When Lenovo launched its A6000 phone in India earlier this year, it became a surprising hit in the sub- Rs. 10,000 budget phone segment. We got our hands on a piece to find out what the buzz was about, and to see if it could truly punch above its price-class.
Display
The results are mostly impressive, particularly when viewed in light of the Rs. 6,999 price tag. The A6000 features a 5 inch screen that is bright and vibrant, with a 720p HD resolution that allows colors to pop and small details to shine.
Processor
Powered by Qualcomm’s 1.2GHz Snapdragon 410 processor, the A6000 presents a mostly smooth experience. Applications load cleanly, even with several apps open in the background. Gamers should have no problems playing basic games, but will want to avoid graphics heavy sagas. Most videos we watched also rendered smoothly with no lag. We did face the occasional stutter when trying to switch between tasks, but generally this did not get in the way of what we were trying to accomplish.
Dolby Audio
Another feature being pushed by Lenovo is the A6000’s Dolby audio. While not mind-blowing, our audio experience was richer than with other similarly priced phones, especially when using headphones. The A7000 (next in line from Lenovo) features their ATMOS technology, which audiophiles may want to consider upgrading to if surround sound is a main consideration.
Camera
We don’t typically expect much from budget phone cameras, and the A6000 doesn’t really do much to change our minds. With adequate lighting, the phone’s 8-megapixel camera performs as you’d want, delivering clear images with a decently fast shutter. However, the moment the dual LED flash kicks in, things start to lose their sharpness and color balance. This will prove to be a problem for party animals accustomed to documenting their nighttime escapades. The front-facing 2-megapixel camera gets the job done when it comes to selfies, but is not a big improvement on existing options in the market.
Build
The A6000 is an all-plastic build, and is surprisingly light given its dimensions. Although it won’t be winning any style awards, it won’t embarrass you sitting next to you on your desk either. The phone’s construction feels tight and sits easily in the hand, striking a good balance between size, weight and proportions.
Drawbacks
Among our annoyances with the phone is the lack of an app drawer, which means all your apps sit on the homescreen, no matter how infrequently you need to access them. Given the number of apps that come preloaded on the phone, this makes things unnecessarily cluttered right from the start. Also off-putting is the lack of backlighting on the soft keys, which can confuse even seasoned Android users. Meanwhile, the side mounted volume and power buttons feel stiff to the touch and could use an ounce of extra responsiveness.
Summary
Overall, the A6000 is a more than capable phone for the price, perhaps better suited for consuming multimedia than it is for creating it. Users accustomed to phones on the higher end of the spectrum will find the phone very useable, but perhaps lacking in that extra bit of sophistication in build and interface. Put in context of the price tag, the Lenovo A6000 is a more than capable phone, and is sure to keep Lenovo near the front of the race for the budget-conscious consumer.
*Disclosure: MissMalini was provided with a test piece for the purpose of this review. As always, our reviews remain solely our own.*