Lenovo S850 Review: A Stylish Mid-Range Smartphone

Lenovo S850 (2014)

The Lenovo S850 is a mid-range 3G smartphone announced at MWC 2014 and released in June 2014, featuring a slim 8.2mm all-glass design, 5.0-inch HD IPS display, MediaTek MT6582 quad-core processor, and dual-SIM support. Targeting style-conscious users seeking a premium look at an affordable price, it competed with the Huawei Ascend G6 and Xiaomi Redmi 1S in the 2014 mid-range segment.

Core Overview & Positioning

Attribute	Details
Launch Date	Announced February 2014 (MWC); released June 2014
Model Number	S850 (global variant)
Market Position	Mid-range 3G smartphone (premium design focus)
Target Audience	Style-focused users, dual-SIM users, daily media consumers, budget-conscious buyers
Key Selling Points	5.0-inch HD IPS display, 8.2mm slim all-glass body, 13MP rear/5MP front cameras, dual-SIM dual-standby, Android 4.4 KitKat联想
Launch Price (Global)	~€200 (~$260 unlocked)
Color Options	Pink, White, Dark Blue联想

Full Technical Specifications

Display

Type: 5.0-inch IPS LCD capacitive multi-touch (16M colors, 16:9 aspect ratio)
Resolution: 1280×720 pixels (HD, ~294 ppi)
Features: 5-point multi-touch, wide viewing angles, scratch-resistant glass coating
Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 3 (standard for 2014 mid-range)
Design: All-glass front panel for a sleek, premium look

Performance & Software

Chipset: MediaTek MT6582 (28nm)
CPU: Quad-core 1.3 GHz ARM Cortex-A7
GPU: Mali-400 MP2 (500 MHz)
Memory: 1GB LPDDR3 RAM; 16GB internal eMMC storage (no microSD expansion slot)
OS: Android 4.4.2 KitKat (upgradable to Android 5.0 Lollipop via custom ROMs)
UI: Lenovo Vibe UI (custom skin with themes, gestures, and power-saving tools)
Software Features:
- Google Mobile Services (GMS): Play Store, Gmail, Maps, YouTube联想
- Dual-SIM management (separate call/text/data settings for each SIM)
- Basic productivity tools (document viewer for Word/Excel/PDF, calendar, notes)
- FM radio with RDS support联想
- USB OTG support (external storage/accessories)

Camera System

Rear Camera

13MP sensor, f/2.2 aperture, autofocus (AF), LED flash联想
Photo Resolution: Up to 4128×3096 pixels
Video Recording: 1080p Full HD @ 30fps (no optical image stabilization (OIS))
Features: Digital zoom, panorama mode, HDR, face detection, white balance presets

Front Camera

5MP fixed-focus sensor, f/2.4 aperture, wide-angle lens联想
Video Recording: 720p HD @ 30fps
Features: Beauty mode, video calling support (via Google Hangouts/Skype)联想

Battery & Charging

Capacity: 2000 mAh non-removable Li-Polymer battery
Charging: 5V/1A microUSB 2.0 (standard charging; no fast charging)
Battery Life: Up to 25 hours talk time (2G/3G), up to 336 hours standby; ~6 hours screen-on time (media/browsing)联想
Power Saving: Vibe UI Smart Power Saving (limits background activity, extends standby)

Build & Design

Dimensions: 141×71×8.2 mm (5.55×2.80×0.32 in)
Weight: 140 g (4.94 oz)
Build: All-glass front panel + plastic back panel (textured for grip); slim profile (8.2mm)
Form Factor: Candybar; capacitive touch keys (menu/back) below display
Buttons & Ports: Volume rocker (side), power/lock key (side), 3.5mm headphone jack (top), microUSB 2.0 (bottom)
Sensors: Accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity, ambient light, compass联想

Connectivity

Feature	Specifications
Cellular	3G HSPA+ (21 Mbps downlink/5.76 Mbps uplink), 2G GSM; dual-SIM dual-standby (micro-SIM ×2)联想
Bands	2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900; 3G: HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100联想
Wi-Fi	802.11 b/g/n (2.4GHz only), Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot联想
Bluetooth	4.0 (A2DP, LE for low-power devices)联想
Navigation	GPS, A-GPS联想
Other	3.5mm headphone jack, FM radio, microUSB 2.0, no NFC联想

Core Features & User Experience Highlights

Slim All-Glass Design: At 8.2mm thick and 140g, it was one of the slimmest 5.0-inch phones of 2014, with an all-glass front that stood out vs. all-plastic rivals (e.g., Redmi 1S).
Dual-SIM Dual-Standby: Two micro-SIM slots allowed users to separate personal/work numbers or use a local SIM card while traveling—popular in emerging markets联想.
Camera for Daily Use: 13MP rear with LED flash delivered sharp daylight shots; 5MP front was adequate for selfies and video calls联想.
Balanced Performance: MT6582 + 1GB RAM handled daily tasks (calls, texts, social media, 720p video) smoothly; struggled with high-end games and heavy multitasking.
Long Battery Life: 2000mAh battery provided all-day use for most users, with Vibe UI’s power-saving tools extending endurance for heavy users联想.

Advantages & Limitations

Advantages	Limitations
8.2mm slim all-glass design (premium feel for mid-range pricing)	No microSD expansion slot (16GB internal storage only)
5.0-inch IPS LCD with wide viewing angles	No fast charging (full charge takes ~3 hours)
Dual-SIM dual-standby (two micro-SIM slots)	No 4G LTE connectivity (3G only)
13MP rear camera with LED flash (good daylight performance)	No OIS (blurry motion/low-light video)
Lightweight (140g) and comfortable to hold	1GB RAM limits multitasking (apps crash under load)
GMS support (full access to Google Play Store and apps)	No NFC (no mobile payment support)

Target Markets & Use Cases

Style-Focused Users: Those who prioritized a slim, all-glass design over flagship specs.
Emerging Market Users: Dual-SIM support made it ideal for users in Asia, Africa, and Latin America needing flexible connectivity联想.
Daily Media Consumers: Users who wanted a large screen for streaming, reading, and browsing without flagship costs.
Dual-SIM Users: Professionals and travelers who needed two numbers active simultaneously联想.
Budget-Conscious Buyers: Those seeking a premium look at an affordable price (~€200).

Legacy & Market Impact

The Lenovo S850 helped Lenovo establish a presence in the mid-range smartphone market, especially in emerging markets where dual-SIM support and slim design were key selling points联想. It reinforced Lenovo’s strategy of combining premium design with balanced specs, a formula that the company refined in later models (e.g., Lenovo Vibe S1, Vibe P1).

While overshadowed by 4G-enabled rivals (e.g., Huawei Ascend G7), the S850 remains a notable device for its all-glass design and dual-SIM functionality, which were ahead of their time in the 2014 mid-range segment.