BLU announces two shiny entry-level handsets: Vivo 5 and Vivo XL

BLU is here at CES 2016 and the company has announced two shiny new handsets, entry-level but focused on beautiful aesthetics. The phones are named Vivo 5 and Vivo XL and are very similar in specs, with the XL variant being slightly downgraded.

The handsets are equipped with Mediatek's 64-bit MT6753 octa-core SoC, and both have a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display, covered with Gorilla Glass 3. Their main cameras are equipped with a 13 MP sensor with an F2.0 aperture and phase-detection autofocus, which BLU says will achieve focus speeds of one tenth of a second. The front cameras are 5 MP wide-angle snappers. Both handsets have a 3,150 mAh battery in the trunk to keep their lights on.

So, where are the differences? Starting with design, the Vivo 5 is the first BLU smartphone to feature a full metal body. Its shapes are stark and its edges are chamfered, and the design is a bit familiar, yet beautiful none the less. The Vivo 5 comes in two color variants – White Silver and Solid Gold. The Vivo XL, on the other hand, does have a metal frame around it, while its back is of another material, covered in a shiny, almost reflective patterned finish. It will be available in 4 different colors – Liquid Gold, Chrome Silver, Midnight Blue, and Rose Gold.

Hardware-wise, the Vivo 5 is the more powerful device, with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory, expandable via microSD. The Vivo XL has 2 GB of RAM and only 16 GB of expandable storage. Both handsets are to become available in the US via Amazon.com and Bestbuy.com, priced at $149 for the Vivo XL and $199 for the Vivo 5.