Huawei Ascend: the Cheapest Android Smartphone

Huawei launched the cheapest Android smartphones on the market, known as Huawei Ascend. The Huawei Ascend is an entry-level Android 2.1 phone that will sell by Cricket Wireless’s, leading cell phone provider in US, for $149 without a contract starting this October. The Ascend features a 3.5 inch HVGA display, 528 MHz Qualcomm MSM 7200A processor, and 3 megapixel camera. Huawei already announced Ideos, another cheap Android 2.2 smartphone which hasn't been officially launched yet.

The device is expected to be released somewhere in mid October at Cricket, together with a Mi-Fi-like device called Crosswave. As you know that chinese manufacturer has specialized in very cheap low-end phone but now this also apply with Android smartphones.


Huawei Ascend comes with a 3.5-inch HVGA capacitive touchscreen, Wi-Fi capability, 3.2-megapixel camera with digital zoom and fixed focus. The only downside of the device seems to be the cheap looking plastic, which is also a fingerprint magnet. The recently announced Motorola Citrus seems to be the main competitor for Huawei Ascend, but the Ascend will probably features the most affordable price.


The Ascend smartphone features physical Android-specific buttons, such as Send, Menu, Back, End, trackball, dedicated camera key, as well as microUSB port, 3.5mm audio jack port and microSD card slot for memory expansion. The Ascend will be offered on Cricket's all-inclusive $55 Android plan, which provides users with unlimited talk, text, 411 information, navigation, international text, unlimited and video picture messages, unlimited data services. 


Huawei Ascend is expected to be launched at Cricket operator and will be available for only $149.99 free of contract. About the same period, mid October, Cricket will launch Crosswave Mi-Fi-like device, which can be used as mobile hotspot for up to five PCs.