gsmarena I was waiting for the review

      • M
      • MdN
      • akv
      • 06 Aug 2013

      Ras, 06 Aug 2013I see that the samsung and the lg are low end laggers but i... moreWell, a Lumia needs lots of data to work properly while this phone doesn't. And people who buy phones in this price range don't necessarily have huge data plans.

        well yeah 311 is better ... no 3g is a big let down

          • p
          • pp05
          • nGU
          • 06 Aug 2013

          This will be too slow for sophisticated markets used to Android/IOS stable of phones.

            • p
            • pid
            • 3p2
            • 06 Aug 2013

            Is it possible to store a postal address too to Asha 501 phonebook?

              • D
              • AnonD-162124
              • J7U
              • 06 Aug 2013

              this phone is a joke

                • n
                • nuhtym
                • uuA
                • 06 Aug 2013

                Got one of these, battery life is amazing just like good old nokias, lasting 2-3days of regular use. I got a iPad mini with cellular, so that takes care ofy multimedia needs.
                and going by nokias build quality, I know this will last 3-4 years. My old 3310 still works fine after 8 years and no game can beat playing snake in it :)

                  • n
                  • nekko
                  • IVx
                  • 06 Aug 2013

                  Can't wait for ASHA 511(311 replacement) with 3G, HVGA 3.5 inch and 5MP pureview camera plus LED flash. Add newly ported apps optimised for the ASHA platform with its swipe UI and I'm sold. For now I will buy this for my little sister. Good job Nokia.

                    • B
                    • Baby Bop
                    • jHS
                    • 06 Aug 2013

                    Asha 311 is much better. You say the 501 has better build quality, but the Asha 311 with a $3 rubberized case is superior quality (with the Gorilla glass). Asha 311 has higher resolution and supports 3.5G on T-Mobile in USA. I don't get why the 501 even exists.

                      • R
                      • Ras
                      • HBd
                      • 06 Aug 2013

                      I see that the samsung and the lg are low end laggers but i cant see how people would buy this when for 20 bucks more you can get a last year lum610.
                      I have a galaxy mini and it breaks my nerves how it suks, i spent 110$ on it last year! Im getting an old mid range this time.

                        • L
                        • LamiaLove
                        • LaK
                        • 06 Aug 2013

                        AnonD-629, 06 Aug 2013I don't understand why Nokia supports this stupid & unu... moreYou must be kidding... Comparing a dead platform to a live one and not understanding why the live one is better supported?!

                          • D
                          • AnonD-134497
                          • sSP
                          • 06 Aug 2013

                          AnonD-629, 06 Aug 2013I don't understand why Nokia supports this stupid & unu... moreBecause it's cheaper and worth spending some 60-70 bucks?

                            • D
                            • AnonD-629
                            • maB
                            • 06 Aug 2013

                            I don't understand why Nokia supports this stupid & unuseful phone.

                            Asha series is a stupid phone made in Nokia compares with S^3 series (Belle Refresh and Belle FP).

                            It's a crappy phone but Nokia support it more than S^3.

                            I have a N8 Belle Refresh and for example LINE app doesn't exist for my phone but you can get it for Asha series.

                            My N8 it's a great phone and Asha series is one rubbish.

                            No more words needed to say what I think from Nokia.

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • ajU
                              • 06 Aug 2013

                              AnonD-7043, 05 Aug 2013Gr8 Review...! 501 is really a gr8 blazing fast no-nonsens... moreAnd its OS is more functional than WP8 apparently. And much better than iOS will ever be.

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • Tr4
                                • 05 Aug 2013

                                Peter From Poland, 05 Aug 2013I wonder who will care about this phone at all... honestly.... moreI do, as many other people, i like GSMarena because they review feature phones, not only high-end smartphones like other websites, low-end phones are more important for millions of people around the world and yet most websites focus only on the high-end and the expensive.

                                  • D
                                  • AnonD-134497
                                  • sSP
                                  • 05 Aug 2013

                                  Peter From Poland, 05 Aug 2013Yes I was on holidays, so lets say I'm not really up to dat... moreWell don't take it seriously. I was just informing you about the recent chart's activity.

                                  Not you but many others are wishing for a Nokia Android. Me, I am just a Nokia fan. Anything, Nokia adopts, I am going to adopt it. Whether it is Windows Phone, Android, Symbian, Meego or even iOS(lol). I just like Nokia, rest of my needs on a cell phone can be achieved in any brand like Facebook, Yahoo, Youtube, Instagram etc.

                                    AnonD-134497, 05 Aug 2013Perhaps, you were absent from GSMArena for the past few day... moreYes I was on holidays, so lets say I'm not really up to date with all news, and I know that nokia is going very well with low-end phones especially in Asia and Africa. But I'm just so disappointed to see Nokia's falling crown and that Samsung has taken it (Im actually using their products for about 9 years and I'm ok with quality and everything, yet if Nokia would go for Android... I would be the first one to made a preorder for their products !). You know what I mean...

                                      • D
                                      • AnonD-7043
                                      • upf
                                      • 05 Aug 2013

                                      Gr8 Review...!
                                      501 is really a gr8 blazing fast no-nonsense phone...!
                                      As always kudos to Nokia 4 bringing something fresh & innovative.
                                      Not everyone like to waste their time with cheap lagdroids or neither everyone have 600 dollars for just a phone. :->

                                        • R
                                        • Random Player
                                        • Nvw
                                        • 05 Aug 2013

                                        KINA is probably below age limit for this type of sites including technology news onward...

                                        Anyway, this phone truly deserves a praise, and your conclusion about a price cut is definitely wise.

                                        I hope Microsoft support nokia more in their windows phone endeavor, as they're (nokia) showing true loyalty and dedication to the platform.
                                        Thank you always GSMarena.