Get a load of the Nokia Asha 503's ice-cube aesthetic (pictures)

I'm not going to monkey with you: yellow, red, green, blue, or just plain black or white, the Nokia Asha 503 looks cool and chiseled in any color.

It may be part of the budget Asha line for global markets, but Nokia definitely spent some time constructing this small, sturdy plastic phone in a way that makes it feel anything but plasticky. Here, you're looking at the 503's lock screen.

Take a peek at the phone's corners. Can you see the plastic coating that makes it look like the phone's trapped in a cube of ice? Sadly, the handset's 3-inch screen could expand much more within that thick black bezel.

As much fun as the phone is to look at, its performance pales. The Asha 503 has a 5-megapixel camera that's unfortunately fixed-focus and has a VGA-only recorder. The processor is slow, which makes routine duties like navigation and loading apps slow. Battery life is only rated to 4.5 hours over 3G.

Bouncing back to the design, I do like the squared-off edges that manage not to feel too sharp, and which make the phone grippable.

You can really see the "ice" effect from the edges and top.

The shape and rise of the volume rocker and power button blend function with youthful fun.

Beneath the back cover, you'll find the microSD card slot, which comes with a 4GB card built in.