Lenovo offered some compelling budget and mid-range phones back in the day. The A7000 Turbo and Vibe Shot were two popular choices, each with its own strengths. But which one truly reigns supreme? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Lenovo Vibe Shot edges out the A7000 Turbo thanks to its superior camera and impressive sunlight display contrast. While the A7000 Turbo offers a slightly more powerful chipset, the Vibe Shot's overall package, especially its photography capabilities, makes it the better choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | LTE 800 / 1800 / 2100 / 2600 - Lenovo Z90-7 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2016, January. Released 2016, January | 2015, March. Released 2015, June |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 152.6 x 76.2 x 8 mm (6.01 x 3.00 x 0.31 in) | 142 x 70 x 7.3 mm (5.59 x 2.76 x 0.29 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) | Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 150 g (5.29 oz) | 145 g (5.11 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~441 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~71.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~69.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core 1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core (4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.0 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6752 (28 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-T760MP2 | Adreno 405 |
| OS | Android 5 (Lollipop), Vibe UI 2 | Android 5.0.2 (Lollipop) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 4.5 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | Triple-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0, AF | 16 MP, f/2.2, AF, OIS |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2 | 8 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.1, A2DP, LE | 4.1, A2DP |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual band, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Stand-by | - | Up to 456 h (3G) |
| Talk time | - | Up to 30 h (2G) / Up to 21 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 2900 mAh, removable | Li-Po 3000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Matte Black | Crimson, Pearl White, Graphite Grey |
| Models | - | Z90a40, Z90-7 |
| Price | About 180 EUR | About 300 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -83.0dB / Crosstalk -94.5dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 54h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1728 (nominal), 3.113 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 66dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 71dB
|
Lenovo A7000 Turbo
- Slightly more powerful chipset
- Larger screen (potentially)
- Generally more affordable
- Inferior camera compared to Vibe Shot
- Lower sunlight display contrast
- Lacks OIS
Lenovo Vibe Shot
- Superior camera with OIS
- Excellent sunlight display contrast
- Stylish design
- More camera features
- Slightly less powerful chipset
- Potentially higher price
Display Comparison
Both phones feature a 5-inch display, but the Vibe Shot boasts a significantly better contrast ratio, particularly in direct sunlight (3.113 vs. unspecified for A7000 Turbo). This makes the Vibe Shot noticeably easier to view outdoors. The A7000 Turbo likely had slightly better color accuracy, but the Vibe Shot's brightness and contrast were its strengths.
Camera Comparison
This is where the Vibe Shot truly shines. It featured a 13MP rear camera with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and a 8MP front camera. The A7000 Turbo had a 13MP rear camera, but lacked OIS. The Vibe Shot's OIS resulted in sharper images and better low-light performance. The Vibe Shot's camera app also offered more features and creative options.
Performance
The A7000 Turbo's Mediatek MT6752 chipset with an octa-core 1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU provides a slight edge in raw processing power compared to the Vibe Shot's Snapdragon 615 (4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.0 GHz Cortex-A53). However, in real-world usage, the difference is likely minimal for everyday tasks. Gaming performance would be marginally better on the A7000 Turbo.
Battery Life
Both phones share an impressive endurance rating of 54 hours, suggesting comparable battery life despite potential differences in battery capacity (likely around 2500-3000 mAh for both). Actual usage will vary, but both should easily last a full day.
Buying Guide
The Lenovo A7000 Turbo is ideal for users prioritizing raw processing power and a larger screen for media consumption on a tight budget. The Lenovo Vibe Shot is perfect for photography enthusiasts who want a stylish phone with a great camera and excellent outdoor visibility, even if it means sacrificing a bit of processing grunt.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Lenovo A7000 Turbo has a slightly more powerful chipset, so it might offer marginally better gaming performance, but both phones are budget devices and won't handle demanding games flawlessly.
❓ Is the Vibe Shot's camera really that much better?
Yes, the Vibe Shot's camera is significantly better, especially in low light and when taking photos of moving subjects, thanks to its Optical Image Stabilization (OIS).