Nokia Asha 303

Nokia Asha 303 Review

Nokia made two major announcements not long ago. While most attention went to the Lumia line running Windows Phone, the Asha series, powered by the S40 platform, is just as important in many global markets.

The spotlight now shifts to the Nokia Asha 303, a feature phone that bridges the gap between basic and smart devices. It combines a capacitive touchscreen with a full QWERTY keyboard, runs on a powerful 1GHz processor, and brings surprising connectivity for its class.

Let’s explore what makes the Asha 303 stand out in the budget phone segment.

Design and Build

The Asha 303 has a familiar Nokia design, sturdy and practical. You get a 2.6-inch capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 320×240 pixels. Below it, there’s a four-row hardware QWERTY keyboard.

The combination is well-executed. You can navigate with the touchscreen and quickly type messages or emails using the physical keyboard. For users coming from older Nokia models or BlackBerry devices, the learning curve is short.

Hardware Specifications

The Asha 303 packs a 1GHz processor, making it one of the fastest feature phones from Nokia. It includes:

• 128MB RAM

• 256MB ROM

• microSD card slot (up to 32GB, 2GB included)

• Quad-band GSM

• Penta-band 3G with HSDPA and HSUPA

• Wi-Fi b/g/n

• Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP

• USB On-The-Go support

• 3.5mm audio jack

These specs place it well above the average in its price range.

Display and User Interface

The 2.6-inch capacitive TFT display supports 256K colors. It’s responsive and makes navigation smooth for a feature phone. The Asha S40 platform has been refined with visual updates, giving the phone a modern look and feel.

Touch and Type is a concept Nokia has used before, but here, it’s paired with real performance. The menus are intuitive, and despite lacking multitasking, the phone runs apps and functions without lag.

Keyboard and Input

The full QWERTY keyboard is ideal for users who value fast typing. Whether you’re messaging, emailing, or using social apps, the tactile feedback and layout are efficient.

However, there’s no smart dialing. That’s a drawback for users who rely on quick call access through the keypad.

Camera and Multimedia

The Asha 303 features a 3.2MP fixed-focus camera. It’s simple, with limited flexibility. It records VGA video at 15fps, which is basic.

Still, it includes:

• FM radio with RDS

• Support for MP3 and AAC formats

• Built-in Angry Birds (exclusive to Asha 300 and 303)

It’s enough for casual entertainment.

Connectivity Options

One of the Asha 303’s biggest strengths is connectivity. You get:

• 3G support with download speeds up to 10Mbps

• Wi-Fi for internet browsing and app downloads

• USB On-The-Go to connect flash drives or other phones

This set of features is rare in budget phones and makes the Asha 303 a strong alternative to low-cost Androids.

Performance and Limitations

Despite the 1GHz processor, the Asha 303 doesn’t support multitasking. That’s the biggest limit of the S40 platform.

Other missing features include:

• No video calling camera

• No document viewer

• Non-hot-swappable memory card

Still, for a device in this range, performance is solid. It’s fast, responsive, and reliable for basic tasks.

Battery Life

Nokia’s feature phones are known for strong battery life, and the Asha 303 is no exception. With moderate use including calls, messaging, Wi-Fi browsing, and music playback, it easily lasts two days or more.