• Lenovo vibe shot camera specs. Lenovo Vibe Shot review: another Android camera phone. Battery life and performance

    Lenovo Vibe Shot is a stylish two-in-one device, where a camera with optical stabilization, infrared autofocus and tri-color flash is adjacent to an 8-core processor and slots for two SIM cards with LTE support. Vesti.Hi-tech found out how successful the hybrid turned out to be.

    Lenovo launched the Vibe Shot camera phone at MWC 2015. As you know, “smart” phones today take over the functions of point-and-shoot cameras, and not only flagship models are getting quite advanced cameras. The rapid growth in the number of selfie fans has forced smartphone manufacturers to pay more attention to the resolution and functionality of front cameras. One of the successful examples of such a “big-eyed” device is one with a 13-megapixel sensor on the front panel. But the advanced capabilities of the main camera and the “smart” phone are combined into a device called a camera phone. So, last year Samsung presented another version of such a technical symbiosis -. However, Lenovo believes that the Vibe Shot contains everything a novice mobile photography enthusiast needs.

    Specifications

    • Model: Z90a40
    • OS: Android 5.1 (Lollipop) with Lenovo Vibe shell
    • Processor: 8-core 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 (MSM8939), 4 x ARM Cortex-A53 (1.7 GHz) + 4 x ARM Cortex-A53 (1.0 GHz), Hexagon V50 DSP co-processor (up to 700 MHz) )
    • Graphics subsystem: Adreno 405 (550 MHz)
    • RAM: 3 GB (one channel LPDDR3, 800 MHz)
    • Storage: 32 GB (approx. 25 GB available), microSD/HC/XC memory card slot (up to 128 GB)
    • Screen: capacitive, IPS matrix, 5-inch diagonal, resolution 1920x1080 pixels, pixel density per inch 441 ppi, protective glass Corning Gorilla Glass 3
    • Cameras: main - 16 MP, 6-lens optics, f/2.2 aperture, optical stabilization, infrared autofocus, triple three-color LED flash, video recording/playback 1080p@30 fps, front - 8 MP, fixed focus
    • Interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (2.4 GHz), Bluetooth 4.1, microUSB for charging/syncing (USB 2.0), 3.5 mm headphone jack
    • Network: 2G, 3G (HSPA+, up to 42 Mbit/s), 4G Cat.4 (up to 150 Mbit/s) LTE-FDD: b1, b3, b7, b8, b20; LTE-TDD: b40
    • SIM cards: 2 microSIM slots (3FF format), Dual SIM Dual Standby (DSDS)
    • Navigation: GPS/GLONASS, A-GPS
    • Radio: FM tuner
    • Sensors: accelerometer, light and proximity sensors, digital compass
    • Battery: non-removable, lithium polymer, 2,900 mAh
    • Colors: red, white, gray
    • Dimensions: 142.7x70.0x7.6 mm
    • Weight: 145 grams

    Design, ergonomics

    From the back, the Vibe Shot camera phone looks like a slightly horizontally elongated point-and-shoot camera. The designers were quite successful in stylizing the body as a camera.

    True, the new product is significantly thinner - only 7.6 mm, because the lens here does not have an optical zoom, as, for example, in, the average thickness of which is 16.6 mm.

    The front and back panels of the Vibe Shot are made of protective glass, and along the perimeter of the case there is an aluminum frame, painted in one of three colors - red, white or gray. The case materials largely determine the weight of the device - only 145 g.

    We received a Vibe Shot “in red” for testing, whose difficult past life was evidenced by chipped paint and even small scratches on the frame. As you know, any glass panel looks nice only as long as it is not touched by hands. After which the gloss begins to collect, it seems, all possible fingerprints, giving the exterior of the device a very sloppy look. All this fully applies to the new camera phone.

    At the top of the front panel of this device there is a conversational speaker, a front camera, light and proximity sensors, as well as a charging/notification indicator.

    Below the display there are dedicated touch keys ("Menu", "Home" and "Back") in the form of proprietary backlit icons, the operating time of which is adjusted in the settings. There you can also check the option to turn the “Menu” button into “Recent Applications”. For some reason, the manufacturer refrained from applying any logos on the front panel.

    Two closed slots were placed on the left edge of the case. The top one hides a double tray designed for installing two microSIM (3FF) subscriber identification modules. And in the bottom slot there is space for a microSD memory card. The locks are opened with a key-clip, which is included in the kit.

    In the lower left corner of the case there is a mount for a strap, which will certainly come in handy when using the camera phone regularly.

    But on the right edge, in addition to the volume rocker and the lock key, there is a dedicated button for the camera (“shutter release”), as well as a mechanical switch for its operating modes (Auto and Pro).

    At the top end there are holes for a second microphone (noise reduction) and a 3.5 mm audio connector.

    The microUSB connector for power and synchronization is located at the bottom end of the case, surrounded by decorative grilles, behind which a microphone and a “multimedia” speaker are hidden.

    The back panel of the camera phone made of dark glass looks most impressive.

    Here, on a gray horizontal strip with a brushed metal texture, also decorated with the Lenovo Vibe logo, there was a place for the main camera lens, a triple LED flash and an infrared autofocus sensor.

    The 5-inch device is quite comfortable to operate even with one hand. True, the glass case on both sides is quite slippery, so special thanks to the metal frame, which allows you to more or less reliably fix the device.

    Well, you can completely insure yourself against an “accident” with the help of a strap, especially since there is a fastening for it. The placement of a dedicated shutter button assumes a landscape (widescreen) orientation of the device. Well, in the normal (portrait) orientation of the smartphone, when this button is hidden by the palm, the volume rocker comes to the rescue (however, this option should first be checked in the settings).

    Screen, sound

    The camera phone is equipped with a display based on an IPS matrix made using OGS (One Glass Solution) technology.

    On a screen with a 5-inch diagonal and a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels (Full HD), a pixel density per inch of 441 ppi is provided.

    The backlight level can be adjusted manually (there is a good margin of brightness) or use automatic adjustment using the light sensor. By the way, don’t forget about the special high-brightness mode, which is discussed below. The capacitive screen of the smartphone supports multi-touch, and the AntTuTu Tester and MultiTouch Tester programs confirmed that up to ten simultaneous presses are recognized. Increasing the sensitivity of the touch layer in the settings allows you to operate your smartphone with gloves.

    To determine the color balance, not only preset modes are offered, but also manual adjustment. For example, adaptive mode is recommended when using a smartphone for a long time, True Color is recommended for accurate color reproduction when viewing photos, etc., and when using the high brightness mode, you should not forget about the increased power consumption. It is believed that to obtain optimal colors, the default mode is quite suitable, the parameters of which are set at the factory. However, the custom mode makes it possible to easily adjust the image to your liking, changing its tone (from cold to warm) and saturation (from pastel to bright). For comfortable use of the device in the dark, a “night” mode is provided. Among other things, for difficult lighting conditions there is also a so-called extended “outdoor” mode. The anti-glare properties of the display allow you to work effectively with your smartphone even in sunlight. As already noted, the front and back panels of the device are protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3. At the same time, the oleophobic coating helps to quickly remove abundantly collected fingerprints.

    Due to the stylish design of the grilles, you expect something more from the “multimedia” speaker (located behind the right one). But in reality the volume level is at an average level. By the way, placing the grille at the end of the case prevents it from being accidentally closed if you put the smartphone, for example, on a table. One of the nice features is worth noting the playback of FLAC files using standard tools. The package with the smartphone includes a regular audio headset, which, at a minimum, will be useful as a short-wave antenna for the FM tuner.

    Camera

    In Vibe Shot, the main camera has a 16-megapixel BSI matrix, as well as a 6-element lens with an f/2.2 aperture and optical stabilization function. In addition, there is infrared autofocus (laser rangefinder) and a triple (three-color) LED flash, which can also double as a flashlight. The manufacturer claims that the operating speed of the infrared autofocus used is two times higher than the usual one (presumably, contrast autofocus). It feels like focusing is really quite fast when shooting. The maximum image resolution is 5328x2997 pixels (16 MP) for the “widescreen” aspect ratio (16:9), 4000x3000 pixels (12 MP) and 3000x3000 pixels (9 MP) with frame aspect ratios of 4:3 and 1:1, respectively. Examples of photos can be viewed.

