The Nokia Lumia 520 is now at its lowest price ever in the UK, as retailer Carphone Warehouse is now offering the handset for just £59.95.

This model is running on Windows Phone 8 (WP8) and it has always been the cheapest smartphone running on this platform, but the new price tag is lower than ever before.

Moreover, interested buyers do not have to sign any lengthy contract with the carrier, as the £59.95 price tag for the Nokia Lumia 520 from Carphone Warehouse stands for a Pay as you go deal.

The same low price also applies to Pay as you go upgrades, which are available for Vodafone, Orange, T-Mobile and Virgin Mobile. O2 also offers such upgrades, but the carrier charges an extra £10 for no obvious reason. For those unfamiliar with this option, a Pay as you go upgrade works for customers who have had a PAYG account for at least half a year and have topped it on a regular basis.

On the other hand, those who do not qualify for such PAYG upgrades will have to shell out a bit more for the phone. The Nokia Lumia 520 will cost £79.95 for those who don't qualify for a PAYG upgrade. It's a bit more than the £59.95 price tag, but it's still a considerably lower price than that for a SIM-free smartphone.

It's also worth noting, however, that those who want to get a new PAYG SIM will have to pay a £10 first top-up fee when they get the device, which means that the price of the handset would go up to $89.95. Customers can then use that credit for calls or others, so it's still a pretty good deal that will not exceed £100.

As expected for such a low price, the Nokia Lumia 520 is not a high-end device and it doesn't sport any top-notch features. It is, however, a capable device suitable for first-time smartphone buyers or for those who want to try out the Windows Phone 8 platform without investing too much in a new device. The Lumia 520 has enjoyed quite some popularity particularly for its low price tag.