4GB RAM Lenovo K80M now under $200: Cheapest 4GB RAM phone?


Asus and Xiaomi made headlines with their respective 4GB RAM phones in 2015. Now that makers like OnePlus 2 and some other OEMs have made 4GB RAM mainstream, how much does it take to get a phone with that much RAM?

Not too much, apparently. Well, at least according to Lenovo, whose K80M smartphone as per our knowledge is the cheapest 4GB RAM phone on the market right now.

Lenovo-K80M-Photo-1

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Let’s take a look at the specifications sheet of the Lenovo K80M. It has a 5.5-inch 1920 x 1080p display, an Intel Moorefield Z3560 quad-core 1.8GHz processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB on-board storage, and a camera set in a 13 mega-pixel rear and a 5 mega-pixel front. It isn’t short on battery capacity either, with a 4000mAh cell in there.

There’s a trade off you’ll have to make, however. The K80M has an older Android version — Android 4.4 KitKat — running on it.

Despite that, sub-$200 for a 4GB RAM phone doesn’t look like a deal all that bad, does it? Interested parties can get one via Geekbuying who’ve listed it for $184.

Disclaimer: We may be compensated by some of the companies whose products we talk about, but our articles and reviews are always our honest opinions. For more details, you can check out our editorial guidelines and learn about how we use affiliate links.

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80 Comments

  1. afghanPower
    January 15, 2016

    Android 4.4 is just too old. Hopefully they’ll provide source for kernel and a newer android version will come out as a ROM.

  2. Dis
    January 15, 2016

    I want 5.5 inch, Android 6, 32GB ROM, 3-4GB RAM, A72 cores and 1080p for next phone,

    • Muhammad Yasir
      January 16, 2016

      look at you with all those demands…
      have $300 ready !

      • Dis
        January 16, 2016

        Maybe. In 6 months time it will be $200.

        • Muhammad Yasir
          January 16, 2016

          yeah … when i say the same thing … people are like NOOOO!

        • Assefa Hanson
          January 16, 2016

          but in 6months your going to want more and then someone will tell you wait another 6 months and then the cycle will continue for all eternity 🙂

          • Dis
            January 16, 2016

            Nope. 1080p is fine. 5.5″ is fine. 32GB is fine. A72 with new GPU and 4GB RAM will be top specs for a couple years.

            • Assefa Hanson
              January 16, 2016

              32gb might not be as video files etc get more heavy

        • balcobomber25
          January 17, 2016

          You’re not going to find a $200 A72 phone in 6 months. You will be lucky to find one for $300.

          • Dis
            January 17, 2016

            The Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro has a Snapdragon 650 processor with A72 cores. It is $151 for the 16GB model. You are quite evidently very, very wrong.

            • balcobomber25
              January 17, 2016

              You are correct I forgot all about the 650.

            • Dis
              January 17, 2016

              MediaTek must have plans to make something for midrange phones to counter it. They surely can’t have the X20 as their only A72 SoC for this year.

            • balcobomber25
              January 17, 2016

              They have the X30 coming out later this year.

            • Dis
              January 18, 2016

              That’s not going to make it into $150-200 or even $250 phones though. They will lose all the midrange to Snapdragon now.

            • balcobomber25
              January 18, 2016

              Not really, the X20 will probably be like the X10 and be featured in a variety of phones from $200-300 and once the X30 does come out the X20 will be in $150 phones. But the P10 for now is their midrange SoC and manufacturers are already lining up to use the P10 in their $150 phones.

    • Joel Adames
      January 16, 2016

      Besides the Android 6 and the A72 cores this one has all you asked. But keep in mind d to wait for a while as this SoCs won’t come cheap before 6-8 months from now.

  3. Adam Irvine
    January 15, 2016

    Sounded fantastic until the 4.4 KitKat part…

    I wonder if someone clever could get Windows 10 running on it lol

    • January 15, 2016

      Totally agree

    • G'n'T
      January 15, 2016

      Or at least Android 5.1 on it…

    • yalok
      January 16, 2016

      Or CM 13 (Android 6), I so some intel hardware support pushes in their gerrit.

      • Joel Adames
        January 16, 2016

        I think you wishing one too many hahahaha

    • Joel Adames
      January 16, 2016

      You need to keep in mind that such support would request some big amount of interest from a community of users of the same chip to develop it but that seems unlikely as:
      How many MooreField Z3560 phones do you know are out on the market????

      On the other hand for a person not into having the latest device this is their perfect opportunity or for a nice present as this packs great spec’s at a very affordable price.

