Customer Ratings & Reviews

Once T-Mobile introduced the all inclusive (talk, text, web) for $50 a month with no contract, I knew it was time to buy a new phone and replace my "known memory issues" phone, the Samsung Gravity Smart Android Phone, Sapphire Blue (T-Mobile). My first cell phone ever (in 2004) was a Nokia no frills model. That would be followed by 3 Samsung models (2 flip phones that were very good and a smart phone that was utter junk). Based on how poor the Samsung product was I was using, I looked away from Samsung and decided to give Nokia a chance again - and this time with Windows 8. I must admit, I had little clue what the major differences would entail. Opening the Box and Basic Start-up: Out of the box and initial setup was a 1-star event. The back cover is as tight (or tighter) than a spaceship cover. I had to actually take it to a T-Mobile store and have them remove the back (which they did easily). Next up, the battery. Inserting it was no issue, but getting it out? To this day, that requires a paper clip! Even a veteran Smartphone user at work couldn't get it out. Why did I need to get it out you ask? After charging it, I needed to insert my SIM card from my old phone. The SIM Card: The SIM card slot is underneath the battery and smaller than the one I was using from a phone about 3 years old. TIP: The T-Mobile rep had a device that could cut the old SIM card to fit the new phone (while also allowing you to switch it back to your old phone if the new one failed). This is important if your cell phone is your only means of communication (nice to have a backup option). Otherwise, you would need to activate the new SIM card which comes with the phone and that renders the old SIM card worthless. Contacts Import: Another fail. The "oh so easy" process to import did not work. A 45 minute call with T-Mobile and a 30 minute chat with Windows Support and eventually we got lucky. Unfortunately, it created 2 Outlook profiles and now one had to be deleted. Because it's a Windows phone, my guess is it wanted me to create an Outlook account, vs. using my GMAIL account. I did that, then we had to send the contacts CSV file from GMAIL to Outlook. Then the phone could not import the CSV file and already was advising me to download an App for that! Enough already! There was not apparent option to download from My T-Mobile account to the phone. To which I ask why? Seems like someone missed a step. Using the Windows Phone Platform - The Early Days: This is no Android phone! If you have never used Windows 8, let alone on a phone, there is a huge learning curve. Be prepared - if you're not a fighter, you may give up (especially if you're still battling inserting the battery, SIM or importing your contacts). Windows Phone - A Few Weeks Along: It gets better! Once you realize sliding to the left reveals an alphabetical list of applications and options, you'll start to breathe again. It's a Windows Phone, not an iPhone, not an Android. All 3 platforms have their own quirks, challenges and successes. The Phone and Apps: The keyword is "tiles". As a Windows phone, it's got a 1 touch button to search Bing! I use it, I like it. Of course it has a tile for Internet Explorer, Messaging, your default email (be that Yahoo!, GMAIL or Outlook) and you can add tiles for other email accounts. Tiles for the Navigation App (Driving) - which is 1,000 times better than whatever was on my Samsung Android. Many apps are Nokia designed exclusive for the Windows 8 phone, and I like them all (but it takes time to understand and learn some of them, like the music app). It comes with a phone version of Office (have not used it yet), but no way to open a CSV file (commonly opened with Excel). Are there less app's for Windows Phone? Yes, which is also why these phones are still a great value. Nokia offers several apps titled HERE! and all I have used performed well. Typing or Speaking? Of course it has word prediction technology. What it doesn't have is memory to remember that you regularly type a word not in its dictionary! Here the Android beats the Windows phone, as it remembered funny words or names you used often. It has voice recognition so you can speak your messages - my Android did too, but the Windows Phone is better. However, within certain apps, the voice option does not appear, which is annoying if you want to speak vs. type your message. Best 2 Pro's: 1. I actually have come to like the smooth Windows 8 tile interface. Very receptive to touch! 2. Great connectivity - no dropped calls nor failed messages sent (a constant issue with my Samsung Android on the same T-Mobile network). Proof it was the phone, not the network. 3. Navigation App - Pre-installed and it's easy and accurate! Worst 2 Con's: 1. As other reviewers I have seen mentioned, the phone shuts off / restarts way too often. Press the button to take a photo, and bam, your phone restarts. I have read this will be resolved when Windows 8.1 for T-Mobile phones is released, in July 2014 they estimate. 2. No flash! Really? My "free" (with contract) Samsung Gravity Smart acquired years ago had a flash! And flash is available on every other Nokia Lumia phone! Aaargh - the one cheap design flaw. The Final Verdict: I like my Windows 8 phone, and would recommend it - even buy it again! It truly beats my Samsung Android in almost every aspect. If the upper tier models were more reasonably priced, I would definitely consider the upgrade for more storage of apps and the camera with flash option. If you desire iPhone quality photos and video, you won't get it in a $70 to $90 Nokia Lumia, which is justified. If you are app addicted, you'll need to stick with another platform until Windows Phones become more popular. If you have had enough of over-priced phones, Android or iPhone living, or you're looking for a fresh, sweet phone with lots of features for an unbeatable price, try the Lumia 521 (but expect a learning curve and some early on challenges). Give it time!

