Introduction
If you’ve been looking for a genuine, real-life experience review of the AI Nova+ 5G (launched by AI+ Mobile in India), this is exactly that. Not a paid promotion, not a tech reviewer rushing through specs — this is me, someone who’s been using this phone daily for about 1 week, sharing what it’s really like to live with it. I’m writing this the way I’d explain it to a friend who’s thinking of buying this phone for themselves.
I bought the AI Nova+ 5G (8GB + 128GB version) from Flipkart during launch month. It cost me around ₹9,499 after discounts, which immediately felt like a great deal because 5G phones under ₹10,000 are almost non-existent from bigger brands. I’ll break this review into sections so you can easily understand where this phone shines and where it struggles.
📦 First Impressions: Feels Better Than Expected for ₹10K
When I first opened the box, my reaction was simple:
“Wait, this is under ₹10K? It looks better than some ₹15-16K phones I’ve seen.”
The design is surprisingly modern. Mine is the Mint Green color, which looks playful yet premium with a soft matte finish on the back. No unnecessary gradients, just clean and subtle styling with slightly curved edges. The camera module at the back does stick out a bit, but it’s stylish — not something that looks out of place or cheap.
The phone feels lightweight and slim despite the large battery. I’d say it’s quite pocket-friendly compared to my older Redmi Note phone, which felt bulkier. Also, no fingerprints on the back thanks to that matte texture — small joy, but a joy nonetheless.
What I noticed right away:
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USB-C port (thankfully, no old micro-USB nonsense)
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Side-mounted fingerprint scanner on the power button
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3.5mm headphone jack (if you still use wired headphones, this is a bonus)
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FM Radio — sounds silly but I still tune into local FM on mornings
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Dedicated MicroSD slot alongside two SIMs — no hybrid slots
🖥️ Display: 120Hz Is a Surprise at This Price
Let’s be honest: it’s a 6.75-inch HD+ LCD screen, not Full HD or OLED, so if you’re coming from a flagship phone, you’ll spot the difference. But if you’re upgrading from older budget devices, this screen will feel perfectly fine.
What surprised me the most:
The 120Hz refresh rate. Scrolling through settings, Instagram, YouTube, and even basic games feels so smooth. You don’t often get this buttery smoothness under ₹10K.
Color Accuracy: Decent. Whites look a little warm, but nothing too annoying.
Brightness: Fine for indoor use, average under bright sunlight. Around 450 nits, so don’t expect AMOLED punch outdoors.
Bezels: Thin side bezels, but yes — there’s still a noticeable chin at the bottom and a waterdrop notch at the top.
Media Consumption: YouTube looks good at 720p; Netflix tops out at SD. I didn’t mind it for casual binge-watching.
🚀 Performance: Smooth Enough for Everyday Life
Processor: Unisoc T8200 (Octa-Core, 5G Ready)
RAM: 6GB / 8GB + additional 8GB virtual RAM
Storage: 128GB UFS 2.2, expandable up to 1TB
Honestly, this chipset outperformed my expectations. I had doubts because Unisoc isn’t as famous as Snapdragon or MediaTek, but for normal daily use, it’s actually great. Apps open quickly, multitasking is fluid, and I’ve never had to force-close anything. Virtual RAM helps with keeping more apps in memory.
My Daily Routine Usage:
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YouTube, Netflix, Spotify
Everything feels snappy. I rarely notice lag except when some heavier apps like Instagram load Reels.
Gaming:
I’m not a hardcore mobile gamer, but I did test:
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Free Fire MAX – Smooth on medium settings
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Call of Duty Mobile – Playable on low to medium graphics
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Subway Surfers / Candy Crush – No issues at all
This isn’t a gaming phone, but for casual players or light gaming? Absolutely fine.
🔋 Battery: Reliable, Solid, Not Fast-Charging
Battery: 5000mAh
Charging: 18W USB-C
Charger in Box: Yes, thankfully.
This is a solid 1.5-day phone if you’re an average user. My typical usage (screen-on time 5-6 hours) gets me from morning to next evening without worrying about running out.
Charging Speed:
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0 to 50% = About 45 minutes
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0 to 100% = Roughly 1 hour 50 minutes
It’s not blazing fast, but it’s reliable. I usually charge overnight, so it’s not a big deal for me.
