Desire 520 image 1
Desire 520 image 2
Desire 520 image 3

HTC Desire 520

$75

Overview

HTC Desire 520 is a budget Android smartphone released in 2015 with a 4.5-inch IPS LCD, Snapdragon 210 chipset, 8 main camera, and 2000 mAh battery.

Priced at $75, it targets users seeking budget performance.

Specifications of HTC Desire 520

The display of HTC Desire 520 measures 4.5 inches with IPS LCD technology and 90Hz refresh rate. Peak brightness reaches 1000 nits for excellent outdoor visibility. The screen renders at 480x854 pixels resolution.

Size
4.5 inches
Type
IPS LCD
Resolution
480x854 pixels
Refresh Rate
90Hz
Peak Brightness
1000 nits

The camera system of HTC Desire 520 features 1 rear cameras: 8 main. Video recording supports up to 720p.

Main Sensor
8
Camera Count
1 cameras
Max Video
720p

The battery of HTC Desire 520 has 2000mAh capacity with 30 wired charging. A full charge takes approximately 120 min minutes.

Capacity
2000mAh
Wired Charging
30
Full Charge Time
120 min minutes

The performance of HTC Desire 520 is powered by the Snapdragon 210 chipset with Mali-G52 MC2 GPU. Geekbench scores reach 200 single-core and 400 multi-core. AnTuTu benchmark achieves 262000.

Chipset
Snapdragon 210
CPU
Octa-Core, 2x Cortex A75 2.0 GHz + 6x Cortex A55 1.8 GHz
GPU
Mali-G52 MC2
Geekbench Single
200
Geekbench Multi
400
AnTuTu Score
262000

The memory of HTC Desire 520 offers 1GB RAM with 8GB storage options. RAM uses LPDDR4X RAM technology. Storage is eMMC 5.1 Storage.

RAM Options
1GB
Storage Options
8GB
RAM Type
LPDDR4X RAM
Storage Type
eMMC 5.1 Storage
Expandable
microSDXC (dedicated slot)

The connectivity of HTC Desire 520 includes Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot, and Bluetooth 4.1.

Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot
Bluetooth
4.1
NFC
No

The build of HTC Desire 520 with Plastic frame and Plastic back. Water and dust resistance is rated IP64. Dimensions measure 139.8 x 68.9 x 9.1 mm.

Dimensions
139.8 x 68.9 x 9.1 mm
Frame
Plastic
Back
Plastic
IP Rating
IP64

The software of HTC Desire 520 runs Android 5.1 (Lollipop), Sense 7 UI with Sense 7 UI. Software support extends 1 years through 2027.

OS
Android 5.1 (Lollipop), Sense 7 UI
UI
Sense 7 UI
Update Policy
1 years

Compare HTC Desire 520

HTC Desire 520 vs Samsung Galaxy A34

HTC Desire 520 offers competitive value at $75 compared to Samsung Galaxy A34.

$75 price point
Snapdragon 210
4.5" display

HTC Desire 520 vs Motorola Moto G Power

HTC Desire 520 offers competitive value at $75 compared to Motorola Moto G Power.

$75 price point
Snapdragon 210
4.5" display

HTC Desire 520 vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 13

HTC Desire 520 offers competitive value at $75 compared to Xiaomi Redmi Note 13.

$75 price point
Snapdragon 210
4.5" display

Frequently Asked Questions about HTC Desire 520

HTC Desire 520 has a 8 camera suitable for casual photography. For professional photography, consider phones with higher-resolution sensors.

Related: mobile photography

HTC Desire 520 with Snapdragon 210 can handle casual gaming. For intensive gaming, consider phones with flagship chipsets.

Related: mobile gaming

HTC Desire 520 receives 1 years of updates through 2027. Consider this when planning long-term device usage.

Related: software support

HTC Desire 520 has IP64 protection against dust and water.

Related: water resistance

HTC Desire 520 has a 2000mAh battery. Battery life varies based on usage patterns.

Related: battery life

HTC Desire 520 at $75 is a budget device. It's worth buying if you prioritize affordability over premium features.

Related: buying decision

HTC Desire 520 supports 30 wired charging with full charge in approximately 120 min minutes.

Related: fast charging

HTC Desire 520 is available in 8GB storage options. Storage is not expandable, so choose your capacity based on your needs.

Related: storage capacity

HTC Desire 520 has a 4.5-inch IPS LCD with 90Hz refresh rate and 1000 nits peak brightness.

Related: display quality

See how HTC Desire 520 ranks in these categories:

Verdict

The HTC Desire 520 delivers practical value for users prioritizing affordability over premium features. Pick this phone for essential smartphone functionality, if you prioritize affordability while still needing core features.

Key Specifications

Display

4.5"

Main Camera

8

Chipset

Snapdragon 210

Full Specifications

Network

TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE
2G BandsGSM /
3G BandsHSDPA 850 / 1900
4G LTE BandsLTE
5G Sub-6 BandsN/A
5G mmWave BandsN/A
SpeedN/A
Carrier Aggregation
SIMNano-SIM
Dual SIM Modedual standby
eSIM Support
VoLTE SupportN/A
VoWiFiN/A
NR CA SupportN/A

Launch

Announced2015
StatusDiscontinued
AvailabilityN/A
Model VariantsN/A
Launch Price$150

