Huawei Ascend P2 Android phone (preview)

The Huawei Ascend P2, dubbed the "world's fastest 4G LTE smartphone", supports download speeds of up to 150Mbps

PC World

  • Review
  • Specs
  • Images
  • User Reviews
  • Buy Online

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Huawei recently announced a phone that it claims will offer the fastest download speeds in the world. The Ascend P2, dubbed the "world's fastest 4G LTE smartphone", supports download speeds of up to 150Mbps but requires your mobile network to come to the party.

Pros

  • Cat 4 LTE speeds
  • Slim and lightweight design
  • Physical camera button

Cons

  • Not a full HD display
  • No microSD card slot
  • No AU release date

Bottom Line

Huawei claims its new Ascend P2, dubbed the "world's fastest 4G LTE smartphone", supports download speeds of up to 150Mbps but it will require your mobile network to come to the party.

Would you buy this?

  • Price

    TBA (AUD)

Huawei is certainly crowing about the Ascend P2's potential data speeds. While its notable as the highest speed LTE connection we've seen in a smartphone, the LTE Cat 4 specification on the Ascend P2 requires mobile networks to come to the party. In Australia, Telstra claims it will be releasing Cat 4 devices on its network "later this year" so the feature is likely to eventually become the norm.

The Huawei Ascend P2 is just 8.4mm slim and weighs a very light 122g, which is quite notable for a phone with a large 4.7in screen. The light weight is achieved by an all-plastic design and a case that's fully sealed. Unfortunately, that slimness has resulted in a non-removable battery and no microSD card slot, so the on-board 16GB of storage can't be expanded.

The Huawei Ascend P2 is just 8.4mm slim and weighs a very light 122g.The Huawei Ascend P2 is just 8.4mm slim and weighs a very light 122g.

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of the Ascend P2 is its screen. The 4.7in IPS display has a 720p resolution of 1280x720 rather than a full HD resolution that is quickly becoming a regular feature of flagship Android smartphones. The pixel density of 312ppi isn't a sour point by any means but can't quite match newer rivals like the HTC One and the Sony Xperia Z.

Aside from being a Cat 4 rated LTE device, the specification sheet of the Ascend P2 reads like many other mid to high-end Android phones. The device is powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, has 1GB of RAM and comes with a 13-megapixel camera that doubles as a full HD video recorder. There's also a front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera for video calls and a dedicated, physical camera button.

The light weight of the Ascend P2 has been achieved by an all-plastic design and a case that's fully sealed.The light weight of the Ascend P2 has been achieved by an all-plastic design and a case that's fully sealed.

Huawei will initially ship the Ascend P2 with the Android 4.1 operating system but the phone comes with the company's own Emotion UI 1.5 overlay on top. Features include a 'UniHome' function that combines home screens with the app drawer, a new customisable 'Me Widget' and a housekeeper app that will track data usage, exit idle programs and offer energy saving functions.

Other features of the Huawei Ascend P2 include a 2420 mAh battery that promises up to 310 hours of standby time and built-in NFC connectivity.

The Ascend P2 comes with Huawei's own Emotion UI 1.5 overlay on top of the Android 4.1 OS.The Ascend P2 comes with Huawei's own Emotion UI 1.5 overlay on top of the Android 4.1 OS.

Huawei says Australian release details "will be announced at a later date". The Ascend P2 will be available in black and white variants, and will first be sold in France through the Orange network in June.

A promotional video of the Huawei Ascend P2 can be viewed below.

Keep up with the latest tech news, reviews and previews by subscribing to the PC World newsletter.

Damien

1

Is there a huge difference between 1080p and 720p on a screen of that size?
I think the important thing to remember is that most casual buyers won't care all that much if the phone is cheaper than the rest.

OppfinnarJocke

2

Announced in February, still not available...? Vaporware, or what?

Post new comment

Users posting comments agree to the PC World comments policy.

Login or register to link comments to your user profile, or you may also post a comment without being logged in.

Most Popular

What's the difference between an Intel Core i3, i5 and i7?
Samsung’s 2013 Smart TVs: everything you need to know
How do I connect my TV to the Internet?
Laser vs. inkjet printers: which is better?
Windows 7 Home Premium vs. Windows 7 Professional

Best Deals on PCWorld

NotebooksView all »
TabletsView all »
Mobile PhonesView all »
Printers & ScannersView all »
Networking, Wireless & VoIPView all »