      I’m really thinking about this for my wife (-:

      • balcobomber25
        January 17, 2016

        Asus has used this chip heavily in almost all of its phones and tablets including the Zenfone 2 and Phonepad 7/8. Several of them have been ported to run Windows.

    • Mr.Flying Zoom3rz
      January 18, 2016

      Not even a chance. 🙂

  4. Xalis
    January 15, 2016

    And most likely Chinese + English only, hard as fuck to root and buggy system, it’s a Lenovo after all.

  5. afghanPower
    January 15, 2016

    Android 4.4 is just too old. Hopefully they’ll provide source for kernel and a newer android version will come out as a ROM.

  6. Dis
    January 15, 2016

    I want 5.5 inch, Android 6, 32GB ROM, 3-4GB RAM, A72 cores and 1080p for next phone,

    • Guest
      January 16, 2016

      look at you with all those demands…
      have $300 ready !

    • Dis
      January 16, 2016

      Maybe. In 6 months time it will be $200.

    • Guest
      January 16, 2016

      yeah … when i say the same thing … people are like NOOOO!

    • Joel Adames
      January 16, 2016

      Besides the Android 6 and the A72 cores this one has all you asked. But keep in mind d to wait for a while as this SoCs won’t come cheap before 6-8 months from now.

    • Assefa Hanson
      January 16, 2016

      but in 6months your going to want more and then someone will tell you wait another 6 months and then the cycle will continue for all eternity 🙂

    • Dis
      January 17, 2016

      Nope. 1080p is fine. 5.5″ is fine. 32GB is fine. A72 with new GPU and 4GB RAM will be top specs for a couple years.

    • Assefa Hanson
      January 17, 2016

      32gb might not be as video files etc get more heavy

    • balcobomber25
      January 17, 2016

      You’re not going to find a $200 A72 phone in 6 months. You will be lucky to find one for $300.

    • Dis
      January 17, 2016

      The Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro has a Snapdragon 650 processor with A72 cores. It is $151 for the 16GB model. You are quite evidently very, very wrong.

    • balcobomber25
      January 17, 2016

      You are correct I forgot all about the 650.

    • Dis
      January 17, 2016

      MediaTek must have plans to make something for midrange phones to counter it. They surely can’t have the X20 as their only A72 SoC for this year.

    • balcobomber25
      January 17, 2016

      They have the X30 coming out later this year.

    • Dis
      January 18, 2016

      That’s not going to make it into $150-200 or even $250 phones though. They will lose all the midrange to Snapdragon now.

    • balcobomber25
      January 18, 2016

      Not really, the X20 will probably be like the X10 and be featured in a variety of phones from $200-300 and once the X30 does come out the X20 will be in $150 phones. But the P10 for now is their midrange SoC and manufacturers are already lining up to use the P10 in their $150 phones.

  7. Adam Irvine
    January 15, 2016

    Sounded fantastic until the 4.4 KitKat part…

    I wonder if someone clever could get Windows 10 running on it lol

    • Andi Sykes
      January 15, 2016

      Totally agree

    • G'n'T
      January 16, 2016

      Or at least Android 5.1 on it…

    • yalok
      January 16, 2016

      Or CM 13 (Android 6), I saw some intel hardware support pushes in their gerrit.

    • Joel Adames
      January 16, 2016

      You need to keep in mind that such support would request some big amount of interest from a community of users of the same chip to develop it but that seems unlikely as:
      How many MooreField Z3560 phones do you know are out on the market????

      On the other hand for a person not into having the latest device this is their perfect opportunity or for a nice present as this packs great spec’s at a very affordable price.

      I’m really thinking about this for my wife (-:

    • Joel Adames
      January 16, 2016

      I think you wishing one too many hahahaha

    • balcobomber25
      January 17, 2016

      Asus has used this chip heavily in almost all of its phones and tablets including the Zenfone 2 and Phonepad 7/8. Several of them have been ported to run Windows.

    • Mr.Flying Zoom3rz
      January 18, 2016

      Not even a chance. 🙂

  8. Guest
    January 15, 2016

    And most likely Chinese + English only, hard as fuck to root and buggy system, it’s a Lenovo after all.

  9. Twister12
    January 16, 2016

    It’s so hard for them to put 5.1 on it? After all it’s a new product.

    • Mr.Flying Zoom3rz
      January 18, 2016

      Not really. Practically it’s the same phone as K80, they just pumped the ram from 2gb to 4gb.

