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Telstra Huawei Ascend Y201 Prepaid Mobile Phone $79 at Woolworths (Save $50)

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Not sure if this is a good price or not. Really can't find much information about this and not many price comparisons to make. This is locked to Telstra and is available for sale until 4th December 2012 or until sold out.

  • Operating System Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
  • Display 3.5” HVGA capacitive touch screen
  • Memory MicroSD (up to 32 GB)
  • Camera 3.2MP camera
  • Battery 1400mAh Li-ion
  • Processor CPU Qualcomm 800MHz
  • Connectivity Bluetooth 2.1, MicroUSB, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
  • Dimensions 116.9 x 60.4 x 11.7mm
  • Weight 130g

Blue-tick endorsed by Telstra

Mod (14/12/2012): Deal appears to be available again in this week's catalogue. Updated expiry to 18/12/2012

Related Stores

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closed Comments

  • your post is not very convincing
    Not sure if this is a good price or not. Really can't find much information about this and not many price comparisons to make

    • +2

      Well post some prices and let's see it this is a good price or not. It's hard to be informative and be convincing about something when there's hardly any information out there. Hopefully there are some knowledgeable people here that can shed some more light on this and advise us whether it's a good deal or not.

  • +1

    Full specs: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_ascend_y201_pro-5112.php

    If you can get it unlocked with ease, the price is pretty good. But unlocking doesn't look cheap at the mo.
    Also, as it's a new relative new phone, there's no real mod community for it yet. Though it does come with ICS as standard which is nice. From experience, entry level phones suffer bad battery life with non-stock android mods so no huge loss.
    If I can find a way to unlock this cheap, might buy one :)

  • I'll go ahead and say that this is a pretty good deal. True, it is locked to Telstra and would cost ~$50, $129 for an unlocked ICS handset isn't so bad.

    • unlock quote given to me is b/t 20-35$ if you in melbourne, can check mobile stores in Springavle - 3171

  • This or the Defy+?

  • +1

    Defy + is a better buy IMO. Faster processor, better and bigger (just) screen, better camera. Its older version of Android is inferior, but the phone is easily upgradable to ICS or JB and there is way more info available re tweaks for it than there is for the Huawei. The Defy + is still $99 on Telstra Prepay

    • +1

      Yes. Defy+ is lot better option in all aspect. Bigger screen with high resolution as well and very easy to unlock and upgrade to ICS.

      • +1

        And a far more solid build.

  • Hmm, tempting. I'm after a cheap phone to use as an mp3 player when I exercise. I've been looking at the LG Optimus L3, since they're $79 and under (hopefully ~$50 off eBay), but this one has ICS and a better screen… neither of which is actually an issue for what I need it for.

    Thanks OP, gave me something to think about!

  • +1

    I just bought one today and am trying to get it unlocked for $5-10 from a few sources.

    I believe if an unlock is possible this is a better buy than the Defy+ for people who don't want to root their device. The reason is that pure ICS totally kills a motoblurred gingerbread… And it looks much better than the Defy which is a ugly piece of **** imo.

    • +2

      dc-unlocker's got the Huawei Ascend Y201 listed, it's 7 euros to unlock (about $8.70). I'm using version 1.00.0975 of their unlocking software. www.dc-unlocker.com

      • Yeah i saw that. Would prefer to get an unlock code though.

        I paid $5 to this guy on ebay, and there's a few others who say they'll be able to do it too.

        Will report back!

        Btw, did you successfully unlock with dc unlocker?

        • DC-unlocker working fine. less than 30 secs

        • Getting an error for DC Unlocker on Win 8.

          The instruction at 1x107e5750 reference memory 0x23e3faf3. The memory could not be read.

          Any ideas?

        • OK, it's a Win8 issue. Cheaper to get an unlock from eBay.

          Very snappy phone on ICS!

  • With the defy it's damn annoying you have to create an account even before you start using the thing.

  • Guys anyone managed to unlock the phone?

    • DC-unlocker working fine. less than 30 secs. Have to install huawei driver from DC-unlocker if the software couldn't recognise it.

      • Thanks mate how much it cost you to unlocke it?

