Nokia Asha 501 vs Nokia Lumia 920: A Clash of Eras

Nokia, a name synonymous with mobile innovation, produced a diverse range of devices. Today, we pit two distinct models against each other: the budget-friendly Asha 501 and the flagship Lumia 920. This comparison will help you understand which phone best suits your needs, considering their vastly different target audiences and capabilities.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Nokia Lumia 920 is the clear winner. While the Asha 501 offers incredible value for its price, the Lumia 920’s superior performance, camera, and features like wireless charging make it a more compelling choice for users seeking a modern smartphone experience.

PHONES
Phone Names	Nokia Asha 501	Nokia Lumia 920

Network
2G bands	GSM 900 / 1800 - RM-899850 / 1900 - RM-900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - RM-821, RM-820
3G bands	-	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - RM-821, RM-820
4G bands	-	1, 3, 7, 8, 20 - RM-821
EDGE	Up to 236.8 kbps	No
GPRS	Up to 85.6 kbps	No
Speed	-	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat3 100/50 Mbps
Technology	GSM	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	GSM 900 / 1800 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 - RM-902	4, 17 - RM-820 (AT&T)

Launch
Announced	2013, May. Released 2013, June	2012, September. Released 2012, November
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Dimensions	99.2 x 58 x 12.1 mm (3.91 x 2.28 x 0.48 in)	130.3 x 70.8 x 10.7 mm, 99 cc (5.13 x 2.79 x 0.42 in)
SIM	Single SIM (Micro-SIM) or Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by)	Micro-SIM
Weight	98.2 g (3.46 oz)	185 g (6.53 oz)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 2
Resolution	240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~133 ppi density)	768 x 1280 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~332 ppi density)
Size	3.0 inches, 27.9 cm2 (~48.4% screen-to-body ratio)	4.5 inches, 57.6 cm2 (~62.5% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	TFT, 256K colors	IPS LCD
	-	PureMotion HD+ ClearBlack display

Platform
CPU	-	Dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait
Chipset	-	Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 Plus
GPU	-	Adreno 225
OS	Nokia Asha software platform 1.0, upgradable to 1.4	Microsoft Windows Phone 8, upgradable to 8.1

Memory
Call records	-	Yes
Card slot	microSDHC (dedicated slot), 4 GB included	No
Internal	128MB 64MB RAM	32GB 1GB RAM
Phonebook	-	Yes

Main Camera
Features	-	Carl Zeiss optics, dual-LED flash
Single	3.15 MP	8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.0", AF, OIS
Video	320p@15fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Single	-	1.3 MP
Video	-	720p@30fps
	No	-

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	3.0, EDR	4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE/ aptX after WP8 Denim update
NFC	No	Yes
Positioning	No	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
Radio	FM radio	FM radio
USB	microUSB 2.0	microUSB 2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, DLNA, hotspot

Features
Browser	-	No
Games	-	No
Java	-	No
Messaging	-	SMS
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
	SNS apps MP4/H.263 player MP3/WAV/AAC player Photo editor Organizer Voice memo Predictive text input	-

Battery
Charging	-	Wireless (Qi)
Music play	Up to 56 h	Up to 67 h
Stand-by	Up to 624 h	Up to 400 h (2G) / Up to 400 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 17 h	Up to 17 h (2G) / Up to 10 h (3G)
Type	Li-Ion 1200 mAh, removable (BL-4U)	Non-removable Li-Ion 2000 mAh battery (BP-4GW)

Misc
Colors	Bright Red, Bright Green, Cyan, Yellow, White and Black	Black, Gray, Red, Yellow, White
Price	About 80 EUR	About 210 EUR
SAR	1.41 W/kg (head)	1.08 W/kg (head) 0.91 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	0.96 W/kg (head)	0.70 W/kg (head)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -80.4dB / Crosstalk -82.3dB	Noise -78.9dB / Crosstalk -75.0dB
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 44h
Camera	Photo	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: 1004:1 (nominal) / 2.672:1 (sunlight)	Contrast ratio: 1065:1 (nominal) / 2.107:1 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	Voice 73dB / Noise 68dB / Ring 78dB	Voice 61dB / Noise 64dB / Ring 65dB

Nokia Asha 501

Extremely affordable
Good sunlight readability
Simple and easy to use
Decent battery life

Limited functionality
Basic camera
No video recording
Slow performance
Low resolution display

Nokia Lumia 920

Powerful processor
Excellent camera with video recording
Wireless charging
Larger, higher resolution display
Windows Phone OS

Older operating system
Can be expensive (when originally released)
Bulky design

Display Comparison

Both phones boast a respectable contrast ratio of around 1000:1, with the Lumia 920 slightly edging out the Asha 501 in nominal contrast (1065:1 vs 1004:1). However, sunlight readability favors the Asha 501 with a 2.672:1 ratio compared to the Lumia 920's 2.107:1. The Asha 501 has a smaller, lower resolution display, while the Lumia 920 features a larger, higher resolution screen, offering a more immersive viewing experience.

Camera Comparison

The Lumia 920’s camera is a major advantage. It features both photo and video capabilities, offering higher resolution images and video recording. The Asha 501 has a basic photo camera, lacking video recording functionality. The Lumia 920 also benefits from Nokia's PureView technology, delivering superior image quality, especially in low-light conditions.

Performance

The Lumia 920’s Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 Plus chipset and dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait processor provide significantly better performance than the Asha 501's proprietary processor. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive user interface on the Lumia 920. The Asha 501 is adequate for basic tasks but struggles with demanding applications.

Battery Life

Both phones are rated for 44 hours of endurance, suggesting comparable battery life under typical usage. However, the Lumia 920's larger battery capacity likely contributes to its longevity, especially considering its more demanding processor and display. The Lumia 920 also includes wireless charging (Qi), a feature absent in the Asha 501.

Buying Guide

The Nokia Asha 501 is ideal for first-time smartphone users, those on a tight budget, or individuals primarily needing basic communication and entertainment features. The Nokia Lumia 920 is suited for users wanting a capable smartphone with a good camera, solid performance, and Windows Phone OS.