Unsatisfied with laptops and tablets, Lenovo has revealed two new smartphones for the holidays: the multi-layered Vibe X2 and the selfie-oriented Vibe Z2.
Beginning with the Vibe X2, its claim to fame is its multi-layered metal design. Lenovo designed the Vibe X2 with three separate sheets of metal, each of a different color. Would-be buyers of the handset can choose from a selection of four colors — white, red, gold, and dark grey.
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Powering the Vibe X2 is a MediaTek MT6596, which, if you’re keeping count at home, is the first MediaTek chipset to come with built-in LTE support. The processor helps power the handset’s 5-inch Full HD display, while the 32GB of internal storage should allow for enough space to save pictures and videos taken with the handset’s 5-megapixel and 13-megapixel front- and rear-facing cameras, respectively.
Going back to the multi-layered design of the Vibe X2, Lenovo will stretch that aesthetic with some of the Vibe X2’s unique accessories. The Vibe X2 Battery and Vibe X2 Speaker are called Vibe Xtensions. Xtension cases creates a fourth layer to the handset’s multi-layered design, essentially becoming click-on accessories. The Vibe X2 Battery reportedly extends the Vibe X2’s battery life by about 75 percent, and the Vibe X2 Speaker lets you make hands-free calls with the built-in mic while also functioning as a means to amplify the handset’s sound.
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The Vibe Z2, meanwhile, tries to impress the selfie-conscious among us with its 8-megapixel front-facing camera. On paper, the 13-megapixel rear-facing camera also impresses, as does the 520nit rating of its 5.5-inch 1280 x 720 pixel display.
What defines the phone, however, is what it’s powered by: a quad-core Snapdragon 64-bit processor. This makes the Vibe Z2 Lenovo’s first 64-bit smartphone. The main advantage 64-bit processing brings to the table is the ability to hold more than 4GB of RAM, something no smartphone has done as of yet. Still, the 64-bit processor should allow for immediate payoff, such as improved performance in games.
The Vibe X2 and Vibe Z2 will make their debuts in China this October, with the handset subsequently making its way to several Asian and Eastern European countries where Lenovo smartphones are currently sold. The Vibe X2 will go for $400, while the Vibe Z2 has a slightly higher asking price at $430.
