Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.
Lenovo Vibe K5 and Vibe K5 Plus hands on
At MWC 2016 we had the opportunity to go hands on with the Vibe K5 and Vibe K5 Plus, two new entry-level handsets from Lenovo, which were formally announced by Lenovo over the weekend. Priced under $200, what do Lenovo’s latest budget-friendly handsets bring to the tablet? Let’s take a quick look.
Aesthetically, these two phones essentially offer the exact same design, which is built of aluminum, though you’ll find a lot faux metals coverings and parts here too, which isn’t too shocking given the pricing. Regardless, the Lenovo Vibe K5 and K5 Plus actually feel pretty good in the hand and the slight curve around the back sides help make an otherwise pretty ordinary phone stand out a bit more.
Unlike typical metallic phones, the Vibe K5 and K5 Plus have a removable back which provides access to a user-replaceable 2750 mAh battery. There’s also a microSD expansion slot, which also you to add an additional 32GB storage on top of the 16GB that’s built in.
In addition to offering the same battery sizes and storage configurations, the K5 and K5 Plus also both offer 2GB RAM, 13MP rear cams, 5MP front cams, dual SIM slots, 4G LTE, dual rear-facing speakers, and 5-inch displays. Where they differ is in the processor and display resolution. The Lenovo Vibe K5 is powered by a Snapdragon 415 and has a 720p resolution, while the Vibe K5 Plus takes things a step forward with its Snapdragon 616 processor and full HD (1080p) display.
Software wise, the phones are running on Android 5.1 Lollipop, skinned with LG’s typical customizations on top. And yes, that means no app drawer. There’s also a number of special pre-loaded apps like SHAREit, SNAPit, and Guvera Music. Even though the Vibe K5 family are entry-level products, the lack of Marshmallow in 2016 is a bit disappointing, but not a deal breaker.
So that’s it for our quick hands on with the Lenovo Vibe K5 and K5 Plus. You can expect the Lenovo Vibe K5 and K5 Plus to make their way to select markets starting in March for $129 and $149, respectively. At least at this time however, Lenovo has no plans to bring the Vibe brand to the US market.