Most smartphones tend to look alike. Not so for the Lenovo Vibe X2 as it is probably the world's first layered smartphone, with three separate layers and a screen slapped together into a single flat and thin smartphone. The result is a fairly unique looking smartphone but how does it perform? Read our full review of the Lenovo Vibe X2 smartphone below and see for yourself if this is the layered masterpiece you've been looking for.
Design, Tech specs and Features - Unique look with above average features
Design-wise, the Lenovo Vibe X2 follows the flat and thin look. The 5-inch display is actually a bit smaller than the other three layers, so it leaves a little space on the top and bottom. At 7.3mm it isn't the thinnest smartphone around but the slightly irregular sized display on the top does make it seem thinner than it actually is. Overall, the layered design makes the Vibe X2 very tough and solid with nearly no flex to it. Tech specs are quite good with a 5MP front camera for the selfie inclined and a 13MP rear camera that doesn't stick out on the back. We found it to be very lightweight at 120g which should make it great for those who like lighter smartphones. Check out the full list of tech specs and features below:
- 2.0GHz octa-core MediaTek MT6595m processor
- PowerVR G600 graphics
- 2GB RAM
- 32GB storage
- 5-inch IPS display (1080 x 1920 pixel resolution, 441 ppi)
- 13MP rear camera (LED flash) + 5MP front camera
- 140.2 x 68.6 x 7.3mm | 120g
- supports Dual SIM (4G LTE, Micro-SIM + Nano-SIM), WiFi b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.1
- features FM Radio, active noise cancellation with dedicated mic, A-GPS
- 2300 mAh battery (non-removable)
- Android 4.4 KitKat
- Available in charcoal, gold, red and white
The Lenovo Vibe X2 packs in an octa-core processor from MediaTek
The flat and thin design is very strong and rigid
While the phone is dual-SIM it only supports one micro SIM and one nano SIM with no microSD slot, thankfully, it does come with a free Vibe X2 casing
While there is a true octa-core MediaTek processor, it should be noted that the PowerVR G600 graphics is a bit on the midrange. It also seems that Lenovo made some sacrifices to get it this thin as the Vibe X2 does not have any expandable microSD memory slot. Other tech specs are quite high though as you get 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, 4G LTE connectivity and Wifi 802.11ac along with the full HD 5-inch display. Lenovo have also added a bit more value to the overall package by including a free clear original Vibe X2 casing along with a pair of headphones. You may have to get rid of some bloatware in the smartphone, but it works well even with the pre-installed featured apps.
The Lenovo Vibe X2 unboxed
Performance - Mixed results but still capable
Performance is a mixed bag for the Vibe X2 perhaps because of the imbalanced processor and graphics. This can be seen by the really high AnTuTu benchmark score of 48399 and the rather midrange graphics score in 3DMark of 8543. This was perhaps done to avoid the smartphone from overheating, as it already gets quite hot when running intensive apps or games. This does not mean that the smartphone is not capable though as it got a very good Epic Citadel score of 54.9fps on full HD and managed smooth, lag-free performance in Asphalt 8: Airborne on high quality visual settings. Camera performance was good and solid but the lack of stand-out features makes it just an above average camera. Audio is surprisingly loud though but the quality is not as clear as we would have liked with a slightly tinny sound to it. Battery life is above average as well for about 1 day and a bit more on semi-heavy usage (browsing, social media, some gaming, some video editing).
Thanks to the octa-core processor, AnTuTu scores are very high, but...
... graphics scores on 3DMark are just midrange.
Actual game graphics performance in Epic Citadel are very good though with very high frame rates for a full HD smartphone
Performance on Asphalt 8: Airborne was smooth and lag free even on high visual quality settings
Camera performance is good but lacks many stand-out features
13MP, Auto
13MP, Auto
Good low-light performance
Conclusion - Unique-looking flat and thin but capable smartphone
Overall, the Lenovo Vibe X2 smartphone is a great-looking flat and thin smartphone with a unique layered look that should set it apart from other generic-looking smartphones. We found it to be very capable both for playing games as well as taking pictures but the lack of expandable memory and stand-out features makes it a solid above average performer at best. While it does pack in 4G LTE, 2GB RAM and WiFi 802.11 ac, these features are quickly becoming the norm for smartphones below RM1K. Retailing at RM1199, third-party sellers like SatuGadgetDotCom and DirectD are already offering the Lenovo Vibe X2 from as low as RM959. We expect this pricing to go down even lower as time goes by, but the Vibe X2 does offer a good amount of value, especially with the added casing in the package. If you're looking for a capable smartphone that stands out from the rest then the Lenovo Vibe X2 should definitely be on your consideration list.
Check out our hands-on video of the Lenovo Vibe X2
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