Lenovo just updated its ultra-affordable smartphone segment in India with the launch of its Vibe K5, which is a toned-down version of the Vibe K5 Plus the company released in March. The successor to the once-popular A6000 smartphone, the Vibe K5 offers competitive specifications at an irresistibly low price.
Lenovo launched the Vibe K5 for Rs. 6,999, making it a solid competitor to some existing players such as Meizu M2, Xiaomi Redmi 2 Prime and Reliance LYF Wind 5. Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus is priced slightly higher at Rs. 8,499. The higher price tag is justified by the upgraded specifications that the Vibe K5 Plus offers. We are going to look at the differences between both Vibe K5 and Vibe K5 Plus to determine which smartphone can be suitable for budget smartphone shoppers.
Design and display
Both Lenovo smartphones have identical designs, replicated down to the last screw. The upgrades in the Vibe K5 Plus are mostly internal, which you will experience while using the handset. But for those who value style and are willing to compromise on the specs for extra savings, the Vibe K5 offers a solid choice.
Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus and Vibe K5 feature lightweight metal body and design for best one-handed use. The dual speakers are placed at the back panel, which is a big USP of both phones as the setup claims to fine-tune any audio experience.
The size of the display in both phones is also the same due to the identical design. Both phones have a 5-inch display, but the screen resolution in the Vibe K5 Plus is 1920 x 1080 pixels compared to 1280 x 720 pixels. Users will certainly feel the difference between the HD and Full HD screens.
Camera
Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus and Vibe K5 sport same camera resolutions. The rear camera has a 13-megapixel sensor with LED flash and autofocus and the front snapper has a 5MP sensor. The details of the Vibe K5 camera sensors are unavailable, but the Vibe K5 Plus has a capable camera setup. The primary camera comes with OV13850 sensor, f/2.2 aperture, 5-element physical lens and Full HD video recording. The front camera comes with f/2.8 aperture, 4-piece lens and an auto beautification app for enhanced seflies.
We are unsure if the Vibe K5 also sports the same camera configuration, but we will reserve our final verdict on that until we review the device.
Processor, RAM and storage
If you are spending extra for the Vibe K5 Plus, expect an improved performance. The Vibe K5 Plus is powered by a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 616 octa-core processor, while the Vibe K5 uses a slightly downgraded 1.4GHz Snapdragon 415 octa-core SoC. Both phones have 2GB RAM, Adreno 405 GPU for graphics and 16GB expandable storage.
Battery and software
Both smartphones have the same 2,750mAh battery. The company claims to offer up to 32 hours 2G talk time in the Vibe K5 Plus, but the Vibe K5 is expected to last longer due to its lower screen resolution and processor.
As Android powers both smartphones, the Vibe K5 Plus runs Android 5.1 Lollipop and the Vibe K5 is powered by the latest Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
Add-ons
There is nothing extra in the Vibe K5 Plus that Vibe K5 doesn't offer. Both phones support dual SIM cards, 4G LTE, TheaterMax and have Dolby Atmos audio system. Both phones also come in the same colour options, silver, grey and gold.
Availability
Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus is available exclusively on Flipkart. There are no flash sales, so buyers can directly purchase the handset. Flipkart is also offering exchange bonus of up to Rs. 6,500 for trading in old smartphones.
Lenovo Vibe K5 will go on sale exclusively on Amazon India starting June 22. Registrations for the handset are open on the e-commerce site.
