Touchscreen and dual-SIM support are the two extremes in the Asha lineup but the Nokia Asha 302 sticks to the middle, finding balance and confidence in robust functionality and good build quality. Its a value package with plenty to offer to many potential upgraders looking to replace their S30 or S40 phones.
The Asha 302 is compatible with any GSM network worldwide and features both 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity. It makes sure your email, Facebook and Twitter accounts are never more than just a click away. Thats where the QWERTY keyboard is most welcome too. On the outside, a side-mounted memory card slot and metal accents make the best out of a classic messenger design. Heres what goes on inside.
Key features
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
Penta-band 3G with 14Mbps HSDPA and 5.76Mbps HSUPA
Asha S40 platform
Four-row hardware QWERTY keyborad
2.4" QVGA 256K-color TFT display
1GHz processor
128MB RAM, 256MB ROM
3 megapixel fixed-focus camera
VGA video recording at 15fps
Wi-Fi b/g/n
Stereo FM radio with RDS
Bluetooth v2.1 (with A2DP)
Standard microUSB port (charging enabled)
USB On-The-Go support
microSD card slot (32 GB supported, 2GB included)
3.5mm audio jack
Main disadvantages
No multitasking
Fixed-focus camera
No smart dialing
No video-call camera
No document viewer
So, the Nokia Asha 302 is raising the stakes in the low-cost telephony but makes sure it doesnt get into fights it cannot win. Halfway between a Nokia C3 and an E63, it looks on the safe side of the line. We cannot think of a better example to follow than the immensely popular Nokia C3 but it should be aware of the potential pressure of affordable smartphones - Symbian and Android alike.
