Lenovo K5 Note First Impression: The New Contender

Lenovo’s online exclusive ‘Notes’ have enjoyed immense popularity in virtual marketplaces for the last couple of years, and thus it’s no surprise that the arrival of the new Vibe K5 Note is already a trending subject. We got to experience the Vibe K5 Note first hand on the launch day and here’s what we felt.

Also read: Lenovo K5 Note full review / Camera Review

Lenovo K5 Note Specifications And Features:

Front facing speakers are gone

Design-wise, the Vibe K5 Note feels more of an iterative refinement over the K3 Note than an evolution of the Vibe K4 Note (Full Review). That makes sense since the Vibe K4 Note was rebranded Vibe X3 Lite and perhaps wasn’t intentionally designed to carry forward the Vibe Note legacy.

One way or the other, the dual front facing speakers were something that we loved about K4 Note, and thus the single speaker placed on the back feels one step backward. If it matters, Dolby Atmos audio is still supported.

Also Read: 5 Next To Useless Android Features

Other design attributes seem fairly generic as well. On the rear, you will find a metal back plate flanked by broad plastic strips on top and bottom, Redmi Note 3 like symmetrical camera plus fingerprint sensor arrangement and loud Vibe branding. There is the delectable metal running along the sides. And on the front, there is a full HD display lined with off-screen capacitive buttons (backlit) at the bottom.

The design feels a bit hackneyed, but at least Lenovo has got the ergonomics right. The K5 Note is quite solid and comfortable to wield.

Another good thing is that you will be able to buy it in three different color options (Black looks best in our opinion) starting from day one, without going through the flash sale inconvenience.

The display felt sharp and vivid

Lenovo is using a 5.5-inch Full HD LTPS panel on the K5 Note. The indoor lighting we examined it in was far from ideal, but still, the display felt sharp. It also proffers excellent viewing angles and well-balanced colors. Besides, the display settings allow you to tweak color temperature to your liking in an efficient manner.

TheaterMax plus New Controllers

Lenovo’s TheaterMax software integration that was first introduced with the K4 Note is here to stay. In the keynote, Lenovo put more stress on how the TheaterMax experience can’t be belittled as ordinary VR experience.

Lenovo also launched a Bluetooth controller (999 INR) and Amkette GamePad Pro 2 (2,800 INR) to help you play games once your phone is firmly plugged in the AntVR headset. Want to know more about Lenovo’s TheaterMax? Head to the link below.

Also Read: Lenovo TheaterMax Review – All You Need To Know

Being able to enjoy a theater-like big screen experience on your phone using a VR headsets sounds cool, but isn’t something most people would frequently return back to once the novelty wears off (in our opinion, that is).

Pure UI software

The new Pure UI is lighter as compared to Vibe UI and seems to be more in line with Google’s Android vision (at least the settings menu is). The star feature is a ‘secure zone’. In theory, the ‘Secure Zone’ is the same feature which Coolpad refers to as “dual-in-one” and what Xiaomi terms as “Second Space” in the MIUI 8.

With Secure Zone you can split your phone storage into two virtual partitions and secure each with a password. You also get to install two of each app – Two WhatsApp, Two FB and so on, and seamlessly switch between multiple social media account.

Also Read: Coolpad Max First Impression – A Tough Sell At 25K

This is also something you could otherwise achieve by login into a guest account on stock android or by using apps like Parallel Space.

On the K5 Note, you can switch between the two ‘Zones’ from quick settings or from a floating bubble. The Pure UI also supports several gestures including double tap to wake.

Performance expectations

On the inside, the Vibe K5 Note is powered by 1.8Ghz Helio P10. By now, we have experienced the P10 in a couple of devices. Our reading so far states that is a good enough chip for day to day usage, is prudent with battery management but falters a bit with high-end gaming. Come to think of it that is precisely the kind of experience we have been getting from Lenovo’s K Note series so far.

Also, we don’t expect much real world usage difference between the 3GB and 4GB RAM variant.

Since there is a 3500 mAh battery on board and Helio P10 chip at hardware helm, battery backup shouldn’t be a problem.

As far as camera performance goes, we will have to reserve our verdict till we get to shoot in different lighting conditions. We will have more to share after our quick review.

Overview 

The primary reasons for why you would place the new Vibe K5 Note above other enticing options in the intensely competitive 10K to 15K band are the promised VR experience and option for 4GB RAM. But, by far, that’s not all that the K5 Note has to offer. We will have to spend more time with the new Note to judge if its worth your hard earned money, so stay tuned for the full review.