Lava Blaze X Review: 3D Curved AMOLED Budget Marvel

The Lava Blaze X, a recent addition to the budget series by Lava, promises to deliver a premium experience at an affordable price point. Priced between ₹14,000 and ₹15,000, this device stands out with its 3D curved AMOLED display, a feature rarely seen in this price segment. In this detailed review, we’ll explore every aspect of the Lava Blaze X, from unboxing to performance, design to features, and much more.

Unboxing Experience

The Lava Blaze X arrives in a distinctive box featuring a bold “X” on the front, indicative of the model. The unboxing experience sets the stage for what’s to come, with the following contents neatly packed inside:

• Decent Quality Case: The box includes a protective case, ensuring the phone is safeguarded from the get-go. The case is of good quality, offering basic protection against drops and scratches, and fits snugly on the device.
• USB Type C to Type C Charging Cable: Surprisingly, Lava provides a Type C to Type C cable, a rare inclusion for phones in this price bracket. This ensures faster data transfer and more efficient charging, compared to the traditional Type A to Type C cables.
• 33W Type C Adapter: The fast-charging adapter promises quick power-ups, a valuable feature for users on the go. With 33W charging capability, the phone can quickly regain a significant amount of battery life within a short period.
• 3.5mm to USB Type C Adapter: While the phone lacks a 3.5mm jack, the inclusion of an adapter ensures users can still use their wired headphones. This is a thoughtful addition, catering to users who prefer wired audio solutions over Bluetooth.
• SIM Card Tool: A standard but necessary tool for SIM card management. The tool is easy to use and ensures smooth SIM card handling without the need for additional tools.

Design and Build Quality

The design of the Lava Blaze X is where it truly shines. Despite being a budget device, it boasts a plastic back with a glass-like finish, exuding a premium look and feel. The phone is remarkably lightweight, feeling around 183 grams, which makes it comfortable to hold and use. The large, round camera module adds a touch of sophistication to its design.

One of the standout features is the 3D curved display, which not only looks premium but also enhances the user experience by providing a more immersive viewing experience. The curved edges blend seamlessly into the frame, giving the phone a sleek and modern appearance. The build quality is commendable, with a sturdy frame that can withstand daily usage. The phone’s lightweight nature doesn’t compromise its structural integrity, making it durable and reliable.

Display: A Visual Delight

The Lava Blaze X sports a 6.67-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display, setting a new standard for budget smartphones. Here’s why the display is a standout feature:

• 3D Curved Display: The curvature of the display provides a seamless viewing experience, making it feel like a high-end device. This curvature also reduces glare and reflections, enhancing the overall viewing experience.
• 800 Nits Brightness: With an impressive brightness level, the display remains visible even under direct sunlight. This ensures that users can comfortably use their phone outdoors without straining their eyes.
• Thin Bezels: The ultra-thin bezels enhance the screen-to-body ratio, providing a more immersive viewing experience. The minimal bezels also give the phone a modern and sleek look.
• 120Hz Refresh Rate: The high refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and fluid animations, a rare feature in this price range. This makes a significant difference in everyday tasks, such as browsing the web, scrolling through social media, and playing games.

The display’s color reproduction is excellent, with punchy colors and deep blacks, making it ideal for media consumption, gaming, and general usage. The AMOLED technology ensures vibrant and accurate colors, providing a rich visual experience for users.

Performance: Powering Through Tasks

Under the hood, the Lava Blaze X is powered by the Dimensity 6300 processor, offering a balanced performance suitable for everyday tasks and moderate gaming. Here’s a breakdown of its performance aspects:

• Processor: Dimensity 6300, a capable chipset for budget devices, providing smooth performance. The processor efficiently handles multitasking, app usage, and casual gaming without significant lags.
• RAM and Storage Variants: Available in 4GB, 6GB, and 8GB RAM variants with 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage, ensuring ample space for apps, media, and files. The UFS 2.2 storage offers faster read and write speeds compared to traditional eMMC storage, enhancing overall performance.
• Battery: A 5000mAh battery coupled with 33W fast charging ensures long-lasting usage and quick recharges. The large battery capacity means users can comfortably use their phone throughout the day without worrying about running out of power.
• AnTuTu Score: Scoring between 420K-450K on AnTuTu, the device offers decent performance, allowing for low to medium settings in gaming without significant lags or stutters. This score indicates that the phone can handle most everyday tasks efficiently, making it suitable for a wide range of users.