I've only had this phone for 3 days but must say I am surprisingly pleased. I have been through the gamut of high end and low end , contract and no contract phones. I must say that this is a great value for the price. It has a super smooth processor and fast enough. Compared to some of the pricier no contracts, in which I also found a few good ones, this phone's performance doesn't lack. I really didnt think I would like it because its not android. I have certain apps on android that I have always brought with me when changing phones. That was one of my concerns, but even though much more limited, I was able to find some decent comparisons. All in all, if you're looking to spend less but get a pretty good phone, try this one!

I broke my $500 android phone and bought the Lumia 521 as a replacement. I am very satisfied. I use my phone for calls, text, GPS, internet, and the occasional game. This phone is great for what I use it for. Call quality is great and Nokia's offline maps are pretty awesome. The interface is fluid and responsive with almost no lag (an android phone at this price point would be slow). It can't handle very demanding games but that's not what I use the phone for. The windows app store is still pretty limited but I don't mind. Pretty much all I need is my maps, office suite, and web browser. The only thing I miss that a more expensive phone would have is an LED flash to use as a flashlight.

Got this phone then hooked up with solavei.com/csallen for Tmoble $49 unlimited everything and its been great! I wish I would have gotten this phone a long time ago! and Best Buy beat everyone on the price for this phone even the mighty W mart! Best Buy has saved the day again!

Less that $50.00 on Back Friday, I added my sim and I cant seen to take it out, my droid is just sitting there. I was able to program the functions I used in a few minutes and I'm not done, Emails, contacts, MS docs pdf all with no pain, downloaded all my fave apps and games, Windows, I'm back.

Got this phone on T-Mobile over the summer. Did not like the bill being that high, so I switched it to Metro PCS. Very easy to transfer over. My bill is $40 a month, period. The camera is sub par and the battery life is below average. This phone is for someone that does not need the latest iPhone or Samsung Galaxy. I wanted an iPhone, but I could not justify spending $500+ on a 64 gigabit one. And the only other phones are on the Android software, which I do not like. I love Windows 8 on my laptop. Everything sync onto phone. Phone is perfect for someone like me, that does not wanna spend tons of money on the latest hot phone, only to have the next hot phone come out 3 months later and render your phone dated and lame. If you do not want to switch to Android, if you do not want to spend a ton of money for an iPhone and if you like Windows 8 or 8.1, I say get this bad boy. Nothing super great about this phone, but nothing really bad. The battery life could be better. Not as many apps as iOS and Android.

I like the Windows OS, but the phone itself felt flimsy and there was no LED flash on it. This is good If you need something cheap in between getting a new phone or a new contract.

