Nokia Asha 305
MRP: Rs 5000
Street Price (As On 4-Oct-2012): Rs 4600 (BuyThePrice.com; Flipkart.com; Saholic.com)


Similar to the recently reviewed Asha 311, the 305 is a Series 40 handset that features the same easy-to-use interface. What separates the latter from its older brother though, is the presence of dual-SIM functionality. Apart from that, Nokia has opted for a resistive screen to keep the 305's cost down. Has the Finnish giant managed to build another great value phone? Let's find out.


Design And Build Quality
The standard package includes the handset, charger, and a pair of earphones. The phone measures 4.3" (l) x 2.1" (w) x 0. 5" (12.8 mm) (d) and tips the scales at a mere 98 grammes. The handset is available in dark grey and red. Unlike the 311, this handset lacks scratch-resistant glass, so make sure your keys and phone don't end up in the same pocket.

On the front, the gadget sports a glossy faux chrome finish that looks quite cheap. Its curved back, which is reminiscent of the X2-02's design, provides a comfortable grip. All in all, I don't have any complaints regarding the handset's sturdiness. However, it could have definitely been more compact and better-looking.
 

The handset's 3" resistive touch screen has pixel dimensions of 240x400. The display is good enough for indoor use, but there's no setting to raise or lower the brightness. This is made worse by the lack of an ambient light sensor. To top it off, the screen is very reflective. Overall, the viewing experience leaves a lot to be desired.

Nokia hasn't provided any information regarding the CPU that powers this phone. Judging by the performance though, I can tell it's not a 1 GHz processor for sure. Its detailed specs are as follows:

• Dual-SIM, Dual-standby, Dual-band GSM (900, 1800 GHz); Hot-swappable SIM 2 slot.
• 3" resistive touchscreen with pixel dimensions of 240x400.
• 10 MB of internal storage, 32 GB microSD card slot.
• 2 mp fixed-focus camera, No flash, Aperture: 2.8, Focal Length: 3.6 mm.
• Camera Features: Landscape orientation, Exposure compensation, Auto and manual white balance, Still image editor, Full screen viewfinder, Self timer, Center weighted auto exposure.
• Video Capture: 176x144 at 10 fps.
• Micro-USB 2.0 port, 2 mm charging connector, 3.5 mm audio jack.
• Bluetooth 2.1, FM radio with RDS and recording, Orientation sensor.
• Email client, IM apps, Social networking support, Nokia Maps (uses tower info and internet for location).
• Supported Media Formats: MF, ASF, WAV, MXMF, MP4, AAC, AMR, MP3, AWB, M4V, M4A, AVI, NRT, WMA, 3GP, 3G2, MIDI, WMV.
• 1110 mAh battery with 14 hours of talk time, 24 days of standby.
• Package Contents: Charger (AC-11), 1110 mAh battery (BL-4U), Stereo headset (WH-102).
• Available Colours: Dark grey, Red.

UI And Applications
The phone features the Series 40 platform, as previously seen on the Asha 311. As you may already know, the UI is inspired by Nokia's MeeGo OS, which makes use of swipe gestures for navigation. Like every other Series 40 handset, this one too lacks true multitasking. All is not lost though, since you can minimise the music player and use other apps. While I like the clutter-free interface, the biggest problem here is the touchscreen's performance, which is a pain to get along with. The weak CPU makes matters worse by its extremely sluggish performance. Overall, the user experience is very frustrating.

The cellphone comes with an email client, IM apps, Facebook, and Twitter. For exploring the web, you have the Nokia Browser. The Asha 305 also packs in the Maps 2.0 software. However, since the gadget lacks GPS, Wi-Fi, and 3G connectivity, the location services are hardly usable. On the bright side, you can install more apps such as Nimbuzz and WhatsApp from the Nokia Store. Additionally, as part of the company's deal with Electronic Arts, 40 games titles have been offered for free.


Multimedia
The 305 comes with a terrible pair of earphones. Fortunately, the handset delivers great sound quality when paired with decent aftermarket IEMs (In-Ear Monitors). The manufacturer has duly covered equaliser settings and FM radio as well. The USP of the 305 though, is its Nokia Music service, which the company has used to target college-going youth. Nokia claims that you can download a song in one minute using this service. During the tests, it took me a little over two minutes to obtain a Bollywood song over BPL's network, which is not too bad. However, I doubt people will actually use this feature, since most kids would rather get their songs though "other" means.

Moving onto imaging and video playback, the phone can only handle low-quality MP4 and 3GP videos. Due to its feeble CPU, the Asha 305 can't even play a 360p clip — something its target audience will find most disappointing. Expectedly, the 2 mp fixed-focus camera is mediocre at best. Its image quality is acceptable under sunlight, but performs badly under low-light conditions. It can record a video in 176x144 at 10 fps, which isn't good enough even for an MMS.

Telephony, Messaging, Battery And Verdict
As expected from Nokia, the Asha 305's call quality and reception were excellent. This dual-SIM, dual-standby handset comes with a hot-swappable secondary SIM slot. This means you can change the second SIM card without turning off the device. You can also assign a particular SIM for calling and \ or messaging. If you leave this setting to Manual, your phone will prompt you to select a SIM before performing either of these functions. On the flip side, the resistive screen makes typing messages a royal pain.

For around 4.5 grand, the Asha 305 comes with dual-SIM functionality and a 1110 mAh battery that easily lasts for a day. It sports a 3" screen and offers good sound quality. That being said, the resistive display's performance leaves much to be desired. If you're looking for a good budget touchscreen phone with dual-SIM support, go for the Intex Aqua 4.0 instead, which is well worth the extra 500 rupees.

Features: 3/5
Design And Build Quality: 3.5/5
Performance: 2/5
Value For Money: 3/5
Mojo: 3/5

Overall Rating: 3/5

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Multi-SIM, Series 40, Nokia, Asha, ck