Nokia Lumia 520 vs Spice Mi-500 Stellar Horizon: A Budget Battle

The Nokia Lumia 520 and Spice Mi-500 Stellar Horizon represent a bygone era of incredibly affordable smartphones. Both aimed to deliver basic functionality without breaking the bank, but which one ultimately offered a better experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to find out.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Nokia Lumia 520 edges out the Spice Mi-500 thanks to its superior display contrast, better software support (Windows Phone), and generally more reliable performance. While both are dated, the Lumia 520's strengths make it the slightly better choice for those seeking a nostalgic budget experience.

PHONES
Phone Names	Nokia Lumia 520	Spice Mi-500 Stellar Horizon

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all versions	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2
3G bands	HSDPA 900 / 2100 - RM-914	HSDPA 2100
Speed	HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps	HSPA 7.2/5.76 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA	GSM / HSPA
	HSDPA 850 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 - RM-917	-

Launch
Announced	2013, February. Released 2013, April	2012, September. Released 2012, October
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Build	Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame	-
Dimensions	119.9 x 64 x 9.9 mm, 75.7 cc (4.72 x 2.52 x 0.39 in)	143 x 77.4 x 10.5 mm (5.63 x 3.05 x 0.41 in)
SIM	Micro-SIM	Dual SIM (Mini-SIM, dual stand-by)
Weight	124 g (4.37 oz)	205 g (7.23 oz)

Display
Protection	Scratch-resistant glass	-
Resolution	480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~233 ppi density)	480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~187 ppi density)
Size	4.0 inches, 45.5 cm2 (~59.3% screen-to-body ratio)	5.0 inches, 71.2 cm2 (~64.3% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	TFT

Platform
CPU	Dual-core 1.0 GHz	Dual-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A9
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8227	Mediatek MT6577 (40 nm)
GPU	Adreno 305	PowerVR SGX531u
OS	Microsoft Windows Phone 8, upgradable to 8.1	Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDHC (dedicated slot)
Internal	8GB 512MB RAM	4GB 512MB RAM

Main Camera
Features	-	Dual-LED flash
Single	5 MP, f/2.4, 28mm (wide), 1/4.0", AF	5 MP, AF
Video	720p@30fps	Yes

Selfie camera
Single	-	VGA
	No	-

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

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

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity	Accelerometer, proximity
	-	MP4/WMV/H.263 player MP3/WAV/AAC+ player Document viewer Photo/video editor

Battery
Music play	Up to 61 h	-
Stand-by	Up to 360 h (3G)	Up to 200 h
Talk time	Up to 14 h 40 min (2G) / Up to 9 h 40 min (3G)	Up to 6 h
Type	Li-Ion 1430 mAh, removable (BL-5J)	Li-Ion 2400 mAh, removable

Misc
Colors	Yellow, red, cyan, white/black	White
Price	About 70 EUR	About 180 EUR
SAR	0.77 W/kg (head)	-
SAR EU	1.09 W/kg (head)	-

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -82.3dB / Crosstalk -81.8dB	-
Battery life	Endurance rating 49h	-
Camera	Photo / Video	-
Display	Contrast ratio: 834:1 (nominal) / 1.161:1 (sunlight)	-
Loudspeaker	Voice 68dB / Noise 69dB / Ring 66dB	-

OUR TESTS
Audio quality	Noise -82.3dB / Crosstalk -81.8dB	-
Battery (old)	Endurance rating 49h	-
Camera	Photo / Video	-
Display	Contrast ratio: 834:1 (nominal) / 1.161:1 (sunlight)	-
Loudspeaker	Voice 68dB / Noise 69dB / Ring 66dB	-

Nokia Lumia 520

Excellent sunlight display
Optimized Windows Phone OS
Generally better performance
Good battery life

Outdated software support
Basic camera
Limited app ecosystem compared to Android

Spice Mi-500 Stellar Horizon

Android OS
Very affordable
Decent performance for basic tasks

Poor display contrast
Sluggish performance
Limited storage
Outdated hardware

Display Comparison

The Nokia Lumia 520 boasts a significantly better display, particularly in direct sunlight. Its contrast ratio of 834:1 (nominal) and 1.161:1 (sunlight) is impressive for its time and class, offering better visibility than the Spice Mi-500. The Spice Mi-500's display, while functional, lacks the same level of clarity and vibrancy.

Camera Comparison

Camera quality on both devices is rudimentary by today's standards. The Lumia 520's camera, while basic, often produced slightly more consistent results. Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but don't expect high-quality images or video recording.

Performance

Both phones feature dual-core 1.0 GHz processors, but the Nokia Lumia 520's Qualcomm MSM8227 chipset generally performs slightly better due to Windows Phone's optimization. The Spice Mi-500's Mediatek MT6577, while a decent chip for its time, can feel sluggish with multitasking and demanding apps. Expect both to struggle with modern apps.

Battery Life

The Nokia Lumia 520 holds a slight advantage in battery life, with an endurance rating of 49 hours. The Spice Mi-500's battery life is respectable but falls slightly short. Both phones offer all-day battery life with moderate usage.

Buying Guide

The Nokia Lumia 520 is ideal for users seeking a simple, reliable phone with a familiar Windows Phone interface and excellent sunlight readability. The Spice Mi-500 Stellar Horizon might appeal to those who prefer Android and are looking for a very basic, ultra-budget option, but be prepared for compromises.