Product ReviewsNokia Lumia 520 - 8GB - Black (AT&T) Smartphone

Perfect phone for me

I love this phone because it is so easy to set up and use. Set up the tiles the way you want them,with what you want upfront. I like that I can back all my numbers and photos up so I won't lose them should I have to get a new phone, they'll still be there. I also like the fact that it is password protected. The size is perfect for me,and I am very happy with my purchase. This is my second of this model I have purchased in the past few years,and if I need a new phone for any reason, this is the phone I will buyRead full review...

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Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: leopardtronics

a quality , reliable , feature packed phone in a compact size

I keep a couple of pieces of clear package tape on it to secure the back to the front .

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: seamasterii

The best budget phone on the market.

The Lumia 520 is a budget phone without feeling like a…budget phone. In my opinion, it’s the best budget phone on the market. What it lacks in hard features, it certainly makes-up in software features.

Hardware wise: Probably the most notable thing about the Lumia 520 is its one and only rear 5-megapixal camera which does not have a flash either. So if you're very much into taking selfies, plan on standing in front of the bathroom mirror. But the camera software features-when utilized-are a big help for taking good-quality pictures. One of which is the nighttime mode which works well in low-light being that there is no flash. It also comes with a choice of video modes in 720p or WVGA. If size matters to you, the Lumia 520 has a 4-inch screen. A nice size for those us who don't care for a large-size phone, but do not want a tiny 3.5-inch screen either. Remember 3.5 inch phones? Personally, 4-inches fits nicely in my hand. As for the weight, the Lumia 520 is pleasantly light. Even with the battery inside. And it's adequately thin, which is good for fitting in the pocket. There are plenty of Lumia 520 cases available to protect the device, but if you don't want to add anymore bulk to it, I suggest just getting a screen protector and leave it at that. The factory back cover has a hard rubbery grip to it. And if it gets too scratched-up, you can always get a fresh new one at a very affordable price on EBay. The speaker inside, is remarkably loud. You'll hear it when playing music, or videos. Call quality is very nice too. I wasn't expecting that in a budget phone. The Lumia 520 is equipped with just 8 gigs of storage space; some of which is taken-up by the operating system along with Nokia bloatware. But don't let that be a deal-breaker for you. It has expandable memory with its micro SD card slot. I recommend getting at least an 8GB SD card. And you can always uninstall the bloatware.

Software wise: Although the Lumia 520 comes with Windows Phone 8, you can upgrade it to Windows Phone 8.1. This is a main feature that attracted me to this device. In spite of it being a budget-phone, you're not missing out on any software features and benefits which are available to the more expensive/higher-end Lumia phones. And contrary to somewhat popular belief; there are plenty of good apps in the Windows store. Probably one of Microsoft's best kept secrets, which really shouldn't be a secret to those of us who know and appreciate what the store has to offer. Particularly the Cortana application which can take your windows phone experience to a whole new level of usage and productivity with the Lumia 520.

Overall, I think the Lumia 520 is a great phone. What it lacks in some features, it makes-up in others. For a budget phone, it can certainly complete with the higher-end Lumias and other phones as well. I recommend this device for anyone who is looking for a great Windows phone experience without paying the high-end price associated with other phones.Read full review...

Windows 8 is an excellent OS and it is just too feature packed for $30 =) !

For the money and easy use of Windows 8 this is a steal for $30... Win 8 is a great OS and in some regards better than android or apple. even the video and picture quality is very good. $30 and the limited use of Apples "no contract" GO PHONES is also nice to have because you arent locked in. if you are worried about data usage just be careful and use it where wifi spots are already set up. I use mine for that sole purpose and its like having a little throw around, it supports SD cards so you can load thousands of songs and videos, pic's etc. $30? Very glad I got one!Read full review...

all right

This is an excellent deal and value at the current 30 dollar price. Without activation, it can serve as a camera, a GPS, an MP3 player, a mini-tablet, e-reader, web browser (limited), and so on. I had no trouble using it right out of the box without any updates. So you could just use it that way if so inclined. I did two updates after playing around, first the basic 8.0 update to prepare for the 8.1, and then the Windows 8.1 update itself. The first took only about 10-15 minutes, the second over an hour (be very patient and do not rush it). However, once done, everything is working fine and there are a few new features (like being able to turn off the haptic feedback [the vibrate when you press a button feature]).