    In turn, the front camera received an 8-megapixel sensor, but without autofocus and flash. The maximum resolution of the “self” is 2448x2448 pixels (1:1), 3264x2448 pixels (4:3) and 3264x1836 pixels (16:9), respectively.

    The best quality of videos from the main camera is obtained in Full HD resolution (1920x1080 pixels, 16:9) with a frame rate of 30 fps. In addition, HD (720p) and NTSC (480p) modes are available to it, but 4K shooting (3820x2160 pixels) is not supported here. For the front camera, the upper recording limit is limited to HD quality at 30 fps. All content is saved in MP4 container files (AVC - video, AAC - audio).

    Although the smartphone has a hardware key, you can also release the shutter by touching the screen, by a timer, by a smile, and for the front camera, also by a gesture. To open the Camera application, you can tap on the corresponding icon on the home screen, swipe up from the lock screen, and when the display is off, hold down the hardware shutter key.

    A special mechanical switch quickly switches the camera from Auto to Pro mode and back. At the same time, in automatic mode, for shooting portraits, landscapes and food, by default it is suggested to use the “smart” option (S icon).

    The “Camera” settings determine the aspect ratio, resolution, quality, shooting method, white balance, ISO, exposure metering mode, volume rocker function (sound, digital zoom, shutter release), etc. When shooting self-portraits, simply moving the slider makes it easy to get rid of skin defects, and in low-light conditions, for “crossbow shots”, filling with pink or yellow light is also offered.

    The “orbital” settings of the Pro mode are well known from Lumia smartphone cameras, when ISO, shutter speed, exposure, white balance and focus are independently adjusted.

    To independently build a composition, you may need a horizon level, as well as auxiliary lines on the viewfinder (4 parts, 9 parts, logarithmic spiral).

    In the “professional” mode, scene shooting programs are also available - “Panorama”, Art-night, “Artistic HDR”, “Blurred background” (blur effect for macro photography) and “Panoramic self-portrait” (including for group “selfies” - gruffy). At the same time, for example, for Art-night there are options “Night City”, “People in Motion”, “Scene” and “Low Light”. And when shooting using “Artistic HDR”, you can refine the scene - “Automatic”, “Portrait”, “Still Life”, “City”.

    Filling, performance

    Although Vibe Shot has a camera worthy of any flagship, it itself cannot claim this high position. After all, its filling is built on a platform for middle-class devices - Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 (MSM8939).

    Eight 64-bit ARM Cortex-A53 cores, made in compliance with the 28 nm design standards, are divided equally into two clusters, one of which is clocked at up to 1.7 GHz, and the other at 1 GHz. The integrated Adreno 405 graphics accelerator supports DirectX 11.2, OpenGL ES 3.0 and OpenCL 1.2. The Snapdragon 615 architecture, which includes, in particular, the Hexagon V50 signal processor, provides for the implementation of GPS, Bluetooth 4.0 wireless interfaces, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, as well as a Multi-SIM modem with support for LTE Cat. 4 (up to 150 Mbit). The basic configuration of the smartphone is supplemented by 3 GB of LPDDR3 (800 MHz) RAM, which is controlled by a single-channel 32-bit controller.

    In synthetic tests AnTuTu Benchmark, the Vibe Shot camera phone performed at the same level as last year's flagship.

    But in multi-core tests (Multicore) and when assessing the horsepower of the processor (Metal) on the Vellamo benchmarks, the new product competed with the modern one with varying degrees of success.

    On the Epic Citadel visual test with variable settings of High Performance and High Quality, the average frame rate at a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels did not differ very much (55.2 fps versus 53.9 fps). But with Ultra High Quality it decreased quite significantly (25.8 fps).

    On the universal gaming benchmark 3DMark, where the smartphone was tested on the recommended Sling Shot set, a result was recorded (95), and on the optional Ice Storm Unlimited set - 7,423. Problems are unlikely to arise with the launch of most popular games. The manufacturer even recommends several of them, including Asphalt 8, Green Farm 3, Real Football 2015, Spiderman Ultimate Power, etc. It should be borne in mind that on “heavy” applications the fps parameter will “sag” at maximum settings. But what you definitely won’t have to complain about is the lack of RAM.

    The total number of points earned by the LG G4S on the cross-platform benchmark Base Mark OS II was 280.

    The smartphone has 32 GB of internal memory, of which approximately 24.7 GB is available. You can increase the built-in storage using a dedicated slot using microSD/HC/XC cards with a capacity of up to 128 GB. In addition, the smartphone has a USB-OTG mode, which allows you to connect external USB drives.

    The dual tray of the top slot can accept two microSIM (3FF) format subscriber identification modules. At the same time, LTE is supported in the first tray, and only GSM/GPRS in the second. Since there is only one radio module, the DSDS (Dual SIM Dual Standby) mode is implemented - both SIM cards are active, but when one is busy, the other is also unavailable. Note that the cellular modem is designed for LTE Cat.4 networks (up to 150 Mbit/s) in the LTE-FDD (b1, b3, b7, b8 and b20) and LTE-TDD (b40) frequency bands. As you can see, this package includes “troika”, “seven” and “ace” - “Russian” frequency bands b3 (1,800 MHz), b7 (2,600 MHz) and b20 (800 MHz). Other wireless communications on the tested smartphone include Bluetooth 4.1 and Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (2.4 GHz only).

    The AndroiTS GPS Test program showed that the smartphone's multi-system receiver successfully picks up signals from Russian and American satellites from the GLONASS and GPS constellations, as well as from Chinese satellites from BDS. In addition, A-GPS mode is supported.

    The smartphone received a non-removable lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 2,900 mAh. The manufacturer assures that with a fully charged battery, the device will help maintain a conversation for up to 30 hours or remain in standby mode for up to 19 days.

    In AnTuTu Tester battery tests, after almost two hours of operation at full load, the device got quite hot and earned 3,714 points. Videos in MP4 and Full HD quality at maximum settings played continuously for more than 6 hours.

    Energy saving features are collected in the Power Manager tab. Thus, battery life can extend the usual power saving mode, which is activated either forcefully or when the battery level is 5% or 15%. Savings in this case are achieved by reducing productivity, as well as disabling background synchronization and vibration signals. In addition, you can use the so-called smart saving option, which limits the needs of the screen and graphics accelerator. Thus, reducing the backlight brightness reduces power consumption by 5-20%, and optimizing the coprocessor operation - by 10-25%. As a last resort, there is also an emergency mode, which leaves only voice calls and text messages available. It is proposed to switch to this mode according to a schedule, for example, at night.

    Software

    The proprietary Vibe UI shell turns out to be exactly those “trees” behind which the “forest” is not visible, or more precisely, the Android 5.1 operating system. The fact is that surrounded by a proprietary interface from Lenovo, well known from other smartphones from this company, you simply forget about the presence of a “lollipop”.

    However, for example, the quick settings buttons on the notification panel are called up, as in Lollipop, with a second swipe (notifications are displayed after the first).

    From the "Theme Center" application it is easy to change not only themes, but also wallpaper, as well as the appearance of the task manager, and even ringtones.

    The most interesting options are still collected on the “Special” settings tab. Here, in particular, it is proposed to activate “Double Tap” to wake up the smartphone by double tapping on the screen. “Speed ​​shot” allows you to take an “instant” photo when the display is dark by double-clicking on the volume rocker. Using Smart Scenes, you can easily set up various applications or services to run on a pre-set schedule or when connected to a selected Wi-Fi access point. But using the “Smart Menu” on any desktop you can call up a pop-up menu containing icons for performing certain actions or calling services/applications.

    Purchase, conclusions

    The stylish Lenovo Vibe Shot smartphone, embodied in glass and metal, has a large amount of RAM, a camera with optical stabilization and infrared autofocus, the ability to play sound files without loss of quality, as well as separate slots for a memory card and two SIM cards with LTE support.

