Smartphone Lenovo K5 Play 3/32GB - advantages and disadvantages

The Chinese company Lenovo is a well-known manufacturer of electronic devices. Laptops and smartphones of this brand are distinguished by reliability and high build quality.

In March 2018, three new models of Lenovo S5, K5 and K5 Play phones were introduced. The K series devices are designed for the Chinese market, so it is easier to purchase them in the Aliexpress online store and similar trading platforms. In Russian stores, the choice is still quite modest.

What is remarkable about the K5 Play smartphone and whether it is worth choosing, will reveal a detailed review below.

Specifications

Design

The stylish design of the smartphone is notable for its textured back cover. The wave-like curves are pleasant to the touch and give the phone an ergonomic feel. The device is made in three glossy colors: black, gold and blue.

On the front panel, above the screen, there is a speaker, a camera and various sensors. On the right side there are three oblong keys: on / off and volume control, divided into two parts. The power button has a ribbed surface and is easily recognizable blindly. At the top on the left side is a retractable slot for SIM-cards. The bottom edge has a micro USB power jack, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, a microphone and a speaker, unfortunately not stereo.

The rear camera module with double LED flash is shifted to the left edge of the back cover and is located horizontally. The fingerprint scanner has remained in its usual place for Chinese smartphones.

Device dimensions: 72.6×153.75×7.85 mm. Weight is only 155 grams. The smartphone is very light because the body is made of plastic. Such material is not practical and collects fingerprints well.

Display

The display occupies most of the front panel. It is enclosed in a black frame with symmetrical bulges at the top and bottom. The 5.7-inch IPS touch screen has a resolution of 1440×720 pixels. A device with support only for HD format undoubtedly loses to new products with high resolutions. The pixel density is quite low at 282 ppi, but the image looks sharp and the battery lasts longer. The standard aspect ratio of 18 to 9 is suitable for comfortable video viewing.Multi-touch supports 10 simultaneous touches and allows you to use your smartphone for active games.

Due to the 2.5D effect, the display has acquired a slight bulge and the problem of selecting a protective glass with full coverage.

The smartphone is equipped with several standard sensors. The ambient light sensor reacts to light intensity and automatically adjusts the screen brightness for a comfortable viewing experience. In addition, there is an additional night backlight mode, in which the display acquires a pleasant yellowish color. The proximity sensor turns off the screen during a phone call to avoid accidental button presses. The G-sensor quickly responds to the position of the smartphone and changes the screen orientation. There is no gyroscope in this device.

Operating system

The K5 Play runs Android 8.0 Oreo with Lenovo 3.7.229ST multi-language firmware. The smartphone itself finds the necessary updates and offers to install them. At the first start, the device opens a menu with a choice of language and recommends downloading a new firmware version.

Android 8.0, in addition to the basic functions, allows you to manage notifications from applications and leave only significant notifications. You can also arrange the icons in the Quick Access Toolbar according to your preferences.

CPU

Budget smartphone K5 Play has a fairly powerful hardware. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 MSM8937 chip belongs to the middle level and has good performance. The eight-core single-chip system reaches a clock frequency of up to 1.4 GHz and is complemented by the Adreno 505 video chip.

This “stuffing” guarantees the smooth operation of the smartphone in multitasking mode and support for most modern mobile games, however, while the device case may heat up. Even though the phone distributes heat evenly over the surface, care must be taken to adjust the graphic settings.

Memory

3 Gb of RAM will provide a smart smartphone response even with heavy workload. This amount of RAM is enough for stable operation of the device when performing everyday tasks: watching videos, surfing the Internet, running games and others.

Internal storage is only 32 Gb. However, not all users need more internal memory. For music collection, applications and other files, there is enough space, but fans of movies and heavy games will have to add a microSD memory card up to 128 Gb.

dual sim

The drawer contains two slots for SIM-cards of the NANO type. One connector is hybrid, which allows you to expand the built-in storage with a memory card. Among modern smartphones, it is not so easy to find a device with a separate slot for microSD, and K5 Play just continues the trend of combined connectors.

The smartphone supports alternate operation with SIM-cards, which means that there is only one radio module. While receiving a call to one number, the second one remains unavailable for communication.

autonomy

The capacity of the non-removable battery is 3000 mAh. Thanks to economical energy consumption, a full charge will last for the whole day with a moderate load as a working device. When watching a video at medium volume, the battery will run out in 9 hours. This is a very good indicator for a budget smartphone.

