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CNET Editors' Take
February 24, 2013 11:45 PM PST
Nokia's Lumia 520 is the cheapest Lumia yet in video
CNET UK reviewed the Nokia Lumia 520 on April 15, 2013.
BARCELONA, Spain--When I first heard the leaked rumors and specs surrounding the Nokia Lumia 520, I was sure I was going to be looking at a handset with a passable chassis that I'd only grudgingly like because of its stellar price. Instead, when Nokia representatives handed me a red and yellow Lumia 520, I had to admit, it looked pretty good (it'll also come in cyan, white, and black).
If you're reading this from the U.S., you should pay extra attention because, in addition to coming to other markets, it'll be available through T-Mobile as the Lumia 521 around late spring or early summer.
Unlike the round, rather bulbous Nokia Lumia 620, the 520 is surprisingly likable.
A pronounced rounded back helps it fit comfortably into the contours of the palm, though its sloping spines make the sharp-edged screen stand out. I could feel it poking into the sides of my hand.
Snappable covers are exchangeable in different colors if you really want to own more than one and go through the trouble of changing them.
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There's the usual button placement for the volume rocker, camera shutter button, and power button, though these buttons are a little wider than they are on other, higher-end Lumia phones.
Although there 5-megapixel camera can record 720p HD video, there's no flash. Nokia also bypassed wireless charging, presumably to help keep costs down.
The Nokia 520 has a 5-megapixel camera and a 4-inch display
(Credit: Sarah Tew / CNET)The Lumia 520 sports a 4-inch LCD IPS screen that's got the new Lumia line's supersensitivity to nails and gloved hands.
Rounding out the details are the 1,430mAh battery, the 8GB mass storage, and support for 64GB in expandable memory. If you need more space for your photos and video clips, Microsoft offers its standard 7GB in free online SkyDrive storage.
I thought that the Lumia 620's sticker price was really low, about 185 euros for a retail phone. With the 520, Nokia is driving those prices further down, to just 139 euros without a contract. That's about $185 off-contract, and much less when you sign an agreement.
