Huawei's first Android phone for Cricket Wireless, the Ascend, delivers good features for a reasonable price.
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Even though the Chinese manufacturer isn't well-known in the U.S., Huawei is no stranger to Android phones. Its Huawei Ascend is Cricket's second Android phone. Running Android 2.1 and running $150, it's also a very good value for the prepaid network.
2 of 5 Josh Miller/CNET
Type it or Swype it
The Ascend's virtual keyboard comes with Swype built in, which means you can trace letters of the word you want instead of pecking at them. The standard touch-type keyboard is also available at any time.
3 of 5 Josh Miller/CNET
Hard, black plastic
"Plasticky" was our impression of the Ascend's posterior, but the remainder of the fit and finish were just fine.
4 of 5 Josh Miller/CNET
External features
The external buttons and toggles fit snugly into the burnished silver spines. There's the usual power button, microSD card slot, camera, trigger, and volume rocker, with a shared pivot cover for the 2.5-millimeter headset jack and the Micro-USB charging port.
5 of 5 Josh Miller/CNET
Photo focus
A 3.2-megapixel camera is just fine for an entry-level Android phone, though we found indoor photos to be dull and a bit blurry. Read our full review for more details.
