The Lava A97 2GB+ and Lenovo Vibe K5 represent the extreme end of the budget smartphone market. Both devices aim to deliver essential smartphone functionality at a minimal cost, but they take different approaches to achieving this. This comparison dissects their core components to determine which offers the best value for users prioritizing performance, battery life, or a balance of both.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user seeking a slightly more responsive experience, the Lenovo Vibe K5 is the better choice. Its octa-core Snapdragon 415 chipset, despite being a 28nm process, provides a significant performance advantage over the Lava A97’s quad-core Spreadtrum SC9832, making it more suitable for multitasking and app usage. Both offer similar battery endurance.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 900 / 1800 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 3, 5, 40 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2017, June. Released 2017, June | 2016, February 21. Released 2016, June 13 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, aluminum/plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 145 x 72 x 9.2 mm (5.71 x 2.83 x 0.36 in) | 142 x 71 x 8 mm (5.59 x 2.80 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) | Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 160 g (5.64 oz) | 142 g (5.01 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~196 ppi density) | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~294 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~66.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~68.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.3 GHz | Octa-core (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Spreadtrum SC9832 | Qualcomm MSM8929 Snapdragon 415 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-400 | Adreno 405 |
| OS | Android 7.0 (Nougat) | Android 5.1 (Lollipop) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC | microSDHC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM | 16GB 2GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 4.5 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, AF | 13 MP, f/2.2, AF |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | - |
| Single | 5 MP | 5 MP, f/2.8 |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | - | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP | 4.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio with RDS; recording | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | Accelerometer, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Type | Li-Ion 2350 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 2750 mAh, removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Gold, Silver, Blue | Champagne Gold, Platinum Silver |
| Models | - | A6020a40, A6020a41, A6020l36, A6020l37 |
| Price | About 7700 INR | About 120 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -90.0dB / Crosstalk -91.5dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 64h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 804 (nominal), 2.459 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 70dB / Noise 70dB / Ring 78dB
|
| Performance | - |
Basemark OS II 2.0: 789Basemark X: 4263 |
Lava A97 2GB+
- Extremely affordable
- Functional for basic tasks
- Decent battery endurance
- Slow performance
- Limited multitasking capabilities
- Basic camera
Lenovo Vibe K5
- Faster processor for smoother experience
- Better multitasking performance
- Comparable battery life
- Still entry-level performance
- Basic camera
- May be slightly more expensive
Display Comparison
Both the Lava A97 2GB+ and Lenovo Vibe K5 share the same nominal contrast ratio of 804 and a sunlight contrast ratio of 2.459. This suggests similar display panel characteristics in terms of visibility under direct sunlight. However, the context data lacks information regarding resolution, panel type (IPS, TFT), and color gamut coverage. Given the price point, it's safe to assume both utilize TFT panels with modest color accuracy. The identical contrast ratios suggest a similar viewing experience, but the lack of detailed specs prevents a definitive judgment on display quality.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed with simply 'Photo / Video' capabilities, offering no specifics on sensor size, resolution, or features like optical image stabilization (OIS). In this price bracket, camera performance is typically a weak point. It’s reasonable to assume both phones feature basic camera modules suitable for casual snapshots in good lighting conditions. Without further details, it’s impossible to determine which device offers superior image quality. The absence of information suggests neither phone should be considered for serious photography.
Performance
The Lenovo Vibe K5’s Qualcomm MSM8929 Snapdragon 415 is the clear winner in the performance category. Its octa-core configuration (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A53) significantly outperforms the Lava A97’s quad-core 1.3 GHz Spreadtrum SC9832. While the Snapdragon 415 is built on a 28nm process, the architectural advantage of eight cores, even with varying clock speeds, translates to smoother multitasking and faster app loading times. The Cortex-A53 cores, while not the most powerful, are more efficient than the cores likely found in the SC9832. The Lava A97 will struggle with demanding applications and may exhibit noticeable lag during everyday use.
Battery Life
Both the Lava A97 2GB+ and Lenovo Vibe K5 achieve an endurance rating of 64 hours. This suggests comparable battery life under similar usage patterns. While the Lava A97’s battery capacity isn’t specified, the Lenovo Vibe K5’s battery size is likely optimized to match the power consumption of the Snapdragon 415. The identical endurance rating indicates that despite the more powerful processor in the Vibe K5, efficient power management compensates for the increased demand. Charging speeds are also unknown for both devices, further limiting a detailed battery comparison.
Buying Guide
Buy the Lava A97 2GB+ if you need a basic smartphone for calls, texts, and very light app usage, and prioritize absolute affordability. It's a functional device for those with minimal smartphone requirements. Buy the Lenovo Vibe K5 if you prefer a smoother user experience, even with basic apps, and anticipate occasional multitasking or light gaming. The Snapdragon 415 offers a noticeable performance boost for a small price premium.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Lenovo Vibe K5 handle popular social media apps like Facebook and WhatsApp smoothly?
Yes, the Snapdragon 415 in the Lenovo Vibe K5 is capable of running social media apps like Facebook and WhatsApp without significant lag. While it won't offer a flagship-level experience, it provides a noticeably smoother experience compared to the Lava A97's Spreadtrum SC9832, especially when switching between apps.
❓ Is the Lava A97 2GB+ suitable for playing mobile games?
The Lava A97 2GB+ is not well-suited for gaming. The Spreadtrum SC9832 processor and limited RAM will struggle with most modern mobile games, resulting in low frame rates and frequent stuttering. It may be able to handle very basic 2D games, but don't expect a playable experience with more demanding titles.
❓ How much storage does each phone offer, and can it be expanded?
The context data does not specify storage capacity for either device. However, given their price point, it's likely both offer limited internal storage (potentially 8GB or 16GB). It's highly probable that both phones feature a microSD card slot for storage expansion, which is common in this segment.
❓ What version of Android do these phones run?
The context data doesn't specify the Android version. Considering the release timeframe of these devices, it's likely the Lenovo Vibe K5 launched with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, and the Lava A97 with a similar or earlier version. Updates beyond the initial release are unlikely.
