Lenovo Phab2 Pro Comprehensive Specs Pricing Pros & Cons Revealed

Design and Build Quality

The Lenovo Phab 2 Pro is an elegantly designed device that stands out due to its substantial form factor. With dimensions of 179.8 x 88.6 x 10.7 mm and a weight of 259 grams, it is quite large and heavy, which complements its phablet design. Crafted with durability in mind, the device’s chassis is solid and gives it a premium feel. The Phab 2 Pro comes in two color variations: Gunmetal Grey and Champagne Gold, providing a classy aesthetic appeal. The hybrid dual SIM card slot allows for flexibility in connectivity options. The rear-mounted fingerprint sensor offers convenient unlocking capabilities while maintaining a sleek finish at the back.

Display Features

The Lenovo Phab 2 Pro features a massive 6.4-inch IPS LCD screen with a resolution of 1440 x 2560 pixels, equating to approximately 459 pixels per inch. This high-resolution display ensures sharp visuals and an impressive viewing experience, suitable for both media consumption and augmented reality applications. The screen-to-body ratio of approximately 70.9% provides a substantial viewing area, enhancing the user experience with vivid colors and good contrast ratios, rated at 1784:1.

Performance and Hardware

Under the hood, the Phab 2 Pro houses a Qualcomm MSM8976 Snapdragon 652 chipset built on the 28-nm architecture. Its Octa-core CPU comprises 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A72 and 4x1.4 GHz Cortex-A53, offering robust performance for day-to-day tasks and handling demanding applications with relative ease. Coupled with an Adreno 510 GPU, the device manages to deliver decent graphics performance, suitable for gaming and immersive applications. The phone provides 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, expandable via microSDXC, ensuring ample space for apps and media files.

Camera Capabilities

Lenovo Phab 2 Pro is equipped with a 16 MP primary camera featuring Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF) alongside depth and motion tracking sensors, which are essential for its Tango Augmented Reality features. The main camera supports HDR and panorama modes, facilitating high-quality photos with detailed imaging. It can also record videos at 1080p at 30fps. On the front, there is an 8 MP selfie camera with an f/2.2 aperture capable of capturing clear and detailed self-portraits, also supporting 1080p video recording.

Battery Life

Powering the device is a non-removable Li-Ion 4050 mAh battery. When it comes to battery longevity, the Phab 2 Pro offers a commendable endurance rating of up to 96 hours, facilitating prolonged usage without frequent recharging. Additionally, the device supports 18W fast charging with Quick Charge 3.0, allowing the substantial battery to charge relatively quickly.

Software and Features

Running on Android 6.0 (Marshmallow), the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro offers a user interface characterized by simplicity and intuitiveness. The Phab 2 Pro is notable for being the first phone integrated with Google's Tango technology, an augmented reality (AR) platform developed by Google. This enables users to experience innovative AR functionalities such as motion tracking, depth perception, and area learning. Furthermore, the device includes standard sensors such as a fingerprint sensor (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, and compass, which enhance the overall functionality of the smartphone.

Connectivity and Networks

In terms of connectivity, the Phab 2 Pro covers a wide range of options. It supports GSM, HSPA, and LTE networks, ensuring robust connectivity no matter the service provider. The device processes HSPA at speeds of 42.2/5.76 Mbps and LTE (2CA) at Cat7 300/100 Mbps, resulting in fast internet speeds. It includes standard communication options like Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac with dual-band support, Wi-Fi Direct for robust wireless connectivity, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, and GLONASS for location tracking. The inclusion of FM radio, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and microUSB 2.0 contributes to its comprehensive connectivity suite.

Audio and Sound Quality

The Lenovo Phab 2 Pro features a loudspeaker rated with decent sound output levels: 64dB for voice, 66dB for noise, and 81dB for ring volumes. This audio quality is backed by Dolby Audio technology, aiming to provide an enriched audio experience whether you are listening to music or watching videos. The device retains the 3.5mm headphone jack which audiophiles appreciate for uncompromised audio output through wired headphones.

Market Release and Status

Announced in June 2016 and released in November 2016, Lenovo Phab 2 Pro marked a significant landmark in mobile technology history due to its pioneering integration of the Tango AR platform. However, despite its groundbreaking features and impressive specifications, the Phab 2 Pro has been discontinued and hence might prove challenging to acquire in today’s market. Initially, it was priced at around 350 EUR, providing decent value for the innovations it introduced.

Conclusion

The Lenovo Phab 2 Pro was a forward-looking device that played a crucial role in paving the way for augmented reality in mobile devices. Although it’s no longer in production, this phablet demonstrated Lenovo’s capability to integrate emerging technologies into cohesive consumer-friendly devices. For tech enthusiasts and developers interested in AR technology, the Phab 2 Pro represented a significant step forward, setting a foundation upon which future developments were built.