Lenovo VIBE K5 Plus Will Sell Well in the PH if Priced near SRP

The Vibe KS Plus at the MWC 2016 Exhibition Floor

Lenovo Showcases Affordable Smartphones to MWC

We were able to get some hands-on time with Lenovo’s newest affordable offering, the Lenovo VIBE K5 Plus, at the exhibition floor of the Mobile World Congress here in Barcelona, Spain. Before we jump into our short hands-on, here’s a quick refresher on the specifications of this device.

Lenovo VIBE K5 Plus Spec Sheet

1.5GHz MSM8939 R3 Octa-Core Processor
2GB RAM
16GB Internal Storage, Expandable via MicroSD
13.0-Megapixel Primary Camera
5.0-Megapixel Secondary Camera
2750mAh Battery
5.0-inch Full HD Display (1080p)
Dolby Atmos Rear Speakers
SRP: $149 (Less than Php7,000)

Solid and Elegant Build with Competitive Specs

So what does this phone have going for it?

There are three key features about the VIBE K5 Plus that make it appealing: build, specs, and price. The combination of this three factors make it worth looking into but all three have to be in play for it to work.

In terms of hardware design, the K5 Vibe looks solid, refined, and elegant. It doesn’t look like a sub Php7,000 smartphone. The metallic body made of aluminium gives it a much more premium profile. The back plate is removable and it gives users access to the replaceable battery and microSD card slot. The slightly curved edges also made the phone more comfortable to hold. Something that you don’t get to see with a lot of metal-body devices these days.

We also appreciate the fact that Lenovo went with the Dolby Atmos exterior speakers since this was an issue (external speakers) that we’ve had with some of their previous releases.

When it comes to specifications, the VIBE K5 Plus rocks the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 616 octa-core processor. It’s paired with 2GB of RAM which should be more than enough to get you through core tasks and gaming. In our tests, we did notice slightly noticeable lag when multi-tasking but that’s okay given the low price. All other specs, like the camera and camera are standard fare.

If Priced Close to SRP, this Will Sell in the PH

Which brings us to the last key factor — price. Here in MWC it was announced that the SRP was just $149. That’s less than Php7,000 if converted directly. At that price the Lenovo VIBE K5 Plus is actually quite appealing. However the moment they bring it higher, like in the Php9,000-Php10,000 levels, it quickly loses it’s appeal when you consider what your alternatives are.