Software and User Experience

The Lava Blaze X runs on a clean and native Android experience, devoid of unnecessary bloatware. Lava promises one year of major updates and two years of security updates, ensuring the device remains secure and up-to-date. Key software features include:

• YouTube Background Streaming: Allows users to play YouTube videos in the background, a premium feature typically found in higher-end devices. This is particularly useful for users who enjoy listening to music or podcasts on YouTube while multitasking.
• Edge Lighting: Replaces traditional notifications with visually appealing edge lighting, enhancing the user experience. This feature not only looks good but also makes it easier to notice notifications without unlocking the phone.
• Always On Display (AOD): Keeps essential information visible at all times without draining the battery significantly. The AOD feature displays time, date, and notification icons, providing quick access to important information.

Camera Capabilities

The camera setup on the Lava Blaze X is designed to cater to casual photographers and social media enthusiasts. The primary sensor is a 64MP Sony sensor, accompanied by a 2MP secondary sensor and a 16MP front camera. Here’s a closer look at the camera performance:

• Primary Camera: The 64MP Sony sensor captures detailed and vibrant photos, ideal for social media uploads. The high resolution ensures that images retain clarity and detail even when zoomed in.
• Secondary Camera: The 2MP sensor assists in depth sensing and macro photography. While not as versatile as some higher-end setups, it provides additional functionality for specific shooting scenarios.
• Front Camera: The 16MP front camera delivers sharp and clear selfies. It performs well in various lighting conditions, making it suitable for video calls and self-portraits.
• Video Recording: The rear camera supports 2K video recording, while the front camera supports FHD recording. This allows users to capture high-quality videos for personal or social media use.
• Camera Modes: A plethora of camera modes are available, including night mode, portrait mode, pro mode, and more, allowing users to experiment and capture a variety of shots. These modes provide versatility and creativity, enabling users to take photos and videos in different styles and settings.

Connectivity and Additional Features

The Lava Blaze X is well-equipped in terms of connectivity and additional features, enhancing its overall usability:

• 5G Support: With support for 13 5G bands, the device is future-proofed for upcoming network upgrades. This ensures that users can take advantage of faster network speeds as 5G becomes more widely available.
• WiFi and Bluetooth: Dual-band WiFi and Bluetooth 5.2 support ensure robust and reliable connections. This makes it easy to connect to various devices and networks without experiencing connectivity issues.
• Sensors: All essential sensors, including an in-display fingerprint sensor and face unlock, are present and function well. These sensors enhance security and convenience, allowing users to unlock their phone quickly and securely.
• Virtual RAM: The device supports virtual RAM, providing an additional boost to multitasking capabilities. This feature allocates a portion of the storage as additional RAM, improving performance when running multiple apps simultaneously.
• IP53 Certification: Provides basic protection against dust and water splashes, adding to the durability of the device. This certification ensures that the phone can withstand minor exposure to elements without suffering damage.
• FM Radio: An often-overlooked feature, FM radio is included for those who enjoy traditional radio broadcasts. This adds an extra layer of functionality for users who prefer listening to radio stations.

Multimedia and Audio Experience

The multimedia capabilities of the Lava Blaze X are impressive, particularly given its price point. The 6.67-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display provides a superb viewing experience for videos, movies, and games. The high refresh rate ensures smooth playback, while the AMOLED technology delivers vibrant colors and deep contrasts.

The audio experience is also noteworthy. The inclusion of a 3.5mm to USB Type C adapter means users can still use their preferred wired headphones. The speakers provide clear and loud audio, making it suitable for media consumption and hands-free calls. The combination of a high-quality display and good audio ensures an enjoyable multimedia experience.

Customer Support and Warranty

Lava offers a unique customer support feature with the Blaze X: free doorstep service. If users encounter any issues with their device, they can simply call Lava, and a service representative will come to their location to resolve the problem. This level of customer support is exceptional, especially in the budget segment, providing users with peace of mind.

Additionally, Lava promises regular software updates, including one year of major updates and two years of security updates. This commitment to updates ensures that the device remains secure and performs optimally over time.

Real-Time Use and Performance: 20 Days with the Lava Blaze X

After spending 20 days with the Lava Blaze X, I’ve gathered extensive insights into its real-time use and performance. This follow-up aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how the phone holds up in everyday scenarios.

