The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Leading computer and smartphone company Lenovo continues to court tech-savvy millennials seeking better mobile-entertainment options by introducing two new phones embedded with its virtual-reality (VR) technology that promises to enliven whatever multimedia content they play in a new way.
During their media launch at the SM North Edsa Annex mall in Quezon City on April 8, Lenovo Smartphones Philippines Country Manager Dino Romano and Lenovo Mobile Philippines Marketing Manager Vincent dela Cruz unveiled the Lenovo Vibe X3 and Lenovo Vibe K4 Note, which offer what they call the Lenovo VR technology-powered TheaterMax “cinematic” experience that users can enjoy by using the VR headset that comes with each Vibe unit.
In a statement, Lenovo said TheaterMax “allows users to do so much more than just viewing on a smartphone screen, through three key experiential pillars.”
The first pillar, the China-headquartered technology giant said, is “exploring,” in which users, when utilizing the headset, can play videos and games” enhanced with “vibrant visuals and rich surround sound;” the second, “watching,” allows users to view their favorite movies and relish its vivid and immersive audiovisual qualities; and the third, “interacting,” permits users to turn the smartphones into gaming consoles and enjoy the “smooth graphics, lifelike surround sound, and responsive 3D gameplay” of whatever game they’re playing.
‘Lifelike audio experience’
Lenovo described the Vibe X3 (154 millimeters in length, 76.5 mm wide, 9.3 mm thick, and weights 175 grams) as a phone that incorporates “the world’s first large-chambered front stereo speakers for a louder output and improved bass performance,” and said the unit offers users a “Dolby Atmos lifelike audio experience.”
The company said the Vibe X3, which is “engineered with Lenovo Sound, featuring (a high-performing) 32-bit mobile audio digital-to-analog converter with unprecedented dynamic range to play any audio format,” ensures “ultralow distortion and supreme audio (that redefine) personal entertainment experiences on smartphones.”
The Vibe X3 “also comes with an advanced sound input and recording capabilities,” since it has a configured three-microphone system and state-of-the-art Wolfson audio coder-decoder that “effectively filters out ambient noise and greatly enhances sound quality, while its 21-megapixel PDAF (phase-detection autofocus) rear camera with 4K Ultra HD (high-definition) video-recording capabilities and 8MP front camera ensure crisp quality videos and images.“
Lenovo also said the phone also “features a vibrant 5.5” Full HD display with a 178-degree-wide viewing angle; a high contrast level of 1500:1; and 16M colors with Lenovo Screen color optimization to further enhance (users’) visual experience through a slew of dynamic colors and stunning details showcased on a high-resolution screen.”
The Vibe X3 is powered by a 3600mAh (milliampere) battery and 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 hexacore processor with 3 gigabytes of RAM (random access memory), and runs on the Android 5.1 Lollipop operating system (OS) that can be upgraded to Android 6.0 Marshmallow. It has an internal storage of 32GB that’s expandable up to 160GB with the appropriate microSD card, and can stay connected with superfast LTE (long-term evolution) speeds. It has dual nano subscriber-identity module (SIM) slots.
Uncompromised experience
On the Vibe K4 Note (154.6 mm in length, 76.5 mm wide, 9.15 mm thick, and weighs 160 g), Lenovo said it offers an “uncompromised entertainment experience for streaming and watching video,” thanks to its “5.5” full HD display with a 178-degree-wide viewing angle and 1080-pixel clarity (that), together with color optimization and high-contrast technologies,” further improve the quality of the visuals.
The K4 Note, the company added, also shares the Vibe X3’s sound components and the clear sound quality they offer, as well as the same upgradable OS, and runs on “a 3300mAh embedded battery, 64-bit MediaTek MT6753 octacore processor, and 3GB of RAM.”
The smartphone has a 13MP PDAF rear camera with a dual-color light-emitting diode (LED) flash and a 5MP fixed-focus selfie camera, as well as an internal storage of 16 GB that’s expandable up to 144GB. It can stay connected with lighting-fast LTE speeds and, like those of the Vibe X3, its security features include fingerprint and near field communication, or NFC, sensors. It has dual micro SIM slots. ALVIN I. DACANAY
The Lenovo Vibe X3 costs P22,099, and the Vibe K4 Note is priced at P10,699, and are for sale at Lenovo stores. Each is bundled with a free VR headset, screen protector, and back cover. For more information, visit www.lenovomobile.com.ph.