Lenovo produces a wide variety of devices suitable for buyers from different segments: from budget gadgets to flagships with interesting functionality. And it is worth noting that the company releases new devices with enviable consistency. Today in the review we will talk about a smartphone in the budget rather than mid-price segment - Lenovo A6000. And tomorrow we will release a review of the 100% middling Lenovo A7000. But enough beating around the bush, let's get to the review.
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Specifications
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 410, 4 cores ARM Cortex-A53 @1.2 GHz
- GPU: Adreno 306 400 MHz
- Operating system: Android 4.4.4 with Vibe UI
- Touch display: IPS, 5 inches, 1280×720, 294 ppi
- RAM: 1 GB, internal memory 8 GB, microSD up to 32 GB
- Micro-SIM x2 support
- 2G communication: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
- 3G Communication: WCDMA 900/2100 MHz
- Data transmission TD LTE, LTE FDD 800/1800/2100/2600 MHz
- Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n (2.4 GHz), Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS (A-GPS), Glonass
- Main camera: 8 MP, autofocus, LED flash; Front camera: 2 MP, fixed. focus
- Sensors: proximity, direction, lighting
- Battery: 2300 mAh
- Dimensions: 141×70×8.2 mm
- Weight: 128 g
Equipment
The device arrived to us in the standard Lenovo packaging: a box made of white thick cardboard, on the front there is an image of the smartphone itself, and on the back there is information about it.
In addition to the smartphone itself, the package includes a USB cable, a power supply, a headset, a film for the screen designed to protect it from minor damage, a plastic case and accompanying documentation. In my opinion, it’s not bad; the company doesn’t skimp on small but nice features, always providing a free case for your smartphone.
Spring view
The Lenovo A6000 body is made entirely of plastic. On the front side there is a screen covered with protective glass. The display frames are small. Above the screen is the company logo, front camera lens, grille-covered earpiece, and light and proximity sensors.
At the bottom, according to the standard, there are three touch keys: “menu”, “home” and “back”. The lack of backlight is disappointing, but we are already used to it.
The removable back panel has a textured surface. On top is the main camera lens, LED flash and microphone. At the bottom of the rear panel there are the main stereo speakers and the inscription “DOLBY”.
At the top end of the Lenovo A6000 case there is a 3.5 mm headset jack and a USB connector.
At the bottom there is a speaker.
The control keys are located on the right side: volume control and power on/off buttons.
Under the panel there is a removable battery, slots for SIM cards and SD cards.
With dimensions of 140x70x8.2, the device weighs 128 grams - not bad for a smartphone with a 5-inch screen.
The build quality is good: the parts of the smartphone fit perfectly together, the panels do not creak or bend under compression and pressure.
Official renders:
Display
Lenovo A6000 has a 5-inch display with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels and a pixel density of 294 ppi, made using IPS technology, which provides the display with good color reproduction and rich colors.
The brightness level is sufficient for comfortable viewing of information in bright sunlight. The minimum brightness level is great for reading in the dark - I did not experience any unpleasant sensations. There is the possibility of automatic brightness adjustment.
The viewing angles are wide, which is typical for such displays. There is multi-touch support for up to five simultaneous touches.
The only obvious disadvantage is the lack of an oleophobic coating. The screen is very easily soiled, all traces of touches remain on it.
Performance
The smartphone received a quad-core Qualcomm MSM8916 Snapdragon 410 processor with a clock frequency of 1.2 GHz; Adreno 306 graphics processor, 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of internal memory.
Despite the fact that the smartphone does not use the latest graphics processor, Adreno 306 ensures smooth operation of the interface and trouble-free launch of applications: the menu opens smoothly, applications launch quickly, instantly responding to calls.
High-definition videos of various formats are supported.
Graphics accelerator
Paired with the CPU, this device uses the Adreno 305 graphics accelerator. Like the central processor, the video accelerator was developed. This solution certainly cannot boast of a high level of performance, just like the CPU. But for most tasks (including launching average toys in terms of the level of demands on the hardware resources of a smartphone), it is quite enough. The main purpose of this graphics accelerator is to free the CPU from processing video information displayed on the touch display, and this is exactly what this graphic solution does an excellent job of.
Software
Lenovo A6000 runs Android 4.4.4. with the proprietary Vibe UI shell.
Everything is pretty standard: most applications are sorted into folders: Google set, Yandex, Guvera Music, social networks, games, work applications, DOit set, etc.
In the settings you can choose one of two themes, widgets, animation settings and, of course, desktop wallpaper.
Calling up the top panel will open up quick settings for you, such as wi-fi, screen rotation lock, bluetooth, etc.
The interface is intuitive and practically no different from the stock one in terms of user interaction.
System software
“Android” is the system software installed in the Lenovo A6000 LTE 8 GB smartphone. Reviews talk about version number 4.4, which was pre-installed on it initially. But then, the first time you connect to the global web, the system software is updated to version 5.0. Otherwise, the software set on this device is typical. There is a built-in email client from the search giant. Chinese engineers have not forgotten about Google Maps, Google+ and other utilities from the operating system developer. The device also has mini-applications from Android: an organizer, calendar, calculator, etc. Well, it’s hard to do without social networks now. Twitter and Facebook are pre-installed on this device. Everything else not included in this list will have to be installed separately from the application store.
