Huawei Ascend Y201 (ICS)

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freitasm

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#108141 24-Aug-2012 14:10

Just received:

The Huawei Ascend Y201 will be launched in New Zealand on Monday 27 August offering the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) experience from just $279.

The Ascend Y201 brings further advancements with NFC (Near Field Communication) built in to support 2degrees’ Touch2Pay service in partnership with Snapper in Wellington. Users can make payments with a wave or tap of their smartphone at participating retailers.

Huawei’s fast booting technology allows the Ascend Y201 to be switched on, booted up and ready for use within five seconds, and charging is also fast-tracked with the Ascend Y201 taking just 90 minutes to reach a full battery.

The 3.5” TFT HVGA screen offers a vivid experience whether you are browsing the web, viewing your photo gallery, or watching videos on the go, and with storage expandable to 32GB there is plenty of space for your favourite shows and music.

The Huawei Ascend Y201 follows Huawei’s belief that the latest technologies should be available to everyone, delivering the best possible experience in a package which embraces quality, style and simplicity.

The Huawei Ascend Y201 will be available from 2degrees.

Features include:
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
NFC (Near Field Communication)
Large 3.5” TFT HVGA capacitive touchscreen
Qualcomm 800 MHz CPU
4GB onboard memory – expandable to 32GB with MicroSD
1250mAh battery with 90 minute full recharge time
All Backup one-touch backup and recovery
3.2 Megapixel camera

lokhor

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#676470 24-Aug-2012 15:41

The G300 is better. Why would anyone buy this?

All comments are my own opinion, and not that of my employer unless explicitly stated.

freitasm

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#676487 24-Aug-2012 16:07

Better in what sense? Could you compare specs please?

toyonut

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#676581 24-Aug-2012 20:41

lokhor: The G300 is better. Why would anyone buy this?

Its cheaper, it has NFC which 2 degrees look to be trying to push and it has preinstalled ICS. Three good reasons right there.

Try Vultr using this link and get us both some credit:

http://www.vultr.com/?ref=7033587-3B

lokhor

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#676695 25-Aug-2012 09:08

paulmilbank:
lokhor: The G300 is better. Why would anyone buy this?

Its cheaper, it has NFC which 2 degrees look to be trying to push and it has preinstalled ICS. Three good reasons right there.

The G300 is $299 retail but has been on special recently for $249 and even as low as $239
It has a WVGA screen so has twice the resolution
5MP camera > 3.2MP camera
1500mAh battery > 1250mAh battery
It is receiving an ICS update in the next few weeks from Vodafone.
NFC is overrated. I never even get to use it in my S3.

All comments are my own opinion, and not that of my employer unless explicitly stated.

freitasm

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#676696 25-Aug-2012 09:12

lokhor:
paulmilbank:
lokhor: The G300 is better. Why would anyone buy this?

Its cheaper, it has NFC which 2 degrees look to be trying to push and it has preinstalled ICS. Three good reasons right there.

The G300 is $299 retail but has been on special recently for $249 and even as low as $239
It has a WVGA screen so has twice the resolution
5MP camera > 3.2MP camera
1500mAh battery > 1250mAh battery
It is receiving an ICS update in the next few weeks from Vodafone.
NFC is overrated. I never even get to use it in my S3.

"ICS Update in the new few weeks" means... Who knows when.

"NFC is overrated. I never even get to use it..." different people, different usage patterns.

Reality is, each user have different requirements. Unless you're an iPhone user. And even so, if you have different requirements then you change OS ;)

lokhor

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#676918 25-Aug-2012 18:46

freitasm:
lokhor:
paulmilbank:
lokhor: The G300 is better. Why would anyone buy this?

Its cheaper, it has NFC which 2 degrees look to be trying to push and it has preinstalled ICS. Three good reasons right there.

The G300 is $299 retail but has been on special recently for $249 and even as low as $239
It has a WVGA screen so has twice the resolution
5MP camera > 3.2MP camera
1500mAh battery > 1250mAh battery
It is receiving an ICS update in the next few weeks from Vodafone.
NFC is overrated. I never even get to use it in my S3.

"ICS Update in the new few weeks" means... Who knows when.

"NFC is overrated. I never even get to use it..." different people, different usage patterns.

Reality is, each user have different requirements. Unless you're an iPhone user. And even so, if you have different requirements then you change OS ;)

An official Vodafone support person on their forums said that ICS is coming in several weeks they are testing it. It has already been released overseas.

