Lenovo S5 Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

The Lenovo S5 is a smartphone that was released in March 2018, offering an impressive set of features within a sleek and stylish design. With a 5.7 inch IPS LCD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chipset, and up to 128GB of storage, this device was designed to appeal to those who demand high-performance functionality and a reliable user experience.

Design and Build Quality

The Lenovo S5 is a sleek and stylish smartphone that boasts an impressive design and build quality. The phone features a glass front, aluminum back, and aluminum frame, which not only looks premium but also adds to the durability of the device. The dimensions of the phone are 154 x 73.5 x 7.8 mm, making it slim and lightweight, weighing in at just 155g.

The phone's ergonomic design ensures a comfortable grip, and the placement of the buttons and ports is well thought out. The power and volume buttons are conveniently located on the right side of the phone, while the fingerprint sensor is located on the back, making it easy to reach with your index finger.

The Lenovo S5's build quality is impressive, and it feels solid in the hand. The glass front and aluminum frame provide a premium feel, and the build quality is such that the phone can withstand everyday wear and tear. The phone's durability is further enhanced by the use of Corning Gorilla Glass, which provides protection against scratches and accidental drops.

Overall, the Lenovo S5's design and build quality are top-notch, offering a premium look and feel that is both comfortable and durable. The phone is a great choice for those looking for a sleek and stylish device that can withstand the rigors of everyday use.

Display

The Lenovo S5 boasts a 5.7-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels, and an 18:9 aspect ratio, which provides a crisp pixel density of around 424 ppi. The phone's display technology offers bright and vibrant colors, with good contrast and sharpness, making it a treat to watch movies, play games, and surf the web.

The screen's touch sensitivity and responsiveness is impressive and offers a smooth and fluid experience when scrolling, swiping, and typing. The display's outdoor visibility is also quite commendable, with good brightness levels that make it easy to use in direct sunlight.

One area where the Lenovo S5's display falls short is the lack of an OLED or AMOLED screen, which most high-end phones feature. This means that the phone doesn't offer the deep blacks and high contrast that OLED displays provide, and the colors may look a bit washed out when compared to those found on OLED screens.

Overall, the Lenovo S5's display is a solid offering, and while it may not be the best in its class, it certainly gets the job done and provides an enjoyable viewing experience.

Performance

The Lenovo S5 is powered by a Qualcomm MSM8953 Snapdragon 625 chipset with an octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU, which provides a decent level of performance. The phone comes in three variants with different RAM and storage options; 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, and 128GB 4GB RAM. The device runs on Android 8.0 (Oreo) with ZUI 3.7, which offers a user-friendly interface and customization options.

Multitasking and app performance on the Lenovo S5 are smooth and efficient, thanks to the Snapdragon 625 processor and ample RAM. The device handles basic tasks such as web browsing, social media, and video streaming with ease. However, when it comes to intensive gaming and running high-performance applications, the Lenovo S5 may struggle a bit.

The Lenovo S5 achieves decent benchmark scores, with a Geekbench 4 score of 870 for single-core and 4292 for multi-core. In real-world usage, the phone performs well, with quick app launches and smooth transitions between apps.

Overall, the Lenovo S5's performance is good for day-to-day usage, but it may not be the best choice for power users or heavy gamers.

Software and User Interface

The Lenovo S5 comes with Android 8.0 Oreo, which is overlaid with Lenovo's own ZUI 3.7 user interface. The software experience on the S5 is generally smooth and responsive, with no noticeable lag or stuttering when navigating through the UI or launching apps.

One of the standout features of the ZUI interface is the ability to customize the look and feel of the phone, with a range of themes and wallpapers available to choose from. There are also a number of gesture-based controls built into the UI, which allow you to perform certain actions like taking a screenshot or launching the camera app by swiping on the screen in a specific way.

Another useful feature of the ZUI interface is the ability to clone apps, which allows you to run multiple instances of the same app on the same device. This is particularly useful if you have multiple social media accounts or need to keep work and personal accounts separate.

In terms of pre-installed apps, the Lenovo S5 comes with a few third-party apps like UC Browser and Shareit, but these can be easily uninstalled if you don't need them. The UI itself is clean and easy to navigate, with all the essential settings and controls easily accessible from the quick settings panel.

Overall, the software experience on the Lenovo S5 is solid, with a clean and customizable interface and a few useful features that make it stand out from other Android devices. While it's not the most up-to-date version of Android, the ZUI overlay adds some useful functionality that makes it worth considering for those in the market for a mid-range smartphone.

Camera

The Lenovo S5 boasts a dual rear camera setup consisting of a 13 MP primary and 13 MP B/W lens. The camera app is user-friendly and easy to navigate with a variety of modes including HDR, panorama, and pro mode. The camera captures good quality images in daylight with accurate colors and decent sharpness. However, low-light performance is average with visible noise and loss of detail.

The camera also features 4K video recording at 30fps with electronic image stabilization, which produces stable and smooth footage. The front-facing camera is a 16 MP shooter with a wide-angle lens that captures good selfies in daylight and low-light conditions.