Body & Design

Dimensions (mm)139.8 x 68.9 x 9.1 mm
Weight (g)N/A
Build MaterialsPlastic, Faux leather
FramePlastic
Back FinishPlastic
Colors["Slate Gray"]
IP RatingIP64
Rugged CertificationsN/A
Ingress GasketsN/A
Form FactorBar
Hinge TypeN/A
Folded DimensionsN/A
Thermal SolutionPassive
Notification/Alert
HapticsBasic

Display

Panel TypeIPS LCD
Size (inches)4.5
Resolution (px)480x854 pixels
Aspect Ratio9:20
Pixel Density (ppi)392
Screen-to-body Ratio (%)84
Refresh Rate (Hz)90
Adaptive Refresh Rate
Touch Sampling Rate (Hz)120
Peak Brightness (nits)1000
HDR StandardsN/A
Color GamutDCI-P3
Color Depth16
PWM Dimming (Hz)N/A
Glass ProtectionUndefined
Oleophobic CoatingN/A
CurvatureFlat
Always-on Display
Display Driver ICN/A
Cover DisplayN/A

Platform (SoC)

OS at LaunchAndroid 5.1 (Lollipop), Sense 7 UI
Update Policy1 years
ChipsetSnapdragon 210
CPUOcta-Core, 2x Cortex A75 2.0 GHz + 6x Cortex A55 1.8 GHz
GPUMali-G52 MC2
NPU/AI TOPsN/A
ISP FeaturesBasic
ModemSnapdragon X5 LTE
Wi-Fi/Bluetooth ChipN/A
Throttling BehaviorN/A
Geekbench Single-Core200
Geekbench Multi-Core400
AnTuTu Score262000
3DMark ScoresN/A

Memory & Storage

RAM1GB
RAM TypeLPDDR4X RAM
Storage8GB
Storage TypeeMMC 5.1 Storage
Storage SpeedeMMC 5.1
Expandable StoragemicroSDXC (dedicated slot)
Slot TypemicroSD
USB OTG
Filesystem Encryption

Main Camera System

Rear Cameras1
Main Sensor8
Main Sensor Size1/1.95
Main Sensor ModelSony LYT-600
Main Lensf/1.88, 28mm
OIS
AutofocusAF
Pixel Binning0.7 um
UltrawideN/A
TelephotoN/A
MacroN/A
Depth/ToF/LiDAR
Flicker/Color SensorsN/A
FlashLED
Video Resolution720p
HDR/Dolby Vision Video
Video CodecsH.264
Slow Motion
Video StabilizationEIS
Night Mode Featuresbasic
RAW/Pro ControlsN/A

Selfie Camera

Resolution2
Sensor SizeCMOS
Aperturef/2.8
AF/OIS
Secondary Front Cam
Front Flash
Video720p@30fps
HDR/Dolby VisionN/A
Face Unlockbasic

Audio

Loudspeakers
3.5mm Jack
Hi-Res AudioN/A
Spatial Audio / Dolby AtmosN/A
Microphones1
Bluetooth CodecsAAC, aptX
DAC/AmpBasic

Connectivity

Wi-FiWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot
Wi-Fi FeaturesWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot
Bluetooth4.1
NFC
IR BlasterN/A
UWBN/A
PositioningGPS, GLONASS
Dual-Band GNSS
FM Radio
USBUSB Type C
Display Out
eSIM Capacity

Sensors

Fingerprint SensorN/A
3D Face IDN/A
Accelerometer
Gyroscope
Magnetometer
Proximity Sensor
Ambient Light
Barometer
Thermo/HygrometerN/A
UV SensorN/A
Hall SensorN/A
Color Temp SensorN/A
Health SensorsN/A
Satellite SOS

Battery & Charging

Capacity (mAh)2000
TypeLi-Ion
Removable
Endurance RatingN/A
Wired Charging30
Wired StandardQuick Charge 2.0
0-50% Time (mins)60 min
Full Charge Time120 min
Wireless ChargingN/A
Wireless StandardN/A
Reverse Wireless
Reverse Wired
Charger in Box5V/1A
Battery Health FeaturesBasic

Software

OS at LaunchAndroid 5.1 (Lollipop), Sense 7 UI
Update Window1 years
UI Skin / LauncherSense 7 UI
Feature DropsN/A
App CloningN/A
Game ModeN/A
Privacy FeaturesBasic
AccessibilityBasic
Satellite Messaging UI

Miscellaneous

In-Box Contentscharger, USB cable, headset
Recycled Materials (%)N/A
Repairability ScoreN/A
WarrantyN/A

Reviews & Ratings

4.6

186 ratings

5 star
120
4 star
45
3 star
11
2 star
5
1 star
5

Showing 3 of 186 reviews

A

Alex R.

2 weeks ago

Absolutely love the camera on this phone! The zoom is incredible and the photos are so crisp. Battery life is also a huge plus.

B

Ben C.

1 month ago

Great performance and beautiful display. My only complaint is that it feels a bit heavy, but you get used to it. Solid phone overall.

C

Chloe D.

3 months ago

The best phone I've ever owned. It's fast, the software is clean, and the build quality is top-notch. Highly recommend!

Review

HTC Desire 520 Review: Solid Performance for the Price

6.6/10
Good

Our comprehensive review of the HTC Desire 520 covers display quality, camera performance, battery life, and overall value. A solid choice in its price segment.

(3.3 stars)
Pros
  • + Excellent value for money
Cons
  • - Performance may struggle with demanding tasks
  • - Camera performance is average

Best Deals

17% OFF
14 days left

Desire 520

Amazon

$62
$75

Save $13 on the HTC Desire 520 at Amazon. Limited time offer.

*Affiliate link. We may earn a commission.

Latest News