Nokia Asha 501 vs Samsung Galaxy Star Duos, low-cost smartphone comparison

This is a comparison between two budget phones that are in the market. I feel that for phones of this cost price, the features they are packing are pleasantly surprising. As you go further down in this article you’ll understand what I’m talking about. It is a tough call to decide between the two phones from the price point of view as they are more or less in the same range. A closer look at the specifications will help you decide which one suits best. Today the battle is on between two tough contenders. In one corner of the boxing ring we have Nokia Asha 501 (specifications) and on the other side we have Samsung Galaxy Star duos (specifications). Let the battle begin and may the best phone win.

Display:

All the pictures that you take would look much deeper and clearer in the Asha 501 than on the Star Duos.

Both of them sport a 3″ display. If the screen size is your only criteria, you might be wondering which one to choose here. A closer look might help you decide. Although both devices have the same pixel density of 133 ppi, Nokia Asha 501′s screen has 256k colours as opposed to the Galaxy Star Duos’ mere 65k. So all the pictures that you take would look much deeper and clearer in the Asha 501 than on the Star Duos and this is a very tangible difference. If you are very particular about the screen quality, go for Nokia Asha 501.

Nokia Asha 501=4\10

Samsung Galaxy Star=3.4\10 (Sadly lost because of colors)

Sound and Memory:

The Asha 501 is no match to the Galaxy Star in terms of memory.

Sound wise, both the phones sport a loud speaker and a 3.5mm universal jack for listening to music. Going by my personal experience with Nokia and Samsung, the former is a clear winner. After all, it was Nokia who pioneered the Express Music technology. Though Samsung’s music app flashes a warning when you turn up the volume more than a certain level, it does nothing to enhance sound quality.

The Asha 501 is no match to the Galaxy Star in terms of memory. The Nokia Asha 501 has a 64MB RAM, an internal memory of 128MB ( the numbers are quite appalling). These figures may have been revolutionary in a smartphone a decade ago. Sadly, they don’t cut it right now. Offering a free 4 GB microSD card hardly sweetens the deal. Thankfully, memory can be expanded externally upto 32 GB. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy Star duos has a 512MB RAM and a 4GB internal storage. Plus it also has a micro SD which can be expanded up to 32GB.

Nokia Asha 501=2\10 (even though you have high quality music, you need space to store it which the Asha lacks)

Samsung Galaxy Star duos=4.2\10 (For RAM and internal storage)

OS and Processor:

Samsung’s 1 GHz Cortex A5 that gives the Galaxy Star a head start in this segment until further details are confirmed.

Coming to the OS, if you are a regular Nokia Asha user and are comfortable with the software platform 1.0, then you can go ahead and pick up the Nokia Asha 501. The platform is pretty basic and needs to pack some punch to come anywhere close to current competition. The OS on the Samsung Galaxy Star Duos is Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean – the tried, tested and much loved platform out there. Topped off with some customization, Samsung’s Touchwiz UI is quite catchy.

The Nokia Asha 501 is rumored to use a processor clocked somewhere in between 800 MHz to 1 GHz. This comes almost neck-to-neck with Samsung’s 1 GHz Cortex A5 that gives the Galaxy Star a head start in this segment until further details are confirmed.

Nokia Asha 501=4\10 (only for its OS cause they made an effort)

Samsung Galaxy Star duos=4.6\10 (overall performance)

Build and Camera:

Nokia trumps Samsung in the camera segment.

In this round the Nokia Asha 501 has thrown a curve ball at Samsung. Over the years, there has not been much activity over at Samsung’s design camp. Compared to the efforts that go into software and internal innovation, the outer look has remained strangely unchanged. Nokia, however, racks up the score here. Known for vibrant and wacky hues on its phones, this one is no different. Coming in a wide range of bright pastels, the Asha 501 cluster is pure eye-candy for the fashion forward. The design is innovative, ergonomical and compelling. A few likenesses to the Lumia range lends a premium air.

Nokia trumps Samsung in the camera segment also. At face value, 3.15 MP scores over a 2 MP on the Galaxy Star. Adding to the Finnish brand’s score is a 2048×1536 pixels resolution pitted well against 1600×1200.

Nokia Asha 501=5.8\10 (for the build quality and amazing inventiveness)

Samsung Galaxy Star duos=4\10 (for the poor camera)

Connectivity and Battery:

Although both are pretty much on the same level on connectivity options, there are a few ups and downs.

Although both are pretty much on the same level on connectivity options, there are a few ups and downs. Nokia doesn’t offer a facility to create portable hotspot and also, the Bluetooth version is 3.0 as opposed to Samsung’s 4.0. Being able to share WiFi and have the power of quick file transfers does make all the difference.

The battery of both the phones is rated at 1200 mAh but Nokia has a legacy of having a longer run as compared to other brands. It is reportedly the same here as Samsung is a good 4 hours short on talktime in this comparison. This may be attributed the power-hungry processor and OS that the Galaxy Star runs.

Nokia Asha 501=2.5\10 (for feature’s cut down)

Samsung Galaxy Star duos=2.7\10 (for good connectivity)

Conclusion:

Both phones score well, albeit on different fronts. It is indeed prudent not to judge a book by it’s cover as the Nokia Asha 501′s vibrant aesthetics aren’t reflected in its insides. A rather unassuming yet sophisticated Samsung Galaxy Star Duos takes the cake with its long list of good specifications and added features, courtesy the popular UI. Utility wise, the Galaxy Star would be a good choice.

Total score:

Nokia Asha 501=18.3\50

Samsung Galaxy Star duos=18.9\50

On the whole, Samsung has beaten Nokia, though by a very small margin but that makes a difference. Personally I feel that Samsung needs to pick up a few design tweaks from its counterparts. I would be really glad to see a device with the performance of  Samsung and looks of  Nokia. How many of you think that this is a good idea? Let me know.

Nokia Asha 501 price in India and online availability:

Nokia Asha 501 is arriving in India next week, the device is available for pre-order on Flipkart for Rs.5,299.

Samsung Galaxy Star Duos price in India and online availablity:

Samsung Galaxy Star Duos is available on online retailer Tradus for lowest online price of Rs.4,973.