Review smartphone Lenovo Vibe X2

Introduction

The first two or three years in the smartphone market for the Chinese Lenovo became a testing ground – the company produced mainly low-cost devices, “diluting” them from time to time top-end smartphones. In Russia, a definite shift for Lenovo outlined last year along with the flagship K900 – to quantify the device, of course, did not beat a record, but due to a combination of top almost to the point of characteristics of quality thin shell of metal and low price smartphone became popular and some time was at the hearing. Then there was the Vibe X and a few other devices, but it is interesting Vibe X as a vivid example of the selected company direction. The apparatus of the middle class, with decent, but not fantastic parameters, with universal (to please the majority or not caused quite a negative reaction) design and adequate value (true, some time after the launch, and not at the start).

Characteristics of

• Operating system: Android 4.4 (shell VIBE UI)


• Network: GSM, HSDPA +, LTE (microSIM)


• Processor: an eight 2 GHz platform Mediatek MT6595m


• Graphic subsystem: PowerVR G600


• RAM: 2 GB


• Data Memory: 32 GB


• Card Slot: no


• Interfaces: Wi-Fi (b / g / n /) Dual-Band, Bluetooth 4.1 (A2DP, LE), microUSB (USB 2.0) for charging / synchronization, 3.5 mm headset jack


• Screen: IPS LCD, diagonal 5 “resolution of 1920×1080 pixels, the density of 441 ppi, it automatically adjusts the backlight level


• Main camera 13 megapixel with autofocus, LED flash, video is recorded at 1080p


• Front camera: 5 megapixel with fixed focal length


• Navigation: GPS (support A-GPS), Glonass


• Extras: accelerometer, light sensor, proximity sensor


• Battery: Li-Pol 2300 mAh capacity


• Dimensions: 140.2 x 68.6 x 7.3 mm


• Weight: 120 grams

From the point of view of the approach Lenovo Vibe X2 repeats the previous model – a mid-end smartphone with a decent combination of price and performance. Although in terms of appearance is completely different devices, and about any design continuity speech here goes.

Design, materials, housing

The basis of design Lenovo Vibe X2 idea multilayer bar – when you look at the smartphone, it seems as if it collected from three thin sockets and add them to the panel and the protective glass screen. In this case the panels of different colors.

It looks like at least unusual and fresh, and the realizations of the past comes to my mind is only a sample of the Finnish company Jolla, where they run their operating system. But Jolla in this design with a proprietary OS is hardly interested in many of the 20 000 rubles , and X2 will be available soon, and cheaper, and on Android.

Color options for Lenovo Vibe X2 provides a lot, but we are only interested in those that “come” in Russia. Version golden color, you can see it in the pictures in the review will be available in the near future. Then X2 appear white and red colors, it is possible that before the end of the year, and can be, and in the beginning of the next. Finally, in 2015 the model will be black, and there is a chance that also bring a version with a cover made of bamboo or other wood. As for the orange model, the plans for it in the Russian office yet.

The main body material – smooth plastic, made from a “back” and the side ends, the front panel – the protective glass. Case shape classic – compact “brick” with no bends or fillets. Protective glass covers the entire surface and marking key is not visible until you turn on the screen, so that off the front side of Vibe X2 – a simple black canvas.

For all direct and indirect signs: colorful design, “layering” different color options, the relative compactness and low weight of the body – Lenovo Vibe X2 smartphone is the youth and is designed not to tech-savvy audience, that is for sure – not geeks. The company notes that the cases Vibe X2 as a smartphone for everyone, it is a massive device, the choice that a person must not engage the individual parameters or a set of characteristics, and the set design and some other features. If we talk about the Lenovo managed to do it or not, evaluating only the design Vibe X2, the answer is simple – yes, it was possible.

Assembly

The device is monolithic – removable elements except the tray under the microSIM-map is not here, so the build quality and reliability of the body no claims.

As for soiled body, I had a golden color machine, and he did not get dirty or I just did not notice fingerprints and traces of the hands. In general, we can say that the body is practical.

Dimensions

The smartphone can not be considered among the most compact models with a screen 5 ”, but he is close to a small device in this category. Here, a relatively thin frame around the screen, and the top and bottom of the screen just enough to accommodate the necessary elements, but without fanaticism.

• Lenovo Vibe X2(5 ”) – 140.2 x 68.6 x 7.3 mm, 120 grams


• Apple iPhone 5S- 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm, 112 grams


• HTC One (M8) (5”) – 146.4 x 70.6 x 9.4 mm, 160 grams


• Nokia Lumia 930(5 ”) – 137 x 71 x 9.8 mm, 167 grams


• Samsung Galaxy S5(5.1 ”) – 142 x 72.5 x 8.1 mm, 145 grams


• Xiaomi Mi4(5 ”) – 139.2 x 68.5 x 8.9 mm, 149 grams

The machine is excellent in hand, despite the absence here of smooth lines and graceful curves – securely, non-slip. In the pocket of the device is also easily placed and reminds himself at every step.

