Seriously, if you're looking for a really decent smartphone and aren't ecosystem dependent, you can't do better than the Lumia 520. The only two things I wish it had were a FFC and a rear LED flash. Other than that, it's a terrific device.
Got my Lumia 521! Well worth the price.
It's not my first Windows Phone - it's my 5th (or 6th if you can count the Kin One) - but it performs fairly admirably for such a low price phone.
The HSN case (mine is blue) is very glossy and cheap which I expected. I like the bare white housing of the Lumia 521, though, and I've never felt a need to put a case on any of the Lumias I've owned, so I'll probably go caseless.
It's not my first Windows Phone - it's my 5th (or 6th if you can count the Kin One) - but it performs fairly admirably for such a low price phone.
The HSN case (mine is blue) is very glossy and cheap which I expected. I like the bare white housing of the Lumia 521, though, and I've never felt a need to put a case on any of the Lumias I've owned, so I'll probably go caseless.
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Just took a shot with the 521 to use for lock screen. Matches well with the white body of the phone.
I see yours has the backlight bleed from the top that mine had as well.
Edit: i just noticed yours isnt TMobile branded. I bought one on release day and the TMobile logo was squarely underneath the windows key. Weird. The rest of the packaging looks exactly the same.
One of the thongs i miss from the 521 was the non-backlit capacitive buttons. Wish the 920 had an option to turn them off.
Edit: i just noticed yours isnt TMobile branded. I bought one on release day and the TMobile logo was squarely underneath the windows key. Weird. The rest of the packaging looks exactly the same.
One of the thongs i miss from the 521 was the non-backlit capacitive buttons. Wish the 920 had an option to turn them off.
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Didn't notice the bleed until you pointed it out.
It's very faint and only visible at an angle. I've seen worse on other phones/tablets, but it's definitely there now that I look.
Ravynmagi
Diamond Member
- Jun 16, 2007
- 3,102
- 24
- 81
I accidentally bumped that older thread about the Lumia 521 when I meant to post my question here. Looks like the issue is resolved. I was trying to use my new Lumia 521 without a SIM card (that works with Android). But it seems like anything that requires my Microsoft account won't work without the SIM in, even though WIFI is connected.
Crono suggested I just put in the SIM that came with it (or at least that is what he did). I don't want to activate the SIM, but hopefully just being in the phone won't mean anything. I already have a T-Mobile SIM in my Nexus 4 and I'm going to keep it there. This phone is just for playing around with and seeing with WP8 is like. It's working better now with the SIM in.
This is a pretty nice phone for $130 and even nicer for $99 I paid (I didn't see that $20 coupon until after I ordered, it could have been even nicer). Really impressed with the extras HSN tossed in. The TPU case, the headset, and car charger.
I'm pretty impressed for the screen for 800x480. And I don't think 800x480 is even that bad on a 4 inch screen (though 223 DPI sure is noticeably lower than the 315 DPI on my Nexus 4). And it definitely is a nice solid feeling phone and I like the white body.
And it's pretty said the Lumia 521 has a better sounding and louder speaker than my Nexus 4. This phone sounds nice.
Crono suggested I just put in the SIM that came with it (or at least that is what he did). I don't want to activate the SIM, but hopefully just being in the phone won't mean anything. I already have a T-Mobile SIM in my Nexus 4 and I'm going to keep it there. This phone is just for playing around with and seeing with WP8 is like. It's working better now with the SIM in.
This is a pretty nice phone for $130 and even nicer for $99 I paid (I didn't see that $20 coupon until after I ordered, it could have been even nicer). Really impressed with the extras HSN tossed in. The TPU case, the headset, and car charger.
I'm pretty impressed for the screen for 800x480. And I don't think 800x480 is even that bad on a 4 inch screen (though 223 DPI sure is noticeably lower than the 315 DPI on my Nexus 4). And it definitely is a nice solid feeling phone and I like the white body.
And it's pretty said the Lumia 521 has a better sounding and louder speaker than my Nexus 4. This phone sounds nice.
Haha, sorry! It was the first thing i noticed when i was using the phone and i just noticed the bright strip in one of your pics. Its not bad and its very uniform which really helps. Im not sure i would classify it as bleed, though. It loos like its just how its assembled and theres a gap between the lcd and the glass.
Im not sure why you're having an issue. When i set mine up, i just turned on my iPhone 5 hotspot and joined it to it and didn't have any problems. But, yes, putting the sim in it wont do any harm.
Ravynmagi
Diamond Member
- Jun 16, 2007
- 3,102
- 24
- 81
You are able to add your Microsoft account to the phone and install apps without a SIM card in the phone? I connected to my wifi, but I couldn't do either of those things without putting the SIM card in the phone.
That isn't normal. I've used several Windows Phones without SIM cards before - I'm not sure why you're running into this issue.
Same here, I was thinking maybe it's a T-Mobile requirement for this specific variant.
If anyone missed out and really wants one I have an extra that I will sell for $90 shipped with the case, ear buds and car charger.
I wiped my L920 this morning and pulled the SIM just to see.
I was unable to complete the guided setup, as it requires a cellular data connection, but I just skipped it. Once the phone booted, I was able to go to Settings > Accounts and add my Microsoft account (after connecting to my iPhone 5's hotspot) and everything synced back over as far as settings. I then went to the Store and downloaded a couple of free apps without issue. Finally, after I got to work and put it on the WiFi there, I was able to purchase and download Halo: Spartan Assault without issue. It's 700MB so I wasn't doing that over my hotspot, haha.
I painted mine, changing it from white to color shift (happened to have some leftover paint from another project). 
The paint job isn't perfect. I need to lightly sand it again with higher grit and add another coat and some more clear coat, but I like it.
The paint job isn't perfect. I need to lightly sand it again with higher grit and add another coat and some more clear coat, but I like it.
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