    True, glass is not only slippery, but also easily soiled and easily collects fingerprints. Therefore, without regular grooming, Vibe Shot will look somewhat untidy. In addition, the main camera in this smartphone cannot shoot video in 4K resolution. Nevertheless, Lenovo, in one “shot,” quite successfully combined a smartphone with average performance (which, however, is enough for everyday tasks) and a very advanced camera. First of all, the new device should be paid attention not to avid gamers, but to those who are more drawn to mobile photography. True, there is one “but”.

    At the time of testing, Vibe Shot was already offered two thousand more than its recommended price (that is, for 26,990 rubles). So, in terms of this parameter, the camera phone is confidently approaching last year’s flagship, for which Lenovo’s partners are currently asking 29,990 rubles. Let us remind you that this device, in addition to a 16 MP camera with optical stabilization, also received a much more powerful processor and a QHD screen.

    Results of the review of the Lenovo Vibe Shot smartphone

    Pros:

    • Stylish design
    • Large amount of RAM
    • Advanced camera
    • Playing FLAC files
    • Separate slots for memory card and two SIM cards with LTE support

    Cons:

    • Stainless, slippery body
    • 4K video is not supported

    Chinese smartphone manufacturer Lenovo has successfully combined several device niches in its portfolio. Thus, phones belonging to both the budget and premium segments are released under this brand. What’s most interesting is that both are in enormous demand, which the company managed to achieve in a relatively short period of time.

    In this article we will talk about one of the premium smartphones that Lenovo produces. It was presented quite recently - in July 2015. Since it was initially positioned as a flagship device, it is not surprising that the world community watched its entry into the market with particular interest.

    Today the device is freely sold, and over these few months it has gained new loyal customers. We are talking about “Lenovo Vibe Shot”. There are different reviews about the device, we will try to choose those that will be the most truthful and correspond to the real state of things, and we will describe them.

    Why the phone is interesting, what disadvantages and advantages it hides - read in this material.

    Equipment

    When reviewing the Lenovo Vibe Shot, we first came across the packaging of the smartphone. It is made of thick cardboard, has a compact size and at the same time has a minimal amount of information on its surface. After removing the cover, a neatly packaged phone is revealed, located in one section, and its additions, occupying another part of the free space.

    It should be noted that Lenovo Vibe Shot’s equipment as a whole is quite modest. The list of accessories provided by the developer includes a charger, an adapter for European sockets, and a flat USB cable for connecting to a computer. In addition, the manufacturer equipped the box with instructions for the smartphone and a needle for opening the SIM card and microSD slots. If the user wants a case for Lenovo Vibe Shot, it will have to be purchased separately.

    Design

    Logically, to begin with the characteristics of the device itself, it is necessary to start with the main and most obvious thing - its appearance. In this matter, “Lenovo Vibe Shot” (reviews confirm this) has something to show.

    Let's start with the fact that the phone body combines plastic, metal and glass. Due to this, the device not only has an attractive appearance, but is also well protected in practice, say, from falls, shocks and other third-party influences. Perhaps, taking this into account, a case for the Lenovo Vibe Shot is not required - the phone is already quite durable.

    The device is offered for sale in three color modifications - black, gray and red. The difference in their design lies in the color scheme for the metal frame around the perimeter of the case. In all other respects, the model remains unchanged - only in gray the back cover of the smartphone is painted white, and not black (as in all the others).

    Appearance Features

    It’s not for nothing that the phone has the prefix “shot” at the end of its name. In English, this word means “snapshot,” which shows the manufacturers’ intention to present the device as an analogue of a camera. The same thing can be seen in design.

    In particular, this is expressed in the back cover of the device. It is divided (visually) into two sections due to the use of different materials. As reviews dedicated to “Lenovo Vibe Shot” note, from afar, due to this separation and the presence of a camera eye in one of the marked parts, the phone really looks like a stylish camera.

    This is not the only highlight presented by the model developers. Another interesting solution is the use of glass coating on both sides of the smartphone. Since the device has a rectangular “brick” shape, the glass covering of the back cover really looks impressive. True, as reviews report about the Lenovo Vibe Shot, this move is not the most practical due to the soiling of the back cover and the visibility of fingerprints on it.

    There is another problem related to usability, which is not so obvious at first glance. This is the location of the camera eye. From a decorative point of view, the solution is very successful - to place it at the very edge of the back cover. True, the developers do not take into account that at first the user often closes the peephole with his finger, with which he holds the corner of the smartphone. It turns out to be somewhat inconvenient due to the fact that in the future you need to take the phone more carefully so as not to block your view.

    Device navigation elements

    Despite the originality shown in the design, the arrangement of the phone's batteries remains classic - we can find the same set on other smartphones. So, below the screen, first of all, we see the physical buttons “Home”, “Options” and “Back”, which are equipped with white backlight. Due to this, they look attractive against a dark display.

    The remaining keys are located on the right panel. There is a classic set of display lock button and volume control. We also added a button for switching the shooting mode and a button for quickly launching the “Camera” application. It’s not for nothing that the new “Lenovo Vibe Shot” is positioned as a camera phone.

    The left side of the device looks empty - slots for installing an additional memory card, as well as a SIM, are placed here. A system of special mines is used, which can be seen on the iPhone. Indeed, convenient and practical.

    Screen

    The entire front surface is painted to match the color of the display, which makes it seem like the screen takes up more space than it actually does. Although it is also impossible to say that the phone is equipped with a small display - the characteristics describing the “Lenovo Vibe Shot” indicate that its size is 5 inches. It operates on the basis of IPS technology, which allows you to transmit colorful images with high accuracy. The image density is enormous - due to the resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, it is about 440 dpi. In simple terms, we can say that the model’s screen conveys a very accurate, sharp image, and this is a definite plus.

    The developers did not forget about protecting the screen, covering it with special third-generation, mechanically resistant glass.

    Judging by the reviews, the Lenovo Vibe Shot phone has both the ability to increase the screen brightness for more convenient work in bright weather and in direct sunlight, and vice versa - to reduce it for a comfortable perception of the image from the display at night and in the absence of lighting . This option is clearly appealing to ordinary users.

    CPU

    The Lenovo Vibe Shot phone runs on an eight-core processor developed by Qualcomm. This is the Snapdragon 615, four cores of which produce a clock frequency of 1 GHz, and four more - 1.7 GHz. This allows us to assert the high performance of the device, its ability to work even with the most “cumbersome” (from the point of view of physics and graphics) applications and top games without any delays or slowdowns.

    Antutu testing also produces excellent results - at the level of other flagships from Samsung, Meizu, LG. A nice feature of the phone is also the ability to play videos in FullHD format. The image quality is excellent, frames load smoothly and without stuttering.

    Also, the fact that the model does not heat up even after prolonged use indicates that the device’s processor is properly optimized for operation under different loads. Again, this results in better battery efficiency.

    Camera

    We have already said that you can judge the emphasis placed on the camera function by the manufacturer by the name of the phone we are describing. This is confirmed by the characteristics describing “Lenovo Vibe Shot”. So, there are two cameras here - front and main. The latter has a strong matrix, the resolution of which is 16 megapixels. This is indicated on the back of the phone, directly opposite the device logo. In addition to strong hardware, manufacturers have also worked on the software basis for interaction with the camera. In particular, the creation of high-quality images is facilitated by the presence of such options as automatic focusing (laser technology is used), a three-tone flash, as well as two modes with a set of their own filters - Auto and Pro.

    As the recommendations show, the new “Lenovo Vibe Shot” automatically offers the user a minimum of settings, selecting the conditions for creating the best photo independently. As for the Pro mode, here the photographer can choose the conditions in which the photo is taken and how the composition should look in the future.

    According to the technical descriptions of the model, it has a resolution of 8 megapixels. It’s convenient to take high-quality “selfie” pictures with it. The only caveat is that since there is no autofocus here, you need to take care to move your Lenovo Vibe Shot a short distance away. Only in this case can the camera create a good photo of you and what is located behind you.

