An alleged picture and specifications of Lenovo K4 Note, the Chinese company’s upcoming blockbuster phone, have been leaked by an industry source.
Most of the specifications of the phone are as expected, and include a 5.5 inch, full-HD display, support for NFC and MicroSD cards, a fingerprint scanner at the back and a 3.3 Ah battery.
Camera resolution continues to be just 13 MP and 5 MP (front). However, many would be hoping that the quality of the pictures on the Lenovo K4 Note will be better than its predecessor.
According to our information, the phone will be powered by a mid-range processor, the MediaTek MT6753, which could disappoint some fan who were hoping for the high-end Helio X10. The MT6753 is a modified version of the MT6752 and offers slightly less power compared to the original.
Another key aspect is RAM. Many media reports are saying that the K4 Note will come with double the amount of RAM compared to the K3, which means it will come with 4 GB.
However, both our source and the company have said that there will be only one model, with 3 GB of RAM, while many online sources are pointing to two models – one 3 GB and another 4 GB.
Though NFC and a fingerprint scanner are present, there will be no infrared blaster, gesture control etc.. Other missing features in the K4 include wireless charging and resistance to water and dust. (Helio X10 supports wireless charging.)
However, given that the K4 is purely a mid-range device, these are omissions that are unlikely to hurt its sales.
We have not yet been able to get final word on the pricing, but it is not going to be higher than Rs 15,000 and will most probably be in the Rs 11,000-12,000 range — going by the specs. Final confirmation will come at 11:00 AM next Tuesday.
Lenovo could also bring the much-anticipated Vibe X3 — powered by the Snapdragon 808 chipset and containing 3 GB of RAM, to India at the same time. However, the X3 will cost substantially more, in the range of Rs 18,000-21,000, in India.
Reviewing the specs, it has to be said that the new Note will not be a substantial move up from its predecessor due to the fingerprint scanner support and higher RAM. Another area of huge improvement, if the photo turns out to be correct, are the looks.
The K3 looked very basic and was not the best device out there in terms of build quality. However, the K4 Note looks far better and is made of aluminium and not plastic like the older model.
Despite the metal build, the thickness of the phone will be comparable to that of its predecessor (which was 8 mm), and the phone will reportedly be made by Motorola’s factories in China.
Lenovo has also given a quick glance at the device (see the video at the bottom). Though not much detail can be seen from the video, it seems to suggest that the leaked picture is correct.
The software is Android 5.1 with Lenovo’s own UI on top.
Lenovo has a lot riding on the K4 Note because of upcoming competition from Reliance Jio’s LYF brand of 4G phones. Reliance Jio is expected to go for cut-throat competition in this space in the coming days — particularly in the Rs 10,000 price-range.
Lenovo practically owns the Rs 10,000 price range because of its K3, though Micromax has started making inroads with its Canvas 5, which is has superior features compared to the Lenovo model, looks far better and has 3 GB of RAM. However, the Canvas 5 has a 5.2 inch display. A 5.5-inch screen has 12% more area compared to a 5.2-inch one.
In addition, Le TV, one of the most price-aggressive brands in China, is all set to enter India next week. Among the models that Le TV could launch in the country is the Le 1s, which actually does come with the powerful Mediatek Helio X10 chipset.
The Le 1s also has 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of built-in memory, while the K4 is likely to come with only 16 GB. Despite this, the Le 1s is likely to cost in the Rs 13,000 range — going by its international prices. No word, however, about if or when the phone will be available in India.
In addition, Xiaomi is likely to launch a Snapdragon 808-powered variant of its much-sought after model, Redmi Note 3, in India in coming days as well.
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