Lenovo's approach towards the ever-burgeoning Indian smartphone market
has been quite aggressive off lately. The company launched a slew of
handsets in the country last year, under its own brand, as well as under
its Motorola and Zuk subsidiaries, making its smartphone portfolio
quite an extensive one.
But we're into 2017, and the Chinese technology group is going full steam ahead into the New Year with yet another addition to its smartphone family - the P2. Successor to the Vibe P1, the Lenovo P2 ditches the Vibe branding, but retains its predecessor's defining feature - big battery.
Over that, almost all the other specs have received an upgrade as well. But, in a market increasingly getting populated with big battery smartphones, does the P2 manage to hold its own? More importantly, is it worth shelling out Rs 16,999 (for the 3GB RAM variant) on?
The answers await on the other side of this review of the Lenovo P2.
Design and build quality
There's only so much one can do with a rectangular slab. As such, the P2's design isn't going to win any awards. However, make no mistake about it, this is still a solidly-constructed smartphone.
The front panel of the Lenovo P2 is all about its 5.5-inch Full HD Super AMOLED display. Above it lies the earpiece, a notification LED, a 5MP selfie-snapper and proximity/ambient light sensor. Below the display is a rectangle-shaped fingerprint sensor that also supports some nifty gestures (more on that a little later).
Flip the P2 and you'll see its full-metal unibody construction in all its glory. There's a 13MP primary camera situated at the top centre, with a two-tone dual-LED flash placed right below it. Also, there is an NFC logo imprinted right under the flash, while the lower section of the back panel is where the Lenovo branding and some other important information (e.g. model identifier) are imprinted.
Let's talk about the sides now. On the left, there's a hybrid SIM/microSD card tray that can accept either two nano-SIM cards, or one nano-SIM and one microSD card. So, you'll have to pick either dual-SIM functionality or can expand storage. Below the tray is a unique 'One-key Power Saver'.
Coming to the right, it's where the volume rocker and the power button are located. Both have good tactile feedback. The bottom has a microUSB port, flanked by two grilles (the Mono speaker is located behind the right one and MIC behind the other). Lastly, the top has a 3.5mm audio jack. The chamfered sides look good too, as do the dual antenna lines on the top and bottom.
Display
As said before, the Lenovo P2 uses a 5.5-inch Full HD Super AMOLED display with 1,080x1,920 pixel resolution. With a resultant pixel density of around 401ppi, the P2's panel does full justice to everything from Full HD videos and graphically-loaded games to text and UI elements.
In true AMOLED fashion, Lenovo P2's screen renders vivid colours and deep blacks. Viewing angles are quite impressive and sunlight legibility isn't an issue either. No complaints here.
Performance and camera
Delivering muscle to the P2 is an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 CPU paired with 3GB of RAM (There's also a 4GB RAM variant that costs Rs 1,000 more). There's 32GB of internal storage (of which about 23GB is user-accessible), and you can use microSD cards of up to 256GB in size to expand it further. So, are these innards capable enough to make the Lenovo P2 power through the everyday tasks easily?
The answer, in short, is yes. From mildly intensive multitasking to random app switching, the P2 handles everything without breaking a sweat. During our testing, I used the P2 for playing demanding games like WWE: Immortals, browsing with close to ten Chrome tabs opened simultaneously and then some more, and the smartphone didn't show any signs of lag or performance degradation. It does get a little warm during long stretches of gaming, but not something that should be a matter of concern.
Lenovo P2 comes preloaded with a near-stock version of Android 6.0 Marshmallow, sprinkled with quite a few useful additions here and there. You can either use Vibe UI - which arranges all app icons on one or more home screen, or go for Android - Lenovo's custom launcher that's fast, lean and has an app drawer.
Gestures like double-tap to wake, automatic reduction in ringtone volume on picking up the phone and dual-app profile are also included.
The front-mounted fingerprint sensor on the Lenovo P2 comes with some handy gestures. When enabled, a single tap on the sensor button goes back, while pressing it shows recently-opened tasks. The on-screen navigation bar can be hidden as well. It also features 360-degree recognition and unlocks the device almost instantly. Over that, up to five fingerprints can be saved on the smartphone.
