Lenovo S90 Review: Best Mid-Range Selfie Smartphone of 2015

Lenovo S90 (Vibe S1): 2015 Mid-Range Selfie-Focused Smartphone

The Lenovo S90, marketed as the Lenovo Vibe S1 in select regions, is a mid-range Android smartphone unveiled in April 2015 and released globally in May 2015. Positioned as a selfie-centric device targeting young consumers and social media enthusiasts, it stood out in its price segment with a dual-front-camera setup— a rare feature at the time— paired with a slim metal unibody design and a vibrant HD display. The S90 balanced multimedia performance and aesthetic appeal, competing with devices like the Xiaomi Mi 4i and Huawei Honor 6.

Core Identifiers

Item	Details
Brand & Model	Lenovo S90 (alias: Lenovo Vibe S1; regional variants: S90-u, S90-t, S90-e)
Launch Timeline	Announced: April 2015; Released: May 2015
Positioning	Mid-range selfie-focused smartphone
Launch Price	~$229 USD / ~€199 EUR
Color Options	White, Champagne Gold, Pink
Key Differentiators	Dual-front cameras (wide + depth), 5-inch AMOLED display, slim metal unibody, 4G LTE connectivity
Regional Variants	– S90-u: Unlocked (4G LTE FDD bands) – S90-t: TD-LTE (China Mobile custom variant) – S90-e: CDMA2000 (China Telecom custom variant)

Key Technical Specifications

Hardware & Performance

Category	Details
Operating System	Android 5.0 Lollipop; Lenovo Vibe UI 2.0 (custom skin); no official OS upgrades
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 (MSM8916, 28nm)
CPU	Quad-core 1.2GHz Cortex-A53
GPU	Adreno 306
Memory & Storage	2GB LPDDR3 RAM; 16GB eMMC 5.0 internal storage; microSDXC expandable up to 128GB (hybrid SIM slot)
Display	5.0-inch Super AMOLED; 1280×720 (HD) resolution; 294 ppi; 16M colors; Corning Gorilla Glass 3; 70% screen-to-body ratio
Design & Build	Aluminum alloy unibody; slim profile (6.9mm thickness); Dimensions: 146×71.7×6.9mm; Weight: 129g; No IP rating

Camera System (Selfie-Focused)

Component	Details
Rear Camera	13MP Sony IMX214 sensor; f/2.0 aperture; PDAF (phase detection autofocus); LED flash; 1080p video recording at 30fps; HDR, panorama, night mode
Front Dual Cameras	– Primary: 8MP sensor; f/2.2 aperture; wide-angle lens (85° FOV) – Secondary: 2MP depth sensor; enables real-time bokeh effect for portrait selfies Features: Beauty mode (level 1–10 customization), face detection, 720p video calling

Battery & Connectivity

Category	Details
Battery	2300mAh non-removable Li-Po; 5V/1A (5W) standard charging; Talk time: up to 10 hours (4G); Standby time: up to 250 hours
Network	4G LTE (Cat.4, 150 Mbps download); 3G HSPA+; 2G GSM; Dual-SIM (hybrid slot: nano-SIM + nano-SIM/microSD); regional band support varies by variant
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (dual-band); Bluetooth 4.0 (A2DP, LE); GPS/GLONASS; microUSB 2.0 (OTG compatible); 3.5mm headphone jack; FM radio with RDS
Sensors	Rear-mounted fingerprint scanner (0.8s unlock speed), accelerometer, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, compass

Core Features & Innovations

Dual-Front Cameras for Bokeh Selfies: The 8MP wide-angle + 2MP depth sensor combination enabled hardware-level portrait selfies with blurred backgrounds— a feature that was exclusive to flagship phones at the time, making the S90 a hit among selfie enthusiasts.
Super AMOLED Display: The 5-inch AMOLED panel delivered vibrant colors, deep blacks, and wide viewing angles, enhancing media consumption and selfie preview quality compared to IPS LCD rivals in the same price range.
Slim Metal Unibody: At 6.9mm thick, the aluminum alloy build gave the S90 a premium feel that stood out against plastic-bodied competitors in the mid-range segment.
Hybrid Dual-SIM Support: The hybrid slot allowed users to either use two nano-SIM cards (for dual-number management) or one SIM + one microSD card (for expanded storage), catering to diverse user needs.
Vibe UI 2.0 Customizations: Lenovo’s skin added selfie-specific tools (e.g., beauty mode presets) and productivity features (e.g., split-screen multitasking) to the stock Android 5.0 experience.

Market Reception & Legacy

Legacy: The Lenovo S90 was one of the first mid-range phones to popularize dual-front cameras for portrait selfies, paving the way for subsequent devices in the Vibe series and other brands to adopt the feature. It also demonstrated Lenovo’s strategy of targeting niche user preferences (selfie focus) to stand out in the crowded mid-range smartphone market.

Strengths: Critics praised the S90’s dual-front camera bokeh effect, premium metal design, vibrant AMOLED display, and affordable price point. The rear fingerprint scanner was also noted for its fast unlock speed.

Criticisms: The 2300mAh battery offered only average endurance for heavy users; the Snapdragon 410 chipset struggled with high-end gaming; the hybrid SIM slot forced users to choose between dual-SIM and expandable storage; no OS updates limited long-term usability.

Target Audience: Young consumers, social media users, selfie enthusiasts, and budget-conscious buyers seeking a premium-looking device with a focus on front-camera performance.