Design and Build Quality

The Lava Blaze X continues to impress with its premium design, which belies its budget-friendly price. The Titanium Grey variant I tested has a sophisticated matte finish that remains smudge-free and resists scratches. The curved AMOLED display with minimal bezels provides an immersive viewing experience, making it hard to believe this phone is priced around ₹14,000.

Display

The 6.67-inch curved AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate has proven to be a standout feature. The screen’s brightness is adequate for both indoor and outdoor use, even under direct sunlight. Watching videos on YouTube or streaming shows on Amazon Prime Video is a delightful experience, thanks to the vivid colors and deep blacks. The lack of HDR support is a minor drawback, but the display quality remains top-notch for its price range.

Performance

Equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 processor, the Lava Blaze X delivers stable and reliable performance. In daily use, navigating through apps, browsing the web, and multitasking are handled smoothly. The 6GB RAM variant I used ensures that switching between applications is quick and efficient.

During gaming sessions, the phone holds up well. Popular games like PUBG Mobile run smoothly at medium settings, with the phone maintaining a consistent frame rate. The device does not overheat, even during extended gaming periods, which is a significant plus.

Battery Life

The 5000mAh battery comfortably lasts a full day of heavy use, including gaming, video streaming, and social media browsing. With moderate use, you can easily stretch the battery life to two days. Charging the phone with the included 33W charger takes just over an hour, which is quite reasonable.

Camera Performance

The camera performance is decent for a budget phone. In well-lit conditions, the primary camera captures detailed and vibrant photos. However, in low-light conditions, the images tend to be a bit grainy, and the colors are not as accurate. The portrait mode does a good job with edge detection, providing satisfactory background blur effects.

Selfies taken with the front camera are clear and well-detailed, making it suitable for social media use. The video recording capabilities are adequate, with stable footage in 1080p at 30fps, although the lack of advanced stabilization is noticeable.

Software Experience

The clean user interface without any bloatware or ads is one of the most refreshing aspects of the Lava Blaze X. Running on a near-stock version of Android 11, the experience is smooth and intuitive. However, there is a minor issue with the refresh rate dropping to 60Hz in certain apps like Instagram, which slightly affects the fluidity. Lava could improve this by ensuring a consistent 120Hz refresh rate across all applications.

Connectivity

The Lava Blaze X supports multiple 5G bands, ensuring robust connectivity and fast internet speeds. The call quality is excellent, and network reception is strong, even in areas with weaker signals. The phone also seamlessly switches between 5G and 4G during calls to maintain connectivity.

Conclusion

The Lava Blaze X is an impressive budget smartphone that delivers a premium experience at an affordable price. Its standout features include the 3D curved AMOLED display, decent performance powered by the Dimensity 6300 processor, and a clean Android experience. The camera setup, while not groundbreaking, offers good quality photos and a variety of modes for different shooting scenarios.

After 20 days of real-time use, the Lava Blaze X stands out as a remarkable budget phone with a premium design, excellent display, and reliable performance. While there are minor areas for improvement, such as low-light camera performance and software optimizations, the overall experience is highly satisfying. For anyone seeking an affordable phone with top-tier features, the Lava Blaze X is a compelling choice.

Highlights:

• 3D Curved AMOLED Display: A rarity in this price range, providing an immersive viewing experience.
• Lightweight Design: At around 183 grams, it’s comfortable to hold and use.
• Decent Performance: Powered by the Dimensity 6300 processor, suitable for everyday tasks and moderate gaming.
• Clean Software Experience: Minimal bloatware and promised updates enhance the user experience.
• Comprehensive Camera Setup: The 64MP Sony sensor delivers vibrant and detailed photos.
• Robust Connectivity: 5G support, dual-band WiFi, and Bluetooth 5.2 ensure reliable connections.
• Exceptional Customer Support: Free doorstep service provides peace of mind for users.

Overall, the Lava Blaze X offers excellent value for money, making it a strong contender in the budget smartphone market. Whether you’re a casual user, a gamer, or a photography enthusiast, this device has something to offer, making it a worthy choice for anyone looking for a feature-packed smartphone without breaking the bank.

If you have any questions about the Lava Blaze X or found this review useful, feel free to leave a comment below. Your feedback is always appreciated!