Overall call quality on the Lenovo P2 turned out to be admirably good. The smartphone latches on to 4G VoLTE networks easily and the reception is also fine, even in areas of spotty coverage. That said, this is obviously something that's dependent on network coverage in different areas.
For imaging duties, the P2 sports a 13MP rear camera with Phase Detection Auto Focus (PDAF). In well-lit conditions, shots taken with the Lenovo P2's primary shooter turn out to be quite nice. They pack a reasonable amount of detail, even if the post-processing is a little bit on the higher side. Turning on the Artistic HDR mode in the camera app's settings does help in making things a tad better. Speaking of the app, it does include all standard modes like Panorama and Slo-mo, in addition to a Pro mode that offers full manual controls. However, low-light images are a bit unsatisfactory. As for the 5MP front-facing imager, it clicks average selfies.
Last but definitely not the least, few words about the P2's standout feature - battery. This thing packs a mammoth 5,100mAh cell. And it's as incredible as it seems. The P2 easily lasted 2 days on a single charge. Our usage involved an hour or so each of web browsing, gaming, music streaming and video playback, all with Wi-Fi/cellular data turned on.
What's more, the above mentioned 'One-key Power Saver' toggle instantly transforms the P2 into a 'feature phone,' capable of only handling calls and SMS. This 'Ultimate Power Saver' mode also shows the battery life remaining in real-time. This is going to come handy in situations when the phone is about to run out of juice and you need it to last a few more hours.
In summation, battery life is one aspect in which the Lenovo P2 absolutely nails it. This is one phone you won't have to worry about charging every night.
Verdict
The Lenovo P2 is a worthy successor to the P1, and refines on almost every feature that made the latter a great buy. It's sturdily built, handles day-to-day tasks efficiently and has a battery that is nothing short of stellar. The only sore point of the Lenovo P2 is its camera experience, which could have been much better.
If you're not interested in taking a hundred photos with your smartphone daily and just want a device that'll last you more than a day without needing a recharge, the P2 is the phone you should get. At a starting price of Rs 16,999, this thing is an absolute value-for-money proposition.
Courtesy: Gadgetsnow.com
But we're into 2017, and the Chinese technology group is going full steam ahead into the New Year with yet another addition to its smartphone family - the P2. Successor to the Vibe P1, the Lenovo P2 ditches the Vibe branding, but retains its predecessor's defining feature - big battery.
Over that, almost all the other specs have received an upgrade as well. But, in a market increasingly getting populated with big battery smartphones, does the P2 manage to hold its own? More importantly, is it worth shelling out Rs 16,999 (for the 3GB RAM variant) on?
The answers await on the other side of this review of the Lenovo P2.
Design and build quality
There's only so much one can do with a rectangular slab. As such, the P2's design isn't going to win any awards. However, make no mistake about it, this is still a solidly-constructed smartphone.
The front panel of the Lenovo P2 is all about its 5.5-inch Full HD Super AMOLED display. Above it lies the earpiece, a notification LED, a 5MP selfie-snapper and proximity/ambient light sensor. Below the display is a rectangle-shaped fingerprint sensor that also supports some nifty gestures (more on that a little later).
Flip the P2 and you'll see its full-metal unibody construction in all its glory. There's a 13MP primary camera situated at the top centre, with a two-tone dual-LED flash placed right below it. Also, there is an NFC logo imprinted right under the flash, while the lower section of the back panel is where the Lenovo branding and some other important information (e.g. model identifier) are imprinted.
Let's talk about the sides now. On the left, there's a hybrid SIM/microSD card tray that can accept either two nano-SIM cards, or one nano-SIM and one microSD card. So, you'll have to pick either dual-SIM functionality or can expand storage. Below the tray is a unique 'One-key Power Saver'.
Coming to the right, it's where the volume rocker and the power button are located. Both have good tactile feedback. The bottom has a microUSB port, flanked by two grilles (the Mono speaker is located behind the right one and MIC behind the other). Lastly, the top has a 3.5mm audio jack. The chamfered sides look good too, as do the dual antenna lines on the top and bottom.
