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Huawei Ascend P1 review: A step in the right direction

The Huawei Ascend P1 can't quite compete against the best of the best, but it'll give a positive Android 4.0 boost to the brand's global image.

Jessica Dolcourt Senior Director, Commerce & Content Operations
Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Commerce & Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Commerce, How-To and Performance Optimization. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds. Jessica began leading CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).
Expertise Content strategy, team leadership, audience engagement, iPhone, Samsung, Android, iOS, tips and FAQs.
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Watch this: Huawei Ascend P1, a stylish Android 4.0 smartphone (Unlocked)

Huawei and "premium" don't often appear in the same sentence when you're looking at the company's smartphone history in the U.S. Yet, the unlocked, global version of the Huawei Ascend P1 offers a glimmer of hope in its eye-catching black-on-white design, its 4.3-inch Super AMOLED screen, and higher-reaching camera specs.

While the P1 is a good step, Huawei will still face plenty of competition at this level, including from the HTC One X and Samsung Galaxy S III, global front-runners with quad-core chips in their international models, excellent screens, and highly competitive cameras.

Huawei's Android 4.0 attempt isn't quite there, but it's a promising device for Huawei, especially if the manufacturer were to land a carrier partner here in the U.S.

Watch the video, see the pictures and camera test, and read the pros and cons in my full Huawei Ascend P1 review.

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