Controls

Controls in a smartphone at least – short volume keys on the right edge, just below the power button, and the unit backlit touch buttons below the screen.

Hardware volume buttons and the power is quite comfortable, with a hard short-stroke depression. Include the device can not only power button, but a double tap of the screen, as in the LG G3, HTC One M8 / E8, Meizu MX4 and other smartphones. This is very handy indeed.

On the left edge is a slot with a tray placed inside a microSIM-card. To remove the tray, you need to use the complete clip.

At the top end – 3.5 mm mini jack for headphones, at the bottom – microUSB-jack and microphone.

On the “back” of the smartphone is the contact pad for connecting accessories (cases with a battery, for example), and the main camera on the top and ring dynamics, hidden bars, bottom.

The buttons below the display are illuminated white backlight, from left to right here are the key “Menu”, “Home” and “Back”. For backlight can be set during operation for 3 seconds continuously or simply turn it off. Reassign the buttons specified actions can not, it is a minus.

On the front side of the screen are the earpiece, light sensor and proximity, as well as a 5-megapixel front camera (autofocus is not) and the indicator light.

Screen

In Lenovo X2 uses IPS LCD screen diagonal – 5 ”, resolution – 1920×1080 pixels, density – 441 ppi. The screen is covered with protective glass Gorilla Glass.

For all the characteristics of the device screen is decent. There is a very good stock of brightness (special high-brightness mode), holding that, you get a smart phone with one of the most prominent among the IPS-matrix screen smartphones, maximum viewing angles and close to the natural color reproduction. Perhaps a little lacking in contrast, the picture seems slightly palely, but in the settings screen, you can manually set the tone and saturation of the image, and it solves the problem by allowing you to bring color and the overall tone of the screen to a form that suits you.

Camera

The main camera in Lenovo Vibe X2 – 13 megapixel with autofocus and flash, it can be used as a flashlight.

In contrast to the top-end Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro, designed for geeks and people who are well versed in the art, where there were various detailed settings for the camera, there is nothing there. The unit focuses primarily on the mass market, and the settings for the camera is not so much that it is logical. Although all the main parameters is certainly customizable white balance, shooting mode, the value of ISO.

There is a shooting mode with special effects.

The quality of the photos, to my taste, not bad. It can be seen that the device uses some “uluchshayzery” and pictures a little “tighten”, but in general, it is not too conspicuous. Of course, to compare the quality of photos X2 with top devices, I would not, but the average level of the pictures he provides.

The front camera has a resolution of 5 MP, autofocus is not here. On the street obtained good shots, indoors all the worse, but also come down. There are software improvements to correct tone face, smoothing the skin.

You can record video in resolutions up to 1080p, using the codec H.264, recording speed – 30 frames per second. There is a fixed focus (you can change the tap of the screen) and servo AF mode.

Autonomy

The smartphone has a removable (on their own) Li-Pol battery capacity of 2300 mAh, for the most efficient use of batteries can also engage the “smart economy”, lowering the screen brightness and performance of the graphics processor.

With my usage scenarios Lenovo X2 worked for the evening, that is, until 19-21 hours. Scenario approximately following: 1 hour of calls, 10-20 text messages, Gmail, 3-4 hours of music playback, 1-2 hours of active use of the mobile internet (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Chrome), constant throughout the day correspondence in WhatsApp and Facebook messenger (in total not less than one hour), photographing.

Performance is not the best on the market, by the time of the smartphone is comparable to last year’s champions, they also “survived” the evening with a load, but for a full day and night, they are usually not enough.

Problem or not? If you choose a smartphone for active use: music, movies, constant internet and so on – then yes, probably 8-10 hours of work will not be enough in this case, you can purchase an external battery to the device or to look towards other models.

C-battery cover Lenovo Vibe X2 becomes plump and heavier, but in general, is still compact and convenient due to the fact that without this accessory model and did a very light and thin.

If the device is selected as the smartphone for calls, read mail, correspondence, using networks and occasionally photographing and some other problems, it will be enough for a full day and on, until the night. In Lenovo emphasize that X2 is created specifically for the mass market and its main users will be people who will use the machine occasionally, but not in non-stop, for those users with problems working time should not be.

Platform, memory

The smartphone is built on a new platform MediatTek MT6595m big.LITTLE technology from ARM, «inside» quad ARM Cortex-A17 processor and quad ARM Cortex-A7, the graphics subsystem PowerVR G600. The device 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory. Slot for microSD card is not provided.