Display
As said before, the Lenovo P2 uses a 5.5-inch Full HD Super AMOLED display with 1,080x1,920 pixel resolution. With a resultant pixel density of around 401ppi, the P2's panel does full justice to everything from Full HD videos and graphically-loaded games to text and UI elements.
In true AMOLED fashion, Lenovo P2's screen renders vivid colours and deep blacks. Viewing angles are quite impressive and sunlight legibility isn't an issue either. No complaints here.
Performance and camera
Delivering muscle to the P2 is an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 CPU paired with 3GB of RAM (There's also a 4GB RAM variant that costs Rs 1,000 more). There's 32GB of internal storage (of which about 23GB is user-accessible), and you can use microSD cards of up to 256GB in size to expand it further. So, are these innards capable enough to make the Lenovo P2 power through the everyday tasks easily?
The answer, in short, is yes. From mildly intensive multitasking to random app switching, the P2 handles everything without breaking a sweat. During our testing, I used the P2 for playing demanding games like WWE: Immortals, browsing with close to ten Chrome tabs opened simultaneously and then some more, and the smartphone didn't show any signs of lag or performance degradation. It does get a little warm during long stretches of gaming, but not something that should be a matter of concern.
Lenovo P2 comes preloaded with a near-stock version of Android 6.0 Marshmallow, sprinkled with quite a few useful additions here and there. You can either use Vibe UI - which arranges all app icons on one or more home screen, or go for Android - Lenovo's custom launcher that's fast, lean and has an app drawer.
Gestures like double-tap to wake, automatic reduction in ringtone volume on picking up the phone and dual-app profile are also included.
The front-mounted fingerprint sensor on the Lenovo P2 comes with some handy gestures. When enabled, a single tap on the sensor button goes back, while pressing it shows recently-opened tasks. The on-screen navigation bar can be hidden as well. It also features 360-degree recognition and unlocks the device almost instantly. Over that, up to five fingerprints can be saved on the smartphone.
Overall call quality on the Lenovo P2 turned out to be admirably good. The smartphone latches on to 4G VoLTE networks easily and the reception is also fine, even in areas of spotty coverage. That said, this is obviously something that's dependent on network coverage in different areas.
For imaging duties, the P2 sports a 13MP rear camera with Phase Detection Auto Focus (PDAF). In well-lit conditions, shots taken with the Lenovo P2's primary shooter turn out to be quite nice. They pack a reasonable amount of detail, even if the post-processing is a little bit on the higher side. Turning on the Artistic HDR mode in the camera app's settings does help in making things a tad better. Speaking of the app, it does include all standard modes like Panorama and Slo-mo, in addition to a Pro mode that offers full manual controls. However, low-light images are a bit unsatisfactory. As for the 5MP front-facing imager, it clicks average selfies.
Last but definitely not the least, few words about the P2's standout feature - battery. This thing packs a mammoth 5,100mAh cell. And it's as incredible as it seems. The P2 easily lasted 2 days on a single charge. Our usage involved an hour or so each of web browsing, gaming, music streaming and video playback, all with Wi-Fi/cellular data turned on.
What's more, the above mentioned 'One-key Power Saver' toggle instantly transforms the P2 into a 'feature phone,' capable of only handling calls and SMS. This 'Ultimate Power Saver' mode also shows the battery life remaining in real-time. This is going to come handy in situations when the phone is about to run out of juice and you need it to last a few more hours.
In summation, battery life is one aspect in which the Lenovo P2 absolutely nails it. This is one phone you won't have to worry about charging every night.
Verdict
The Lenovo P2 is a worthy successor to the P1, and refines on almost every feature that made the latter a great buy. It's sturdily built, handles day-to-day tasks efficiently and has a battery that is nothing short of stellar. The only sore point of the Lenovo P2 is its camera experience, which could have been much better.
If you're not interested in taking a hundred photos with your smartphone daily and just want a device that'll last you more than a day without needing a recharge, the P2 is the phone you should get. At a starting price of Rs 16,999, this thing is an absolute value-for-money proposition.
Courtesy: Gadgetsnow.com
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