This was posted 9 years 6 months 21 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

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Nokia Lumia 520 Windows 8 Smartphone Unlocked $88 (save $61) at Harvey Norman

940

Available in black, cyan or yellow.

Can price match for $83.60 at Officeworks

Features:
Network: 2G Network GSM 850/900/1800/1900; 3G Network HSDPA 850/1900/2100
Microsoft Windows Phone 8
Micro SIM
4.0 inch screen
Processor name: Qualcomm Snapdrago S4
Processor type: Dual-core 1 GHz
TFT capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Bluetooth 3.0
Nokia Cinemagraph
8GB internal memory, with MicroSD support up to 64GB
MP3 Player
5MP autofocus camera
3.5 mm AV connector
Calendar and alarm clock
Talk time: Up to 9.6 hours (3G).
Standby time: Up to 360 hours (3G).

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Harvey Norman
Harvey Norman

closed Comments

  • +3

    thats great for a great little entry phone

  • +2

    Very good price

  • +5

    Be a more great if it a an led light. Curious why is it budget phones don't add led flash bulb.

    • +1

      Relative bought one recently; the lack of a flash really surprised her. She's like, 'how am I supposed to take pics in the dark then'? Found a night mode in the camera settings, but not sure if it's adequate. Other than that, seemed like a well spec'd phone for the price.

      • +15

        She's like, 'how am I supposed to take pics in the dark then'?

        Answer: Buy an actual camera.

        • +2

          Ah, but even the pros often say that the best camera is the one you have with you. In her case, a phone with a flash would've been the best camera.

        • +4

          I gave in an brought one!!! Feels nice. When i want to take night shots i have the phone in one hand and the other my$1 led keyring flashlight. Lol

    • +12

      how would they sell their other phones if the budget model has most of everything

  • +1

    I bought one. Thanks OP.

  • Sorry am i missing something? Whats the ram on this thing?

    • +3

      512M=1/2GB=0.5GB

      • +2

        Thanks for the detailed answer. Looks like a great cheap phone for Windows phone apps development/testing.

      • +4

        Damn… One of these days kids would not know what MB is.

  • +5

    be aware this phone might not have 900mhz, which I checked last time at HN.

    • +2

      Dead right. As far as I know, it is either 850 or 900, not both. Usually the ones from DSE were 850. It should say which one on the box.

      • +1

        So is this suitable for Telstra?

        • Yes, Telstra more so than Optus. You will be able to receive Telstra's regional 3G signal but not Optus.

    • +5

      Good point. I think just about all the 520's sold in Australia are 850MHz which is the Telstra (and some Vodafone I think).

      HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 - RM-915

      I actually have an Optus sim in mine and it's fine in most metro areas and some regional. If you are on Optus and need guaranteed service or live in fringe metro or rural areas I would look to the 625 as it uses both 850 and 900. Costs around $200 though.

      On the box you will see what model it is - Look for RM-914 for Optus or RM-915 for Telstra

      HSDPA 900 / 2100 - RM-914
      HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 - RM-915

      • +2

        Strange how the officeworks description for the phone lists all the frequencies.

        • +2

          The Hardly Normal site doesn't even specify which fequencies.

          I notice a lot of returned phones at OW, HN etc with "Unsuitable" written on the box as the return excuse. It's sad that people buy phones that aren't correct for their network and even sadder that the sales people have no idea.

      • +1

        Agree. I have an Amaysim sim in mine and 3G internet is decent in most metro areas. Great budget phone but the battery life I find isn't sufficient for 1 day's use if you're browsing the net a lot (might just be normal… my main phone is a Nokia E63 so am use to several days use per charge. I'll have to compare it to the Lumia 920 which I still need to set up with the new sim).

      • not sure what your talking about, my 520 i got from HN has 900mhz and 850mhz listed on the box

        • Hmmm, I'll have to check my 520's box when I get home (also from HN). It's the RM-915 for sure as that's what windows comes up with when I plug it to the PC.

        • TGG, OW, HN and others all stock 850/2100, although their websites all state they have others like 900. I'm currently with a 520 in Berri, SA and it only gives me 2G due to frequencys. In the cities its fine (Optus)

        • The 900MHz will be GSM (or 2G) not 3G (HSUPA) i.e. slower than dial up speed for internet or may not even connect.

        • @Food:

          although their websites all state they have others like 900.

          Their websites just show a generic spec. They don't actually give a detailed spec for the particular model they sell. Either they couldn't be bothered or they don't know what they sell themselves. I think this is why they don't fuss when a customer returns a phone because they know they can just resell it as there is nothing wrong with the phone.

