Introduction—Lava’s Grand Return in the Budget Category
The Indian smartphone space has traditionally been a playground for budget phones, but in 2025, the situation is more taut. While global players Samsung, Realme, and Xiaomi keep flooding the sub-₹10,000 segment with low-end 5G smartphones, Indian competitor Lava Mobiles has gone about building its own fan base by selling no-frills, value-for-money smartphones.
Lava Storm Play review: The Lava Storm Play 5G is the newest in its series, released with the hope of providing a premium experience within a price that everyone can handle. It comes packed with a 6.75-inch 120 Hz screen, a MediaTek Dimensity 7060 chipset, a camera, a pure Android 15 interface, and a battery of 5000 mAh. The Storm Play 5G is an impressive contender for the title of “best budget 5G phone in 2025.
But does it really live up to the hype? Let’s break it down in detail.
Lava Storm Play 5G Specifications at a Glance
Before diving into the real-world review, here’s a quick look at the hardware and features:
- Display: 6.75-inch HD+ IPS LCD, 120 Hz refresh rate
- Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 7060 5G
- RAM: 6GB LPDDR5 (expandable with virtual RAM up to 12GB)
- Storage: 128GB UFS 3.1 (expandable via microSD)
- Rear Camera: 50MP AI primary + depth sensor
- Front Camera: 16MP front-facing selfie shooter
- Battery: 5000 mAh battery with 18 W fast charging
- Operating System: Android 15 (stock, clean UI)
- Build: Polycarbonate with matte finish
- Price in India: Under ₹10,000
Design and Build Quality—Simple Yet Premium
Weight & Thickness
At ~190 g, it is heavy but not cumbersome.
Color Choices
Comes in elegant colors such as Storm Black and Ocean Blue.
Ergonomics
Even with the big screen, curved sides make it easy to grip when playing games or watching marathons for hours.
Display—Large, Smooth, and Entertainment-Friendly
Seamless Experience
Scrolling through apps, social media surfing, and gaming feel so silky smooth because of the 120 Hz screen.
Color Simulation
Being an IPS LCD, colors are vivid, if not as punchy as on AMOLED displays. Still, for the price, it’s impressive.
Brightness
At ~500 nits of brightness, it’s acceptable to use during the day, though direct sunlight visibility could be enhanced.
Resolution
Although the HD+ (1600×720) resolution isn’t super sharp, text and images look clear enough for casual use.
Performance—Dimensity 7060 Packs a Punch
Day-to-Day Performance
Apps open quickly, multitasking is smooth, and switching between heavy apps is not lag-inducing.
Gaming
High games like BGMI, Free Fire, and Call of Duty Mobile run seamlessly with normal settings at smooth frame rates. Casual and mid-level gaming is enjoyable due to the 120 Hz screen and Dimensity 7060 combination.
Storage
UFS 3.1 accelerates app downloading and file copying a lot more compared to the usual eMMC storage onboard most low-cost phones. 120 Hz screen and an experience
Pure Android 15
No Bloatware, No Ads
Contrary to most Chinese brands, which pack devices with unnecessary apps and advertisements, Lava prefers to be simple and clean.
Future Updates
Lava has promised a minimum of 2 years of OS updates and 3 years of security patches, which is a big selling point in this space.
Customization
Android is just the way it should be, which translates to silky smooth animations, optimized RAM use, and no annoying background apps draining your battery.
Camera Performance—Good for the Price
Rear Camera
Daylight: Shots are sharp with excellent dynamic range. Colors are mildly pushed but good enough for social media.
Low-Light: Struggles with noise to a certain degree, but AI optimization and night mode also help to some extent.
Portraits: Edge—Long-Lasting—The depth sensor adds a natural blur effect.
Front Camera
Selfies: Skin tones are natural, and details are fairly well preserved.
Video: Max 1080p recording with good stabilization for light usage.
Battery Life—Long-Lasting with Decent Charging
Screen-On Time—Long-Lasting
About 7–8 hours with normal usage (social media, YouTube, gaming).
Standby Drain
Low, thanks to the bloat-free software.
Charging
The 18W fast charging takes around 1 hour 45 minutes to charge fully, which is reasonable at this price point.
Connectivity and Features
- 5G Bands: Provides multiple 5G bands, making it future-proof.
- Audio: The loudspeaker is crisp but average. A 3.5 mm headphone jack is present.
- Biometrics: Quick and precise side-mounted fingerprint sensor.
- Expandable Storage: microSD card slot for users who require more storage.
Lava hasn’t spared too many corners, making this phone worthy of daily use.
Comparisons—How Does Lava Storm Play 5G Compare?
Realme Narzo N55 (₹10,999)
Improved camera software but no 120 Hz screen and clean Android.
iQOO Z7 Lite (₹11,499)
Improved GPU but also FunTouch OS bloatware.
Redmi 13C 5G (₹9,999)
Same money but inferior processor and slower storage.
Verdict
The Lava Storm Play 5G has the performance, display quality, software experience, and price balance right.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- The smooth 120 Hz display with
- Dimensity 7060 provides smooth performance.
- Clean stock Android 15 (no bloatware, no ads)
- Large 5000 mAh battery
- Good 50MP main camera
- Future-proof; future-proof port
- Lava Strom Play price
Future-proof port
- HD+ resolution, not Full HD+.
- Low-light photography could be better.
- 18W charging speed only
- No ultra-wide camera
Who Should Buy the Lava Storm Play 5G?
This phone is perfect for:
- Students looking for a budget yet powerful smartphone
- Budget gamers looking for smooth gaming
- Users tired of bloatware-heavy UIs
- People who need a good 5G phone under ₹10,000
Final Verdict – Budget League Champion
The Lava Storm Play 5G is proof that you don’t need to spend your entire life’s savings to enjoy a glitch-free,future-proof smartphone experience. By combining a 120 Hz screen, Dimensity 7060 power, clean Android 15, and long-lasting battery life, Lava has made one of the best value-for-money smartphones in 2025.
Yes, it does have some compromises, like HD+ resolution and mediocre low-light photography, but at under ₹10,000, those are acceptable compromises. For anyone who needs a budget 5G phone that performs without gimmicks, Lava Storm Play 5G is an excellent choice.
FAQs Regarding Lava Storm Play 5G
Q1: Is Lava Storm Play 5G supported?
Yes, it supports a number of 5G bands, so it’s future-proof.
Q2: How long does the battery last?
With constant use, it easily lasts 1.5 days on a single charge.
Q3: Can you play BGMI or COD Mobile smoothly?
Yes, both games run on medium graphics without heavy frame drops.
Q4: Does it have bloatware?
No, the phone has clean stock Android 15 with no ads or bloatware.
Q5: Is the camera good?
The 50MP main sensor is good in daylight, though low-light is mediocre.