        • 7 euro, around 9.30AUD
          yeah cheaper on ebay. just too lazy to wait.
          pay through paypal and click unlock , less than 2 min job …….

  • Looks like raven2000 has ordered a code on ebay. Now just have to wait for the ebay seller to respond and see whether it works.

  • couldn't find any spec stated it's scratch resistant…… other than woolworths

  • how come the software is 4.0.3 ?
    I thought it is 4.0.4 and will get jellybean upgrade?

    I think overseas version might get jellybean not telstra version :(
    overseas is Y201 pro. telstra version is Y201 ….. without pro.

  • I probably should have posted this before. Anyway: http://www.globalcertificationforum.org/Application/onlinece… and http://www.ptcrb.com/vendor/complete/view_complete_request_g…

    Those links prove that the phone is only dual band GSM (850/900), as opposed to EVERY other phone nowadays which is quadband GSM. This sucks because we need GSM 1800 for Optus and Vodafone.

    So beware when buying this phone guys, your 2g reception might not be the best.

    Oh and 3g is 850/2100 as expected.

    Regarding unlocking, get a cheap code off this guy: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UNLOCK-CODE-For-Huawei-Ascend-G300…

    • Dual band works in most countries around the world:

      http://www.worldtimezone.com/gsm.html

      I have bought an unlock code from the ebay seller and will report back on its success (or lack thereof).

      • Dual band 900/1800 works in most countries, not the 850/900 that's on this phone.

        • Is that true? I was under the impression that this phone will operate on the 850 and 950 GSM frequencies which are in most countries.

          PS: The unlock code in the eBay link came in 16 hours and worked.

  • Ok, I've had a play with the phone.

    Aside from some Telstra bloatware, the phone is stock Android ICS build 4.0.3 and the inbuilt browser is Chrome.

    It's very responsive…surprisingly so and to be honest, sometimes more lag free than my GS3. Granted, I haven't loaded many apps on the Y201 or taxed it severely.

    The screen quality is worse than a retina display on the iPhone 4 but better than a 3GS. The vertical keyboard is a touch tiny but fine on landscape. You might want a 3rd party keyboard such as Swiftkey to improve the portrait keyboard.

    Quite impressed for the price. $85 unlocked.

    You can watch a video review and see how snappy it is here (no, that's not me, thank god): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cg6TY5PRAM

    • Thanks for the writeup.

      I just opened mine as well and have bought an unlock code from that ebay seller, since the one I bought from another seller ($5) didn't work.

      I was pretty impressed by the fluidity as well, nowhere near my Galaxy Nexus ofc, but not bad for $85. However, Chrome on this is just URGH. It's slow even on my Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 7, so yeah on this it sucks. Opening for the first time took like what 5 seconds? Would totally recommend installing Dolphin as a stock browser.

      The only thing worrying me is the bands it supports. It lacks 1800 for GSM, and 900 for UMTS (Needed for Optus, and vodafone in some areas).

      I think this should be reposted with info on unlocking etc, deserves to get to the front page.

      • I think so too except the deal ends today if I'm not wrong.

        Good little phone but perhaps the brand plus lack of XDA support/buzz will mean it won't take off.

  • Are these phones still available?

    • In the Woolies catalog from 12/12 for $79.

    • 20/12/2012 Thursday and it's still available from woolies. They said until 1 of Jan 2013.
      It's a great phone for the price.

  • +1

    Y201 Review: My wife got one.

    Following recommendation from whirlpool, I purchased an unlock code from http://ebay.nckserver.com/page/1007/home.html for USD5.59 and it worked.

    Pros: Decent build, smartphone at feature-phone price, responsive screen. (I have a 2 y.o. Sony XPeria X10, and in terms of performance a 2012 Huawei is simply outstanding). There is a micro-SD card slot if you require more storage.

    Cons: The keyboard is a little small and difficult to type with.

    Battery life wise, with everything turned off, there was still 95% charge after 10 hours.

    • Try a 3rd party keyboard. I believe you can also change the size of the built-in Huawei keyboard. Otherwise using it in landscape format will help.

      Great phone for the price.

  • Saw today at BigW (Garden city, Brissie) for $79. Had them check price.

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