Lenovo has just announced three new phones, the Vibe S1, Vibe P1 and Vibe P1m, at IFA 2015. All three phones come in under $300 unlocked and seem to offer solid value for the money in their own ways.
Starting with the higher-end model of the three, the Vibe S1 is a selfie-focused 5-inch device clad in metal and glass. The Vibe S1's main feature is its two front-facing cameras — an 8MP for the highest-quality selfies, and a 2MP for depth information to replicate human binocular vision. The two cameras work together for new features like refocusing, background blur, cut-outs and other tools. The rest of the phone rounds out to a 5-inch 1080p display, octa-core 1.7GHz Mediatek CPU, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, 13MP rear camera, 2500 mAh battery and LTE connectivity inside.
The Vibe P1 and P1m slot in underneath the S1 just slightly, and they're all about simple features and battery life. The Vibe P1 is an all-metal affair, with a 5.5-inch 1080p display, Snapdragon 615 processor, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, 13MP rear camera and an absolutely huge 5000 mAh battery. That battery enables reverse charging of other devices over USB, and sports quick charging capabilities.
The P1m is similarly positioned to the P1, but corners have been cut for price. The plastic device bumps down to a Mediatek processor and 16GB of storage, as well as a 5-inch 720p display and 8MP camera. The battery cuts down to meet the size at 4000 mAh, but keeps the same reverse charging and quick charging abilities. Both phones are running Android 5.1 Lollipop as well, and have dual SIM slots.
Lenovo has the Vibe S1 slated for a November release for $299 unlocked, which seems like a solid deal for the phone. The Vibe P1 will be available in early October for $279, with the P1m lining up in mid-September for just $159 unlocked. None of the phones are set to arrive in North America, but will be made available in other countries where Lenovo phones are currently sold.
Press release:
Lenovo Reveals Its First Dual Selfie Camera Smartphone
Lenovo VIBE S1 takes selfies to the next level
Berlin – 2 September 2015 — Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) today announced the launch of the 5.0" Lenovo VIBE S1, a unique smartphone with two front cameras and an attractive curved glass back design available in color options. This latest addition to the VIBE family combines the ability to take really creative selfies with a fashionable exterior.
"Selfies are now the most popular type of photos snapped on a smartphone, with over a million selfies taken a day and 48% of that are shared on Facebook alone," said Jerry Hsiao, Vice President of Lenovo Phone Product Management & Operations, Lenovo Mobile Business Group "People expect more from their smartphones today. Capturing precious moments alone or with friends and family is not enough anymore. They want their selfies to stand out in their social media circles. We carefully listened to the consumers' desires and designed the VIBE S1 based on those insights."
The Power of Two
The VIBE S1 is truly unique because of its dual selfie cameras – the 8MP primary front camera takes the sharpest photos and a 2MP secondary front camera analyzes depth of field information to replicate human binocular vision. These two cameras work in tandem to unleash a myriad of new possibilities that can give selfies a creative twist.
After taking a selfie with both cameras, there are various options to modify the selfie by selecting from a number of built-in photo editing tools. 'Blur' allows refocusing anywhere on the seflie (up to 3 focal plains) or adding a 'bokeh' photo effect to the background to stylize a selfie or simply to get rid of a photo bomber. With 'Cut Out', people can be cropped out of a selfie and then placed on any other image (from a wide selection preloaded on the VIBE S1 or downloaded from the internet), and even on a photo taken with the rear camera of the VIBE S1 smartphone. No matter where the selfie is taken, the person in it can be cut out and placed in front of the Eifel Tower or the Taj Mahal for instance.
Night or lowlight selfies are now possible with the VIBE S1's front camera BSI sensor that improves the clarity and quality of after-dark selfies. And for the true selfie expert, the experience can never be complete without the VIBE Xtension™ plug-in selfie flash that allows up to 100 picture-perfect selfies on a single charge, at once achieving a more natural color tonality in the selfies taken in lowlight conditions.
The VIBE S1's 13MP rear camera, allows users to capture life's moments with crystal clarity. The rear camera boasts of phase-detection autofocus that dramatically increases focusing speed. Plus, a dual-color flash optimizes color tones based on ambient lighting.
Inspired By Style with An Eye On Performance
The VIBE S1's designers paid special attention to every detail of its craftsmanship. Users will enjoy the look and feel of this smartphone with a curved-glass rear panel made of the latest Gorilla® Glass and the thin rounded metal frame that goes round the side. With its thin 7.8mm profile and weighing only 132g, it's designed to snuggly fit in the user's hand.
