Lenovo reveals Vibe Shot camera phone and budget A7000 at MWC

Image used with permission by copyright holder
We’ve seen a few crossover devices over the years that attempt to combine quality camera hardware with a fully functioning smartphone, but the Vibe Shot is Lenovo’s first foray into this space. The Vibe Shot is impressively slim at 7.9mm. It looks like a compact camera and it’s packing some pro features, but it’s also an Android 5.0 Lollipop smartphone.

The Vibe Shot was Lenovo’s MWC headliner, but the Chinese manufacturer also released the big screen A7000, a solid Android mid-ranger sold as “entertainment on a budget.” And it rounded things off with the Lenovo Pocket Projector which employs Miracast or DLNA to blow up content from your Android, Windows 8.1, or iOS device.

Recommended Videos

Lenovo Vibe Shot

The first thing that strikes you about the Vibe Shot is how thin it is. It measures just 7.3mm and weighs in at 145g. The design is very much like a compact with a physical shutter button on the top edge. The 16-megapixel main camera has a six-piece modular lens, OIS, a full-frame 16:9 low-light sensor, a tricolor flash, and infrared focus. Lenovo promises the automatic settings will make it easy to capture great shots, but you can dig in there and tweak whatever you like if you’re so inclined.

As a phone the Vibe Shot runs Android 5.0 Lollipop and has a 5-inch 1080p IPS display. It’s no slouch on the power front either with a 64-bit octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 under the hood clocked at 1.7GHz, an Adreno 405 GPU, and 3GB of RAM. You’ll also find 32GB of on board storage and you can boost that by up to 128GB with a MicroSD card, providing space for plenty of photos.

As you’d expect there’s support for LTE and the latest Wi-Fi and Bluetooth standards. The front-facing camera is rated at 8-megapixels, though it’s fixed focus. The battery is rated at 2,900mAh, and finally, the phone is a dual SIM device. You’ll be able to get it in white, red, or grey starting in June this year at a starting price of $350.

Lenovo A7000

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Lenovo A7000 is an impressive budget Android smartphones with a 5.5-inch IPS display, though the resolution betrays its budget nature at 1,280 x 720 pixels. Just like Lenovo’s new Android tablets, the A7000 is Dolby Atmos certified: in fact, Lenovo claims it is the world’s first smartphone to be so certified, though it does only have one speaker.

Moving inside we find a 1.5GHz 64-bit MediaTek True8Core processor backed by 2GB of RAM. There’s also a 8-megapixel main camera and a 5-megapixel fixed focus camera for selfies. Storage is 8GB out of the box with room for a 32GB microSD card. The battery is rated at 2,900mAh. The fact that it’s a dual SIM device, and it’s going to ship this month for just $170, suggests it’s not bound for the U.S. market.

Lenovo Pocket Projector

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Weighing just 170g and measuring 104mm x 25mm x 100mm Lenovo’s Pocket Projector lives up to its name. It has a 50 lumen LED light engine and projects at a 854 x 480 resolution image up to 110 inches with support for 4:3 or 16:10 aspect ratios. You can expect 20,000 hours of life from the LEDs and you can rotate it 90 degrees to make it easier to project up onto a wall.

It works as standalone device with microSD cards up to 32GB, but it’s really designed to hook up with your Android, Windows 8.1, or iOS smartphone or tablet using Miracast or DLNA. Battery life is 2.5 hours and there are two speakers built-in, though the output is just half a watt. It goes on sale this month and will cost $200.

Former Digital Trends Contributor
Simon Hill is an experienced technology journalist and editor who loves all things tech. He is currently the Associate Mobile…
Best Apple Watch 8 deals: Save on last year’s model

One of the best smartwatches can add a lot to both your fitness routine and your day-to-day style, and the Apple Watch lineup is one people turn to frequently. The Apple Watch Series 9 is the current most recent release, but the Apple Watch Series 8 is still plenty capable, and it makes for great savings because it’s a generation old at this point. There are some Apple Watch 8 deals currently taking place, and we’ve tallied them below for your saving pleasure. So whether you’re starting a new fitness routine or cleaning up your wardrobe, don’t hesitate to shop the best Apple Watch 8 deals while they last.
Apple Watch Series 8 (GPS + Cellular, 45mm) (refurbished) — $255, was $273

This is the Apple Watch Series 8 45mm size, which is the largest you’ll find in an Apple Watch 8. It also has built-in GPS and the ability to connect to your cellular plan for connectivity anywhere you get a signal. This is a refurbished model of the Apple Watch 8. Shopping refurbished is a great way to land some savings, and you can do so knowing this watch is backed by Amazon’s renewal standards. It will still have all of the great features people love about the Apple Watch Series 8, including advanced health features and access to Apple’s software ecosystem.

Read more
Best Apple deals: Save on AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad, MacBook

Apple has been a big player in the tech space for a long time, and it has pioneered some of the technology we use today, such as best wireless earbuds and the best smartwatches. If that wasn't enough, it even makes some of the best best laptops and best tablets on the market, so pretty much whatever tech you're looking for, Apple has an excellent version of it. Not only that, but Apple's ecosystem is also easily one of the best available, with only Samsung really competing in that space, and if you're already in the Apple ecosystem, then it makes sense to continue buying stuff from Apple.

Of course, Apple tech can be quite pricey, which is why we've gone out and searched through various big retailers to find you some of the best deals we can find. That includes everything from the MacBook to the AirTag, so hopefully, you can find the perfect deal that fits your needs and budget.
Apple AirTag (4-Pack) -- $80, was $99

Read more
This is the best smart accessory you didn’t know you needed

Vibrant colors are everywhere — in nature, our daily lives, and even our homes. Sometimes, you come across a color or a shade you really love that you want to recreate, whether for a new paint job, crafts or creative work. If you aren't a master in color theory, it can be tough to reproduce the more subtle and nuanced shades. But what if there was a small, portable smart device that could help you? I want to bring to your attention the Nix Mini 2. It's a color wizard that fits in your pocket and syncs with your phone. It has a built-in high-resolution and precise sensor that scans the color(s) you want and then transmits the data via Bluetooth to your Android or iOS devices. It also integrates with creative apps like Photoshop and Nix Toolkit to "bridge the physical and digital worlds." And get this: it's on sale today for $60, usually $99.

Buy Now

Read more