Hands on with the Lenovo Vibe Shot
Photography fans are increasingly spoilt for choice when it comes to quality smartphone cameras, and the new Vibe Shot from Lenovo is the latest reason why. With a Samsung-developed 16-megapixel back-side illuminated sensor, supported by a tricolour flash module and infrared AF, the Vibe Shot also has optical image stabilisation, meaning its camera should be ideal for low light shooting.
On the top plate of the phone (when held in landscape orientation) you’ll find a switch and shutter button. The switch puts the camera in either auto or pro mode. Auto mode worked well enough, with Face tracking and smile detection following people’s faces stubbornly. But if you want a bit more control over your image, the pro mode gives you control over shutter speed, exposure compensation, ISO, White balance presets and drive mode.
The camera interface isn’t particularly complex either, in fact it’s almost identical to the Lumia camera found in the Microsoft Lumia 640, so you won’t have to be an expert to find your way around and start capturing pictures manually. Selfie takers will love the 8-megapixel front-facing camera as well.
I love the design of the phone, too. Measuring 142 x 70 x 7.3mm and weighing 145g, the Vibe Shot is a mix of tough Gorilla Glass 3 and aluminium, giving it a high-end feel.
Aside from the camera, the Vibe Shot is a highly capable phone with a 5.0-inch full HD IPS LCD display and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 1.7 GHz octa-core processor with 3GB RAM, running Android 5.0. There’s 32GB of internal memory which is plenty, but happy snappers will be pleased to know that up to 128GB of addition storage can be added via micro SD.
The phone’s 2,900mAh battery should be able to survive a day’s photography mixed with regular use and 4G data speeds will make it easy to share content on social media.
Early Verdict
I’m impressed with the Lenovo Vibe shot, its specs read more like a dedicated digital compact camera than a phone. But its phone capabilities are top-notch as well. The Vibe Shot is a sophisticated looking smartphone with a good camera to match.
Available from June in countries lucky enough to have Lenovo mobile distribution, the Vibe Shot seems like an absolute steal at only $349 USD.