    Memory

    If we talk about RAM, the device has 3 GB of memory. In this regard, “Lenovo Vibe Shot” can be compared with ZTE Nubia, LG G2, OnePlus One and others. What is typical is that with such an “unpaired” amount of RAM, there are most often Chinese devices on the market.

    As for the physical memory for storing multimedia data, 32 GB is built into the device for these purposes. In addition, the Lenovo Vibe Shot smartphone supports additional microSD cards, with the help of which the disk space on the device can be increased by another 64 GB. Thus, the developers have provided the user with the opportunity to expand the device’s memory and even work with it as a portable data storage or multimedia player. This is already determined by the preferences of the phone owner.

    Autonomy

    The phone is equipped with a powerful non-removable battery that has a capacity of 3000 mAh. This is enough for such a functional device to work for 20-23 hours in moderate use. A special smart consumption option allows you to save charge and, as a result, increase the level of autonomy. It means optimizing all processes taking place in the device in such a way as to prevent unnecessary CPU load. Practice shows that the technique works quite successfully.

    Under intense use, battery life is reduced to 7 hours. This figure can be called average for devices of this class.

    operating system

    When “Lenovo Vibe Shot”, to which the review is dedicated, was released in mid-summer 2015, the current version of the Android OS was 5.1. Now the newest modification is Android 6.0. Therefore, most likely, Vibe Shot will receive its update and will work under this version.

    It should be said that the manufacturer did not install a “bare” interface offered by the software developer - Google - “out of the box”. Lenovo showed originality and released its own design for the model. This is Vibe UI. Externally, it uses the same techniques that are noticeable on Android L - gradients, similar sets of fonts and colors.

    Connection

    As already noted, the device supports two SIM cards. Both are capable of capturing data in the GSM network format and working with wireless mobile Internet in 3G/LTE networks. In addition, the phone, of course, has a Wi-Fi module (standard speed) and Bluetooth (used for receiving and transferring files, as well as connecting with wireless accessories). There is also a satellite signal receiver necessary for navigation in space. The latter supports work with GPS systems (world standard), GLONASS (Russia) and BeiDou (China). There is also an FM radio that works through a headset (used as an antenna).

    The Lenovo Vibe Shot is a compact phone that fits easily in your pocket, which can't be said about a typical camera. In terms of dimensions, the device is similar to Lenovo P70, only it is slightly narrower and noticeably thinner: 142 × 70 × 7.8 mm. The weight is rather average for its diagonal - 142 grams.

    The smartphone tries to look stylish and unusual - the combination of black and red colors is perfect, for example, for girls with red nail polish. Thanks to the color of the back and the location of the lens, Lenovo Vibe Shot looks like a camera. The smartphone is similar to Lenovo Vibe X2: in size, shape and black display frame, slightly protruding from the body. The side frames are quite narrow, but due to the wide margins at the top and bottom, the ratio of screen area to body surface is not the greatest - 69.3%. Two additional buttons on the body can be called unusual - the shutter release and the shooting mode switch (from “Auto” to “Professional”). In the corner of the case you can find an atavism from the last decade - a hole for a strap, a kind of hint of kinship with cameras for which this is more relevant.

    But the build quality turned out to be not so practical, despite the use of metal and glass. First, the paint on one of the corners of the Lenovo Vibe Shot began to peel off in spots during our two-week test. Secondly, the camera lens is very close to the edge of the case, risking periodically removing the owner's fingers. Thirdly, when taking a smartphone out of your pocket, it is difficult to determine its front side by touch - it, like the back, is covered with glass.

    Lenovo Vibe Shot can be purchased in two colors: red and gray.

    Screen - 5.0

    The display of the smartphone can be called high-quality - it is clear, bright and protected by Gorilla Glass 3, but at the same time it cheats a little with colors. Screen diagonal - 5 inches, resolution - 1920x1080 pixels (Full HD). Their density is 441 per inch, which is more than enough for a clear image.

    The maximum measured brightness (in high brightness mode) is about 530 cd/m2. It is plenty enough for reading outside in sunny weather. At the same time, the minimum brightness also turned out to be good - about 6 cd/m2, which is comfortable enough for reading in the dark. Lenovo Vibe Shot is equipped with a light sensor and auto-brightness mode. It responds quickly to changes in lighting, but has no manual settings.

    In the settings you can find several image modes. Viewing angles are rather average for an IPS matrix. There is a glove mode; with it, even leather gloves can feel the screen. The fly in the ointment was the color rendering. The colors look clearly oversaturated and unnatural, which is not very good for viewing captured photographs.

    Camera

    Lenovo Vibe Shot is positioned as a camera phone and, therefore, is equipped with top-end cameras (16 and 8 MP). In our opinion, they are still inferior to those of the Samsung Galaxy S6 and LG G4, but they definitely correspond to a high level.

    The physical size of the sensor is 1/2.3", it is the same as that of Google's flagship Nexus 6P and larger than that of the LG G4 (1/2.6"). The maximum image resolution is 16 megapixels. The camera is equipped with an optical stabilization system, a six-component lens, a triple flash (each with its own color), laser autofocus and a BSI sensor (back illuminated). In general, the list of “chips” is impressive.

    As for the triple flash, in our opinion, it has no advantages other than increased power. Direct light falling on the subject does not always lead to a good shot. As for the focusing system, it is fast, but slower than the laser one on the LG G4 or LG G3. If you look at it in general, the cameras correspond to the top, flagship level, the pictures are quite clear, but are slightly inferior to the Samsung Galaxy S6 and LG G4. What we really liked was shooting at night, at dusk and in cloudy conditions. In the latter case, it is not even clear that the photo was taken on a stormy day. The camera has high light sensitivity, and although the pictures at night cannot be called ideal, they are much better than those of its competitors. The Lenovo Vibe Shot camera “sees” well in the dark, although the light sources in the photographs “go” into yellow and orange shades.

    The smartphone is equipped with several shooting modes, for example, with a long shutter speed (for night photography) or stitching together different frames. The camera can recognize faces and smiles, as well as take panoramas. There is an HDR mode available, in this case the effect of its use is clearly visible - the detail in darkened areas becomes higher. In any case, the difference is noticeable to the eye. As a rule, a smartphone shoots in the “Smart” auto mode, independently selecting the basic shooting parameters or even turning on HDR. But keep in mind that you can always switch to “Professional” mode. In it you can independently configure all the basic parameters:

    • white balance
    • shutter speed (1/15 to 1 second)
    • ISO (100 to 1600)
    • autofocus range
    • exposure adjustment (−2 to +2).

    The ranges and number of settings are not very impressive, especially after the “Professional” mode of the LG G4.

    The 8 MP front camera takes great selfies. You can also turn on the panoramic shooting mode or “Decoration”, it works much like on the Huawei P8 Lite - it retouches the skin, but often to an unnatural degree.

    As for video shooting, there is nothing unusual here like support for 4K resolution. As usual, Full HD video recording (1920x1080 pixels) at 30 frames per second is available on both cameras.

    Photo from Lenovo Vibe Shot camera - 2.9

    Photo from the front camera Lenovo Vibe Shot - 2.9

    Working with text - 3.0

    The Lenovo Vibe Shot has a standard Google keyboard, with number markings in the top row of keys and Swype support. There is practically nothing more to say about her, everything is typical. There is no marking of additional characters (except numbers), switching between languages ​​is carried out with a separate key. If you wish, you can install any familiar keyboard of your choice from the Google Market.

    Internet - 3.0

    As usual, Lenovo didn’t play tricks with browsers, and only Chrome from Google is pre-installed on the phone. Its features are typical: scaling text to a pre-selected size and synchronizing with desktop Chrome. It does not have any special reading modes or special “tricks”.

    Communications - 3.8

    The set of wireless communications can be called typical for its price.

    The only things we can highlight are dual-band Wi-Fi and LTE (Cat. 4). Everything else is as usual: A-GPS, Bluetooth 4.1 and regular Micro-USB 2.0 without OTG, HOST or MHL/Display Port.