The camera app offers a variety of features including portrait mode and bokeh effect, which produce a blurred background effect. The portrait mode works well but can sometimes struggle with edge detection. The bokeh effect is decent, but the quality can be hit or miss depending on the lighting.

Overall, the camera on the Lenovo S5 is a decent performer in daylight and offers a variety of features for users to play around with. However, low-light performance could be improved, and the bokeh effect could benefit from further optimization.

Battery Life

Connectivity and Networking

The Lenovo S5 is a well-connected smartphone that offers a range of connectivity and networking options. It supports GSM, HSPA, and LTE networks, allowing users to stay connected to the internet and make calls on-the-go. The smartphone also comes with hybrid dual SIM slots, which can accommodate two Nano-SIM cards simultaneously.

In terms of wireless connectivity, the Lenovo S5 supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, which ensures fast and reliable internet connectivity. Additionally, it also has Wi-Fi Direct, which enables users to transfer files between devices without the need for an access point. Bluetooth 4.2 is also available, which allows users to connect their smartphones wirelessly to other Bluetooth-enabled devices such as headphones and speakers.

GPS and GLONASS are included, which provide accurate location tracking and navigation capabilities. However, the smartphone does not come with NFC, which may be a downside for some users who prefer to use contactless payments and other NFC-enabled features.

The Lenovo S5 also features an FM radio, which allows users to listen to their favorite radio stations without the need for an internet connection. It also has a USB Type-C 2.0 port, which supports OTG and allows for fast data transfer and charging.

The smartphone is equipped with a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, which provides an additional layer of security and allows users to unlock their device quickly and easily. It also has an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass, which provide users with added functionality and convenience.

Overall, the Lenovo S5 offers a solid range of connectivity and networking features, which make it a viable option for users who are looking for a well-connected smartphone.

Additional Features

The Lenovo S5 is a feature-packed phone that offers more than just basic functionality. In this section, we will take a closer look at some of the additional features that make this device stand out from the competition.

Firstly, the Lenovo S5 comes with expandable storage options. This means that you can easily add more storage space to your device to store all your favorite apps, photos, videos, and music. With microSDXC card support, you can expand the storage up to 256GB, giving you ample space for all your needs.

In addition to expandable storage, the Lenovo S5 also boasts impressive audio quality with a 3.5mm headphone jack and a loudspeaker. The audio quality is clear and crisp, making it perfect for listening to your favorite tunes or watching movies on the go.

The speaker performance on the Lenovo S5 is also noteworthy. The device features a loudspeaker that produces loud and clear sound with minimal distortion even at high volumes. This makes it ideal for watching videos or playing games without the need for headphones.

Moreover, the Lenovo S5 comes with a fingerprint scanner that is located at the back of the device. This sensor is quick and accurate, allowing you to unlock your device with ease and security. Additionally, the device also features an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass, which adds to its functionality.

Lastly, the Lenovo S5 does not come with water and dust resistance, which may be a drawback for some users. However, given its price point and other features, this is a minor issue that can be overlooked.

Overall, the Lenovo S5 is packed with additional features that make it a great choice for anyone looking for a feature-rich device without breaking the bank.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

When it comes to comparing the Lenovo S5 with other related phones, there are a few devices that come to mind. One of the closest competitors is the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5, which shares a similar price point and features a comparable Snapdragon 625 processor. However, the Redmi Note 5 offers a larger 5.99-inch display with a higher resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels.

Another phone that can be compared with the Lenovo S5 is the Nokia 6.1, which also features a Snapdragon 630 processor and 4GB of RAM. However, the Nokia 6.1 boasts a slightly larger 5.5-inch display and a higher resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels.

The Huawei Honor 7X is another phone that can be considered as a competitor to the Lenovo S5. While the Honor 7X features a larger 5.93-inch display with a similar resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels, it is powered by a more powerful Kirin 659 processor. However, the Honor 7X only offers 3GB of RAM compared to the Lenovo S5's 4GB of RAM.

Overall, while the Lenovo S5 offers a solid combination of features and performance for its price point, there are other phones on the market that offer slightly better specs in certain areas. Ultimately, the choice between these devices will come down to personal preference and specific needs.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Lenovo S5 is a decent mid-range smartphone that offers a balance of performance and affordability. Its sleek design and premium build quality make it a visually appealing device, while its IPS LCD display delivers a satisfying viewing experience. The phone's Snapdragon 625 processor and 4GB of RAM provide sufficient power for everyday tasks and moderate gaming, but it may struggle with more demanding apps.

The camera system on the Lenovo S5 is impressive, with its dual 13MP and 16MP lenses delivering sharp and detailed images in most lighting conditions. The phone's battery life is also adequate for most users, with its 3000mAh capacity lasting throughout a day of moderate usage.

Overall, the Lenovo S5 is a solid option for anyone looking for an affordable smartphone that can deliver a satisfying user experience. While it may not be the most feature-rich device on the market, its combination of performance, design, and camera capabilities make it a worthy contender in its price range. If you're in the market for a mid-range smartphone, the Lenovo S5 is definitely worth considering.