Nokia Asha 500 render shows an interesting new glass/polycarbonate shell design

While Nokia's Asha line of smartypants featurephones hasn't really made headlines much, that probably has more to do with their comparatively limited appeal in the West. Truth is, Nokia is generally targeting lower income consumers, especially those in emerging markets with its not-quite-a-smartphone handset, thanks to an affordable $99 price tag for the latest Asha 501. The budget-friendly price will get you a phone with one of the most recognizable brands stamped on it, and an increasingly extensive list of features – one that is closing in on smartphones'.

But, Nokia Asha phones don't stun people with their capabilities, nor their internals. Instead, they combine the above-mentioned low price point with a cheeky design that comes in Nokia's signature palette of bright colors to capture the fancy of potential buyers that don't necessarily find a reason to dole out several times more for a feature-filled smartphone. It's the design, precisely, that Nokia has gone chasing this time around, for an interesting new render of an upcoming Asha – 500 – has been revealed by @evleaks. This time around, Nokia is going for something a tad more eccentric with the Asha 500, courtesy of its double-shot glass and polycarbonate design. The rest of the Asha 500 appears mostly identical to the Asha 501, as far as we can tell based on a picture – a camera flash, for example, is still missing. Having said that, it does appear that messenger app extraordinaire Whatsapp will finally make an entry onto Asha handsets – an oft-mentioned feature that previous Ashas lacked.