Last year Lenovo needed the wraps down a two-pronged technique for its Vibe array of smartphones. While the Feel Z series can be addressed at those trying to find serious hardware muscle mass at relatively cost-effective prices, the Vibe X series can be targeted at the younger generation and even though no weakling in the hardware department, would carry a better accent on design and style. The first Feel Z and Feel X devices conformed for this – the Z came with a powerful Snapdragon processor and also a terrific camera while the X was sliver slim and had carefully curved edges. And today we have the second generation of the range: we observed the rather stunning, hardware muscle filled Vibe Z2 Pro 2-3 weeks ago, and right now hot on the heels comes the Vibe X2.
There's a subtle change though. Unlike in true of the Feel X, where the hardware played a definite second fiddle to design, in the Feel X2, Lenovo went out of its way to prove that the device was not the “dumb blonde” (as 1 Lenovo executive set it), and put the hardware on par while using design. Yes, the Z2 Master was still the Zen Master when it located the geeks, nevertheless if Lenovo was to believed, the Vibe X2 could hold its very own in the spec stakes, and still turn heads which consists of looks. Does it do both? That’s what we tried to determine.
Layered magic
There was written a fair bit around the appearance and design of the Vibe X2 in our initial impressions piece about the device when it had been unveiled. To sum up, the Vibe X2 comes with probably the most surprising designs we have seen in quite some time. The phone seems to be made up of different colored tiers – four of them to be exact. They are mixed together smoothly to offer the phone a really ‘multi-layered’ look. It certainly is the first time we have seen the sides of the phone look therefore interesting. Lenovo has managed to make the unit remarkably compact for example with a 5. 0-inch display – the unit is only slightly bigger than the iPhone 6, and at 120 grammes, is one gramme heavier than Apple’s product, in spite of sporting a more impressive display. Yes, girls are going to have a struggle to use it one-handed, nevertheless it will fit the majority of male hands effortlessly. And take it from us, that will layered design can turn heads. Lenovo features accented the facets by making these straight, which provides the phone a a little bit box-ish appearance but highlights the several colors of the layers (they are very different in each handset).
The leading has the 5. 0-inch present, above which can be a 5. 0-megapixel front facing camera and also a speaker grille, and below which are three soft effect buttons for Residence, Back and Menu. The right side contains the volume rocker and power/display keys; the left the SIM credit card tray slots; the most notable has the 3. 5 mm audio jack; and about the base is the micro USB port. The back is of the uniform color and possesses a smooth metallic finish with it (we were told it had been Magnesium alloy), using a 13. 0-megapixel camera plus a flash in the most notable left corner, and also a speaker grille about the bottom left. You will additionally see three dots about the base of the back – they are to plug to wireless charging cases and also other accessories that Lenovo ideas to add about the device, or ‘layer’ onto it, as they would prefer to say. At any time of writing, a charging case was on your own available, but we listen to a speaker event is also on how. It is definitely a really neat way of adding accessories to a very good looking device. And good-looking the Feel X2 is. Those layered sides allow it to be stand out in the smartphone crowd which includes stuck to sole or dual coloured themes.
Built to perform…
It seems to be darned good, but even as mentioned earlier, the Vibe X2 is not just about eye chocolate. Lenovo claims to obtain thrown a fair little hardware force into it and it certainly shows about the spec sheet: the 5. 0-inch display is usually a full HD 1 and delivers the pixel density of 441 ppi. RAM stands at 3 GB, storage for a non-expandable 32 GB, and there is dual SIM connectivity in the mix (with support for 4G) and also the routine Wi-Fi, GPS UNIT, Bluetooth mix that's now an accepted section of the Android smartphone account. The battery in 2300 mAh is, however, more par for your course than exceptional in this era when people have started deemed 3000 mAh as routine.
Even so the star of the show, according to Lenovo, is the MediaTek MT6595m True Octa Core processor chip that powers the device. Promoted as becoming true octa primary, the processor may be showcased by MediaTek as being as good if not better as something the competition is offering. And running on top of all this is Android 4. 5. 2, with Lenovo’s Feel UI, which while not being the identical as that seen about the Z2 Pro, has the vast majority of its touches. Just usually do not expect to get into stock Android mode in this one.
…and offering too!
And usually, we must confess which the Vibe X2 produces on its promise of the good performance. Blog run smoothly, multi-tasking is no hassle, and the display is very good for examining, browsing the World-wide-web and tasks like mails and messaging. We pushed the processor on a few HD games and tasks like video editing also it came out untouched. There was a few heating but absolutely nothing that seemed uncommon. And well, as far benchmarks head out, the device resulted in scores on Antutu that bordered about the unreal.
Observe, however, that we said “for essentially the most part. ” For that Vibe X2 is just not without its eccentricities. The highest of these was its camera, which initially needed better pictures from your Google Camera app than from your default app Lenovo had installed about the device. At any time of writing, an update had fixed the issue. We also located battery life strangely inconsistent, generally seeing by having a day of use, but sometimes approaching short. Once once more, Lenovo has released updates to fix the matter. Sound quality was very good on calls, although we can have preferred better loudspeaker effectiveness (makes sense to purchase that speaker coating perhaps! ).
Altogether, however, the Vibe X2 checks the many performance boxes. Camera quality is well above average when it comes to color on the trunk camera, which handles glare remarkably well following your latest update, although detail can occasionally be a bit iffy. Nevertheless, the 5. 0-megapixel entrance facing one, we reckon is one of the best “selfie cameras” we have seen (the indisputable fact that it automatically beautifies the face might have something about it, but we have been SO not moaning about that). And while a few might miss the alternative to switch to stock Android just as the Vibe Z2 Pro as well as the elaborate camera menu for a passing fancy device (the one about the X2 follows standard lines), but it brings some neat touches of its own including the option to two times tap to unlock or lock the display, double tapping the house button to create a photograph even if your display is switched off, and launching the camera whenever you raise the phone despite the display switched off. There are also the usual Vibe features like Smart Answer (answer the phone by moving it for your ear) and avoiding accidental key touches when as part of your pocket. And we do love the point that Lenovo keeps upgrading the firmware.
Conclusion: Worth a invest in?
So when the reviewing dust settles, should one consider committing to the Vibe X2? Nicely, by pricing it at (click here to determine prices, Uk store, Us store), Lenovo have again pulled a rabbit away from their digital hats – the low specced Vibe By had cost much more. And at that will price, we confess it does come across as being a very compelling choice. The Huawei Honour 6 has been a slightly additional consistent performer when it comes to camera (the one about the X2 has seen a lot of tweaks) and battery pack life, but when it comes to general performance and design, we think the Vibe X2 may enough to tell us that it is one of the best devices available available price segment. Unless of course one has entry to the Xiaomi Mi3 as well as can stretch one’s budget to accommodate the OnePlus One (and likewise have the fortune for getting an invite). Simply no, it is not perfect and is particularly prone to slight eccentricities in the battery and camera department, but usually, the Vibe X2 is one of the most attractive phones we have seen at that price point for a short time. And guess just what it sends out when it comes to performance? All the best Vibes (we Were required to say it). And we love the way in which Lenovo has also been updating it, incorporating little tweaks and improvements. Very Xiaomi.
The idea looks stylish. The idea performs solidly. It not cost the globe. No, it wouldn't quite stun us which consists of value proposition the Vibe Z2 Master did, but when you asked us for any smartphone, the Vibe X2 would be one of the primary devices we would recommend.
