About six years ago, Nokia introduced a new model in the Asha line - the Nokia Asha 311 phone. The gadget differs from the previous generations of the 300 and 303 series with full touch control, that is, there is not even a hint of a specific Touch and Type.
The device is produced in India and under the strict supervision of the brand's OTC specialists. Of course, the characteristics of Nokia Asha 311 do not allow it to compete with brand new smartphones, but it finds its consumer. The latter, as a rule, looks like a low performance user who needs a device for calls and listening to radio / music.
So, the subject of today's review is the Nokia Asha 311 smartphone. Consider the characteristics of the gadget, its advantages and disadvantages, as well as the feasibility of buying. Let's take into account the opinion of experts in this field and reviews of ordinary phone users.
Package set
The Nokia Asha 311 comes in a nice blue box with a bright design. On the front side you can see the image of the phone itself from two angles, and on the back there is a brief specification for the device, as well as information about the manufacturer.
The interior decoration is organized quite sensibly, so the accessories "do not swear" with each other and do not fall out of the grooves. The packaging itself is made of thick and high-quality cardboard, and after unpacking it is even a pity to throw it away.
Inside you will see:
- Nokia Asha 311 itself;
- branded AC-11 charger;
- BL-4U grade battery;
- earphones WH-102;
- 2 GB external SD drive (MU-37);
- micro USB cable;
- documentation.
The bundle can be called standard, and there is nothing superfluous, like covers or a stylus, in it. The phone can be used out of the box, so there will be no problems getting started. Judging by user reviews of Nokia Asha 311, it is advisable to immediately replace the memory card that comes with the kit with a more capacious one. Better if it is at least 8 GB. Otherwise, you will not be able to organize a normal collection of music with tracks at a high bitrate.
There are no questions about all other accessories: the charging is of high quality, the battery is the same branded, and the cable in no way looks like a Chinese fake. The headphones seem to be good, but again, picky music lovers should look for a more interesting option.
Appearance
At first impressions, it may seem that the phone is massive and heavy. In fact, Nokia Asha 311 is a compact and very light monoblock. And despite its size, the phone fits comfortably in the palm of your hand.
The case is made entirely of plastic, stylized as metal. This is a good solution for a budget gadget, but the surface of the device is like a magnet for fingerprints and dust and dirt. In this case, a matte finish would obviously not be superfluous. Users in their reviews unanimously advise to immediately purchase at least some case, otherwise after a week of intensive use the case will not be recognized.
The device comes in four basic colors: blue, red, gray and sand. Gray and blue look more solid and will suit conservatives, and the rest is for an amateur. The shade does not affect the cost in any way.
Interfaces
On the front you can see the speaker, brand logo, light sensor, microphone, and two mechanical keys (call and hang up). On the left side there is a hole for the cord, and on the right is the power button and the volume rocker.
At the top end there is a mini-USB interface for synchronization with a PC, and a little further away there is a 2 mm jack and the usual 3.5 mm mini-jack for a headset. Behind is the main speaker, another brand logo and a camera eye. Judging by user reviews, the latter looks a bit hypertrophied and completely breaks the overall style of the phone.
Under the cover there are slots for an external drive and for a cellular operator card. They are covered by a battery, so hot-swapping is out of the question. The cover can be easily removed, but you should not get carried away with frequent replacement of cards, because the grooves canloosen, and it will simply fly off by itself.
Screen
The gadget received a small 3-inch screen on a simple matrix with a resolution of 400 by 240 pixels. The density of the latter is 155 ppi, so the pixelation can be seen even with the naked eye.
The matrix quietly gives out 65 thousand colors, but all of them become useless even with a slight change in the viewing angle. So the device is completely “selfish” and you won’t be able to watch a photo or video in the company of a like-minded person - you will have to constantly turn the device.
The screen itself is protected by venerable Gorilla Glass. Here we have the simplest version, so you should not rush into all serious with your phone. Glass can break when it hits the asph alt, as well as get scratched. From the usual household troubles, like keys in your pockets or falling on a wooden floor, protection saves, but no more.
Platform
The phone runs on Nokia's proprietary platform - Series 40 Developer 2.0. The interface of the operating system is very similar to a similar solution in iPhones of earlier versions. Users in their reviews note intuitive controls and menu branches that even a person who has never worked on the Nokia OS will understand.
The interface itself functions smoothly, without delays and brakes, and regular applications for Nokia Asha 311 open very quickly. Although some users complain about a slightly clumsy electronic keyboard, you can quickly get used to it or install some other version as from the official one.the manufacturer's website, as well as from amateur forums.
Performance
You can't count on serious 3D games, of course. The only game programs for Nokia Asha 311 that run without problems are arcades like "three in a row", "Birds", "Worms", etc. Everything else will either slow down or not start at all.
As mentioned above, this is mostly a music phone, and the audio component is well implemented here: a normal player, an excellent radio receiver and a sensible gallery for tracks.
Offline work time
The device received an average 1110 mAh battery. But despite such a modest volume, the battery life of the gadget is quite acceptable. Undemanding "stuffing" and the same screen affected here.
The manufacturer claims 744 hours of battery life in standby mode, which, in fact, no one needs, and 6 hours of continuous talk. If you properly load the gadget with videos or toys, then the batteries will last for five hours.
Listening to music, talking and texting will drain your battery in two or three days. So this is a very good indicator if we compare this model with the "Android" brother, which by the end of the day asks for an outlet.
Summing up
This model is suitable for those who need a quality smartphone at a more affordable price. But the word "smartphone" is not the key here, because the capabilities of the device are verymodest and it can not boast of either good performance or decent visualization.
By and large, this is a “dialer” with a large and convenient screen, as well as very good musical capabilities. If you look at the ultra-budget segment of smartphones, we will see mediocre Alcatel, Fly and other similar devices, where all modern solutions are implemented just for show and work with terrible brakes.
In our case, we have a high-quality budget phone from a well-known manufacturer without performance claims and advanced features. But everything that is in it works as it should, and there is no need to talk about some checkboxes.