    In addition, we note support for two Micro SIM cards. Moreover, in this case there is no combination with a memory slot, as is often the case these days when you have to choose between memory and communication.

    Multimedia - 3.0

    Lenovo Vibe Shot could not please us with support for a large number of audio and video codecs. He has produced 4K and 2K video, TS, FLV or MOV videos, as well as music in FLAC without a problem.

    Pre-installed video and audio players do not offer a lot of options. For music, this is the standard Google Play Music application with a typical set of settings. And the video player has practically no features other than blocking video viewing.

    Battery - 3.2

    The operating time of Lenovo Vibe Shot can be called good, it is comparable to the flagship HTC One M9. We managed to hide a 2900 mAh battery in the thin body of the smartphone (almost like the Huawei Honor 6).

    It was able to play videos at maximum brightness for 7 hours (almost like the Lenovo Vibe X2), a slightly better than average result. And in music player mode, Vibe Shot lasted about 75 hours (about the same as the Samsung Galaxy S6). An hour of running the GeekBench 3 benchmark consumed 24% of the charge. When playing games, the smartphone is discharged in an average of 3-4 hours. Using the original charger (5 V, 1.5 A), the smartphone was charged in about 2 hours, which is quite typical.

    During the tests, the smartphone lasted us for a day and a half under average load conditions.

    Performance - 2.7

    Lenovo Vibe Shot (Z90-7) is equipped with a slightly above average chipset, but it is enough for all tasks, including demanding games. But the smartphone was given RAM like a flagship - 3 GB.

    Lenovo Vibe Shot is equipped with a Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615 processor (4 cores at 1.7 GHz plus 4 cores at 1 GHz). It handles typical smartphone tasks and even heavy gaming with ease. For example, Asphalt 8 or Mortal Combat runs smoothly on it and runs quite smoothly, only occasionally slowing down.

    As for synthetic tests, the phone received the following results:

    • GeekBench 3 - 2705 points (received 2836)
    • in AnTuTu 5.7 - 39,828 (significantly lower than Asus Zenfone 2)
    • in 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited - 8079 (slightly higher than the average Huawei P8 Lite with its 5556 points).

    We also checked whether the smartphone gets hot in games - it turned out that it does not. After half an hour of playing Mortal Combat, the temperature of the Lenovo Vibe Shot rose to 41 degrees, this is an acceptable indicator.

    Memory - 4.5

    The Lenovo Vibe Shot has 32 GB of permanent memory, of which about 29 GB is available to the user. The volume is substantial, but if you use the device as a camera, it will quickly become filled with photographs. For those who like to take a lot of photos and videos, there is a slot for a memory card up to 128 GB. At the same time, some applications can be transferred to it from the device’s memory. Recently, additional memory is often combined with a second SIM card. But in this case, the slot is located in a separate tray and will not force you to choose between connectivity or additional gigabytes.

    Peculiarities

    Lenovo Vibe Shot runs Android 5.0 Lollipop OS. True, it has been visually redesigned with its own Vibe UI interface, so much so that the difference with the previous version of Android is almost invisible. The smartphone settings are a little confusing, for example, the maximum brightness mode is not in the “Brightness” or “Screen” items, but is hidden in an item called ... “Color Balance”, where you do not expect to see it at all. Features include the design of the model using glass and separate buttons on the body (shutter release and switching between shooting modes) and, of course, a high-level camera.

    Characteristics

    • Operating system: Android 5.1 (VIBE UI shell)
    • Network: GSM, HSDPA, LTE, two SIM cards (microSIM)
    • Platform: Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 (four cores 1.7 GHz Cortex-A53, four cores 1 GHz Cortex-A53)
    • Graphics subsystem: Adreno 405
    • RAM: 3 GB
    • Data storage memory: 32 GB
    • Memory card slot: yes, microSD up to 128 GB
    • Interfaces: Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n/) dual-band, Bluetooth 4.1 (A2DP, LE), microUSB (USB 2.0) for charging/synchronization, 3.5 mm for headset
    • Screen: IPS LCD, 5” diagonal, resolution 1920x1080 pixels, density 441 ppi, automatic backlight level adjustment, Gorilla Glass 3
    • Main camera: 16 MP with autofocus, LED flash with three tones, optical image stabilization, laser focusing, video recorded in 1080p
    • Front camera: 8 MP fixed focal length
    • Navigation: GPS (A-GPS support), Glonass
    • Additionally: accelerometer, light sensor, proximity sensor
    • Battery: Li-Pol capacity 3000 mAh
    • Dimensions: 142 x 70 x 7.3 mm
    • Weight: 145 grams

    The Chinese company Lenovo, even having bought the mobile division of Motorola and entered the list of leaders in the tablet market in different countries, does not stop experimenting, both in the tablet segment and in the more mainstream segment, in smartphones. And Vibe Shot is another similar experiment, this time with design and camera. The idea is simple and not new - to make a smartphone with an emphasis on photo capabilities, while highlighting this feature not only by the quality of cameras and software for taking pictures, but also by the design of the device itself. That's why the new Lenovo Vibe Shot on the back side resembles more of a compact digital camera than a smartphone. This solution has its advantages and disadvantages, we will talk about everything in the review. Let's go!

    Design, body materials

    From the front side, Lenovo Vibe Shot resembles another smartphone from the company – Vibe X2. The same body shape, approximately the same dimensions, and even some of the colors of the models are similar. However, if in Vibe X2 the feature was a multi-layer design, when looking at the smartphone you got the feeling that it was assembled from several layers, then in Vibe Shot the idea is different - it resembles a camera. The engineers tried to make the smartphone as similar as possible to a compact digital camera, and they succeeded. On the reverse side, the device really resembles a point-and-shoot camera, and if instead of the name “lenovo vibe” you put the logo of some camera manufacturer there, many will decide that this is a camera and not a smartphone. That is, this task was solved successfully. But there is also the opposite effect. Chasing the design and similarity of the device to compact digital cameras, the manufacturer forgot about ergonomics and practicality.

    Firstly, there is glass on both sides of the case. Yes, it’s beautiful, it’s impressive, and thanks to this solution, Lenovo Vibe Shot attracts attention and looks great in photographs and on shelves in hardware stores. But in reality, the case turns out to be easily soiled, it collects all the fingerprints, greasy stains and dust, in the end you either need to constantly wipe the smartphone, or get used to the fact that in real life it will not look as fresh and neat as in the pictures.

    Secondly, the main camera eye is located in the very corner of the body, like in iPhones. This is inconvenient when you hold the smartphone with both hands to take a picture; your finger often rests at this angle at first, so it takes time to get used to this arrangement of the camera module.


    In addition to glass, the case uses metal - the frame and chassis (inner part of the case) are made of it. The metal is painted in one of three colors - red, dark gray or silver. These are three colors of the case, in dark gray and red versions, except for the frame, all other elements remain the same color - black. In the silver version, the back of the smartphone is white, the front is black.



    From a design point of view, Lenovo Vibe Shot was a success - it is not like other devices, in a sense it is unique, even if it repeats the ideas of past years, but it is quite successful. From a practical point of view, everything is not so good; you need to be prepared for the fact that the smartphone will quickly get dirty and lose its presentation. Otherwise there are no complaints.


    Assembly

    The device uses a unibody case - there are no removable elements except trays for SIM cards and a memory card. Accordingly, there are no complaints about the build quality and reliability of the case.

    Dimensions

    The smartphone can be called moderately compact; it is not the smallest in the category of five-inch devices, but not too large either. Judge for yourself:

    • (5"") – 142 x 70 x 7.3 mm, 145 grams
    • Lenovo Vibe X2(5"") - 140.2 x 68.6 x 7.3 mm, 120 grams
    • Apple iPhone 6(4.7"") - 138.1 x 67 x 6.9 mm, 129 grams
    • HTC One M9(5"") - 144.6 x 69.7 x 9.6 mm, 157 grams
    • Samsung Galaxy S6(5.1"") – 143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm, 138 grams
    • Xiaomi Mi4(5"") – 139.2 x 68.5 x 8.9 mm, 149 grams


    Compared to LG G4


    Compared to Samsung Galaxy A7


    Compared to HTC One M9+

    The device fits well in the hand and does not slip, despite the glass panels. The device also fits in your pocket without any problems and does not remind you of itself with every step.

