Usually with weird marketing claims, it’s tough to verify the truth behind the spin. With Huawei’s new Ascend P2, however, there’s no doubt that it’s the fastest 4G phone out on the market right now. Hands. Down.
The Huawei Ascend P2 is packing a 1.5GHz quad-core processor built in-house, Android Jelly Bean and a 13-megapixel camera, a 2420mAh battery, and 32GB of internal storage, all sheltered underneath a great-looking 4.7-inch in-cell display (315ppi), but that’s not what makes it special.
The P2 is Australia’s first Category 4 LTE/4G device. That means it’s capable of speeds greater than any 4G smartphone on the market right now. Category 3 devices are only capable of 4G speeds up to 100Mbps, but a Category 4 device charges that right up to 150Mbps down. Compare that to previous wireless generations and you find that DC-HSPA is only capable of 42Mbps, while HSPA+ can only muster 21Mbps.
Telstra is the only carrier capable of Category 4 LTE/4G right now, and as such it’s the only carrier that will be offering the device on plans. Adelaide and Brisbane are the first two capital cities with Category 4 4G enabled on the network right now, but more cities are coming.
You’ll be able to get the nation’s first Category 4 device from Telstra for $0 upfront on a $60 Every Day Connect Plan for 24 months. That $60 plan gives you $600 of included calls, text and MMS and 1GB of included data. If you’d rather buy it outright, you can get it for $504.
The device will be available in the next two weeks, but if you pre-order online today, Huawei is going to give you a free MediaPad 10. Not a bad deal for $500.
We’ll bring you a review of the Ascend P2 soon.