Comprehensive Review Huawei U8520 Duplex Specs Prices & Features

Overview of Huawei U8520 Duplex

The Huawei U8520 Duplex is a smartphone that was announced in October 2011 and released in the same month. As with other Huawei devices, this phone aimed to provide users with a functional and affordable mobile experience. With dual SIM capability and decent specifications for its time, the U8520 Duplex was designed to cater to budget-conscious customers seeking reliable connectivity and fundamental smartphone features.

Design and Build

The Huawei U8520 Duplex boasts a compact design, measuring 112 x 57 x 12.7 mm and weighing only 109 grams. This makes it quite lightweight and easy to handle with one hand. The phone features a simple but classic black finish, which was standard in many mobile designs of that era. The dual SIM feature is a significant advantage, allowing users to toggle between two numbers seamlessly. The device uses a Mini-SIM format and supports dual stand-by functionality, catering to users who require multiple lines for personal and professional use.

Display

Equipped with a 3.2-inch TFT display, the Huawei U8520 Duplex offered a screen resolution of 320 x 480 pixels, resulting in a modest pixel density of approximately 180 PPI. For a device released in 2011, the screen offered adequate clarity and color reproduction with its 256K color depth, sufficient for basic multimedia consumption and everyday tasks like browsing and messaging.

Performance

Under the hood, the Huawei U8520 Duplex comes with a Qualcomm MSM7227-1 Snapdragon S1 chipset, powered by a 600 MHz ARM 11 CPU and an Adreno 200 GPU. While not impressive by today's standards, at the time of its release, this combination provided a reasonable level of performance for running basic Android applications. The device originally shipped with Android 2.2 (Froyo), offering users access to the essential apps and services available on the Google Play Store.

Memory and Storage

The U8520 Duplex is equipped with 512MB of internal storage and 256MB of RAM. Although limited by today's standards, the phone was typical of many budget smartphones released during the early 2010s. To address the limited internal storage, the device includes a microSDHC card slot, with a 2GB card provided by default for additional storage, expandable up to 32GB. This allowed users to store additional apps, media, and files.

Camera Capabilities

The device features a single 3.15 MP main camera capable of capturing images at a decent quality for everyday use. Though it lacks sophisticated photography features such as flash or focus, it was adequate for taking simple snapshots. The camera could also record video at 480p resolution. A VGA front-facing camera is present, mainly for video calls rather than high-quality selfies due to its limited resolution.

Audio and Connectivity

The Huawei U8520 Duplex is equipped with essential audio components, including a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm headphone jack, which remains a popular feature appreciated for its convenience. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP and EDR, GPS with A-GPS for location services, and a Stereo FM radio for on-the-go entertainment. The microUSB 2.0 port provided charging and data transfer capabilities.

Battery Life

The phone is powered by a removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery, offering a standby time of up to 120 hours on both 2G and 3G networks. Talk time extends up to 7 hours on 2G and approximately 7.5 hours on 3G. For music enthusiasts, the U8520 Duplex claims up to 20 hours of continuous playback, highlighting its capability to function well as a media player over extended periods.

Sensors and Extras

For an affordable device, the Huawei U8520 Duplex includes some useful sensors such as an accelerometer, a proximity sensor, and a compass. These components enhance user experience through functionalities like screen auto-rotation and proximity-based screen lock during calls. While it does not house more advanced sensors found in contemporary devices, it offers basic functional enhancements.

Market Impact and Conclusion

Upon its release, the Huawei U8520 Duplex was marketed at approximately 110 EUR, targeting budget-conscious consumers who prioritized dual SIM capabilities and basic smartphone functionalities. While it doesn't boast high-end specifications, its design and features were reasonably well-received by users seeking cost-effective solutions. Its discontinued status today signifies the rapid evolution of smartphone technology, though it remains a testament to Huawei's strategy of producing accessible mobile devices for different market segments. Overall, the Huawei U8520 Duplex represents a snapshot of early 2010s mobile technology, combining simplicity with utility at a modest price point.