    Controls

    The left edge of the smartphone has no keys; there are trays for two SIM cards in microSIM format and a tray for a memory card in microSD format.



    The buttons are collected on the right edge - from top to bottom there are volume and power keys, a mechanical camera mode switch and a shooting button. The switch allows you to quickly change the camera operating mode from automatic to manual, where all detailed settings are available. When pressed lightly, the shooting key focuses; when pressed all the way, it takes a photo.



    At the top end there is a mini-jack for headphones and an additional microphone (noise reduction). On the bottom there is a microUSB for charging and connecting to a computer, as well as two speaker grilles. One of them is decorative, under the second there is a speaker.



    And one more nice detail - at the bottom end there is an attachment for a strap or lace for your hand. Few manufacturers today add this element to smartphones, but Lenovo was not greedy.


    The block of touch buttons under the screen is the same as in the Vibe X2. The buttons are backlit in white; it can be turned off or triggered according to lighting conditions. The disadvantage is that the backlight is weak, and on a sunny day the key markings are simply not visible. From left to right there are the “Menu”, “Home” and “Back” keys. You cannot reassign actions assigned to buttons, this is a minus.


    On the back of the device there is a camera, flash and infrared focusing module. On the front side, above the screen, there is a speaker, light and proximity sensors, as well as an 8-megapixel front camera (no autofocus) and a light indicator to the left of it.


    Screen

    Lenovo Vibe Shot uses a 5" diagonal IPS LCD screen with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels and a density of 441 ppi. The screen is covered with Gorilla Glass 3 protective glass.

    In all respects, the display in the device is not bad. There is a good reserve of brightness, maximum viewing angles and close to natural color rendition. At the same time, options are available in the screen settings that turn it from just good to excellent.

    Firstly, traditionally for Lenovo smartphones several color profiles are available for the screen, including manual with the selection of individual parameters and their configuration.

    Secondly, there is a high-brightness mode that greatly increases the brightness level of the screen. By turning on this mode, you can use the device on a bright sunny day outside without experiencing any problems with its readability.

    Thirdly, there is the opposite of this, “night mode”. In it, the overall brightness of the screen is noticeably reduced, while in this mode you can also change the brightness in a wide range, just at a lower backlight level. This mode is perfect for situations when you want to read from a smartphone in complete darkness, for example.

    In general, these software add-ons in Lenovo Vibe Shot are an excellent example of how a display with seemingly ordinary characteristics can be turned into an excellent screen.

    Camera

    The cameras are the main selling point of the Lenovo Vibe Shot, as well as the element around which everything else about this device revolves. It is the camera and its capabilities that are emphasized here. The main camera in Vibe Shot is 16-megapixel, with autofocus, laser focusing and three-tone flash.


    There are two camera operating modes: “Auto” and “Pro”. The mode is changed using a mechanical switch on the right edge; in the camera settings you cannot switch from one mode to another. In Auto, a minimum of settings are available; the system itself selects the optimal parameters for shooting and sets a specific scene. In Pro mode, on the contrary, you do everything yourself; it is also in this mode that different shooting scenarios are available: HDR, portrait, and so on.


    In Pro mode, you can manually set the exposure, ISO value (100 - 1600), shutter speed (1/15 - 1 sec), white balance (the color profile is selected, not the temperature value) and set the focusing distance on the subject. These settings are enough to take good shots in low light conditions, at night, and simply in difficult photographic situations. Of course, the maximum shutter speed of only 1 second and the minimum ISO threshold of 100 units will not allow you to use your smartphone for shooting from a tripod at night, but the settings that are available are sufficient for many difficult conditions.





    It should be noted that the Pro mode itself is not much different from Auto, if you are not going to manually set various parameters. Below are pictures taken in two modes; as you can see, there is practically no difference between the frames.

    Auto Pro

    Macro

    In my opinion, the pictures come out excellent in most situations: sharp throughout the entire frame, with color rendition pleasing to the eye. When shooting close-up objects, you can see a beautiful, albeit not too obvious, bokeh in the background; the pattern is pleasant.

    In HDR mode there are several profiles, in one of them you can get images like this, eye-catching in color:



    Normal HDR

    Yes, in terms of operating speed and focusing, the camera in the Lenovo Vibe Shot is slightly inferior to the LG G4, but in general, the main camera in the smartphone is excellent.



    The front camera has a resolution of 8 MP, there is no autofocus here. The shots from this camera are quite good, although you won’t be able to take close-ups; the focusing distance is set in such a way that you need to move the camera away from you when shooting, but this is the only drawback.

    Videos can be recorded up to 1080p, which is a bit strange in my opinion. When positioning the smartphone as a photo flagship, the company did not add high resolutions here. Video shooting is available only from the Auto mode; tracking autofocus works during shooting; the optical stabilization work is also clearly visible and helps make the picture smoother.


    Autonomous operation

    The smartphone has a non-removable Li-Pol battery with a capacity of 3000 mAh; for the most efficient use of the battery, you can also turn on the “smart saving” mode, which reduces the screen brightness and GPU performance.

    In my usage scenario, Lenovo Vibe Shot worked on average until the evening, up to 20-21 hours. The scenario is approximately the following: an hour of conversations, several text messages, reading mail and replies in Gmail, 3-4 hours of listening to music, 1-2 hours of active use of the mobile Internet (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Google Chrome), constant correspondence throughout the day in Telegram and WhatsApp, photography.


    If you literally do not let go of the smartphone, then the operating time is approximately 6-7 hours, this is a completely acceptable indicator. For example, in a similar mode (the device is constantly on and in use), the LG G4 works for me for about 4-5 hours, and the HTC One M9 for about 5-6 hours, and I don’t consider this a problem.

    Platform, memory

    The smartphone is built on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 platform with an eight-core processor (four Cortex-A53 cores operating at 1 GHz and four Cortex-A53 cores at 1.7 GHz) and support for 64-bit architecture. The device has 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory for data storage. There is also a slot for a microSD card. Graphics subsystem – Adreno 405.

    Performance, tests

    Both in synthetic tests (Antutu) and in daily use, Lenovo Vibe Shot shows excellent results in terms of speed. In tests, these figures are on par with the Samsung Galaxy S5, Xiaomi Mi4 and other devices based on last year’s top Snapdragon 801 platform.

    The interface works smoothly and without lag, switching between programs occurs quickly and without jerks. The device easily plays FullHD video in high quality and allows you to play toys comfortably. Under normal load (calls, mail, Internet via a mobile network), the smartphone hardly heats up; with a constantly active Wi-Fi connection (watching a movie via a web service, for example) or during a long game, the device heats up, but I can’t call this heating critical or too noticeable.

    Interfaces

    The smartphone works in GSM, HSDPA and LTE networks. It supports working with two SIM cards, microSIM format, while the device has one radio module, so if you are talking on the first SIM card, the second one is inaccessible at this time.

    USB. To synchronize with a PC and transfer data, the included microUSB cable is used. USB 2.0 interface.

    Bluetooth. Built-in Bluetooth 4.1 module with support for A2DP and LE profiles.

    Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n). The smartphone has a dual-band Wi-Fi module, it works flawlessly. Like any other modern Android device, Lenovo Vibe Shot supports the function of “sharing” the mobile Internet via Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi router).

    Navigation

    Support for GPS/A-GPS and Glonass is implemented through a built-in solution on the chip; it takes less than a minute to determine your location (search for satellites). There is no special software for navigation in the smartphone, there is only the Google Maps program, as usual for Android smartphones.

    Software features and software

    The smartphone runs Android 5.1; the interface uses the proprietary VIBE UI (Lenovo Launcher), which is similar in its basic idea to MIUI. The same arrangement of all shortcuts on desktop screens without a separate application menu, deleting programs by holding your finger on the icon and pressing the cross above it after.

