When Lenovo launched the A6000 Plus, its predecessor was still available. The Plus had double the RAM and memory. So, is that the only deal here?

It could be that the Lenovo A6000, priced at over ₹8,000, could have found it difficult to face the competition from the likes of Xiaomi and Asus. Or may be it is just aggressive marketing by Lenovo. Whatever it is, at ₹7,499, the A6000 Plus is what Lenovo should have launched initially instead of the A6000.

The Plus is the advanced version, in addition to being cheaper than A6000. The Plus has 2 GB RAM and 16 GB of internal memory. The new handset is identified only as A6000, not A6000 Plus when it connects with other devices. The Lenovo’s support site lists only A6000, not the Plus. So, despite its nomenclature, it is just the new version.

Build Both the A6000 and the Plus versions have 5-inch screens. The Plus has a IPS HD multi touch display with 720 x 1280 pixels (~294 ppi pixel density) and a 69.8 per cent screen-to-body ratio.

The A6000 Plus runs on a Snapdragon 410 processor (CPU: Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53) and Adreno 306 GPU. Combined with the 16 GB internal storage and 2 GB RAM, the device manages to function without any lag even with multiple apps open. The phone struggled a little when we played heavy videos and graphic intensive games. The phone also supports external memory cards of 32 GB.

The plastic rear panel has a matt finish and it is good to see a phone where we don’t have to worry about fingerprints. Though the rear panel looks flimsy at first, we realised it was flexible enough not to snap. The phone has a removable battery, which has to be taken off to insert the SIMs and external memory card. Only one of the two SIM slots support 4G networks. The phone weighs 128 grams and with dimensions of 5.55 x 2.76 x 0.32 inches, is quite comfortable for single handed use. The phone is not a head-turner, but Lenovo has ensured that the build quality is not compromised.

The microUSB port is at the top, along with the audio jack on the left. The volume rockers are on the right with the power button just below it. The bottom and the left sides are plain. The front has the three capacitive buttons. A quick tap of the left button throws up the screen menu such as themes, wallpaper, screen manager and desktop settings. Long pressing it takes us to the multi-tasking menu. A long press of the centre Home button leads us to the Google Now screen.

The screen is not Gorilla Glass and is susceptible to scratches and cracks. The consolation is that the retail pack comes with a free scratchguard. One common feature (or the lack of it) with many Chinese phones is the absence of an app drawer. All the apps ‘have’ to be on the home screens. For those used to phones with app drawers, this is likely to be an irritant. The only way out is to download third party launchers.

Feature list The device comes with Dolby speakers. This didn’t mean output that can bring the roof down; but the sound quality can be enhanced to our liking in conjunction with the Dolby app. Other pre-installed apps include the cloud back up app for contacts and messages and a decent file manager that can also be managed remotely through FTP using the same WLAN network.

The phone’s 8MP rear camera is best avoided in low light conditions. Occasionally, even the outdoor shots appeared washed out. The pictures turn out far better in the HDR mode. The 2 MP front camera does a good job for a phone in this price range. The cameras also have the option to remove shutter lag so that the pictures can be taken instantly.

Videos are captured in 720p and come with image stabilisation and time lapse options. Snaps can be taken by tapping the screen while recording videos. There are options for selecting the video capture quality, video encoder, audio encoder and video duration. The longest video capture duration is 30 minutes. The 2300 mAh battery manages a day’s job (around 12 hours) with 20 minutes of voice, 10-15 minutes of games and with a few emails on push mode.

Bottomline The Lenovo A6000 Plus is a mid-range phone at an entry-level price. Not many phones at this price range are offered with 16 GB storage and 2GB RAM, and an optional external memory card.

Price: ₹7,499

Love: Build, memory, HDR mode, price

Hate: No app drawer, no Gorilla Glass

comment COMMENT NOW