Can't beat this for the price. T-Mobile offers no contract on web for $30.00 - unlimited texting and data (1st 2.5 GB @ non LTE 4G) and 100 minutes. Unless you are a big voice user, this is a no brainer. Since I am home most of the day, I never get near the data 4G limit as I use my Wi-Fi connection. Could use more internal memory, but if Microsoft would upgrade the O/S to enable users to install apps on an SD card, this would quickly become a non issue. Highly recommended.

I'm on the $30 1500 Text or Minutes tmobile plan. Perfect, perfect, perfect. I came from an android phone with unlimited minutes, text, and data. I realized in my life that I don't need mobile data because I'm always around wireless. The phone automatically connects to wifi when theres a signal you've saved. Best selling point for this phone, you can use maps/gps/navigation/transit offline (No data required). Bingo! I'm not a person who needs 10000000000 apps on apple or android. I just need apps that are practical, well developed, and useful for my life. Windows apps are perfect for me. Speed of the phone is fantastic. No bugs. Just flawless. Save money and get huge value with this phone.

Let me preface the review by saying that this is my first smartphone and I DON'T live on my phone. I have Apple products and am familiar with the iOS and Android (Samsung Galaxy) OS for comparison. I wanted something easy to use and that would give me access to all my email accounts (personal/work), texting to keep in touch w/ family members, basic app access. I must also say that I have this phone coupled to TMo's $30/month prepaid plan which is perfect for my needs and the reception for my particular use is equivalent to Verizon (prev. carrier). I find this phone to have fantastic battery life (3-5 days between chrg), mobile hotspot INCLUDED in plan!, good call quality, works well with car bluetooth system, ability to make calls/text over WiFi is tremendous, user replaceable battery, and you absolutely can't beat it for the purchase price - lose/damage, just buy a replacement. There are cons of course. Limited memory, even w/ micro SD added, weak camera specs (5gb) w/ no front facing camera (though it does shoot HD video), APP store lags Apple & Google, sometimes wonky with texting attachments. Unless you're a fanboy of a company/particular OS, or need every conceivable APP on your phone you won't be disappointed.

The zoom on the camera is not the best but pictures do come out clear if your hand is steady and lighting is good. I love all the features, I cant figure out how to upload photos to facebook in an album, I can only post them one by one which takes up so much FB space

I've read alot of bad things about this phone but got it anyway. I'm so glad I did! The only thing is the camera isn't the best, and no front facing. But I love it, I got it instead of an iPod 5, I saved $200! I don't regret buying. Perf for teens who want an iPod!

Good second phone. My first phone broke and didn't want to get on a new 2 year contract. Good replacement.

Hi If you need a low budget phone then this is the phone you are looking for. It has all the basic features. Pros- 4G, 5 MP camera, Cons - No camera on the front.

Windows phone runs fast on lessor hardware compared to android and IOS. However this phone has some major issues. 1. Can't use internet hotspot (software blocked by Tmobile) even if using a different sim card. 2. Phone cannot charge when powered off. Will power on when charger is connected. 3. MS account must be setup when phone is first powered on. If done later you get an error 0x80048264. If you want a windows phone get one from a different company not the tmobilie one.

Love this phone. It's my first Windows phone, and pretty user friendly... for the price, I'm extremely satisfied with it.

I love this phone not only the price is good to be able to connect on Facebook, Xbox Live & Email all at once plus having live tiles on your home screen. I had my phone for a year with no damages or any problems. if your on either Facebook or on Xbox Live all the time like I am a windows phone is for you.

Got this when my old phone suddenly crapped out on me. I was looking for something that was cheap and get me buy, and I got a whole lot more. This phone is definitely worth the price as long as your not trying to use it as a mobile desktop.

I found 3 problems with this phone ,1. When i twist the phone on both sides it power off, for some reason. 2. It does not accept all my pictures my micro sd card every time I reset the phone it ask me to format my card 3. Wow is the battery life after 3 months of having this phone, I have to charge it everyday, their is no way my phone can now even go 24hours in stand by mode with out having to recharge it.

For the price I am paying for, there certainly can't be any complains as it is one of the best phones in this price range. The phone runs smoothly and is really user friendly