Communication and navigation

The phone operates in several GSM cellular frequency bands: 900, 1800 and 1900. Access to the mobile Internet is carried out through 3G and 4G LTE networks of the fourth category, which is characterized by high data download speed. The K5 Play also supports 802.11n dual-band Wi-Fi. If necessary, the Internet speed can be monitored in the phone settings. Thanks to the Wi-Fi Direct option, you can use your smartphone as an access point and create a home network from all possible devices. To exchange data between various gadgets, Bluetooth version 4.2 radio communication is provided, which is characterized by increased speed and security.

The smartphone can determine the coordinates of its location using GPS and GLONASS satellite navigation. The A-GPS add-on allows you to reduce the search time when you first launch the map application. Small inaccuracies may occur due to interference.

Unlock

The new Lenovo smartphone has a wide range of ways to protect your personal data:

• The fingerprint scanner responds to touch with a slight delay. If necessary, you can add multiple fingerprints, allowing another user to access the device.
• Face ID technology is an unexpected addition on a budget device. The sensor quickly recognizes the owner.
• Passwords and pattern keys are classic smartphone protection.

The Smart Lock option automatically locks and unlocks the device according to a given condition: designating a safe place or recognizing the owner. This feature allows you to access data without constantly entering passwords.

Interface

The lock screen contains date, time and notifications.To access it, you need to press the power key or double-tap your finger on the display.

On the home page, there is a Google search bar at the top, which you can remove if you wish. At the bottom of the screen are icons for the main applications and an arrow to open a complete list of installed programs. Icons can be grouped into separate folders for greater convenience. Three touch keys were placed above the bottom black frame: “search”, “application manager” and “back”. These buttons are easily hidden through the settings.

Camera

The dual rear camera with a resolution of 12/2 MP is equipped with an LED flash. The aperture is f / 2.2, which favorably affects the quality of macro photography and the bokeh effect. To create beautiful pictures, the camera offers several modes, complemented by advanced settings.

Selecting the white balance and ISO value will improve the color and saturation of the image. Duo mode, which uses both cameras, adds a bokeh effect to the frame with an adjustable amount of blur. Autofocus automatically adjusts the sharpness to achieve a clear image, and if necessary, the focus object can be changed. Another useful "bun" is the self-timer. The shutter releases automatically when you put your finger close to the sensor. This is very convenient for taking a series of shots.

Sample indoor photo:

Photo with bokeh effect:

How to photograph outdoors in Duo mode:

Photo at night:

The 8 MP front camera with f/2.2 aperture also takes good pictures. There is no on-screen flash or LED flash. But still, a slight graininess is present in the photo of both cameras.

The smartphone supports video recording with sound with a resolution of up to 1920x1080 pixels on the main camera and up to 1280x720 pixels on the secondary one. True, the microphone is a bit weak, so the sound is quiet. For video, advanced settings are also available to improve the quality of the recording.

Music and FM radio

The sound of the phone remained at an average level. A mono speaker won't provide complete music immersion, but headphones will help here. Unfortunately, no headset is included in the package, so you will have to purchase them separately.

Even with such data, the phone will completely replace a portable player. The audio player supports all common audio file formats, and the built-in radio receiver will not leave you without your favorite radio stations.

USB host

The micro USB connector, in addition to charging, also serves to connect external drives and peripherals. Devices can be connected directly or through special adapters that are easy to find in electronics stores. This option will allow you to exchange data with Flash-cards on the go and save time.

Equipment

The smartphone is packaged in a compact white box, made in a minimalist style.

The kit includes:

• Smartphone with a shipping film over the screen;
• Paperclip to remove the tray with SIM-cards;
• Network adapter 5V 1A;
• Transparent protective cover made of silicone;
• Cable for charging and connecting to a micro USB computer. The length of the cord is about 1 meter.
• Documentation.

Price

The average price in the Aliexpress online store is 7,500 rubles. Of course, buying a phone from a Chinese site is quite risky, but with the right choice of a seller, you can make a pretty good purchase. In addition, on such sites, the prices for smartphones from manufacturers from China are much lower.In Russia, the average price for K5 Play is 8,590 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Low price;
• Dual main camera;
• A light weight;
• USB host;
• Dual SIM support.

• There is no separate slot for a memory card;
• No oleophobic coating;
• Plastic case.

Outcome

K5 Play is quite consistent with its price. The multifunctional device is capable of performing various tasks from making calls to playing advanced games. The small capacity of the battery is offset by economical energy consumption, so the smartphone is able to last a long time without recharging. A practical and inexpensive model is suitable for those who do not pursue a particular brand. The device is also quite good as the first Android phone.