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

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

In March 2018, three new Lenovo S5, K5 and K5 Play phone models were introduced. The K series devices are designed for the Chinese market, so it is easier to buy 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 it will be revealed in the detailed review below.

Specifications

Design

The stylish design of the smartphone is notable for the textured back cover. The undulating curves are pleasant to the touch and make the phone more ergonomic. The device is made in three glossy colors: black, gold and blue.

On the front panel above the screen there is an earpiece, 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 by sight. At the top, on the left side, there is a sliding slot for SIM cards. On the bottom edge there is a micro USB power socket, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, microphone and speaker, unfortunately, not stereo.

The rear camera module with dual LED flash is offset to the left edge of the back cover and is positioned horizontally. The fingerprint scanner remains in its usual place for Chinese smartphones.

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

Display

The display takes up most of the front panel. It is enclosed in a black frame with symmetrical nubs at the top and bottom. The 5.7-inch IPS touchscreen has a resolution of 1440 × 720 pixels. The 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 takes longer. The standard 18: 9 aspect ratio is suitable for comfortable video viewing. Multi-touch supports 10 simultaneous touches and allows you to use your smartphone for active games.

Thanks to the 2.5D effect, the display has got a slight bulge and the problem of matching a full cover glass cover.

The smartphone is equipped with several standard sensors. The ambient light sensor reacts to the 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 takes on a pleasant yellowish color.The proximity sensor turns off the screen during a phone call to avoid accidental button presses. The G-sensor quickly reacts to the position of the smartphone and changes the screen orientation. There is no gyroscope in this device.

operating system

The K5 Play has Android 8.0 Oreo operating system with Lenovo 3.7.229ST multilingual 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 the new firmware version.

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

CPU

The budget smartphone K5 Play has quite powerful hardware. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 MSM8937 chip is mid-range and has good specifications. The octa-core single-chip system achieves clock speeds of up to 1.4 GHz and is complemented by the Adreno 505 video chip.

Such "stuffing" guarantees smooth operation of the smartphone in multitasking mode and support for most modern mobile games, however, the body of the device may heat up. Although the phone distributes heat evenly over the surface, care should be taken to adjust the graphics settings.

Memory

3 Gb of RAM will ensure a quick response of the smartphone even under heavy workload. This amount of RAM is quite enough for the 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 built-in memory. There is enough space for the music collection, applications and other files, but fans of films and heavy games will have to add a microSD memory card up to 128 Gb.

Dual sim

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

The smartphone supports alternate mode of operation with SIM cards, which means 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 its economical energy consumption, a full charge is enough for the whole day with moderate use as a working device. When watching a video at medium volume, the battery will be discharged in 9 hours. This is a very good indicator for a budget smartphone.

Communication and navigation

The phone operates in several GSM cellular frequency ranges: 900, 1800 and 1900. Access to the mobile Internet is carried out through the fourth category 3G and 4G LTE networks, which are 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, the smartphone can be used as an access point and create a home network from all possible devices. For the exchange of data between various gadgets, a 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 the first time you launch the maps application. Minor inaccuracies may occur due to interference.

Unlocking

Lenovo's new smartphone has a wide variety of ways to protect your privacy:

• 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 is an unexpected addition on a budget phone. 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 specified 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 can be removed if desired. At the bottom of the screen are the icons of the main applications and an arrow to open a complete list of installed programs. Icons can be grouped into separate folders for more convenience. Three touch-sensitive keys were placed above the lower black frame: "search", "application manager" and "back". These buttons are easily hidden through the settings.

Camera

The 12 / 2MP dual rear cameras are equipped with LED flash. The aperture is f / 2.2, which is beneficial for macro quality and bokeh. To create beautiful pictures, the camera offers several modes, supplemented by advanced settings.

Adjusting the white balance and ISO will improve the color and saturation of the picture. Duo mode, which uses both cameras, adds a bokeh effect to the frame with an adjustable degree of blur. Autofocus adjusts the sharpness itself to achieve a clear image, and if necessary, the focusing object can be changed. Another useful "bun" is the self-timer. The shutter is automatically released when you move your finger close to the sensor. This is great for taking a series of shots.

Indoor example photo:

Photo with bokeh effect:

How to photograph outdoors in Duo mode:

Photography at night:

The front camera with a resolution of 8 megapixels and an aperture of f / 2.2 also takes good pictures. There is no on-screen or LED flash here. Still, there is a slight graininess in the photo of both cameras.

The smartphone supports video recording with sound with a resolution of up to 1920 x 1080 pixels on the main camera and up to 1280 x 720 pixels on the additional one. True, the microphone is a little weak, so the sound is quiet. Advanced settings are also available for videos to improve recording quality.

Music and FM radio

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

Even with this kind of data, the phone can easily 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;
• A clip for removing the SIM card tray;
• Power adapter 5V 1A;
• Transparent protective cover made of silicone;
• Micro USB cable for charging and connecting to a 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, at such sites, prices for smartphones from manufacturers from China are much lower. In Russia, the average price for the K5 Play is 8,590 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Low price;
• Dual main camera;
• A light weight;
• USB-host;
• Support for two SIM-cards.

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

Outcome

The K5 Play is well worth its price.This multifunctional device is capable of performing various tasks from making calls to running advanced games. The small battery capacity is compensated by economical energy consumption, so the smartphone is able to hold out for a long time without recharging. A practical and inexpensive model for those who are not chasing a specific brand. The device is also not bad as the first Android phone.