Meet the ultrabudget Nokia Lumia 521 (pictures)
Nokia's ridiculously affordable $150 smartphone may not be the pinnacle of craftsmanship, but it's a sturdier, more capable phone than you may think.
Jessica Dolcourt
Nokia Lumia 521, the cheapest Lumia yet
Nokia is pushing the threshold for affordable Windows phones around the world, but with T-Mobile's Lumia 521, Nokia has hit upon a great combo of low price ($150 off-contract) and features.
What you get
Running Windows Phone 8, the Lumia 521 has a 4-inch display, a 5-megapixel camera with 720 HD video capture, and a host of extra Nokia apps for turn-by-turn directions and streaming radio.
Black and white
The Lumia 521's matte white finish looks a little dull in real life, but contrasts strikingly with the black face and side buttons.
Gaining perspective
It's harder to tell from a photo, but the Lumia 521's screen is far duller and more reflective than the Verizon Lumia 928's (left).
Now from the side
The white polycarbonate Lumia 521 (top) is curvier, thicker, and less premium-looking than Verizon's high-end Lumia 928.
More about that camera
There's no flash or front-facing camera on the 521, but this Lumia takes better low-light images than you might imagine, and can capture 720p HD video that stays sharp thanks to autofocus software.
Bottom's up
The phone's top edge holds the headset jack, but it's the bottom that houses the Micro-USB charging port.