Lenovo launches new and affordable VIBE K5 and K5 Pro smartphones


After a very successful 2015, Lenovo is back at MWC 2016 with a brand new slew of devices, the first bunch being the completely metal VIBE K5 and K5 Pro, two affordable mid-range devices with some pretty good specs and a solid price tag.

The Lenovo VIBE K5 is the weaker of the two with a 5-inch 1280 x 720 HD LCD display, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, a 13MP rear camera, a 5MP front camera, expandable storage of up to 32GB and dual sim card slots. It runs on the Octa-core Snapdragon 415 chipset which should give it decent performance and has a pretty large 2750mAh keeping everything going.

The VIBE K5 Pro is for all intents and purposes the exact same phone, with a few minor differences. First, the device’s display has a higher resolution at 1920 x 1080p. The K5 Pro also runs the faster Snapdragon 616 processor, and retails for a slightly higher price than the K5. Aside from that, they’re basically the same device.

Both devices have dual rear facing speakers bundled with Dolby Atmos on board, which should theoretically give them better sound quality than other mid-range devices. The Lenovo VIBE K5 will go on sale in March for $129 while the K5 Pro will retail for $149 instead.

What do you think of Lenovo’s new budget propositions? Would you be interested in getting one of them? Tell us in the comments below.

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52 Comments

  1. realjjj
    February 21, 2016

    Not new, launched over a month ago http://www.lenovo.com.cn/product/51190.html

    • Airyl
      February 21, 2016

      This is the international launch, with a different name and international pricing.

      • realjjj
        February 21, 2016

        rofl
        and? it’s still the same thing

        • Airyl
          February 21, 2016

          Not really sure why you’re laughing. This really is a pretty common thing.

          For example, Xiaomi always does a launch event when it enters a new country to show off the device running new software to fit that country.

          This is the exact same. It’s the device in the link, launched internationally running software for the international market.

          • balcobomber25
            February 21, 2016

            Just like Blu phones. Most of them are spec for spec the exact match for Gionee phones that already launched. But they are for different markets and different buyers so they have a separate launch.

    • a
      February 22, 2016

      The international version supports more bands

  2. Assefa Hanson
    February 21, 2016

    resellers will make it 170- 200$?

  3. tauerman
    February 21, 2016

    Is there a smartphone about 200€ . With similar hardware like the Xiaomi redmi note 3 (pro) but with unlockable bootloader and therefore better custom rom possibilities?

    • Xali
      February 21, 2016

      Dunno if LeTV has unlocked bootloader, but for the price of the Xiaomi crap 3 pro you can get the LeTv x800 Pro, 4GB RAM, Snapdragon 810, useless QHD screen, IMX214, 3000mAh, it just lacks the fingerprint scanner.

      • Assefa Hanson
        February 21, 2016

        troll? or you have some secret deal on the x800, the x800 costs around 310€ “xiaomi crap 3 pro” costs 200 € or less

        • tauerman
          February 21, 2016

          Umi touch has rootjoy, but also slower SoC.
          LeTV X500/x600 can be rooted, but I don’t know about the bootloader

        • Xali
          February 21, 2016

          I don’t know were are you looking but the x800 pro goes for $260 at aliexpress, and who cares that some website has the note 3 Pro for $230 if there is a waiting list of one month that keeps being pushed back every week.

      • balcobomber25
        February 21, 2016

        This is a troll comment. The cheapest X800 I found was on Aliexpress for $265, most sites it is over $300. The cheapest Note 3 Pro (32GB model) I found is on Geekbuying for $230.

    • Chico Migraña
      February 21, 2016

      What’s the problem with locked bootloader? It’s easy to unlock, that’s only a measure to make resellers don’t install crap on the phones they sell.

      • tauerman
        February 21, 2016

        The problem ist, that Xiaomi rejects the unlock on half of the requests they get. Just read through this thread http://en.miui.com/thread-222981-1-1.html

        • Chico Migraña
          February 22, 2016

          Well, if you like MIUI is not a problem to have locked bootloader,
          but they should do something about it :/

  4. balcobomber25
    February 21, 2016

    Yawn!

    • Assefa Hanson
      February 21, 2016

      meh gimme some mi5 scoop or ulefone, or even some elephone greatness lol, i watched the live stream for the s7 tho.. as for microsoft they need to make a damn x86 processor

      • balcobomber25
        February 21, 2016

        Microsoft doesn’t make processors, we use Intel chips in the Surface and Qualcomm chips in the phones.

        • Assefa Hanson
          February 21, 2016

          ohhhh, i just saw the hp elite x3 and in the video i saw this guy saying that pc apps cant work on the phone since no processor that runs x86 exist which would essential make your phone a pc, and in my head i was like damn if that ever happened android/ios would be eradicated.. so i was like mannnn why cant Microsoft hurry up and do that so i can play steam games on my phone

    • hans
      February 21, 2016

      i read that samsung s7 reduced the back camera from 16mp to 12 mp and f 1.7 lens

      • balcobomber25
        February 21, 2016

        Yup that 1.7 means a lot more than the 12mp sensor. On paper this has the potential to be one of the best cameras this year. Still need to see it in action of course.