Multimedia
So, in general, we come to the main point in this review. After all, Lenovo A6000 is positioned as a budget smartphone with excellent multimedia capabilities.
Let's start in order.
- To view photos on a smartphone, a standard application is used - gallery - nothing surprising.
- There is a voice recorder and an FM radio that works with headphones that act as an antenna - everything is the same as everyone else's.
- Music in MP3 and FLAC formats starts and plays without any problems. For audio, there is a separate Dolby app where you can set different audio presets. It is worth noting that the included headphones do not convey the proper music sound quality that a smartphone provides. I strongly recommend using some of your own third-party headphones to listen to music - in the test we used Audio Technica and Philips that we had previously tested.
- What does Dolby offer us? Firstly, these are presets for movies/music/games and voices that differ from each other. You can create different profiles and customize them to your taste. Secondly, this is the Dolby Digital Plus sound enhancement function, which significantly improves sound quality, which cannot but please even the most inveterate music lovers. And thirdly, this is the sound quality of the speakers: despite their not the best location, it is worth noting that the sound is indeed better and louder than that of most smartphones, but in my opinion it does not reach truly high-quality sound.
- The speaker did not disappoint, the sound is clear and distinct, without interference.
Summarizing all of the above, we can say that Dolby Digital Plus and two speakers do not elevate a smartphone to the title of a multimedia device; even for this money, you can find better devices in this regard on the market.
Who is this device intended for?
Of course, the technical specifications of the Lenovo A6000 LTE are very modest as of today. A 5-inch diagonal will no longer surprise anyone, and a 4-core CPU certainly cannot boast of outstanding performance. In terms of price, this device also does not stand out from its competitors. But there is still one important feature in this device - high sound quality. The manufacturer itself primarily positions this smartphone as a device for music lovers. It is from this position that we will consider this device. But, besides this plus, this device has many more advantages that will delight its owner. These are the ones we will talk about next.
Connection
The Lenovo A6000 supports two microSIM cards. There is only one radio module, so one of the cards will be the main one, while the second will be in “standby” mode. One of the cards works in all modes including LTE, the second - only in 2G mode.
Supports 2G, 3G, 4G and LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0.
GPS/GLONASS is used as a navigator. A “cold” start takes just under a minute, and A-GPS reduces search time to a few seconds.
Results
One of the best offers in its class is the Lenovo A6000. Reviews from its owners confirm this. This is a truly balanced solution, in which there is even room for a highlight: improved sound quality. But even if we discard this, then all the same, Lenovo has turned out to be another excellent device that will not leave anyone indifferent. The most common one you can find now is the Lenovo A6000 LTE 8 GB black. Reviews highlight its peculiarity due to the fact that dirt, fingerprints and scratches on it are not as noticeable as in other cases. At the same time, its price is lower. Separately, it should also be noted that an updated version of this device has already appeared on the market, which is designated as “Lenovo A6010”. It differs from the A6000 in the presence of 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of built-in storage. Of course, it is more preferable to buy it, but the cost of this gadget is significantly higher. There is also a Chinese version of this device - Lenovo K3. It also has identical characteristics, but it will not work in 3G and LTE networks, since it is optimized only for the Chinese market, which has other mobile communication standards. It is imperative to pay attention to these important nuances when purchasing this device.
Battery
The smartphone received a removable battery with a capacity of 2300 mAh.
The included power supply will charge the smartphone in about two hours.
The device lasted almost 9 hours in our test at 50% brightness level. All this time the backlight, browser and Wi-Fi worked.
That is, the battery capacity should easily be enough for a day without recharging for moderate use, and a special energy-saving mode guarantees the use of the smartphone for several days.
Camera
Lenovo A6000 is equipped with two cameras: a main 8 MP and a front 2 MP. The main camera, among other things, has autofocus and an LED flash.
The camera interface is simple and intuitive. In the settings you can find different modes/filters/effects, etc.
Photos taken with the main camera are of average quality. Even in daylight, noise, color rendering problems and blurring are noticeable.
Photos taken indoors and in the dark seemed no better to us.
The 2 MP front camera is enough for video chats and inconspicuous selfies.
The funniest thing is, of course, that the case that comes with the device produces artifacts in the photo when using the flash. A similar problem is observed with the A7000, a review of which will follow this one. How it was possible to allow such a failure with the accessory included in the kit is unclear.
Device price now
The most affordable smartphone today is the Lenovo A6000 black. Reviews indicate its affordable price: about $115. If you add 5-10 dollars, you can purchase a white or red version of this device. In principle, this can be said to be the standard cost of such devices today. Lenovo A6000 cannot boast of anything remarkable in this regard. But improved sound quality, an excellent main camera and an impeccable touch display are the advantages that make this device stand out from its analogues.