  • +4

    $83 with $5 off welcome voucher

    • +1

      How do you get a welcome voucher?

      • +1

        Sign up for their newsletyer

  • how does this compare with the 630 Vodafone prepaid you can get at DS for around $80-90 when prices change (current price seems to have gone up) :
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/158912

  • Got my mum an iPhone 3gs a while back. Any thoughts on if this would be better?
    She mainly uses camera, gmail and Instagram so it seems like the bigger screen would be handy but I don't know if a windows phone would just confuddle her

    • +1

      She should figure it out, WP is very accessible. No idea if Instagram is available on Windows Phone yet though. The iPhone 3gs would definitely be showing its age by now, but if she's happy with it…

    • +2

      Windows Phone is pretty simple to use. Excellent as an actual phone compared to androids I've owned, as long as you don't use many apps

      • +2

        i've got about 200 apps on my windows phone, how many do you think a person can use in a single day?

    • +2

      Instagram is still under Beta (can be downloaded and used), most users including myself use 6tag for Instagram photos.

    • Awesome thanks guys. I'll have to have a look at what apps are actually available when I get home.

      She uses windows 7 so do the windows phones have any integration advantages in that respect?

      • Plug and play, onedrive on the phone. Also be aware that this isn't a great phone for taking photos

    • 530 in store at $149 (at Officeworks and HN)

      • With the spec look like 520 is better, why?

        • 520 is inded replaced by 630

        • +1

          @lovbargain:
          Nope, 520 to 530
          620 to 630/635
          So on

  • +3

    Have one of these phones, and I think its the best out there in the budget smartphone range. The windows phone format really grows on you. The major downside if much less choice in Apps.

    • Will it update to Windows 10 lol? Is it already updated to 8.1?

      • +1

        I've had mine for a few months so had to upgrade to Windows Phone 8.1

        Windows 10? Is Windows 9 like the missing Leisure Suit Larry game?

        • I don't understand the logical of MS skipping a version. I want Windows 9, dammit!

      • I believe its confirmed that all wp8 phones will be updated to w10

        • Not all, i believe they said "most" during the announcement.

        • @cheesecactus: WPcentral is reporting all will receive it, but have to wait and see!

  • Is there a voice to text input method with Windows phone? Don't have this with Windows tablet.

    • Yes

      • Is it English only? You know I am not talking about Speech Recognition, right?

  • Id prefer the quad-core nokia 630 for $84, unfortunately it was voda locked

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/158912

    • I bought one and Im waiting for the six months to expire so that I can get the unlock code for $25.00. Anyone know any good books to read?

      • Exactly what I have done too - bought a replacement green battery cover for it on eBay too. :D

        • Me too. Except I bought a white one. My 630 will have a Panda appearance.

      • The instructions manual x 10, whilst you wait :P

  • Seen this on nokias facebook page. Says if you buy a new Lumia, you get 3 months free of Skype to call landlines and mobiles. Details here

    http://www.nokia.com/au-en/campaign-lumia-with-skype/

    • +3

      Only applies to Lumia 735, 530, 630, 635, 930, 1320, 2520, 1520, 1020, 625 & 925. and with Windows Phone 8.1 software

      • Oh Okay. Couldn't see it all, was on my phone. Thanks.

        • +1

          Downloaded the SkypeGift app and tried it on my 520. Tt worked and gave me a Skype key (after checking if the offer was valid on this device). Entering the code on Skype website activated the Unlimited World 3 months offer ($AU$40.47).

          Note that I have upgraded to 8.1 first before downloading the app.

  • Thanks OP, went and got one from my local Harvey Norman, not sure which version I have but was priced on the box at $229 and they price matched for me.

  • on the one I bought says:
    NOKIA 520.2
    BLACK CV AU
    GSM/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900
    WCDMA 850/1900/2100

    So?

    • No worries, I had same one from OW

      • Is it good for Telstra SIM?
        I did not open it yet…

        • Yes 100% good

        • Good for Telstra and Vodafone and there is no difference if you lives at Metro area of the State.

    • I am not too sure if it came with 8.1 (I left it in the charger for a few hours and it MAY have updated itself via WiFi) but it does have 8.1 now.
      For $88 is a beaut

      • I doubt it came with it, probably auto updated

        • Probably, although I DID disable updates, I am updating apps now manually. Not sure if it applies to OS.

