Performance
I consider myself a heavy smartphone user – constantly checking and posting social updates, browsing, checking email and taking plenty of photos. The K900 puts up with everything I throw at it. It may not break speed records nor come close to the performance of a quad-core Samsung Note 3 for instance, but it is still an able performer by any standards.
It isn’t without its quirks of course. At times when multitasking, there’s apparent slowdown and jerkiness and the camera has once or twice crashed and forced a phone restart.
Also, under heavy usage, especially when using the camera extensively, the phone can get hot, with the outer stainless steel shell generously transferring the heat into your hand or pocket. Nothing too unusual for multi-core smartphones, but just so you know.
What I’d really like to see is improvement in launch time for the SuperCamera app specifically. Otherwise, performance as a whole is commendable. The 5.5-inch display is sharp without being overly saturated (like some, ahem, phones we know). The display is fantastic for games, photos and videos.
If you’re worried about the size of the phone, well, I was too. Over time, it did grow on me and the fact that it is so incredibly thin helps distract you from its gargantuan form. Of course by today’s standards, 5.5-inch isn’t quite the biggest in the market, that accolade goes to the Sony Xperia Z Ultra, HTC One max and Nokia Lumia 1520.
It’s comfortable to use with two hands. Single-handed use is tricky but not impossible, and with a little adjustment with hand position, you can hold, swipe, text.
In terms of audio, call quality is crisp and clear. The rear speakers give good amplification, great for videos and music. I had a good chance to test it in-car, when my Clarion AX1 crapped-out on me for a couple of days (yes, Android-powered, damn you). Fired up Spotify and the K900 supplied me with entertainment in traffic jams. Thumbs up.
Battery Life
The K900 sports a 2,500mAh. Not a huge battery considering it needs to power the 5.5-inch display, but adequate. Lenovo quotes 12 hours of talktime in 3G mode. I’d say that’s pretty close although I get an average of about 10 hours. With the help of Lenovo Power management, I can squeeze a little bit more. I’d love to see a 3,000mAh battery in future iterations though.
Specs at a glance
- Processor: Intel Atom processor Z2580, Dual Core 4-thread, up to 2.0 GHz processor
- Operating System: Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
- Display: 5.5″ Full HD IPS (1920 x 1080 @ 400PPI)
- Integrated Graphics: Intel GMA graphics with 533MHz clock
- Memory: 2GB LPDDR2 SDRAM
- Storage: 32GB eMMC
- Battery: 2500mAh Lithium Polymer embedded, Up to 12 hours 3G talktime, 15 hours 2G talktime, Up to 300 hours standby
- Dimensions (WxDxH): 157 x 78 x 6.9 mm
- Weight: 162g
- Materials: Brushed stainless steel and polycarbonate, Corning Gorilla Glass 2 display
- Audio: 1 speaker plus 3.5mm mic/headphone combo jack
- Camera: Front: 2MP fixed focus, 88° wide viewing angle; Rear: 13MP, auto-focus with Dual LED flash, F/1.8 lens
- Ports/Slots: 1 Micro-USB V2.0 (supports USB On-the-Go); 1 Micro SIM
- Sensors: A-GPS, Gravitation, Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor
- WLAN: 802.11 a/b/g/n with hotspot capability; Bluetooth 3.0
- Band Coverage: GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz; WCDMA 850/900/1700/1900/2100MHz
Pricing and Availability
The Lenovo IdeaPhone K900 retails at RM1,499 (SRP) and is available at all Lenovo stores and authorised dealers nationwide.
Pros
- Top notch build quality
- Sleek, premium design
- Fabulous camera
- Sharp display
- Good overall performance
- Decent battery life
- Great package at a super price
Cons
- Can get a little hot
- No 4G LTE
Overall impressions
Because it is ultimately a phablet, the K900 tends to get compared to the ‘King of the Hill’ Samsung Note 3 a lot. The bottom-line is the K900 will not win in the specs game. Not quite an Apple-to-Apple (pardon the pun) comparison although they’re both considered flagship phones by their makers.
Remember that the K900 costs a fraction of the price of a Note 3.
The K900 packs so much value in that delicious stainless steel-polycarbonate unibody enclosure. I continue to be impressed with the premium feel and outstanding build quality. It is no wonder that friends and acquaintances who have touched and played with the device have come out impressed.
While the lack of 4G LTE may be deal-breaker for some, the pros far outweigh the handful of cons of the device. Make no mistake, this is a winner for Lenovo.
RM1,499? Wow.