📸 Camera: Good Enough for Daylight, Don’t Expect Miracles
Rear: 50MP AI Camera (f/1.8)
Front: 5MP Selfie Camera
Rear Camera Performance:
In daylight or well-lit environments, the main camera takes crisp, usable shots with good colors and decent detail. The AI optimization helps with saturation and exposure. Portrait mode works decently well for faces but can struggle with complex backgrounds.
Low-light photography? Below average. Shots get noisy fast, and night mode is mostly ineffective. Flash helps, but don’t expect miracles.
Front Camera:
Selfies are okay for WhatsApp, basic social sharing. Skin tones are a bit washed out, and detail is soft. Again, fine for budget expectations, not Instagram influencer level.
Video Recording:
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Rear: 1080p 30fps, no stabilization
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Front: 720p 30fps
Shaky without a gimbal, but works for family videos or casual clips.
📶 Network & 5G: This Is Where It Wins
5G Support: Yes, and this is a BIG win at this price.
Tested on Jio 5G in Patna:
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Speeds hit 300-400 Mbps easily.
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Streaming, downloads, uploads — flawless.
Call quality is excellent. The earpiece is loud and clear. No issues with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS either.
🔐 Software: Simple, Clean, Indian-First
OS: NxtQuantum OS on Android 15
Bloatware: Almost none. A couple of apps like JioSaavn pre-installed but removable.
Privacy Features: “NextPrivacy Dashboard” lets you track permissions easily — actually feels more transparent than MIUI or Realme UI.
What I like most is how clean and light this OS feels. It’s not trying to copy iOS or overload with features. It just works smoothly, looks clean, and stays out of the way.
Updates: I’ve received 1 security update already. AI+ claims they’ll provide quarterly updates — remains to be seen.
🔊 Audio & Haptics: Loud but Basic
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Speaker: Single bottom-firing. Loud enough, but no bass.
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Headphone Jack: Yes, works fine.
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Haptics: Basic buzz, nothing fancy.
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Call Speaker: Loud and clear.
For media, I mostly use Bluetooth earbuds, so I didn’t mind the single speaker.
🔧 Extras:
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IP54 rating (Dust & splash resistant) — handy in light rain.
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Face Unlock + Fingerprint: Both work fast and reliably.
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Notification LED: No.
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Vibration motor: Typical budget-level; functional but weak.
💸 Price vs. Competition:
At ₹7,999–₹9,999, this phone is clearly aiming to disrupt brands like Redmi, Realme, Lava, and Infinix in the budget 5G space.
| Phone | Price | 5G | Display | Battery | OS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI Nova+ 5G | ₹9,999 | ✅ | 120Hz HD+ | 5000mAh | Clean, Android 15 |
| Redmi 13C 5G | ₹12,499 | ✅ | 90Hz HD+ | 5000mAh | MIUI, bloat-heavy |
| Lava Blaze 5G | ₹11,999 | ✅ | 90Hz HD+ | 5000mAh | Clean, Android 13 |
| Realme Narzo 60x | ₹11,999 | ✅ | 120Hz FHD+ | 5000mAh | Realme UI, bloaty |
Looking at this, the Nova+ wins on clean OS and price, but loses on display resolution vs. Narzo 60x.
📝 Final Thoughts After use for some days
✅ What I Loved:
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Value-for-money pricing (5G + 120Hz under ₹10K)
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Clean, bloat-free OS
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Decent performance for daily tasks
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Strong battery life
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Good 5G speeds, reliable network performance
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Attractive, fresh design (especially in Mint Green)
❌ What I Didn’t Like:
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Display only HD+
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No ultrawide or macro lens — limited camera versatility
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Selfie camera feels weak in 2025 standards
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Uncertain long-term software support (new brand risk)
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Not for serious gaming or content creation
⭐ Who Should Buy This Phone?
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First-time smartphone users moving from feature phones
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Anyone looking for a reliable secondary 5G device
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Students on a tight budget wanting something smooth & modern
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People who hate bloated UIs like MIUI and prefer something clean
🚫 Who Should Avoid It?
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Hardcore mobile gamers
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Photography enthusiasts
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People who want AMOLED or higher-resolution screens
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Those nervous about newer brands and after-sales service limitations
🏁 My Final Verdict (As a Real User)
I honestly didn’t expect much at this price, but AI Nova+ 5G over-delivers for everyday use. It’s smooth, battery-friendly, clean on software, and handles my life without hiccups. If this is AI+ India’s starting point, they’re off to a good one. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to friends or family on a budget who just need 5G, reliability, and simplicity.