Lumia 520 vs Ascend W1: Affordable WP8 face-off

On the red corner, we have the Nokia Lumia 520; on the blue corner, we have the Huawei Ascend W1 – both WP8 devices that sell for less than Php10k. Today, we put them in the spec stadium to see which device gives a better bang for the buck.

comparison

The Nokia Lumia 520 sells in for Php7,990USD 136INR 11,542EUR 130CNY 992 while the Huawei Ascend W1 goes for a higher Php8,990USD 153INR 12,987EUR 146CNY 1,116. That’s an exact Php1,000USD 17INR 1,445EUR 16CNY 124 difference. If you look at the chart down below, you can see that both have slight similarities and major differences.

specs sheet

The major categories in which the Nokia Lumia 520 trumps the Huawei Ascend W1 is in memory as it gives you double with 8GB of internal and up to 64GB of external. Also, it’s slightly thinner & lighter. However, for an extra thousand, the Huawei Ascend W1 gives you a faster CPU, an LED flash, a front-facing camera and a bigger battery.

Which of the two will be getting your bet? We have yet to review these devices, so stay tuned as real world performance is greatly different from just specs.

Bob Freking

Bob Freking occasionally contributes articles to the website. He is a UST Graduate of Commerce & Business Administration, Major in Marketing Management, and a full-time Sith Lord with three dragons.

26 Comments

Rob says:

12 years ago

Huawei Ascend W1 for me
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chinitoguy says:

12 years ago

It seems like the Huawei Ascend W1 has better specs. But if I’m going to buy now I would still prefer the Nokia Lumia 520.
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Lon says:

12 years ago

Mas panalo ang huawei for me wd its led flash, faster cpu,front facing camera n bigger battery :)
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RaM says:

12 years ago

Which one has better apps exclusive only for each brand?
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Opp says:

12 years ago

Kamusta ba aftersales support/ customer service ng Huawei? pag maganda dun na ako..
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Name: IC DeaDPiPoL says:

12 years ago

Huawei support is kinda flaky, they do have some service centers (one in Virramall) but Huawei Phil lacks the promotional muscle, accessory (specifically protective covering), and less feedback when you post on their official fb page. In the android side, never got any updates for my phone to 2.3 and on some latter devices, it was pretty rare for their devices to receive updates (anyway this is a Windows device so updates should arrive directly from MS)

I’d go with Nokia in this case just for the reliability and service center.

John says:

12 years ago

Wow, WP8 is in! I’ll go for Huawei Ascend W1 primarily because of frontfacing camera for Skype. Better processor, longer battery life. Memory can be solved by microSD.
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anon says:

12 years ago

@John

Memory can be solved by microSD.

— No it can’t
you can only install apps in the internal memory.
The OS and apps the phone comes in is installed in the internal memory.

That would leave you around only approximately 1.5 gig to install your apps in.

W1 is a very bad choice because of that
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mdm782010 says:

12 years ago

Huawei has it.
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Eason says:

12 years ago

Hmmm Nokia still have a lot to offer especially Nokia Drive for me…its a tough choice really but I have to choose nokia for this one
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jhhk says:

12 years ago

nokia, cguradong my update
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jikkoi22 says:

12 years ago

nokia lumia 520 all the way for the following reasons..

1.)after sales support
2.)2x bigger phone memory
3.)wp8 in nokia has exclusive apps
4.)future updates are guaranteed
5.)cheaper :D
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darren philip says:

12 years ago

here is other things to compare…. clear black display. nokia exclusive apps. HERE/nokia maps.Nokia Music. etcera. bettert Hardware?
and in a windows phone. apps and games cant be installed in memory card only at phone storage. huawei got 4GB minus the OS. i guess 1.XX nalang ata matitira. good luck. :)
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allison says:

12 years ago

ask lng po, been using older nokia on belle os,got no idea on wp8, ok po b nokia music on wp8? available po b 4 download mga local music?

Paul says:

12 years ago

With a slight difference of CPU, both will run fluid under WP OS. Most do not use front camera often. What is important is internal storage for more apps accommodation. Also Nokia has much better exclusive apps and support compared to Chinese brand. When it comes to design and durability, Nokia no question hands down. You will never go wrong with Nokia 520. Such a beautiful device worth your money.
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Edgar says:

12 years ago

I’ll always go for a known brand, if only for after-sales service and updates.
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dan_md says:

12 years ago

reasons to go
for Huawei W1: higher CPU clockspeed, higher battery rating, front-facing camera, LED flash

for Nokia Lumia 520: higher internal memory (most important advantage), exclusive Nokia Apps (Cinema graph, lenses, Nokia Drive), better design, better aftersales support

Verdict: if you don’t mind the short comings (lack of flash and front facing camera), your better and safer with Nokia 520. The 4GB internal memory of Huawei W1 will leaves you w/ 1.5GB after boot which is not enough for your contacts, messages, and apps which exclusively installs in the built in storage. And No, this cannot be remedied by an external SD card.
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fireice2 says:

12 years ago

Nokia Lumia 520 for me. The internal memory advantage of the Lumia 520 nullifies the advantages of the W1.

You can’t install apps on the SD card.

If this was a battle between HTC 8S and the Huawei Ascend W1, I’d go for the W1 hands down. :)
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Brother says:

12 years ago

just so you know, you can install apps on SD running WP8.

More info here: http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/how-to/wp8/apps/how-do-i-install-apps-from-an-sd-card
jan says:

12 years ago

the site does not tells you how to install apps TO the sd card, instead FROM the sd card… been using lumia 620 for a month now and theres no option yet to install and run apps from the sd card… but im loving my lumia620, so go for nokia lumia 520 :)

RaM says:

12 years ago

Yun naman pala eh, W1 na. Thanks for the info. =)
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jasper says:

12 years ago

In fairness to Huawei, mababa defect rate nila. Kesa sa mga kilala na. I know kasi kaibigan ko nagwowork sa service center ng Huawei at Nokia.
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Pat says:

12 years ago

Huawei quality is a hit or miss. I’d still prefer a Nokia over a chinese brand of the same model. 0.2 GHz doesn’t mean much, Battery usage still relies on System efficiency. Huawei running on a higher frequency should consume more power. Huawei Camera is no match for a Nokia, so if its just the front facing camera and you’re looking for. Better get the Nokia 620 for an extra 2,500.
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Dear says:

12 years ago

Dear author, ganda gandahan mo naman presentation mo! Ang shonget sa totoo lang!
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geek1621 says:

12 years ago

nokia for me, no doubt. the nokia brand is known for their quality phones for the long time. I think lumia 520 kills all it’s opposing brand in the low range smartphones. If your really for the cam/front cam, go for it’s big brother, lumia 720 as it is have carl zeiss 6.7mp cam and a bigger 2000mah battery for just an additional of around 3000. Such an awesome device nokia had produced. I’m planning to buy 520 next month. thanks for the awesome product nokia.
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Sephiroth says:

12 years ago

Lumia 520 pinili ko at nakabili na ako :)
-Maganda ang 1.2Ghz dual core processor pero limited lang ang apps para sa 512mb na ram.
-Ok din kung may front camera kung magagamit mo. Karaniwan para sa sarili ko di ko naman nagagamit ang front cam kahit pa sa iphone ko. Ang flash naman useless para sa akin dahil malabo parin ang image kapag dim ang environment.
-ang internal memory mas mataas mas maganda.
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