Price and specifications of Huawei Ascend Y520 advantages, disadvantages, and a comprehensive explanation

Overview of Huawei Ascend Y520

The Huawei Ascend Y520 is a budget-friendly smartphone released in December 2014. Targeting entry-level users, this device offers fundamental features necessary for daily smartphone usage. Although it is discontinued now, the Ascend Y520 was recognized for its affordability and ease of use during its market time.

Network Capabilities

The Huawei Ascend Y520 supported GSM and HSPA network technologies. The device was designed to work with both 2G and 3G bands, specifically GSM 850/900/1800/1900 and HSDPA 850/1900/2100, making it suitable for a wide range of network operators globally. The phone's HSPA connectivity ensured speeds of up to 21.1 Mbps for downloads and 5.76 Mbps for uploads.

Launch and Status

Announced in December 2014, the Huawei Ascend Y520 was quickly released in the same month. However, it has since been discontinued as newer and more advanced models have been introduced in the market. Despite its discontinuation, the Ascend Y520 continues to serve as a reliable backup phone for many users due to its basic functionality and robust design.

Design and Build

The device boasts dimensions of 134.2 x 67 x 10.2 mm and weighs in at 150 grams, making it a compact and portable option for those who prefer smaller-sized phones. The phone's build accommodates a Micro-SIM card, and it was initially available in several color options: Black, White, Blue, and Pink.

Display Features

Equipped with a 4.5-inch TFT display, the Huawei Ascend Y520 offers a resolution of 480 x 854 pixels, translating to an approximate pixel density of 218 ppi. The screen's 16:9 aspect ratio makes it suitable for basic multimedia consumption. Although not as vibrant as modern OLED or IPS displays, the TFT screen provides acceptable clarity and brightness for standard usage.

Performance and Platform

The Ascend Y520 is powered by the Mediatek MT6572 chipset, featuring a dual-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7 CPU, complemented by a Mali-400 GPU. This setup was adequate for basic smartphone tasks at the time, such as browsing, social media, and light gaming. Running on Android 4.4 (KitKat), the device provided a straightforward Android experience with access to a wide range of apps from the Play Store.

Memory and Storage

The device comes with 4GB of internal storage, which can be expanded via a dedicated microSDHC card slot. The RAM capacity stands at 512MB, which was minimal for multitasking even at the time. However, for users starting out with smartphones or needing basic functionality, this setup was sufficient to manage essential applications.

Camera Specifications

The Huawei Ascend Y520 features a 5 MP main camera equipped with autofocus and an LED flash. While it does not support high-definition video recording, it offers 480p resolution at 30fps, suitable for capturing quick moments and basic photography. The front-facing VGA camera, on the other hand, provided limited options for selfies and video calls.

Sound and Connectivity

Sound options include a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm headphone jack for audio connectivity. The smartphone is equipped with Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n for wireless internet access, Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP for wireless communication, and GPS for location services. It also features FM radio support and a microUSB 2.0 port for charging and data transfer.

Sensors and Additional Features

The Huawei Ascend Y520 includes an accelerometer as its primary sensor. While lacking advanced biometric options such as a fingerprint sensor or face recognition, it fulfilled the requirement for basic user interaction and navigation through the phone's interface.

Battery Life

Powering the Ascend Y520 is a removable Li-Ion 1750 mAh battery. While its capacity might seem limited by today's standards, it was adequate for the device's hardware and usage patterns typical of that time. This removable feature provided users the flexibility to swap batteries if needed.

Conclusion

Overall, the Huawei Ascend Y520 carved a niche for those in need of an affordable, straightforward mobile experience. With a price of about 80 EUR at launch, it delivered fundamental smartphone capabilities without a hefty price tag, ensuring accessibility for a broad audience. While it may not compete with modern smartphones' advanced features, its utility remains in scenarios needing reliable communication and basic functionality.