A big plus, in my opinion, is the FREE Nokia Music app which provides great music for free with no ads. For 30 bucks, it would be worth buying just for this, in my opinion. The sound quality is very good - over headphones or via Bluetooth speaker(s). And, of course, you can pop in a micro-SD card with all your own MP3's as well. Nice! The app itself will let you save music offline (limited to 4 mixes in free version, unlimited mixes for 3.99 a month) as well. Neat!

The GPS is excellent as well and the HERE driving app is good if not great. The maps and routes are excellent, but the features are limited in other areas. But, hey, a GPS for 30 bucks that also is an mp3 player? Cool! (It picks up satellites very well and works great, but you need wifi to set it up. Once that's done, it can guide you offline. Still learning it.) (Update: It has worked very well on local trips. It incldues a speed limit feature and you wil hear two tones if you exceed the speed limit. This worked well and was very accurate. Could save you from getting a ticket which would more than pay for this thing.)

The screen is excellent. Everything works fine. Camera is OK. Plenty of apps in my opinion. Another big plus for me is that I already have an older AT&T GoPhone, so I can switch my phone service to this if I wish (I have not yet, because I'm happy with my old phone. Great battery life and a pop-out keyboard which I prefer). Battery life is good (not great, but good).

All in all, if you are the do-it-yourself type - this is an outstanding toy to fool around with. And the GoPhone packages are very reasonable. I have been very happy with my older GoPhone and the service has always been fine. I highly recommend this at the current low price.Read full review...

Good older phone - if you can find one for $20 but be aware the battery life will be weak

One of the better made Lumia phones. Despite the low price, it even had a camera physical button. Loud sound, loud call voice, good screen, easy to use with the Windows 8 (do not ever upgrade to Windows 10). This was a quality phone before Nokia started to cut the costs and build less well made phones. Can still be used as of 2019 in 3G. The downside was the camera was clearly poor, in particular the photos quality. The lens were not good. Also no front camera for those into Skype. But the rest of the phone was made with quality components. By this time, the battery life it is going to be quite short. I recommend a Losoncoer battery from aliexpress (be aware that most chinese batteries are useless)Read full review...

Verified purchase: No

All the features of a pricey smartphone, on a budget! Great quality!

We have always been loyal iPhone users until recently when one of them broke. Instead of replacing it, I decided to try something new, when I stumbled upon the Nokia Lumia 520. I was a bit skeptical having used an iPhone for the past 4+ years, but I decided to give it a try, and I'm glad that I did. It had everything I was looking for- it's packed with features, internet speed is fast, great apps, Facebook, Youtube and so much more. I am so pleased with this phone for the cost- under $50! Highly recommended.Read full review...

Best smart phone for the price

I bought the Lumia 520 to see if it is like my pc, and it is. It even has office on it. If you have a laptop or a pc with windows 8 this phone is a must. The only downside is it doesn't have a front or a flash camera. The battery life is on the poor side and needs daily charging if used moderately. For the money this smart phone is in a league of it's own. I don't know how they can sell this phone for the price. This little work horse has wifi, bluetooth and is 4g. The pictures are really good especially for a 5 mp camera if you download Nokia camera from the aps the pics are great. You can put up to a 64 gig memory card for pics and tunes plus the phone has 8GB of memory. This little mini lap top has a duel core processor. I've been using these phones for several months now and I still can't believe what this phone does. There are many aps to download, not as many as the I or android but as many as you could ever ask for. For the price there is no way you can go wrong with this little powerhouse. Buy one and see and if you don't agree you didn't break the bank to purchase it.Read full review...

I'd buy it for an old person or a young person.

This phone is a bit outdated, but it works flawlessly. It has GPS, and a pretty good camera, the screen is smooth and the device works smoothly.
The price is very cheap and you will be getting a good phone for almost nothing.
It's good for your old mother or your young child, worth the price.Read full review...

It's an okay phone if you only want the current cellphone technology.

A very inexpensive way of having your own taste of wi-fi, smart phone technology.
Not to mention, Nokia has the most resisting devices there are out there.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: beaps2