Lenovo announces three new handsets: S860, S850 and S660

Although all three handsets have the same CPU, they differ considerably when it comes to cameras, display size and more.

Lenovo S860

The Lenovo S860 is the top-end member of the new S-series devices, though its far from a high-end device. The Lenovo S860 is powered by a MediaTek 1.3GHz CPU with 2GB of RAM, and has a 5.3-inch IPS with a 1280×720 HD resolution.

Other specs include dual front-facing cameras, HSPA+ 21 support, 8MP rear cam, 1.6MP front cam, 16GB on-board storage, dual-SIM support, the ability to charge other devices on the go, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, a design that’s 10.3mm thick and weighs .42lbs, a 4000 mAh Li-Ion battery and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.

Out of three devices, what sets the S860 apart from the pack is its larger 5.3-inch display, 2GB RAM and a fairly generous battery size that is said to provide up to 40 days in standby and 43 hours of talk time.

Lenovo S850

Next up we have the Lenovo S850, which features the same MediaTek 1.3 GHz CPU, though it lowers the RAM down to 1GB and shrinks the screen down to a 5-inch display with the same 1280×720 resolution.

Other specs include a 13MP rear cam, 5MP front cam, 16GB storage, dual-SIM support, HSPA+ 21 support, an all glass exterior, Wifi 802.11 b/g/n, GPS, bluetooth 3.0, gravitation/proximity/light sensors, FM receiver, a 2000 mAh battery, a design that’s 8.2mm thin, pink/white color choices, and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.

If you don’t mind a slightly smaller display and half the RAM, the S850 actually has some pretty big advantages over the S860. For one thing, it has a much more impressive 13MP camera. There’s also an arguably more attractive glass design (though this can be a bad thing due to durability issues), improved sensors and GPS support. Of course the battery also isn’t nearly as big.

Lenovo S660

The most entry-level of the three devices, the S660 might have the same MediaTek CPU as its brethren but its display is just 4.7-inches with a 960×540 resolution.

Other specs include 1GB RAM, 8GB storage, microSD, dual SIM card, 8 MP rear camera, 0.3MP front camera, a brushed metal design resistant to scratches and fingerprints, a design that’s 9.95mm thick and just .33lbs, HSPA+ 21 support, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, gravitation/proximity/light sensors, UMTS and GSM capable, Bluetooth 4.0, and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.

The S660 might not have as good of a display as the other S-series devices in the pack, but it’s also a bit cheaper and is also the only one of the new handsets to feature Bluetooth 4.0 support, interestingly enough. The S660 also has a large 3000 mAh li-polymer battery that is said to offer “all day battery life”. While the battery is actually smaller than the S860, it also has a smaller amount of RAM and a less power-hungry display, so it should still perform closely in terms of battery life.

Software, expected availability and pricing

All three devices should have comparable software features, including the brand new Lenovo DoIt apps suite. The handsets also feature Lenovo’s customized UI, which has a unique style of its own that is clearly different from stock Android.

As for when the three handsets are expected to ship and for how much? Lenovo doesn’t give an actual release date or even a target timeframe, but they do have pricing. The Lenovo S860, S850 and S660 start at $349, $269 and $229 respectively and will be available in “select markets” and through Lenovo’s web store.

What do you think of Lenovo’s latest handsets? Priced fairly for the specs offered, or not?

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