  10. Twister12
    January 16, 2016

    It’s so hard for them to put 5.1 on it? After all it’s a new product.

    • Mr.Flying Zoom3rz
      January 18, 2016

      Not really. Practically it’s the same phone as K80, they just pumped the ram from 2gb to 4gb.

  11. Muhammad Yasir
    January 16, 2016

    could be good but lenovo have kept it backward deliberately … possibly to avoid cannibalizing the sales of its upcoming phones !

  12. balcobomber25
    January 16, 2016

    It’s actually a decent kit phone but is let down by a poor choice of Android 4.4. And seeing as it is 4.4 the chances for an upgrade seem nill.

    • Assefa Hanson
      January 16, 2016

      how good are intel chips oh wise balco sensei, i need your knowledge

      • balcobomber25
        January 16, 2016

        They are good. This particular one is a good midrange chip.

        • Assefa Hanson
          January 17, 2016

          i see

      • RuR
        January 17, 2016

        Intel chips are nice, on Zenfone series.

  13. Steven Fox
    January 16, 2016

    Unlikely that we`ll ever see newer updates for this phone, apparently Asus are frustrated with Intel as well and considering dropping them for the Zenfone 3 line.
    Another fact is that Intel is subsidizing those chips and they are practically free for Lenovo.
    Another fact is that the camera on this phone is a let down, Redmi 2’s camera is better.
    If you are a gamer and/or heavy multitasker this phone would be a great deal for you.

  14. Guest
    January 16, 2016

    could be good but lenovo have kept it backward deliberately … possibly to avoid cannibalizing the sales of its upcoming phones !

  15. balcobomber25
    January 16, 2016

    It’s actually a decent kit phone but is let down by a poor choice of Android 4.4. And seeing as it is 4.4 the chances for an upgrade seem nill.

    • Assefa Hanson
      January 16, 2016

      how good are intel chips oh wise balco sensei, i need your knowledge

    • balcobomber25
      January 17, 2016

      They are good. This particular one is a good midrange chip.

    • RuR
      January 17, 2016

      Intel chips are nice, on Zenfone series.

    • Assefa Hanson
      January 18, 2016

      i see

  16. Assefa Hanson
    January 16, 2016

    i would buy it but im ignorant about intel chips, im not sure how good they are

    • RuR
      January 17, 2016

      They are great. Lenovo’s UI is the deal breaker for me – its terrible.

      • Mr.Flying Zoom3rz
        January 18, 2016

        Terrible at what? I like VibeUI as a alternative to Nova Launcher for example. When I’m bored from the one shell I can just swith to the other.

      • January 18, 2016

        The best thing about Vibe UI 2 is that it’s got arguably the best built-in system-wide ad blocker around, and you don’t even need root. I didn’t realize how well it was working until I switched phones and suddenly see all these in-app ads that weren’t there before.

  17. Steven Fox
    January 16, 2016

    Unlikely that we`ll ever see newer updates for this phone, apparently Asus are frustrated with Intel as well and considering dropping them for the Zenfone 3 line.
    Another fact is that Intel is subsidizing those chips and they are practically free for Lenovo.
    Another fact is that the camera on this phone is a let down, Redmi 2’s camera is better.
    If you are a gamer and/or heavy multitasker this phone would be a great deal for you.

  18. Assefa Hanson
    January 16, 2016

    i would buy it but im ignorant about intel chips, im not sure how good they are

    • RuR
      January 17, 2016

      They are great. Lenovo’s UI is the deal breaker for me – its terrible.

    • Mr.Flying Zoom3rz
      January 18, 2016

      Terrible at what? I like VibeUI as a alternative to Nova Launcher for example. When I’m bored from the one shell I can just swith to the other.

    • 10basetom
      January 18, 2016

      The best thing about Vibe UI 2 is that it’s got arguably the best built-in system-wide ad blocker around, and you don’t even need root. I didn’t realize how well it was working until I switched phones and suddenly see all these in-app ads that weren’t there before.

  19. January 16, 2016

    Most recent Lenovo smartphone run on Android 5.0 and above out of the box, why is this still on 4.4?

  20. talk2ekpa
    January 17, 2016

    Most recent Lenovo smartphone run on Android 5.0 and above out of the box, why is this still on 4.4? http://www.droidafrica.com/Phone/Lenovo-K80/

  21. November 16, 2016

    Lenovo are nice phones though

    http://www.wizprof.com/

  22. Wizprof
    November 16, 2016

    Lenovo are nice phones though

    http://www.wizprof.com/