Nokia has given the competition quite a bit to think about with the launch of the Nokia 500, an entry-level smartphone that comes packing a 1GHz processor. It's clearly aimed at low-end Android rivals from the likes of HTC, LG and Samsung, so we thought we'd put it head to head with one such competitor, the Samsung Galaxy Ace, to see how it stacks up.
Nokia 500 Vs HTC Wildfire S: entry-level smartphones face off
The new Nokia 500 not only brings with it a whole new naming convention, but it takes Nokia's low-to-mid-range smartphone presence in a whole new direction too, introducing Symbian Anna to the mix for the first time and dishing up a massively powerful 1GHz processor alongside more old-school Nokia favourites such as an interchangeable battery cover.
It's an intriguing and compelling mix, but how does it compare to the competition in the form of the Samsung Galaxy Ace? Let's look at some of the chief criteria worth considering...
Looks
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, of course, but we prefer the slightly longer, slimmer lines of the Nokia 500 to the squatter, more typically Android shape of the Galaxy Ace. In actual fact, the Nokia 500 is 1mm shorter, but it's 6mm slimmer too, and a full 20g lighter. But with Nokia's typical build quality, we'd still trust it to come out on top after a bit of rough and tumble.
Screen
The Samsung's larger dimensions afford it a larger screen size, too – 3.5-inch to the Nokia 500's 3.2-inch. But where its resolution comes in at a decidedly average 320 x 480 pixels, the Nokia 500 offers a far more impressive 360 x 640-pixel resolution.
Hardware
There's no question that Nokia has equipped the Nokia 500 with a mighty 1GHz processor to help it do battle with exactly what the Galaxy Ace is – an entry-level Android contender. And so even its otherwise impressive 800MHz processor pales in comparison, especially when you consider Symbian's generally light power demands.
Software
Android is obviously very popular right now, and of course has the considerable might of the Android Market behind it. But before you dismiss the Nokia 500, consider that Symbian Anna is a real step forward for the Nokia operating system, and should be lightning-fast with that 1GHz processor pulling the strings.
Camera
These two are fairly closely matched in the camera department, with both packing a 5-megapixel camera and VGA-class video recording, though the Samsung does edge it by offering autofocus and an LED flash. In both cases, though, it's fair to say that photo-taking abilities are one of the features on offer, rather than any kind of speciality.
Storage
The Nokia 500 comes with a decent complement of 2GB of internal storage before you have to look to a microSD card, which comfortably trumps the all-but-negligible 158MB offered by Samsung.
Extras
The Galaxy Ace includes features such as DLNA support and the ability to act as a Wi-Fi hotspot that the Nokia 500 is lacking, but then the Nokia has things like Nokia Maps baked right in, and comes with an extra pair of battery covers to help you personalise your handset's look. The point is that both these handsets do come with features that set it apart from the other – how important they are is down to the individual.
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy Ace has its plus points, and edges the Nokia 500 on a few counts, but overall most of the big wins fall Nokia's way here. The display is better, there's more power on tap and the overall look and feel is sleeker and more pocket-friendly.
Do you agree with our verdict that the Nokia 500 has this entry-level Android contender beat in a fair fight? Give us your own thoughts in the Comments below!