Lenovo S930 Comprehensive Review Pricing & Features

Introduction to Lenovo S930

The Lenovo S930 was introduced to the market in December 2013, carving a niche for itself in the world of phablets. Although it's discontinued today, it holds a place in the history of smartphones with its combination of affordability and functionality. With a sizeable 6-inch display, dual SIM capabilities, and a focus on media consumption, the S930 was crafted to offer a fulfilling experience for multimedia enthusiasts on a budget.

Design and Build

The Lenovo S930 sports a sleek design with its dimensions of 170 x 86.5 x 8.7 mm and a weight of 170 grams. The device is designed to offer a firm yet comfortable grip despite its large form factor. The use of an IPS LCD panel ensures durability, and the metallic silver color gives it a modern and refined look. The dual SIM feature adds to its practicality, making it suitable for users needing to balance work and personal contacts.

Display

The phone’s display is one of its standout features, with a 6.0-inch IPS LCD screen providing ample real estate for enjoying videos, games, and productivity applications. With a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels and a 16:9 ratio, the display provides clear and vibrant visuals, though not as crisp as a 1080p screen found on higher-end rivals. The 245 ppi pixel density ensures text remains readable and images adequately detailed for an immersive experience.

Performance and Hardware

Under the hood, the Lenovo S930 is equipped with a Mediatek MT6582 chipset built on a 28nm process. It houses a quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7 CPU and a Mali-400MP2 GPU, a combination that was a standard choice for mid-range smartphones at the time. These components ensure the device can handle everyday tasks like web browsing, social media, and casual gaming with ease, albeit with limitations when it comes to more demanding applications.

Memory and Storage

The device offers 1GB of RAM, which, even at the time of release, was modest but manageable for lightweight multitasking. It comes with 8GB of internal storage, which could quickly fill up with apps and media. Thankfully, Lenovo has included a dedicated microSDHC slot, allowing expansion of storage and making room for additional apps, music, and videos.

Camera Capabilities

The Lenovo S930 features an 8MP rear camera with autofocus and an LED flash. This combination enables users to capture decent photos in adequate lighting, though low-light performance is limited. Features like HDR enhance photography by balancing shadows and highlights. Video recording is supported, but the details are not specified in the specification. For selfies and video calls, a 1.6MP front-facing camera is provided, adequate for basic usage.

Battery Life

Battery performance is a key aspect of the S930. The device houses a removable Li-Po 3000 mAh battery, offering flexibility when it comes to replacements or carrying extra battery packs. It supports up to 14 hours of talk time on a 2G network and up to 10 hours on a 3G network, making it reliable for a full day’s usage without frequent recharging.

Software

At launch, the Lenovo S930 ran on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, with an upgrade path to Android 4.4 KitKat. While the software experience is considerably outdated by today’s standards, it ensured that users had access to core Android features and a wide array of compatible applications at the time of its release.

Connectivity and Features

In terms of connectivity, the S930 covers the basics with GSM and HSPA network technologies, enabling a stable connection for virtually all communication and data browsing needs. It supports Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP, GPS for location services, FM radio, and microUSB 2.0 for data transfer. However, it lacks NFC support, which might affect users leveraging contactless payment systems.

Audio and Multimedia

Audio quality is enhanced by stereo speakers, providing a richer and more immersive sound environment. A 3.5mm headphone jack ensures compatibility with a range of audio peripherals, which is advantageous for those who prefer wired audio solutions.

Other Features

The phone includes essential sensors such as an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass, enhancing user experience through features like auto-rotate, screen dimming during calls, and basic navigation assistance.

Market Position and Price at Release

Upon its release, the Lenovo S930 was priced at approximately 220 EUR. It positioned itself as an affordable phablet alternative amidst a market saturated with smaller, more expensive smartphones. It catered primarily to budget-conscious consumers and those prioritizing display size and media capabilities over high-end processing power.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Lenovo S930 offers a balanced blend of features suitable for multimedia use at an attractive price point. Its large display and decent performance made it appealing to users who consume a lot of media, while its dual SIM feature and expandable memory added to its versatility. Although it's no longer available in the market, the S930 stands as a testament to Lenovo's commitment towards offering diverse and affordable devices catering to different user needs.