      • Mr.Flying Zoom3rz
        February 22, 2016

        Now wait for all the kids to cry that they’re downgrading the camera: “Oh no, they screwed the cam, was 16mp now it’s only 12mp. xoxo Megapixels mean nothing, the quality of the sensor is what’s important. And the sensor in S7 is ridiculously good.

  5. realjjj
    February 21, 2016

    Not new, launched over a month ago http://www.lenovo.com.cn/product/51190.html

    • Airyl
      February 21, 2016

      This is the international launch, with a different name and international pricing.

    • realjjj
      February 21, 2016

      rofl
      and? it’s still the same thing

    • Airyl
      February 21, 2016

      Not really sure why you’re laughing. This really is a pretty common thing.

      For example, Xiaomi always does a launch event when it enters a new country to show off the device running new software to fit that country.

      This is the exact same. It’s the device in the link, launched internationally running software for the international market.

    • balcobomber25
      February 21, 2016

      Just like Blu phones. Most of them are spec for spec the exact match for Gionee phones that already launched. But they are for different markets and different buyers so they have a separate launch.

    • Guest
      February 22, 2016

      The international version supports more bands

  6. Assefa Hanson
    February 21, 2016

    resellers will make it 170- 200$?

  7. tauerman
    February 21, 2016

    Is there a smartphone about 200€ . With similar hardware like the Xiaomi redmi note 3 (pro) but with unlockable bootloader and therefore better custom rom possibilities?

    • Guest
      February 21, 2016

      Dunno if LeTV has unlocked bootloader, but for the price of the Xiaomi crap 3 pro you can get the LeTv x800 Pro, 4GB RAM, Snapdragon 810, useless QHD screen, IMX214, 3000mAh, it just lacks the fingerprint scanner.

    • Assefa Hanson
      February 21, 2016

      troll? or you have some secret deal on the x800, the x800 costs around 310€ “xiaomi crap 3 pro” costs 200 € or less

    • balcobomber25
      February 21, 2016

      This is a troll comment. The cheapest X800 I found was on Aliexpress for $265, most sites it is over $300. The cheapest Note 3 Pro (32GB model) I found is on Geekbuying for $230.

    • tauerman
      February 21, 2016

      Umi touch has rootjoy, but also slower SoC.
      LeTV X500/x600 can be rooted, but I don’t know about the bootloader

      EDIT: But the Umi Touch doesn’t have e-compass. Is that a problem?

    • Ricardo A.
      February 21, 2016

      What’s the problem with locked bootloader? It’s easy to unlock, that’s only a measure to make resellers don’t install crap on the phones they sell.

    • tauerman
      February 22, 2016

      The problem ist, that Xiaomi rejects the unlock on half of the requests they get. Just read through this thread http://en.miui.com/thread-222981-1-1.html

    • Guest
      February 22, 2016

      I don’t know were are you looking but the x800 pro goes for $260 at aliexpress, and who cares that some website has the note 3 Pro for $230 if there is a waiting list of one month that keeps being pushed back every week.

    • Ricardo A.
      February 22, 2016

      Well, if you like MIUI is not a problem to have locked bootloader,
      but they should do something about it :/

  8. balcobomber25
    February 21, 2016

    Yawn!

    On a good note: Balco is coming to you from Barcelona! And we’ve already had some big announcements from Samsung and LG.

    • Assefa Hanson
      February 21, 2016

      meh gimme some mi5 scoop or ulefone, or even some elephone greatness lol, i watched the live stream for the s7 tho.. as for microsoft they need to make a damn x86 processor

    • balcobomber25
      February 21, 2016

      Microsoft doesn’t make processors, we use Intel chips in the Surface and Qualcomm chips in the phones.

    • Assefa Hanson
      February 21, 2016

      ohhhh, i just saw the hp elite x3 and in the video i saw this guy saying that pc apps cant work on the phone since no processor that runs x86 exist which would essential make your phone a pc, and in my head i was like damn if that ever happened android/ios would be eradicated.. so i was like mannnn why cant Microsoft hurry up and do that so i can play steam games on my phone

    • Guest
      February 22, 2016

      i read that samsung s7 reduced the back camera from 16mp to 12 mp and f 1.7 lens

    • balcobomber25
      February 22, 2016

      Yup that 1.7 means a lot more than the 12mp sensor. On paper this has the potential to be one of the best cameras this year. Still need to see it in action of course.

    • Mr.Flying Zoom3rz
      February 22, 2016

      Now wait for all the kids to cry that they’re downgrading the camera: “Oh no, they screwed the cam, was 16mp now it’s only 12mp. xoxo Megapixels mean nothing, the quality of the sensor is what’s important. And the sensor in S7 is ridiculously good.

  9. Boyan
    February 22, 2016

    Is this not the same as Lemon 3?

  10. Milan
    February 22, 2016

    Is battery removable?

  11. Boyan
    February 22, 2016

    Is this not the same as Lemon 3?

  12. Guest
    February 22, 2016

    Is battery removable?

  13. Karthik
    February 23, 2016

    not good

  14. Karthik
    February 23, 2016

    not good