    From the lock screen, you can quickly access calls, messages, or launch the camera. If you listen to music through an audio player (Google Music, for example), the album cover and music control buttons are displayed on the lock screen.

    Lenovo programmers need to be thanked from the bottom of their hearts for not touching the standard Android 5 lock screen and adding something of their own. Thanks to this, you can go to it from the lock screen in two clicks on the notification card, bypassing unnecessary steps (as in the LG G4, for example).

    The same goes for the notification curtain – it was left almost standard, and that’s a plus. The changes affected mainly the appearance.

    There are design themes for the shell, and the main idea is the same as in MIUI: you can change the entire theme or use individual components from different themes, take icons somewhere, a picture somewhere, and ringtones in a third theme.

    Among the nice additional features: automatic recording of telephone conversations, display of battery charge in percentage or graphically, the ability to enable or disable the action of double tapping on the screen to activate the screen, vibration when the subscriber answers your call and some others that seem not very important, but nice features. It is due to such small details that the Lenovo proprietary shell leaves a pleasant impression. Yes, it has its own interface and design, but at the same time, successful solutions from Android 5 are harmoniously combined with no less successful solutions from Vibe UI itself.

    Here I want to grumble a little about the fact that, in addition to useful applications, the device, like other smartphones of the company, still contains unnecessary programs, in Vibe Shot these are UC Browser, the “Books” application and Gamestore, which is not clear why it is needed when there is Google Play.

    Conclusion

    The signal reception quality in the smartphone is typical for modern Android-based models - I can’t single it out for better or worse. The volume of the speaker is slightly above average, there is some reserve. The volume of the ringer is also above average, it is loud and clear, and if you choose the right melodies, you definitely won’t miss an incoming call, even if you are in a very noisy place like the subway. The vibration alert is average in strength, and the device itself is light, so its vibration is barely felt in your pocket.


    In Russia, the official price of Lenovo Vibe Shot is 30,000 rubles (29,990). Yes, just a year ago a mid-price device of this level would have cost 18,000-20,000 rubles, but the reality is that today the average segment of smartphones costs 25,000-30,000 rubles.

    Has the company made a successful smartphone? Definitely yes. Is the emphasis on the camera and its capabilities justified and is it worth trusting that Lenovo includes a high-quality camera in the device? Yes. Not everything in the Lenovo Vibe Shot is implemented successfully; there are certainly problems, but they are almost unnoticeable, and the only one that deserves attention is the impractical case, no matter how you look at it. It gets dirty, there are traces and fingerprints on it, dust, and you have to constantly wipe it. Everything else is at a good or excellent level. A high-quality screen, moderate dimensions, an atypical design, convenient software features and, most importantly, excellent cameras, both main and front. Yes, probably, in terms of photo capabilities, the Lenovo Vibe Shot is slightly inferior to smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy S6 (the entire line) and LG G4, but it beats almost everyone else. It's not just about the quality of the photo, but about the whole range of things related to photography on a smartphone, such as the convenience and speed of the interface, additional settings and other things. There is only one downside - there is no video recording in resolutions above 1080p.

    Despite the emphasis on the photographic component (the design alone is worth it), the Lenovo Vibe Shot is a solid, balanced device for everyone, so if you are choosing a new smartphone, it’s worth taking a closer look at this model.

    New models appear on the global smartphone market almost every day. Among them there are twins, which may differ only in the amount of memory or display size. And there are absolute unique ones who, despite the theme, seem typical, but remain individual in their manifestation. The Lenovo Vibe Shot smartphone once became such a model. Despite the fact that he is already 2 years old, he is still one of the leaders in the camera phone series.

    Package

    At one time, the company had a signature design focus, which, for example, was applied to the K900 model. The Lenovo Vibe Shot Z90 also had an almost identical box. The black lid was made of thick cardboard and had a soft-touch-like coating. The bottom was bright red, which was very attractive and unusual. There was practically no information on the packaging. The manufacturer's logo is modestly placed in the corner of the front, and the model name is barely noticeable along the entire perimeter.

    The equipment also turned out to be rich. We can’t say that this is the company’s feature, since some models are completely deprived of even a headset. But in this particular box you could even find a case for the Lenovo Vibe Shot. Of course, it only had the shape of a “bumper”, and even received the usual transparent plastic. But this was done on purpose, and for what purpose we will find out later.

    Among other things, the box contains a compact charger unit, a micro-USB cable, and a proprietary stereo headset, which supposedly has tangle-free wires due to their flat cross-section. Although in practice, of course, not everything is so good. The Lenovo Vibe Shot Z90 did not lack a set of instructions, as well as a key for the card tray.

    Design

    We can talk about this forever. Design is not the most important feature of a smartphone, but it is second in importance after the camera. The model turned out to be stylish, expensive and beautiful. The phone also received cool body colors. The red and black option looks especially good. When reviewing the Lenovo Vibe Shot, you will notice similarities in design with the previous Lenovo Vibe X2 model. It is immediately clear that the company listened to the feedback about this model and decided to embody all the most beautiful things in the new one.

    The camera phone began to look even more expensive. Around the usual multi-colored stripes were replaced with a monolithic metal frame. Its surface is matte and slightly rough. The convenient thing is that it does not slip, there are no fingerprints left on it and no scratches are visible. Thanks to it, the smartphone can be held perfectly with one hand.

    The main element that attracts attention is the back side. It is made of a glass panel, a small part of it has a landscape orientation, is painted in a different color, and there is a camera on it. So the manufacturer decided to pay attention to the specification of the model, thereby drawing attention to the smartphone.

    To make the new product even more reminiscent of a camera, a camera shutter button was placed on the side. This option is rarely found on phones, which once again reminds us of the positioning of the model.

    In general, all the materials that were used for the case are of very high quality. The company has never had problems with this, even regarding budget models. The body turned out to be monolithic, strong, without any cracks or backlashes.

    The Lenovo Vibe Shot smartphone has moderate dimensions. Its display is small compared to the currently popular 5.5-inch screens. But the mass makes the phone weighty, but that’s not a bad thing. Moreover, given the metal frame and glass lid, such a weight was to be expected. In general, the dimensions are quite balanced. The smartphone looks great in both women's and men's hands.

    Element base

    When reviewing the Lenovo Vibe Shot, it is worth mentioning the comfortable arrangement of elements on the body. As already mentioned, the smartphone has a monolithic design; the back cover is not removable. It only has a camera, a flash and the company logo.

    There is a 5-inch display on the front. Above it is the front camera and earpiece. Below the screen there are touch-sensitive service buttons: “Home”, “Menu” and “Back”.

    On the left side there are two trays: one with a memory card, the second for two SIM cards. This option is very profitable and is really rare. Despite the rather thin body, the manufacturer managed to fit both trays, which many lack, especially with the recent fashion of the hybrid slot.

    The right side is even more busy: there is a volume rocker, a screen lock and a camera button. Also next to the latter there is a small slider responsible for the shooting modes: automatic or manual. This option is definitely rarely seen in smartphones. Some models do not even have a shooting key at all. On the other hand, such generosity is justified by the positioning of the model.

    By the way, another rather attractive advantage is that thanks to the frame, the phone can be installed in a horizontal position, using the table surface as a tripod. The keys on the end are not very protruding, but they are easy to feel, and their movement, although noticeable, is smooth.

    The bottom end of the case is occupied by a connector for the charger, and on its sides there are two external speaker grilles. More precisely, one of them corresponds to this option, and under the second, as usual, a conversational microphone is hidden. There's a headphone jack on top, and next to it is an additional noise-canceling microphone.

    As mentioned earlier, there are several colors for the phone body. One of them is represented by the Lenovo Vibe Shot White model. Although it itself has a snow-white color, its frame has a slightly shading tone, reminiscent of a slightly steel tint. There is also a black version that has a dark gray frame. The most attractive black and red option. By the way, it has become the most popular among buyers.

