Lenovo Vibe S1 Review: A Selfie-Powered Mid-Range Marvel

Lenovo Vibe S1 (2015; Mid-Range Selfie-Centric Android Smartphone) | Full English Details & Specs

Brand: Lenovo Group Ltd. (model number: S1-A40/S1A40)

Category: Mid-range 5.0-inch FHD Android smartphone, pioneering dual front cameras for enhanced selfies; targeting social media enthusiasts, style-conscious users, and mid-budget consumers seeking premium design with advanced selfie featureslenovo.com.

Core Value: 5.0-inch FHD IPS display, MediaTek MT6752 64-bit octa-core 1.7GHz CPU, 3GB RAM/32GB storage (microSD expandable up to 128GB), dual 8MP front cameras (depth-sensing for bokeh), 13MP rear camera with PDAF, 2420mAh non-removable battery, 4G LTE, and Android 5.0.1 Lollipop with Vibe UI.

Launch Timeline: Announced September 2015 (IFA Berlin); released November 2015 (China, India, select Asian/European markets); discontinued later; variants: Dual-Nano-SIM (hybrid slot for microSD) unlocked/carrier-locked models for regional markets.

Core Specifications

1. Display & Design

Display: 5.0-inch IPS LCD FHD (1920×1080 pixels), 16M colors, ~441 ppi, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 (front and back), oleophobic coating; curved glass edges for premium feel.
Body: 143.3×70.8×7.8mm, 132g; rounded metal frame, plastic back with Gorilla Glass 3; colors: Pearl White, Midnight Blue; hybrid dual-Nano-SIM slot (supports 2 SIMs or 1 SIM + microSD); no water/dust resistance rating.

2. Performance & Storage

SoC: MediaTek MT6752 (64-bit, 28nm); CPU: Octa-core 1.7GHz Cortex-A53; GPU: Mali-T760 MP2 (700MHz).
OS: Android 5.0.1 Lollipop with Lenovo Vibe UI (customized for selfie features and navigation).
RAM/Storage: 3GB LPDDR3 RAM; 32GB eMMC internal storage; microSD card slot (supports up to 128GB, uses SIM 2 slot).

3. Cameras & Multimedia

Rear Camera: 13MP, f/2.2 aperture, PDAF, dual-tone LED flash, HDR, panorama; video recording: 1080p@30fps.
Front Cameras: Dual 8MP (main + depth-sensing), f/2.0 aperture, fixed focus; features: background blur, background swap, low-light enhancement; video recording: 1080p@30fps for selfies and video calls.
Multimedia: Media player (MP3, MP4, AVI, FLAC), 3.5mm audio jack, built-in speaker; FM radio (with RDS); basic audio enhancement for daily listening.

4. Battery & Charging

Battery: Non-removable Li-Po 2420mAh; talk time up to 26h (2G)/12h (3G), standby up to 264h (2G)/240h (3G); mixed usage up to 1 day.
Charging: Micro-USB 2.0, standard wired charging; no fast/wireless charging.

5. Connectivity & Extras

Network: 4G LTE (FDD-LTE 1/3/5/7/8/20, TDD-LTE 40), 3G HSPA+, 2G GSM 850/900/1800/1900; supports data and voice on both SIMs with Dual-Standby.
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (dual-band), Bluetooth 4.0 (A2DP), Micro-USB 2.0, GPS + GLONASS; no NFC, OTG, or infrared port.
Sensors: Accelerometer, proximity, ambient light; no fingerprint scanner or face recognition.
Productivity: Google apps (Gmail, Maps, Play Store), Lenovo-custom apps (Vibe Camera, Vibe Selfie), voice dial, speakerphone, and dual-SIM call management.
Launch Price: ~INR 15,999 (2015, India; ~US$240 unlocked, 2015 conversion).

Key Features & Series Significance

Mid-Range Market Position: Balanced features and design solidified Lenovo’s presence in the competitive mid-range segment, targeting users seeking more than entry-level specs without flagship costs.

Dual Front Cameras: Pioneered dual front cameras for selfies with depth-sensing, enabling background blur and swap—rare in mid-range phones in 2015lenovo.com.

Premium Design: Metal frame and curved Gorilla Glass 3 at an affordable price point, appealing to style-conscious users.

Decent Performance: 64-bit octa-core CPU and 3GB RAM delivered smooth multitasking for mid-range standards.

Selfie-Centric Features: Dual front cameras with dedicated modes (blur, swap) catered to social media users, setting a trend for future selfie phoneslenovo.com.