Can’t decide between wanting a smartphone or a tablet? Lenovo thinks it has hit the sweet spot with its new PHAB Plus – a beautifully crafted premium phablet that’s optimised for single-hand use. Packing a 6.8-inch Full HD display, Dolby Atmos audio technology, big cameras and all-day battery life, the PHAB Plus aims to please in a big way.
Let’s face it. We’re in the age of data consumption. We’re browsing the web, sending IMs, updating social networks, streaming video, playing online games, listening to music. We tend to call less and send WhatsApp messages more.
The PHAB Plus combines the best of both smartphone and tablet into a single, desirable device. While it offers tablet-level screen real estate, Lenovo has built in nifty single-handed modes and features for both left- and right-handed users.
A big stunner
In terms of design, the PHAB Plus is stunning, crafted from durable yet lightweight aluminum, encased in a unibody design with rounded edges and polished buttons. There are two available colours: Gunmetal Grey and Honey Gold. If Lenovo went all out to make it look and feel premium, it certainly has succeeded. It weighs just 229g and measures a svelte 7.6mm at its thinnest.
Big on entertainment
With entertainment on its main agenda, the PHAB Plus comes with a 6.8-inch Full HD IPS display pushing out 326PPI. It comes powered by the dependable mid-range octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 chip with 2GB of memory. In the storage department, it comes with 32GB with the option of expanding via microSD.
Don’t forget there’s also the famed Dolby Atmos audio technology built-in to the device, something I’ve experienced positively on the Lenovo A7000. Plug in a headset and you’ll be impressed with the immersive audio experience. Even powered through the built-in speakers, Dolby Atmos hugely enhances your audio experience whether you’re listening to music, watching a movie or playing games.
Connectivity is assured with dual-SIM and dual-LTE support, taking micro-SIM and nano-SIM in SIM1 and hybrid SIM2 slots respectively. There’s of course Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.0, GPS and A-GPS built-in, as well.
Camera optics-wise, the rear gets a 13MP f/2.2 shooter with dual-LED flash, whereas the front gets a 5MP selfie camera.
Big but small
Perhaps the most important feature set is one-handed mode. Trace a ‘C’ on screen and it will shrink the screen to the right for single right-handed use. Do a reverse ‘C’ and see the screen shrink for lefties. Neat. You can call out a one-hand keyboard and use a plethora of gestures and voice-activated prompts to achieve tasks.
Keeping the phablet up all day is a massive 3,500mAh battery which Lenovo claims can deliver up to 24 hours of talktime and 20 days of standby time.
The PHAB Plus runs Android 5.0 Lollipop with a very stock-looking custom Lenovo UI on top.
Pricing and availability
The Lenovo PHAB Plus retails at RM1,199 (inclusive of GST). You can pre-order the device from the Lenovo PHAB Plus Pre-order Page where you’ll be entitled for exclusive freebies worth up to RM600. Each purchase of the phablet entitles you to a free screen protector and casing, RM100 Superdry Apparel discount vouchers, free 100 hottest download track (worth RM380) and free 12-month e-magazine subscriptions (worth up to RM120).
The offer is limited to the first 100 customers only and runs till 27 September 2015. Collection of devices is set to be from 28 September to 25 October 2015.
Gallery