So the only thing this has above the G300 is NFC capability which will suit some people. Just making sure people know that there are better handsets available if they don't need NFC.

All comments are my own opinion, and not that of my employer unless explicitly stated.

toyonut

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#676937 25-Aug-2012 19:27

Sure the G300 has had price drops, but it was a $450 phone when new from memory. This will likely have price drops and special deals too. Hopefully they drop the garbage x3 when the y201 lands in stores.

Knowing Huawei and updates, I still say don't believe it until it is working properly on your device! Too many people have been bitten by the amazing huawei updates to the x5 which Huawei just gave up on before fixing all the bugs.

I think it is going to be about right for what 2 degrees want to do. It is a pretty good slightly better than feature phone level device that eases people into the idea of using nfc in daily life. Its a win for them if they can help drive nfc for payments.

Try Vultr using this link and get us both some credit:

http://www.vultr.com/?ref=7033587-3B

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#676944 25-Aug-2012 20:03

I'll stick with my X5 running ICS and clocked at 1.2GHz ;-)

My partner has one of the G300's far better than the Y201 we were thinking of getting. Y201 felt slow and sluggish compared to the G300.

SteveC

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#677032 26-Aug-2012 09:48

Humm ... perhaps I should not have bothered getting more LG Net P962 screen protectors to go with my little supply of covers that I'm trying to sell! I don't follow any hardware trends closely, but thought the P962 was ridiculously priced at $300. (I paid about $130 for mine - great value!) I am the only person with any items on TradeMe mentioning P962 - can't be many out there.
As for the passionate debate of technical trivia in this forum - I would suggest the majority of people buy phones based on marketing and their perception of popularity, few consider technical details. Far more important is the question of how many free minutes you can buy. [sic]
PS - I do think the P962 is excellent for what I want to do with a phone.

freitasm

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#678225 28-Aug-2012 15:34

Just received one here:

Planning to have it for a week, you may ask questions :)

rostov

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#749863 23-Jan-2013 21:26

lokhor:

The G300 is $299 retail but has been on special recently for $249 and even as low as $239
It has a WVGA screen so has twice the resolution
5MP camera > 3.2MP camera
1500mAh battery > 1250mAh battery
It is receiving an ICS update in the next few weeks from Vodafone.
NFC is overrated. I never even get to use it in my S3.

(Longtime lurker here. Today I decided to register after many years. FYI, FWIW, YVMV)

Coles Australia is now running a Flybys special for the Huawei Y201 for Telstra Australia (NextG enabled), for a special price of AUD$49.50 until stocks run out. Today, 1 of 9 Sydney stores I called (Chatswood x2, and 7 in CBD) had stock; those that didn't were in the midst of ordering over the next couple of days.

Unlocking ranges from AUD$10 to AUD$25. Worst case this means this phone, unlocked, is AUD$75 (about NZD$95). It works on the 850Mhz HSDPA NextG in Australia Telstra -- wouldn't it mean I could have it work with NZ Telecom? Stock ICS 4.0. And it'll work with my snap in Wellington.

The only catch is needing a mate who crosses the ditch often. But effectively it also implies that the 2degrees and harvey norman RRP of >$200 is unsustainable.

So pricewise I'd like to suggest that soon, pricewise, the Y201 would be worth considering.

Cheers

GeekGuy

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#749924 23-Jan-2013 23:08

Bought 2 this morning in Brisbane and unlocked them already. Ones for standby and probably sell the other one next week to pay for both of them.

rostov

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#750150 24-Jan-2013 13:00

Cheers. If Coles run out, Bi-Lo has them as well, better stocked.

Very responsive unit for such a budget phone. In Australia with Kogan Mobile (base $30/mth unlimited callouts, 6GB data, 3G (max 7.2 down) only) it doesn't even need to be unlocked. Stock ICS 4.0.3 . Gonna test batteries and coverage in outskirts (> 60km from CBD) over next few weeks.

Will test with Telecom very soon. I don't expect problems.

GeekGuy

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#750206 24-Jan-2013 13:54

rostov: Cheers. If Coles run out, Bi-Lo has them as well, better stocked.

Very responsive unit for such a budget phone. In Australia with Kogan Mobile (base $30/mth unlimited callouts, 6GB data, 3G (max 7.2 down) only) it doesn't even need to be unlocked. Stock ICS 4.0.3 . Gonna test batteries and coverage in outskirts (> 60km from CBD) over next few weeks.

Will test with Telecom very soon. I don't expect problems.

Let me know if you need it unlocked ;)