The indigenous mobile brand Lava is performing well in the Indian smartphone market. The company has introduced several phones within a budget range, that stand out for their design and software quality. Recently, Lava launched the Lava Blaze Curve 5G for under 20,000 rupees, featuring a curved display.
The phone competes directly with the likes of the Realme Narzo 70 Pro, iQOO Z9, and other brands' devices. This raises the question - should you consider buying a phone from a native brand or is there still room for improvement? Let's find the answer in this review.
Display
: 6.67-inch AMOLED with 120Hz refresh rate
Processor
: MediaTek Dimensity 7050
Camera
: 64MP + 8MP + 2MP rear and 32MP front camera
Operating System
: Android 13
Battery
: 5000mAh with 33W fast charging
Looking at the design of the Lava Blaze Curve, you wouldn't guess its price. At least that's what we found when we showed the phone to different people who failed to estimate it correctly. The phone has a curved screen and a slim feel.
The rear panel is curved as well, giving it a slender profile. Holding this smartphone feels like handling a premium device, with glass on both the front and rear. It's rare to find handsets with glass backs in this budget category. Overall, this phone is impressively designed.
Source: aajtak
The AMOLED display boasts 800 nits peak brightness and supports a 120Hz refresh rate, framed by modest bezels that enhance its budget-friendly allure. The screen is reasonably bright, and colors appear vibrant.
Source: aajtak
Video playback is clear with vivid colors. The handset comes with Widevine L1 certification, meaning it can stream videos in FHD quality. You're in for a pleasant viewing experience. The phone also includes an in-display fingerprint sensor that performs well.
Lava has employed the MediaTek Dimensity 7050 in this handset. The smartphone comes in configurations of up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. However, it lacks a micro SD card slot. Day-to-day tasks are performed without a hiccup.
Source: aajtak
It's also capable of gaming. You can easily play games like COD, BGMI, and Free Fire Max. Though the phone does get slightly warm during gameplay. Running on Android 13, the phone could have been better served with Android 14, as most brands are now offering the latest version. Lava promises to release an update and commits to two software updates. The performance doesn't disappoint.
Where the camera is concerned, Lava could have done better. Pictures taken are not exceptional, but sufficient for a regular user. Sometimes details are missed. The front camera performs better, producing decent photos.
Source: aajtak
Powered by a 5000mAh battery, the handset supports 33W fast charging. A single charge can last a full day of use, and it takes just over an hour to charge. The network and connectivity functioning is flawless.
Source: aajtak
If you are seeking a premium-designed phone on a budget, this could be your pick. A plus is that it doesn’t come burdened with bloatware like other Chinese phones, offering a clean UI. However, the camera quality and the presence of Android 13 are two drawbacks.
Starting at an entry price of 17,999 rupees, it may be available at an even lower price during sales. You might want to give it a try if you find it discounted.
