The Lenovo S5 arrived as an intriguing mid-range contender in a market saturated with lookalike devices. While it doesn’t rewrite the rulebook, this smartphone carves out a niche with its balanced performance, clean software, and surprisingly robust build. Let’s peel back the layers to see how it holds up under daily use.

Design and Build Quality

At first glance, the Lenovo S5 feels reassuringly solid. The aluminum unibody construction gives it a premium heft that’s rare in this price bracket. Measuring 154 x 73.5 x 7.8 mm and weighing 155g, it strikes a comfortable balance between screen real estate and one-handed usability. The 5.7-inch IPS display dominates the front with modest bezels, though the 18:9 aspect ratio shows its age compared to modern punch-hole designs. What stands out is the matte finish on the rear panel – it resists fingerprints brilliantly while providing just enough grip.

The placement of the rear-mounted fingerprint sensor feels natural, unlocking the device with consistent accuracy in about 0.3 seconds. Curiously, Lenovo opted for a micro-USB port rather than USB-C, a puzzling choice even for a budget device in its release period. The 3.5mm headphone jack survives here, tucked neatly beside the bottom-firing speaker.

Display Performance

Lenovo equipped the S5 with a 5.7-inch IPS LCD panel running at 2160x1080 resolution (423 PPI). Colors appear vibrant if slightly oversaturated out of the box, with decent viewing angles that only start washing out at extreme angles. Maximum brightness reaches 450 nits – adequate for indoor use but requiring shade under direct sunlight. The lack of HDR support shows when streaming high-dynamic-range content, with shadows appearing crushed compared to pricier alternatives.

Where this display surprises is in its color calibration options. Buried in settings, you’ll find three preset color modes (Vivid, Natural, Standard) plus a manual temperature slider. The Natural mode brings colors closer to sRGB, making it preferable for photo editing. Touch responsiveness registers at 120Hz, giving scrolling and gaming a fluid feel despite the 60Hz refresh rate.

Hardware and Performance

Powering the device is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 625, an octa-core chip built on 14nm process technology clocked at 2.0GHz. Paired with either 3GB or 4GB LPDDR3 RAM (depending on variant), it handles everyday tasks without breaking a sweat. The Adreno 506 GPU delivers playable frame rates in titles like PUBG Mobile at medium settings, though graphic-intensive games will require dialing down effects.

Storage options include 32GB or 64GB eMMC 5.1, expandable via microSD up to 256GB. Real-world sequential read speeds hover around 280MB/s – not class-leading but sufficient for app loading times. The 3000mAh battery benefits from the chipset’s efficiency, consistently delivering 5-6 hours of screen-on time with mixed usage. Lenovo’s 15W charging solution fills the battery from 0-100% in 95 minutes, a respectable figure given the capacity.

Camera Capabilities

The dual-camera setup combines a 13MP primary sensor (f/2.2) with a 13MP monochrome secondary sensor. Daylight shots exhibit good dynamic range with accurate white balance, though fine details soften upon zooming. The monochrome sensor helps in low-light situations by capturing additional luminance data – shots at dusk show less noise than single-sensor competitors.

Video recording maxes out at 1080p/30fps with electronic stabilization that works best in well-lit environments. The 16MP front camera (f/2.2) produces social-media-ready selfies with beauty mode dialed down to moderate levels. Where the camera system struggles is with HDR processing; high-contrast scenes often result in either blown highlights or blocked shadows.

Software Experience

Lenovo shipped the S5 with ZUI 3.7 atop Android 8.0 Oreo, offering a near-stock experience with thoughtful additions. The UI eliminates bloatware while retaining useful features like dual-app cloning and one-handed mode. Gesture controls prove particularly intuitive – drawing a 'C' launches the camera even from standby. Security updates arrived quarterly during its active support period, though major OS updates stopped at Android 8.1.

Under-the-hood optimizations include an AI-powered resource allocator that learns usage patterns to prioritize frequently used apps. This manifests in consistent app launch speeds even after months of use. The only notable omission is a system-wide dark mode, something later ZUI versions addressed.

Audio and Connectivity

The single bottom-firing speaker delivers clear mids and highs at 72dB, though bass response remains thin as expected. Voice calls come through crisp on both ends thanks to dual-microphone noise cancellation. Wireless connectivity covers all bases with dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2, and comprehensive LTE band support for global roaming.

GPS performance deserves special mention – the S5 locks onto satellites faster than many contemporaries, maintaining accurate positioning even in urban canyons. NFC support enables mobile payments in supported regions, while the hybrid SIM tray allows either dual-SIM functionality or SIM+microSD expansion.

Detailed Specifications

Dimensions: 154 x 73.5 x 7.8 mm

Weight: 155g

Build: Aluminum unibody

Display: 5.7-inch IPS LCD, 2160x1080 (18:9), 423 PPI

Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 (14nm)

CPU: Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53

GPU: Adreno 506

RAM: 3GB/4GB LPDDR3

Storage: 32GB/64GB eMMC 5.1, expandable via microSD

Main Camera: Dual 13MP (f/2.2) + 13MP monochrome, PDAF

Front Camera: 16MP (f/2.2)

Video: 1080p@30fps

Battery: 3000mAh, 15W charging

OS: ZUI 3.7 (Android 8.0 Oreo)

Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2, micro-USB 2.0

Sensors: Fingerprint (rear), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Final Verdict

The Lenovo S5 represents what mid-range smartphones did right before the specs arms race escalated. It focuses on core competencies – reliable performance, clean software, and durable construction – rather than chasing gimmicks. While surpassed by newer devices in raw power, its thoughtful design touches and consistent user experience make it remain a viable option for budget-conscious buyers who prioritize longevity over bleeding-edge features.

Where it truly shines is as a secondary device or backup phone – the combination of premium materials and dependable internals ensures it ages gracefully. Camera enthusiasts and mobile gamers might want to look elsewhere, but for the average user seeking a no-nonsense daily driver, the S5 continues to punch above its weight class years after release.