Price and specifications of Lenovo S890 advantages, disadvantages, and a comprehensive explanation

Overview of Lenovo S890

The Lenovo S890 was introduced as a solid mid-range smartphone, focusing on providing users with a blend of performance and affordability. Released in January 2013, this device catered to consumers seeking a reliable smartphone with decent features during that period. While it's been discontinued, the Lenovo S890 remains a part of Lenovo's array of smartphones that helped the brand establish itself in the smartphone market.

Design and Build

The Lenovo S890 boasts a sleek design, measuring 143 x 74.2 x 9.3 mm and weighing 176 grams. Its form factor was considered standard for the time of its release, providing a comfortable grip with its curved edges and relatively slim profile. The smartphone supported a dual SIM feature, using Mini-SIM cards, making it convenient for users who needed to manage multiple contact numbers. It came in three colors: Black, Blue, and White.

Display Characteristics

Featuring a 5.0-inch IPS LCD display, the Lenovo S890 provided vibrant colors and good viewing angles, typical of IPS panels. The screen resolution of 540 x 960 pixels (approx. 220 ppi density) was adequate for everyday use, offering decent clarity for reading, browsing, and watching videos. The screen-to-body ratio of around 65% was also typical for phones during that period, providing ample screen real estate for different activities.

Performance and Hardware

At the heart of the Lenovo S890 is the Mediatek MT6577 chipset, accompanied by a dual-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A9 processor and the PowerVR SGX531u GPU. This combination delivered reasonable performance for basic smartphone tasks such as web browsing, email, social media, and light gaming. With 1GB of RAM, the device was capable of handling multitasking to a degree, though more demanding applications would likely hinder performance.

Storage and Expandability

The Lenovo S890 came with 4GB of internal storage, which was quite minimal even at the time of its release. However, the presence of a dedicated microSDHC slot allowed users to expand storage, accommodating more apps, photos, and multimedia files up to 32GB — an essential feature for users who consumed a lot of content on their devices.

Camera Capabilities

The smartphone was equipped with an 8MP autofocus rear camera, accompanied by an LED flash, which enabled it to capture satisfactory images in well-lit conditions. It also supported video recording at 720p resolution. On the front, a VGA camera was provided for selfies and video calls, though its quality was modest, fitting for the era's entry-level standards.

Battery Life

Powered by a removable Li-Ion 2250 mAh battery, the Lenovo S890 offered a reasonable battery life. The capacity was typical for smartphones in its category, which allowed it to last a full day with average use, involving tasks such as calls, messaging, browsing, and occasional media playback. The removable design of the battery provided the advantage of easy replacement, enhancing the longevity of the device.

Connectivity Options

The device supported GSM and HSPA connectivity standards, offering good voice call quality and decent data speeds for 3G. It was equipped with basic connectivity options such as Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n with hotspot capabilities, Bluetooth, GPS, and FM radio. The absence of NFC was notable but not uncommon in mid-range devices from that era. Additionally, the phone featured a microUSB 2.0 port for charging and data transfer.

Software Experience

Running on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), the Lenovo S890 provided users with a stable and user-friendly operating system experience. Jelly Bean was appreciated for its smooth performance enhancements and improved user interface compared to earlier versions of Android. The device likely featured Lenovo's custom UI, offering additional tweaks and apps to enhance functionality and provide additional value to consumers.

User Experience

Overall, the Lenovo S890 aimed to deliver a balanced experience for users who desired decent performance without the premium price tag. Its dual-SIM capability, moderate specifications, and affordability made it a compelling choice for budget-conscious consumers or those new to smartphones. Despite being discontinued, the device's simplicity and effectiveness left a positive mark among its users.

Conclusion

In summary, the Lenovo S890 served its purpose as a mid-range smartphone, offering an array of features that provided adequate performance and usability for its time. With the continued evolution of smartphone technology, devices like the Lenovo S890 paved the way for further innovations while addressing the needs of their particular market segments. It's a testament to how smartphone designs and capabilities have progressed, reinforcing the foundational role of early smartphone models in shaping the industry.

Technical Specifications Revisited

• Network Technology: GSM / HSPA, supporting 2G and 3G bands.
• Body Dimensions: 143 x 74.2 x 9.3 mm, Weight: 176 g.
• Display: 5.0 inches, IPS LCD, 540 x 960 pixels (~220 ppi).
• Platform: Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), Dual-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A9, PowerVR SGX531u GPU.
• Memory: 4GB internal storage, 1GB RAM, expandable via microSDHC slot.
• Main Camera: 8 MP, autofocus, LED flash, 720p video recording.
• Selfie Camera: VGA.
• Battery: Removable Li-Ion 2250 mAh.
• Comms: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth, GPS, FM Radio, microUSB 2.0.