    • The 900MHz will be GSM (or 2G) not 3G (HSUPA) i.e. slower than dial up speed for internet or may not even connect

  • -4

    If it doesn't have Windows Phone 8.1 aka Cyan, chuck it in the bin. There is a big difference between 8.0 and 8.1 on a phone - I recently bought a 635 with 4G for less than $200 local from Telstra prepaid and its faster than my old 3G Ativ S which was less than $500 and has double the RAM. There is no guarantee you will get the upgrade to Phone 8.1 and 8.0 has no action centre which is mandatory. The SoC is only dual core too, not quad core. Just avoid. There is a reason its cheap.

    • +1

      There is a guarantee you'll get 8.1, maybe cause its already out. 2 weeks ago I upgraded two family 520s to 8.1. Works perfectly for what they want. A techie would get a higher end windows phone like 930/1520 if they want it to be faster.

      • +1

        There is a guarantee you'll get 8.1, maybe cause its already out.

        This^

        I got home from work today to find my 920 here, first order of business was a seamless OTA upgrade to 8.1, couldn't have been easier! :)

        • +1

          How nice! Even to know you'll get w 10 is a bonus

  • I bought a Nokia 630 recently for shits and giggles and because it was $79 with a RAA WISH Card + $15 off coupon.

    Windows Phone has come a hell of a long way since I first trialled it on the HTC Mozart in 2010. but without any Google apps, I couldn't ever see myself moving to it full time :(

    Still, for $88 I would have absolutely no problem recommending this phone to friends who need a basic but capable Windows Phone device.

    • +1

      It's googles fault. Microsoft created a YouTube app but google blocked it

      • +2

        Why do you need a Youtube app when you can view Youtube perfectly through the browser.

        • I use the browser, but some people may prefer the app.

      • +1

        How the tables have turned. Remember when ms ruled the world with an iron fist…

      • There are some perfectly capable 3rd party/unofficial u-tube apps. I use one called utubeHD on my WP and I swear it is better than the official app.

    • nokia maps are just as good ive found, plus can use offline as well

      • Interesting. I found the Nokia maps absolutely infuriating in terms of ease of use. The offline thing is good, but took it to the UK and the result given was 'your app version is not licensed for use in this country'. The google maps implementation is extremely basic and borderline unusable.

        In the end the maps thing forced me to throw in what is otherwise an outstanding phone (best for the $) and go to Android (Moto G, another excellent phone.) Your mileage,of course, may vary.

        • +1

          funny you say that, we have a lumia 520 & 625, and a moto g 1st gen, and i prefer the windows phones by a mile. Everyones usage may vary, i guess i dont bother using half the things a decent android phone does. I do despise not having usb tethering though…….

        • @itsdanthaman:

          I do despise not having internet tethering though…….

          Windows Phone does tethering.

          Settings - Internet Sharing

        • @Frig:

          sorry i meant usb tethering

        • @itsdanthaman:

          Oh… never tried to do that. Gee, even my old Nokia 6220 could USB tether.

      • I'm stuck with the (slightly inferior) Bing maps on my htc8x but they are more than enough for basic navigation and map checking. I also downloaded all of the maps to offline mode for the entire of Australia. This can also be done for other regions/countries when travelling overseas.

  • +1

    Officeworks has dropped the price of its stock to match HN, so while price matching is no longer available there's now two companies where you can pick up the phone on the cheap!

    • They ALWAYS seem to do this. You can't blame them.

  • The offline maps feature seems to make it a good choice as a stand alone gps, anyone used it as their primary nav in the car? I used to have a mitac mio 702 windows phone and it was awesome as a standalone gps offline.

  • I'm wondering I hear that the windows phone OS is pretty snappy, in which case would it be snappier than my Motorola v xt885 which has alightly better specs, dual core 1.2 and 1 gig of ram do you think?

    I have to wait 2 more weeks to get my Motorola back from repair, thinking of buying this windows phone because its so cheap for the meantime and as an alternate phone…

    • +1

      I used the razr v xt 885 for a while. The interface e itself will be snappier but in terms of browsing using internet explirer you will not see much advantage overr your existing phone.

      I would recommend the huawei g526. Can be had for around the 100 mark. They dont call it the ozbargainers darling for nothing.

      • Thanks, the huawei g526 looks great but I cannot seem to find it online at any of the usual suspect stores, not dicksmith, target, kmart or officeworks. No idea where to buy it!

        Any idea anyone?

  • I must be the unluckiest OzBagainer around. Went to 6 different Officeworks stores for the HNs close to me had no stock.

    All the OW had the price at $88 but none had stock.

    • +2

      Black seemed to have been OS at many/most HN stores but yellow and cyan were still available at many. Their website did allow you to put the phone on backorder at the special price but the deal is now over.

  • What to use for (equivalent to) GTalk? Any advice?

  • its on again

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