Nearly nine months on from its launch in Barcelona, and two months after going on sale in the UAE, Lenovo’s camera-orientated Vibe Shot smartphone remains one of my favourite mid-range devices of the year.
This is not down to its general specifications, which are pretty standard for a device costing Dh1,299. Even the impressive 16MP camera is not what really sets it apart for me.
Instead, it was the Vibe Shot’s offbeat yet funky design that won me over, proving that mid-range Android devices don’t have to be monolithic and dull.
In addition to beefing up the camera specs, Lenovo has made the camera integral to the Vibe Shot’s overall design.
To that end, the rear of the camera mimics a retro compact camera, in a way that is understated but distinctive. Coupled with a distinctive crimson trim (grey and white finishes are also available), it’s one of the most eye-catching mid-range handsets on the market.
The camera centric-design doesn’t stop there; the right-hand side of the device sports not only a physical shutter control, but also a small switch that allows you to toggle between pro and auto camera modes.
Auto mode is much as you’d expect, you press the shutter button and the camera does the rest. Pro mode, however, gives you a full set of options to play with, allowing you to tweak aspects such as white balance, ISO and focus to your heart’s content.
The camera’s 16MP sensor is complemented by a tricolour flash system, optical image stabilisation and infrared autofocus.
The images it produces inevitably don’t quite match those taken by the high-end LG G4 or the Samsung Galaxy S6 range, but they are still impressive for a mid-range device, with particularly decent indoor and low-light performance.
At Dh1,299, the Vibe Shot competes in a crowded and competitive field, dominated by the likes of Huawei’s Honor range. But for my money there’s no other Android device that offers a nicer design at this price point. Coupled with its powerful camera, it’s a very compelling proposition for the budget-conscious smartphone shopper.
Q&A
So a good camera and a funky design. What about the videos?
The Vibe Shot sports a 5-inch full HD display, with a pixel density of 441 ppi. This is pretty standard for a mid-range smartphone. It doesn’t have the brightest or most vivid display, but videos are rendered pretty with minimal lag.
I thought that Lenovo was a laptop manufacturer.
You’re a little behind the times. Lenovo, which acquired Motorola last year, is also the world’s fourth-largest mobile phone manufacturer, although its global market share slipped to around 5.3 per cent last quarter from 7.6 a year ago, according to Strategy Analytics.
Will we continue to see Lenovo and Motorola devices? Or will they be called Lenotorola or something weird like that?
Nice thought. Lenovo announced a few months ago it would increasingly brand its high-end smartphones using the Motorola brand. In fact the Vibe Shot may be among the last Vibes on the market, with the head of Lenovo’s mobile business group announcing the phasing out of the brand.
So what else do I need to know about the Vibe Shot?
It will let you put in a couple of Micro SIMs, and somewhat pleasingly also has a separate MicroSD slot, so you can upgrade the memory to store all the lovely photos you’ll be taking. The price of all this is that the battery is not removable, although few people care about that any more.
jeverington@thenational.ae
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Company%20Profile
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Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Scores in brief:
Day 1
New Zealand (1st innings) 153 all out (66.3 overs) - Williamson 63, Nicholls 28, Yasir 3-54, Haris 2-11, Abbas 2-13, Hasan 2-38
Pakistan (1st innings) 59-2 (23 overs)
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THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
Company profile
Company: Rent Your Wardrobe
Date started: May 2021
Founder: Mamta Arora
Based: Dubai
Sector: Clothes rental subscription
Stage: Bootstrapped, self-funded
Results
6pm: Dubai Trophy – Conditions (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,200m
Winner: Silent Speech, William Buick (jockey), Charlie Appleby
(trainer)
6.35pm: Jumeirah Derby Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (T)
1,800m
Winner: Island Falcon, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
7.10pm: UAE 2000 Guineas Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (Dirt)
1,400m
Winner: Rawy, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
7.45pm: Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Desert Fire, Hector Crouch, Saeed bin Suroor
8.20pm: Al Fahidi Fort – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Naval Crown, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
8.55pm: Dubawi Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Al Tariq, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watsons
9.30pm: Aliyah – Rated Conditions (TB) $80,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Dubai Icon, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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What are NFTs?
Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.
You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”
However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.
This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”
This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.
What is tokenisation?
Tokenisation refers to the issuance of a blockchain token, which represents a virtually tradable real, tangible asset. A tokenised asset is easily transferable, offers good liquidity, returns and is easily traded on the secondary markets.