The Indian smartphone market has a new contender vying for the budget crown, and it comes from the homegrown brand Lava. The Lava Play Ultra 5G has arrived, aiming to deliver a premium experience without a premium price tag. After diving deep into its specifications and seeing what the early reviews have to say, here’s a comprehensive look at whether this device is the new budget king under ₹15,000.
Design and Display
The first impression of the Lava Play Ultra 5G is that it feels sleek and modern, with a slim profile of just 7.8 mm. It’s designed to be comfortable to hold and use.
The centerpiece is its 6.67-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display, which is a standout feature in this price segment. The visuals are sharp and vibrant, thanks to the AMOLED technology and 100% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage. What truly enhances the experience is the 120Hz refresh rate, which makes scrolling through apps and menus feel incredibly smooth and fluid. With a peak brightness of 1,000 nits, outdoor visibility is excellent, allowing you to use the phone comfortably even in direct sunlight. Whether you're streaming content on Netflix or Amazon Prime, the phone supports Full HD streaming, ensuring a crisp viewing experience.
Performance and Gaming
Under the hood, the Lava Play Ultra 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset, built on an efficient 4nm process. This processor, combined with up to 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM and fast UFS 3.1 storage, delivers a smooth, lag-free performance in day-to-day use.
For gamers, MediaTek's HyperEngine technology optimizes performance, promising up to 20% higher frame rates and better power efficiency during long gaming sessions. Based on initial tests, the phone handles popular games like BGMI and Call of Duty well, making it a solid choice for casual and even some serious gamers.
One of the most significant advantages of this phone is its software. It runs on a clean, bloatware-free Android 15, meaning there are no pre-installed third-party apps cluttering your device. Lava has also promised two major Android OS upgrades and three years of security updates, ensuring the phone remains current and secure for a long time. A unique software perk is the "Background Stream" feature, which lets you play YouTube audio in the background without a Premium subscription.
Camera System
The Lava Play Ultra 5G features a dual-camera setup on the rear, led by a 64MP primary sensor from Sony (IMX682), which is paired with a 5MP macro lens for close-up shots. The 64MP main camera performs admirably for its price, capturing detailed and vibrant photos in good lighting conditions. The camera app is loaded with features like Night Mode, HDR, Portrait, and Pro Mode, giving you plenty of creative control.
On the front, there is a 13MP camera for selfies and video calls, which delivers decent results. For photography enthusiasts, the phone supports Camera2 API at Level 3, which means you can install and use Google Camera (GCam) mods to potentially enhance image quality even further.
Battery Life and Other Features
A robust 5000mAh battery powers the device, providing enough juice to last a full day of moderate to heavy use. The company claims it can deliver up to 45 hours of talk time or nearly 11 hours of continuous YouTube playback. When you do need to top up, the included 33W fast charger gets the job done efficiently, charging the phone from 0 to 100% in about 83 minutes.
The phone is also packed with other useful features that elevate the user experience:
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Dual Stereo Speakers: The speakers are loud and clear, providing an immersive audio experience for gaming and media consumption.
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IP64 Rating: The device is certified for dust and splash resistance, offering peace of mind against everyday spills and splashes.
Connectivity: It comes with modern connectivity options, including Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and dual 5G SIM support.
Tabular Data
Feature Specification Processor MediaTek Dimensity 7300, 4nm Octa-Core GPU Mali-G615 MC2 RAM 6GB or 8GB LPDDR4X Storage 128GB UFS 3.1 Display 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED Refresh Rate 120Hz Peak Brightness 1,000 nits Color Gamut 100% DCI-P3 Rear Camera 64MP Sony IMX682 Primary + 5MP Macro Front Camera 13MP Video Recording 4K at 30fps (Rear & Front) Battery 5000mAh Charging 33W Fast Charging Operating System Android 15 (Stock) OS Updates 2 Guaranteed OS Upgrades Security Updates 3 Years of Security Updates Connectivity 5G (Dual SIM), Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, USB Type-C Audio Dual Stereo Speakers Durability IP64 Dust & Splash Resistance Dimensions 162.7 x 75.3 x 7.8 mm Weight 185g Colors Arctic Frost, Arctic Slate
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 7300, 4nm Octa-Core |
| GPU | Mali-G615 MC2 |
| RAM | 6GB or 8GB LPDDR4X |
| Storage | 128GB UFS 3.1 |
| Display | 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz |
| Peak Brightness | 1,000 nits |
| Color Gamut | 100% DCI-P3 |
| Rear Camera | 64MP Sony IMX682 Primary + 5MP Macro |
| Front Camera | 13MP |
| Video Recording | 4K at 30fps (Rear & Front) |
| Battery | 5000mAh |
| Charging | 33W Fast Charging |
| Operating System | Android 15 (Stock) |
| OS Updates | 2 Guaranteed OS Upgrades |
| Security Updates | 3 Years of Security Updates |
| Connectivity | 5G (Dual SIM), Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, USB Type-C |
| Audio | Dual Stereo Speakers |
| Durability | IP64 Dust & Splash Resistance |
| Dimensions | 162.7 x 75.3 x 7.8 mm |
| Weight | 185g |
| Colors | Arctic Frost, Arctic Slate |
The Verdict
The Lava Play Ultra 5G presents a compelling package for its starting price of ₹14,999 for the 6GB/128GB variant. Its key strengths are the stunning 120Hz AMOLED display, the powerful and efficient Dimensity 7300 processor, and the clean, bloatware-free Android experience with a solid update promise.
From my perspective, this phone is a fantastic all-rounder that gets the essentials right. The combination of a great screen, reliable performance, long battery life, and a clean user interface makes it one of the most attractive options in the sub-₹15,000 category. While the 5MP macro camera might not be a major highlight, the main 64MP sensor is a capable performer. For anyone looking for a high-performance, feature-rich, and future-proof smartphone without breaking the bank, the Lava Play Ultra 5G is a device that should be at the top of their list.