    Display

    Lenovo Vibe Shot has the usual display characteristics for this price category, and considering that this is a camera phone, this element of the phone does not have any frills. The sensor paired with an IPS matrix is ​​covered with Corning Gorilla Glass 3. According to manufacturers, it protects against scratches, but it is always better to buy an additional film for the screen. The display is 5 inches and the resolution is Full HD. The density of points in the final result is 401.

    The frame around the screen turned out to be not particularly attractive, especially nowadays, when developers are trying in every possible way to reduce its area. On the sides it is approximately 4 millimeters, and at the bottom almost 2 centimeters. If the manufacturer had worked better on these parameters, the case could have been more elegant.

    The brightness in general is also quite good for all the above parameters. It can be installed either manually or using auto-tuning. The latter mode works due to the ambient light sensor. The sensor accepts up to 10 touches. Near the earpiece there is a proximity sensor to the ear, which turns off the screen, but this, of course, is not a new product, but just a nice addition. The screen “wakes up” from a double tap.

    The anti-glare properties of the display are quite good. There is no air gap between the layers. In this case, in very bright lighting, everything is clearly visible on the screen, but if it is damaged, repairs are very expensive. The display surface is protected by an oleophobic coating, which is very fashionable these days due to its grease-repellent properties.

    The Lenovo Vibe Shot's screen has good viewing angles. The colors change, if at all, very slightly. The shades are also not inverted. Color balance is not always correct. But in the settings you can change the modes and set natural colors.

    Sound

    Next we should move on to the sound. This parameter turned out to be quite good for the phone. The sound is quite high quality both through the external speaker and through the headset. The sound is clear, bright, rich, both bass and high frequencies stand out. The volume, although not super-powerful, is sufficient on average. The speaker does not distort the voice of the interlocutor. Just like the microphone, in principle.

    To play music, you can use the built-in player from Google Play Music. There you can adjust the sound in the equalizer. Radio is also available in this smartphone, it can work with or without a headset. In addition, it is possible to record programs.

    Communication

    The Lenovo Vibe Shot phone is equipped with all possible sensors. It supports 2G and 3G networks, as well as five LTE variants. Reception of various signals is stable, no breaks or anything else was observed. If there were models from this manufacturer that often stopped working indoors or in other areas of poor signal reception, then this option functioned correctly everywhere.

    There are many network capabilities here: there is Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, as well as all kinds of global GPS, Glonass and Beidou navigation module systems. You can install a device with a USB connector via an OTG cable. The only thing missing here is NFC.

    An interesting feature of the smartphone is its support for Smart Dial technology, which searches for contacts in the phone book while dialing a number. Continuous text input via Swype is also available.

    The two SIM cards work correctly and do not overlap each other. Both are in active standby mode, but do not function at the same time, since there is only one radio module. For easy use, you can designate one of the cards as the main one for certain tasks: calls, messages or the Internet. You can also select them at the time of the call.

    Both cards can be used for high-speed data transfer on the network, while supporting 3G (4G) networks. This option is pleasant, considering that in early models, you had to install a SIM card in a special slot if you needed the Internet.

    Performance

    The Lenovo Vibe Shot smartphone has good characteristics. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor, which has 8 cores. The platform has a 64-bit capacity, and a technology in which Cortex-A53 processor cores are adjacent. Snapdragon 615 is the second generation, which has improved the core frequency to 1650 MHz, accordingly, this is the most powerful solution among analogues. It is made using the 28 nm process technology. This cannot be said to be a powerful processor; rather, it occupies the “golden” middle.

    The graphics are handled by Adreno 405, which operates at 550 MHz. The RAM is more than enough to perform a large number of tasks simultaneously. Only 3 GB. Internal memory is as much as 32 GB, of which 23 GB is free. Just as mentioned earlier, there is support for a memory card. This choice of the manufacturer is understandable, given that the camera phone will require a lot of memory, especially when taking high-resolution pictures.

    Performance testing shows good results, which, in principle, was to be expected. The platform has proven to be in the average stable category. But if we remember that the frequency of this processor was increased compared to the first generation, then the result was decent. In AnTuTu, the phone scored 36 thousand points, and GeekBench 3 tests gave values ​​of 727/2590.

    Shell

    For Lenovo Vibe Shot, the firmware was represented by the Google Android LolliPop version, which was already outdated by 2017. The proprietary shell is Lenovo Vibe UI. It is practically no different from the standard one, which at that time was popular in all Chinese models.

    What stood out most was the catchy design and the many add-ons that phones from this company have always been famous for. Moreover, half of the available technologies are not even known to everyone, let alone used. The fonts turned out to be small and narrow, although this can all be corrected by the settings.

    There are also many different wallpapers and branded features available. But there is still no peace from standard software. There are, as usual, a carriage and a small cart. Some of them can still be removed, some can only be removed by flashing them. Half, as usual, is not used by the average user. But overall they are quite usable and useful.

    I was also pleased that for Lenovo Vibe Shot the firmware of the proprietary shell “comes over the air”, which means you can expect more optimized operation of the system, getting rid of bugs and other shortcomings.

    Highlight

    Well, the “cherry on the cake” of this smartphone was the camera. Given the powerful marketing campaign, it is difficult to objectively analyze the shortcomings and advantages of the lens. But it’s still worth trying and, in the end, figuring out whether the phone’s lens is that good or, as people say, is it a “trick” from Lenovo?

    The front camera is already impressive in numbers: it has 8 megapixels, which will especially appeal to selfie lovers. The main one is equipped with a 16 megapixel sensor. For 2015, when this phone appeared, the option is very good for the mid-price segment.

    The front camera of the Lenovo Vibe Shot is, in principle, simple. It does not have autofocus, but it has interesting modes: you can retouch a portrait, remove skin unevenness, and various defects. The results of the Photoshop software can be observed immediately, before pressing the shoot button.

    Of course, such modes do not work as perfectly as on a computer. In some cases, they greatly distort the face. However, you should not turn your camera phone into a platform for image editing. Then there is the non-existent flash function for the front camera. As a result, the screen is filled with light, illuminating the face slightly better. Now this function has become very popular, although in practice it cannot even come close to replacing the flash.

    The main camera is interesting. It received laser autofocus, which reacts more quickly to the subject. There is also a triple LED flash. This choice initially raised questions, because often there was enough lighting for two LEDs. But as practice has shown, this choice made it possible to get rid of a pale face and improve the color balance.

    Many users were also pleased with the optical stabilization, which works correctly. The video finder is not burdened with unnecessary elements; it is simple and attractive. The menu has everything you need for manual configuration. All available icons are filled with a brief description for amateur photographers. There are quite familiar standard options.

    The manual setting is also very comfortable and wide. Those who have at least a little knowledge of photography will find here setting white balance, photosensitivity, adjusting exposure, shutter speed, and more. Despite some inaccuracies in the manual mode, it is worth noting that the automatic mode works quite correctly. He selects the parameters well, the only thing is that I want to spend more time focusing, with it you can really get interesting pictures.

    Competitor

    Since we have a Lenovo Vibe Shot 32Gb camera phone in front of us, and its main feature is the camera, it’s worth comparing with approximately the same competitor. Most often this phone is opposed to the LG G4. This model comes with a 16 MP camera, but is not positioned as a camera phone. The lens takes excellent pictures, they are sharp all around, have good detail, as well as a rich, contrasting, and most importantly, natural picture.

    In the end, as a comparison of both cameras shows, it’s not for nothing that our Lenovo Vibe Shot receives good reviews. The camera does not always work adequately in the dark: comparatively, the LG G4 takes photos dark. Autofocus in the room is sometimes lost.

    Its main advantage remains software processing, which, although not fully implemented, is still a pleasant addition. The laser focus also works quickly, the lens conveys natural colors and a detailed picture. The resolution is also decent. Although if we recall the more powerful model Nokia Lumia 1020, this camera phone does not take photographs of fundamentally high quality or unusual.

    The camcorder can also record in the highest resolution Full HD format. Here again the presence of a slot for a memory card comes in handy. Since just one minute in this mode will cost you about 140 MB.

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