Lava Storm 5G: In the deluge of budget smartphones that have washed over India, there’s one homegrown brand that has been quietly making waves – Lava.
Enter the Lava Storm 5G in the spotlight The Lava Storm 5G is the brand’s brave leap forward, combining a spec-heavy 5G-capable phone with modern looks and essential daily use features that appeal to a broad spectrum of budget seekers.
But is it simply another cheap phone in an overcrowded field, or does it truly bring something new? Let’s dive into the details.
Design and build quality –
Unusually premium There is nothing new in the design list.
The Lava Storm 5G is a good-looking device for a budget and it feels a lot better than we thought it would. Oh and it looks super hard too with its matte-finish back, soft-curved edges, and rather neat looking camera layout.
The plastic construction is what you’d expect at this price point, but it doesn’t feel chintzy in your hand. It weighs just 214 or so grams, so it’s substantial to hold, but comfortable to wield for long periods.
The phone is available in attractive colors including Thunder Black and Galactic Green, which makes it an added attraction.
Button ergonomics are perfectly optimised and the fingerprint sensor sitting off to one side doubles as a power button — quick to respond, fast.
Screen: Good Enough for Everyday Use
The Lava Storm has a 6.78-inch FHD+ IPS LCD that comes with a 120Hz refresh rate, which is quite a big deal at its price.
Scrolling through social feeds and loading apps felt fluid, and the general color reproduction isn’t bad either, if not quite as punchy as AMOLED displays in more expensive phones.
The brightness levels are adequate for indoor use, but on particularly sunny days using it in the sunlight can be an issue.
Yet when it comes to binge-watching, and just casual site browsing, the display does more than the job.
Performance: Solid and Equitable
The device is underpinned by the MediaTek Dimensity 6020 SoC paired with up to 8GB RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage. There’s 8GB of virtual RAM expansion as well, which results in better multitasking.
Performance is more than adequate for your average user — apps load up quickly, it switches back and forth between tasks just fine, and basic gaming is no problem.
It manages to play popular titles such as BGMI or Asphalt 9 on medium settings without any noticeable frame drops.
And on an everyday level, even while browsing, watching videos and hopping around on social media, it rarely stutters.
5G and Connectivity: Future Proofing in Budget
A big draw for the Lava Storm is its 5G capabilities. It is packed with support of various 5G bands and is all ready for the future-prone Indian 5G network.
Voice quality is good, VoWiFi is reliable, and network reception is decent.
It also has dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1 and USB Type-C, which keeps it competitive in the era of today’s standards.
Battery Life: Reliable Enough for a Day’s Work
Lava Storm gets a 5000mAh battery for lasting all day long battery is ideal for a full day usage.
The battery life is good — it can make calls and YouTube, do some gaming and run navigation for a while.
It’s backed by 33W fast charging which can fill it up from 0 to 100 in a little over an hour and a half. It’s not blazing-fast, but serviceable for daily use.
Cameras: Decent but No Nonsense
On the back is a 50MP primary sensor accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide lens — a rare feature among budget phones, which often skimp on the ultra-wide.
Camera is decent in good lighting. Color looks mostly accurate, and detail is pretty good for the price.
But in low light, the results can be hit-or-miss — grain creeps up, and focus can wobble.
Selfies during the day are well taken care of by the 16MP front-facing camera, though the beauty filters can be a little heavy-handed.
Software: Smooth and Close-to-Stock Android
The Storm 5G is based on Android 13 (almost stock), with few preloaded apps, and that’s a good thing. No annoying ads, no superfluous pre-installed apps — just a clean UI that feels like a breath of fresh air in this price segment.
It also offers two years of security updates, which is a good sign of the company’s dedication to software support.
Pros:
120Hz FHD+ display
Was also perfoming with 8GB RAM
A clean, almost-stock Android experience
(OnePlus’s 5G service is faster than 4G, but right now, it’s not much faster.)
Budget ultra-wide camera
Cons:
Display not bright enough in daylight
Low-light shot is going better.
Charging is not the fastest
No stereo speakers
Plasticky (but, hey, that’s what you should anticipate at this price point)
Lava Storm 5G Final Verdict: Packed With Value and Local Pride
The Lava Storm 5G is no ordinary cheap phone. It’s a stylish package with contemporary connectivity, solid performance and no bloatware — all from a homegrown brand that’s finding its footing in this very competitive space.
For those looking for a no-nonsense 5G phone under ₹13,000 with respectable daily performance, a smooth display, and no bloat, this one demands serious attention. It may not get everything perfect, but it certainly has the basics down.