Performance tests

As synthetic tests (Antutu), and daily use Lenovo Vibe X2 shows excellent results in speed. The interface operates smoothly and without lag, switching between programs occurs quickly, clearly and without jerks. The machine without any problems “twists» FullHD video in high quality and can comfortably play all available games for the Android platform. In this regard, a new platform from Mediatek has no problems.

Typical load (calls, mail, internet via 3G / 4G) smartphone almost not heated, with constant active Wi-Fi connection (watching a movie through a web service, for example) or in the course of a long game device heats up, but I can not call this heating critical or too noticeable.

Interfaces

The smartphone works in networks GSM, HSDPA and LTE (4G). In Russia and Europe Vibe X2 is represented in one embodiment, a single slot for a SIM-card.

USB. To synchronize with your PC and transfer data using the supplied cable microUSB. Interface USB 2.0. Supports USB-OTG not.

Bluetooth. Built-in Bluetooth 4.1 supporting A2DP profiles, and LE.

Wi-Fi (802.11 b / g / n). The smartphone dual-band Wi-Fi module, it works flawlessly. Like any other modern Android-device, Lenovo Vibe X2 supports “rassharivaniya” mobile Internet on Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi-router).

Navigation

Support GPS / A-GPS and Glonass realized by built-in solution on chip Mediatek, searching for satellites takes about a minute. The device is preinstalled program Google Maps.

Software features and software

The smartphone runs Android 4.4.2, as the interface uses a proprietary VIBE UI (Lenovo Launcher), similar in its basic idea with MIUI. The same arrangement of all the shortcuts on the desktop screen without a separate application menu, Remove Programs, holding a finger on the icon and pressing the cross over him after.

On the lock screen, you can quickly jump to the calls, messages or run the camera. If you listen to music through the music player (Google Music, for example) on the lock screen displays album art and music control buttons.

Interestingly make “blind” notifications. There is no separation of the tabs, and buttons control interface and settings are shown, not all, but only a small area. If necessary, you can pull the tab inside the curtain and pull out all the shortcuts.

In the settings you can change the displayed set of shortcuts here and their position within the “curtain”.

For Lenovo Launcher has a theme, with the basic idea of ​​how to MIUI: you can change the topic entirely, or use the individual components of different themes, somewhere to take the icons, somewhere – a picture, and in the third theme – ringtones .

A set of applications in Lenovo Vibe X2 Pro includes all programs that may be needed for comfortable work with the device “out of the box”, including a file manager, the application of “Yandex», Skype and so on.

Here I want to grumble a bit about the fact that in addition to useful applications in the machine immediately preinstalled many different unnecessary, in my opinion, the software. New devices from Lenovo sin this feature, as well as products Samsung, for example. Just look at the screenshots, all programs in the folders here – the basic set:

Music player base for Android – Google Music.

Conclusion

The quality of signal reception in typical modern smartphone models based on Android – I can not select it for the better or for the worse.The speaker volume is slightly above average, have stock. Ringer Volume – well above the average, it is loud and sonorous, and if more and pick up a successful ringtones, incoming call, you will not miss, even if you are in a very noisy place like a subway. Vibrating alert is average in power, and the unit itself is light, so that the vibration of his pocket barely felt.

In Russia, the official cost of Lenovo Vibe X2 – 15 000 rubles (14 990), at least until the end of the year, the company operates at a fixed rate before, and higher prices for the device is not in any way that, given the growth in the value of some other smartphone manufacturers – unconditional plus.

Of the competitors for X2 in terms of the ratio of cost and performance, I would pick Meizu MX4 – this smartphone is equipped with a high-quality camera, shell Flyme easier for my taste. On the other hand, this unit is still much larger (screen 5.5 ”) and is designed more for those who need a smartphone with a huge screen. Still there Xiaomi Mi4, also born Chinese, comparable in size with the Lenovo Vibe X2 – it is better camera, there is a possibility sometime in the future to use the removable lid, but Mi4 more expensive (in the version of 16 GB vs. 32 GB from Lenovo) not support LTE and yet is not always stable, EEPROM out weekly, but problems occur MIUI. In the end, choosing between Lenovo Vibe X2 and Xiaomi Mi4, I would have stopped at X2, do not be my main requirement to the smartphone camera.

At Lenovo to get a balanced machine for all – there is a good display, the camera is of acceptable quality and comfortable, without reservation, the shell VIBE UI, as well as excellent performance and support for LTE. Separately, it should be noted an interesting and unconventional design – today it is worth a lot. For someone to be no less the memory card slot, built-in 32 GB but the majority, I believe, is more than enough. As for the time of work, if you are actively using your smartphone, choosing Lenovo Vibe X2, not immediately buy more to it branded case with battery. If using the devices last year on Android, you have not experienced problems, and X2 with similar indicators of autonomy hardly disappoint.

Review smartphone Lenovo Vibe X2