As the top-of-the-line model of the Nokia Asha 500 series of hybrid feature phones, the Nokia Asha 503 offers a number of features which are on par with that of most standard smartphones. This includes a capacitive screen, a 5MP camera with LED flash and 3.5G connectivity amongst other tech specs and features. Going for a retail value of just RM319, can you replace your smartphone with a Nokia Asha 503? The short answer would be: Yes. Yes you can. But it also raises the question of: Should you replace your smartphone with a Nokia Asha 503? Read our detailed analysis for the answer to this question.

With 2014 already here, we look back at the year 2013 for all the awesome mobile phones to have come out in 2013 for Malaysia. There were quite a lot of them, so we picked based on innovation, performance, design and potential successfully delivered. In no specific order we list out the following mobile phones that rocked our world currently available with local Malaysia support as follows:

• HTC One - The First Good-looking Android Phone
• Sony Xperia Z - The First Stylish Water-proof smartphone
• Samsung Galaxy S4 series - A performance smartphone for every user
• Nokia Lumia 1020 - The Ultimate Cameraphone
• LG G2 - Best all-rounder performance with functional rear controls
• Sony Xperia Z1 - The most feature-filled smartphone
• Nokia Asha 500 series - Bringing hybrid smartphone capabilities to the masses
• Apple iPhone 5S - The world's first 64-bit smartphone with well-done fingerprint scanner
• Nokia Lumia 1520 - The Videographers phablet
• Samsung Galaxy Note 3 - The Ultimate Phablet with 3GB RAM
• Motorola Moto X - Always on and always listening
• Vivo Xplay 3S - World's first 2K display smartphone
• BlackBerry Z10 - World's first BlackBerry smartphone with no QWERTY keyboard

When the Nokia Asha 501 was first introduced it offered a hybrid combination of featurephone battery life and smartphone capabilities but didn't offer much choice when it came to other options. At the recent Nokia World event, Nokia announced 3 new models for this series consisting of the Nokia Asha 500, Asha 502 and Asha 503. The new models offer a new look over the standard colourful polycarbonate backplate of the Asha 501, offering a crystal-like transparent encased look that is both stylish and durable. All three models will be available in black, bright green, bright red, cyan, yellow and white. Tech specs, links, videos and features for the Nokia Asha 500, 502 and 503 are listed in this article.

While it may probaby get it's official announcement at the confirmed Nokia World event on 22 October 2013, serial leaker @evleaks has just shown off leaked images of the Nokia Asha 502. Going for a similar look as the Nokia Asha 501 but with a curved clear plastic casing surrounding the polycarbonate backplate, the newer model has a number of tech specs and features that the previous version doesn't. This includes the aforementioned transparent casing but also includes what appears to be an LED flash. Other tech specs include dual SIM and WiFi connectivity along with 6 colours to choose from such as black, blue, green, red, yellow and white. From all accounts, it looks like Nokia won't stop at just the 502 as a rumoured Nokia Asha 503 is also supposedly under development as well. Unfortunately, no Malaysia release dates or pricing just yet, but we'll find out soon.

Another day another Nokia codename surfaces, this time in the form of the Nokia Lanai, which according to rumours, should eventually be called the Nokia Asha 503. Looking a lot like the Nokia Asha 501 right down to the curved corners and plastic backplate, the main difference here is that there will be a capacitive Back key and the entire front screen will be covered with curved glass. Other features or tech specs include a 5MP rear camera with LED flash along with a dual-SIM version as well. The other codename would be the Nokia Pegasus which refers to the Nokia Asha 502. Unfortunately, no news about the 502 or pricing and release dates in Malaysia just yet. We're thinking that the announcement should be any day now, as these renderings look like the real deal.

The more affordable Apple iPhone that Apple itself said they'd never make looks to becoming a reality as more leaked images of casing shells appear. Unlike previous images these don't look like rendered images drawn by an expert 3D artist with too much time on their hands. The green casing shell reveals a metal undercover that looks like it would fit well with the iPhone and the Apple logo on the back seems to complete this rumour.

It is no secret that Nokia wants to be the top phone maker again, but so far, its attempts at doing so through its Windows Phone Lumia line have been a bit too high-end to gain enough momentum. Realizing this, Nokia have therefore released (yesterday) a touchscreen feature phone in the form of the Nokia Asha 501 complete with its own OS and Apps platform. Built upon the Smarterphone platform, the Asha 501 is not using Symbian, Windows Phone or even Android, but still offers app support for stuff like Facebook, Twitter and even games from Electronic Arts and Gameloft. In short, this is Nokia's plan B while their Plan A Lumia Windows Phone rounds up their two pronged attack to regain the world's phone market share. Due to the Asha 501's USD$99 price point it aptly covers the lower end of the market. When it was released recently in India the Nokia Asha 501 was planned just for areas outside of the US like South East Asia and so forth.