Display and Multimedia
The K4 Note is equipped with a 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels or Full HD. With that, we’re getting a crisp 401ppi of pixel density. It’s an IPS LCD panel, so viewing angles are wide and colors are pleasant to look at.
We’ve noticed that the panel’s color temperature leans on the colder side of things when compared to other displays in its range.
The phone has front-facing stereo speakers that get loud when turned up. Although, quality is not as good as we’re expecting. It’s a bit shallow and lacks bass despite the enhancement labeled by Dolby Atmos. Still, the loudness is a good factor for multimedia playback.
OS, Apps, and UI
Running on K4 Note is Android 5.1 Lollipop with Vibe UI on top. Considering that version 6.0 has been around for months already, the system on this new device is fairly outdated. Although, Lenovo’s skin doesn’t really show much of a difference between Android versions.
This time around, Lenovo has brought back the app drawer for those who miss it. Of course, you’ll have the option as well to put all the icons on a single layer of homescreen.
We have Lenovo’s usual suspects onboard upon boot up wherein we ask the question, “Who uses this app anyway?”. We’re talking about the LateRooms and the Navigate app. The Guvera Music is okay but you’re better off installing Spotify. Key social apps are available out-of-the-box too plus some productivity suite and few Google apps.
Admittedly, Lenovo’s skin is not the best around but it’s not the worst either. It’s just merely a distinction for the manufacturer to make its devices look different in the sea of Android phones. But if you’re going to ask us, they are better off keeping everything stock like Motorola, which is already under their arms.
Lastly, the K4 Note has a built-in VR mode. It’s tucked away in the options panel when long pressing the power button. It basically splits the screen into two, thus creating a stereoscope effect. Place the device into a VR headset, which comes included if purchased through official Lenovo outlets, and enjoy instant VR theater for cheaps on any content.
Camera
It’s got a 13-megapixel main shooter equipped with phase-detection autofocus and a dual-tone LED flash. For selfies, there’s a 5-megapixel front camera with a wide-angle lens.
Quality-wise, the 13-megapixel rear camera is a decent performer for its class. Launching the camera takes about a second or two while focusing is quite fast and accurate. Details captured by it is good with bright colors, given that the scenario is well lit.
Here are some samples:
The front camera is quite underwhelming. Not that it’s not enough for vanity, but for the fact that the live preview prior to capture shows crisp facial details. Then the processed output turns out softer, especially with artificial lighting.
Video recording, on the other hand, has somewhat similar results as the stills from the rear camera. Details are in check plus stereo audio recording, although exposure compensation is on the aggressive side. If you check the short sample below, the camera suddenly shifts exposure even with the slightest movement.
K4 Note’s camera department is decent at best. It’s fine for everyday stills and casual photography. A little tweak and a good filter choice will make things better.
The front camera sample shots are very bad, too much noise. How can you say it’s so-so, which means average?