The VIBE S1 is powered by a 64-bit MediaTek Octa-Core processor and 3GB of RAM, it is capable of breezing through any task. With 160GB of storage (with up to 128GB of microSD external storage support), the VIBE S1 can easily accommodate around 40,000 photographs. It comes preloaded with an Android™ 5.0 (Lollipop) operating system. Users can view their selfies and photos on a vivid 5.0" Full HD display and easily share all their photos stored on the VIBE S1 with Lenovo's star SHAREit app which comes preloaded. Finally, the VIBE S1 is capable of 4G LTE connectivity speeds. Lenovo VIBE S1 will be available in two attractive color options: Pearl White and Midnight Blue.
Pricing and Availability
The VIBE S1 will be available starting in November in countries where Lenovo smartphones are sold. Pricing for the model starts at $299 (USD). Prices may vary from country to country.
Note: Not available in North America.
*Prices do not include tax or shipping or options and are subject to change without notice; additional terms and conditions apply. Reseller prices may vary. On-shelf dates may vary by geography and products may only be available in selected markets. All offers subject to availability. Lenovo reserves the right to alter product offerings, features and specifications at any time without notice.
Press release:
Power Up for Work and Play with the All New Lenovo VIBE P1 and P1m
Designed for the always-on, VIBE P1 and P1m boast massive batteries and smart power saving tools
Berlin – September 2 2015 — Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) today launched two new powerful VIBE smartphone models. Built for the most demanding of consumers who never stop to plug in, the VIBE P1 and P1m let users stay constantly connected, productive and always in control.
With an exceptional battery life to give mobile consumers peace of mind, the new VIBE smartphones feature a manual power saver switch to instantly extend battery life and an OTG (OnThe-Go) Charging function to charge other USB-connected devices, such as Bluetooth headsets and portable speakers. Equipped with high-performance processors, the VIBE P1 and P1m not only run apps and games seamlessly, but also support blazing-fast connectivity and smooth access to online content with 4G LTE.
"Consumers today need a smartphone that suits their always-on lifestyle. Lenovo's new VIBE P1 and P1m are truly optimized for connectivity. Its massive battery capacities and smart power saving features let users do more for less." said Jerry Hsiao, Vice President of Lenovo Phone Product Management & Operations, Mobile Business Group, Lenovo.
Power to Last
A powerful companion for the most mobile of consumers, the VIBE P1 comes packed with productivity features geared for multi-taskers and tools to keep the device secure. The VIBE P1 comes with an impressive 5000mAh battery, one of the highest-capacity batteries in its class. Now users can be sure of a smartphone that will last them through the day with the ability to charge other phones in need of a battery boost anytime. In addition to a physical power saver switch, which instantly extends battery life and OTG (On-The-Go) Charging feature, the VIBE P1 stands out with a 24W quick charge function that can rapidly charge the phone battery.
Supporting slick and fast performance, the VIBE P1 has a 1.5GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 615 64-bit octa-core processor for users to run multiple apps, surf the web and stream videos all at once. To ensure speedy and an uninterrupted surfing experience, the smartphone's Wi-Fi Boost provides 5G WiFi support for improved Wi-Fi speed and range. The VIBE P1 can also be paired with a range of smart devices, from headsets to cameras and TVs, utilizing wireless NFC (Near-Field Communication) technology. Meanwhile, an embedded fingerprint scanner on the home button supports black screen unlock and brings about even greater convenience and security to keep the device and user privacy safer than ever before.
The VIBE P1 also offers an unexpected entertainment experience with its unrivalled audio quality. Smart PA technology boosts audio output. It also features a sealed sound chamber for improved resonance and better bass for all sorts of multimedia needs. It comes with a13MP rear camera with fast-focus PDAF technology and a 5MP selfie camera with multiple shooting modes and beautification features.
Sporting a premium metal-and-glass design, accentuated by a slender aluminum frame (measuring just 4mm along the sides), and a subtly curved rear metallic cover for improved ergonomics, the VIBE P1 exudes exquisite craftsmanship. The screen is made of Gorillia Glass 3, a thinner and lighter iteration of Corning's scratch- and crack-resistant protective glass.
The VIBE P1m features a long-lasting 4000mAh battery with a quick charge function which allows users to get a quick power boost when they are in a hurry.
Lenovo engineered the VIBE P1m to be life proof too with its splash-proof capability via a nano-coating technology. These, coupled with a powerful MediaTek 64-bit quad-core processor and a vivid 5-inch HD screen, make the VIBE P1m a truly exceptional value-for-money device.
The VIBE P1 is available in Platinum, Graphite Grey and Gold (this version is only available in PRC), and P1m is available in Onyx Black and Pearl White.
Pricing and Availability
The VIBE P1 will be available starting early October and VIBE P1m in mid-September in countrieswhere Lenovo smartphones are sold.
Pricing starts at $279 (USD) for VIBE P1and $159 (USD) for VIBE P1m. Prices may vary from country to country.
