The Lenovo Vibe Z was first spotted back in September, when it gatecrashed the Vibe X’s launch event, and was linked with the company’s international expansion plans. Since then, Lenovo has stayed quiet about the Vibe Z, until today when it officially revealed the device to the public.
Lenovo’s timing is interesting, as we’re a few days away from the start of CES 2014, where we’re expecting a wide range of new smartphones to make their debut. Does this mean Lenovo still hasn’t made the right deals to launch the Vibe Z in the U.S., or is it saving the news for the event?
We probably won’t know until the madness begins in Las Vegas, but for now, here’s what the Vibe Z is all about. Lenovo’s pushing the Vibe Z’s LTE capabilities, as it’s the firm’s first smartphone to offer 4G speeds, something made possible by the Snapdragon 800 processor inside. The phone also has 2GB of RAM, plus 16GB of internal storage.
The screen is 5.5-inches and has a 1080p resolution, providing a pixel density of 400ppi. Surrounding the screen is a 7.9mm thick chassis. Lenovo says the rear panel has a, “Laser etched, fabric-feel,” covering, making it sound a little like Samsung’s fake leather panel on the Galaxy Note 3.
A 13-megapixel camera takes care of photographic duties, while a 5-megapixel camera around the front will sort out the selfies. Android 4.3 is installed as standard, and Lenovo has added its own user interface over the top, which can be seen in the promo video above.
Lenovo plans to put the Vibe Z on sale at the end of February in several countries, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The price has been set at a reasonable $550 unconnected, which is around $100 less than the Galaxy Note 3. Lenovo will have the Vibe Z on display at CES 2014, where there is a chance we’ll hear about a wider release.
