Showing posts with label lenovo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lenovo. Show all posts

Monday, November 16, 2015

Lenovo Vibe X3 launched in three versions

Not a particularly well kept secret, the Lenovo Vibe X3 has just been unveiled in China. A successor to the multi-layer Vibe X2, the X3 bears little resemblance to last-year's sharp-edged model, instead adopting more fluid rounded shapes. What's perhaps a bit surprising is that the Vibe X3 moniker denotes a total of 3 smartphones.
While they all carry the same name, it's more of a 2+1 affair, as two of those have a lot in common, and the third one swaps a few components to keep the price lower. That said, all three of those have 5.5-inch displays with FullHD resolution and Gorilla Glass 3 protection.


The two higher-end models sport a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 chipset with 3GB or RAM and 64GB or 32GB of built-in storage, respectively, and they accept microSD cards for expansion. They both come with dual-SIM dual-standby capability and 4G on both cards.
     
Lenovo Vibe X3 press images
Picture taking is handled by a 23MP primary camera which uses a Sony IMX230 sensor with phase detection autofocus and 4K video recording. There's an 8MP front-facing camera as well. A prominent feature is the generous 3,600mAh battery, and thanks to Qualcomm's QuickCharge 2.0 tech it should be pretty fast to top up too.


The third model comes with a different chipset, and the true octa-core name hints at Mediatek silicon. The CPU is clocked at 1.3GHz and there's only 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, expandable yet again. This "Youth" version also brings downgrades in the camera department - the rear shooter is a 16MP unit, while the selfies will come out at 5MP. The powerpack has a slightly smaller capacity at 3,400mAh, but the headline here should be that the battery is removable.
     
Lenovo Vibe X3 press images
All three phones come with some serious audio prowess. There's a total of three Texas Instruments OPA1612 amplifiers, a Cirrus Logic WM8281 codec for noise and echo cancellation to handle the input from the three mics, and a high-end Sabre 9018C2M DAC as found in the LG V10. A Dolby Atmos certification sits proudly on the devices' backs. All models feature a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor as well.
List prices in China are CNY 2,999 ($470) for the top-specced model with 64GB of ROM, CNY 2,499 ($390) for the 32GB version, and CNY 1,899 ($300) for the Youth version. It remains to be seen when the international version of the Vibe X3 will be revealed and it's also unclear whether all three models will make it outside of China.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Motorola will absorb Lenovo Mobile

You can expect a lot more Motorola models in the future. Lenovo has decided that in the smartphone market the brand recognition of Motorola is much stronger than that of its own brand and will integrate Lenovo Mobile into Motorola.
That's not just a relabeling though, the President of Lenovo Mobile Group said that much of the organizational structure of Motorola will remain in place and will take lead of what is now Lenovo Mobile.
Lenovo Mobile will cut down the number of models it produces until eventually all new models come out under the Motorola brand. The combined company will rely heavily on Moto's long experience in research and development.


Lenovo's phone business will not be all Moto though, the company recently launched the ZUK brand. ZUK will work on the international scene and wants to become known for its high-end phones.
Lenovo's last financial results showed a slight drop in shipments in Q1 (16.2 million) and a pre-tax loss of $292 million. This may have been the trigger for Lenovo to shift towards the more recognizable brand.

Friday, August 21, 2015

Lenovo's ZUK Z1 ships in mid-October, to cost about $330

Yesterday we reported about the partnership between Lenovo's ZUK subsidiary and Cyanogen. ZUK's first smartphone - the Z1 - will be going international thanks to Cyanogen OS later this year. As promised, the international availability was detailed today.


So, until the recently China exclusive, the ZUK Z1 will be going on sale internationally in mid-October. The smartphone costs about $280 in China, but its international price will be a bit higher, most probably around $330.
As of today the retailer Gearbest has the ZUK Z1 in stock. It costs $340 in there and can be purchased in both white and gray flavors. Judging by the video, the Cyanogen OS running on the unit was a Preview version. This means either the retail OS will be seeded later with an update, or it's just an issue with the demo unit.
Please note that Gearbest's warehouses are located in China and the US, so make sure you check any customs charges that may be due when shipping outside of those countries.
The ZUK Z1 packs a 5.5" 1080p display and runs on the Snapdragon 801 chipset with 3GB of RAM. The rest of its specs include a 13MP main cam, an 8MP selfie snapper, 64GB storage, LTE connectivity, a fingerprint scanner and a beefy 4,100 mAh battery. There is also a USB Type-C port.