Gadget review: Lenovo K3 Note

Lenovo K3 Noteis one of the most impressive under-10K phones we’ve seen in recent times

It was Motorola that first revolutionised the budget smartphone market. The Moto G, in 2013, not only made all phone makers rethink their prices, but also helped the brand stage a dramatic return to favour. With the K3 Note, Lenovo should be looking to do something similar. For, this is one of the most impressive under-10K (just under, by a rupee) phones we've seen in recent times.

What's good: You might be thinking at this point, 'Hang on, it's a Lenovo. Not really my first choice when it comes to phones.' We approached it with as much scepticism. But the device surprises you. It packs in a full HD (1080x1920) display with a 5.5inch phablet-size screen. The Octacore processor and 2GB RAM ensure it runs games and heavy apps (with the exception of the new Google Street View, which troubles the toughest phones) without lag. But the Lenovo does well what a lot of high-end phones don't manage to: pack in a powerful battery. The 3000mAh battery ensures that your phone will last a day and some more on a single charge. For comparison's sake, it does almost as good as the One-Plus-One battery (3100mAh), surpasses the Nexus 5 (2300mAh), and makes the iPhone 6s battery (1715mAh) look a bit silly.

What's not: The phone body feels a little flimsy, though the clean lines and the white back cover look far from cheap. The biggest and, perhaps, the only real disappointment is the camera. The 13MPs don't amount to much, since the colours aren't true, and the quality isn't sharp. Also, for now, the phone is solely available for online purchase, so you won't find it in retail stores.

Verdict: If you aren't the sort who owns a cellphone just to be able to shoot Instagram-worthy photos, this is a hands-down winner.

Quick specs

What: Lenovo K3 Note

At a glance: HD display, 13MP camera, 2GB RAM, 3,000mAh battery

Best buy: ₹9,999 on flipkart.com

USP: A powerful, long-lasting battery