Lenovo Vibe S1 hands-on, first impressions

Along with the Vibe P1, Lenovo also launched the Vibe S1 – a dual-SIM Android with a 5-inch Full HD display, MediaTek octa-core CPU and dual-front cameras — a first for the company.

You can check out our hands-on video of the Vibe S1, Vibe P1, and Vibe P1m below.

The Vibe S1 in terms of build is more like the opposite of the Vibe P1. While the latter is chunky and hefty, the former is sleek and light. This is not to say that the Vibe S1 is not premium as it sports an aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass 3 on the front and back.

On the front, the Vibe S1 has a 5-inch Full HD IPS display which equates to 441ppi. Like the Vibe P1, the Vibe S1’s screen is also punchy with good viewing angles.

Situated above it are the earpiece and the Vibe S1’s main feature – the dual front cameras: 8 megapixel main and 2 megapixel secondary. Down below are capacitive buttons for navigation.

The dual-front cameras allow the Vibe S1 to analyze depth of field and capture fancy selfies with the following features:

• Blur – allows refocusing anywhere on your selfie for up to 3 focal planes, adds bokeh effect to the background
• Cut Out – people can be cropped out of a selfie and then placed on any other image or background
• Downloadable backdrops
• Night or low-light selfies

Placed on the left side is the SIM and microSD card tray. Found on the right are the volume and power/lock button. Right up top are the headset jack and microphone, while down at the bottom are the microUSB port, speaker, and microphone.

Flip it on its back and you will see the 13-megapixel BSI camera with dual-tone flash and the Vibe branding.

On hand, the Vibe S1 is easier to handle and more comfortable compared to the Vibe P1 thanks to the curves of it slimmer and lighter body. It measures 7.8mm thin and 132g in weight. The Gorilla Glass-mounted back feels good to the touch and will satisfy those who prefer a glossy touch to a premium build.

Lenovo Vibe S1 specs:
5-inch Full HD IPS display, 441ppi
Corning Gorilla Glass 3
1.7GHz 64-bit MediaTek MT6752 Octa-core CPU
3GB RAM
32GB internal storage
up to 128GB via microSD (uses SIM 2)
13MP rear camera w/ dual-tone flash
8MP + 2MP front cameras
Dual-SIM
4G LTE, 3G HSPA+
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Bluetooth 4.0
GPS, A-GPS
FM Radio
2,500mAh battery
Android 5.0 Lollipop w/ Vibe UI
143.3 x 70.8 x 7.8mm
132g

The Lenovo Vibe S1 is more expensive than the Vibe P1 at Php15,999 and comes in White and Gold colors. It will be available through authorized dealers by the 4th week of November.