Yesterday, Lava announced the release of its new smartphone – Lava Iris X1 Selfie. The company has priced the smartphone at Rs. 6,777. The device will be available for purchase next week on online retail stores and other multi-brand outlets.
The Iris X1 come with selfie-focusing features such as a 5MP front camera with LED flash supported by the Beaty-Fi Software for further editing. It also has an 8MP f/2.0 aperture, LED flash, rear camera. The camera comes along with various camera modes such as Panorama, HRD Mode, Video Mode, Capture Mode (Smile, Gesture, Voice, Touch), and Burst Mode.
The OS is Android 5.0 Lollipop based and the device comes with a dual-SIM with a 4.5-inch FWVGA (854×480 pixels) resolution IPS display, powered by a quad-core MediaTek MT6580 processor clocked at 1.3GHz,and 1GB of DDR3 RAM.
The device also has 8GB of inbuilt storage that can be expanded up to 32GB by a microSD card. Other features include, 3G, Wi-Fi, USB 2.0, GPS, and Bluetooth. It weighs 140 grams and comes with a 2000mAh Li-Po battery which is said to have up to 13 hours of talk time in 2G and 8 hours 30 minutes of talk time in 3G.
The Iris X1 Selfie comes in various colours, such as, Icy White, Royal Black, and Purple colour variants.
We brought you news in the morning, stating that Lava was going to release its new phone, this afternoon and also giving you the leaked specs and price. However, we now have the official specs and price of Lava’s new Android One smartphone.
Priced at Rs. 11,350, the Lava Pixel V1 will be on sale exclusively on Flipkart and retail stores, starting next Monday. This Android One phone will also receive regular updates for up to 2 years, just like all the others do. Other than this, the phone will be available in two colours; Gold and White-Silver. The phone has a 2650 mAh battery and its connectivity options include a Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, USB OTG, and Micro-USB.
To take care of the camera needs, is a 13MP rear camera and an 8MP secondary camera. The phone comes with dual SIM support and with 3G connectivity on both the SIMs. However, it doesn’t have 4G LTE connectivity and might prove to be at a huge disadvantage due to this. With the market today, flooded with 4G enabled smartphones that are cheaper than the Pixel V1, only time will tell if it will be able to compete with the plethora of smartphones available.
Its main contenders, Yu Yureka and Lenovo K3 Note, both prove to be tough competition. However, with Google’s support, Lava Pixel V1 will stay ahead in getting timely software updates.
Here is the complete spec sheet for the Lava Pixel V1:
Specification
Lava Pixel V1
Display
5.5-inch HD IPS display
Resolution
1280 x 720 HD
Chipset
NA
Processor
1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek (MT6582)
GPU
NA
RAM
2 GB
Storage
32 GB
Expandability
32 GB
Rear Camera
13 MP
Rear Camera Video
NA
Front Camera
8MP
Front Camera Video
NA
Battery
2650 mAh battery
Operating System
Android 5.1 Lollipop
Connectivity
GSM, WCDMA
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, USB OTG, and Micro-USB.
We have an exciting week ahead of us. In the next few days we’re officially going to see the arrival of OnePlus 2, Moto G (Gen 3) and an ultra budget smartphone by Micromax. Kicking off the week, however, is the new Android One phone, on the block.
We now have information that at noon today, Lava will unveil the Pixel V1. The smartphone is said to arrive with a 5.5-inch 720p display and powered by a 1.3 GHz quad-core Qualcomm processor.
To take care of the camera needs, will be a 13MP rear camera and an 8MP secondary camera. The device will come with 32GB of storage space and is expected to be priced between Rs. 10-12K.
Other than that, reports online also mention the presence of a 2,650mAh battery, and the use of Android 5.1.1 – which is expected as it is an Android One device.
The Android One initiative, which was announced at Google I/O last year, is Google’s direct link to the lower-end consumers. The biggest issue with the Android platform is high levels of fragmentation, devices running older versions of the OS are still available for sale in the market. With the lessons learnt by this initiative, the Android team may be able to provide a better integration of its OS across devices.
In the past we haven’t seen worthy devices by this initiative, however it looks like the Lava Pixel V1 may arrive to change that perception.
Yesterday, Indian smartphone vendor Lava expanded its smartphone portfolio with the release of a new device – the Icon. With a price tag of Rs. 11,990, the device stands against some current offerings in the market like Micromax Canvas Nitro and Huawei Ascend P6. Meanwhile, we got an opportunity to get our hands on the latest device and here is our experience with the new smartphone.
The Icon is 7.7 mm thick and has a sleek finish. It touts a silver metal frame, while its back panel is a shiny black with a glass finish. The glass back does add to the aesthetic of the device, though we have to admit it seemed prone to scratches. The handset feels nice in hand, though we won’t vouch for its overall sturdiness.
The device features a 5-inch HD IPS 720p display with 550 Cd/m2 brightness, which the company claims is one of the highest in the industry. The display of the handset is protected with Asahi Dragon-Trail glass that offers resistance against scratches. It is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core processor paired with 2GB of RAM. The onboard storage space is 16GB, which can be expanded via a MicroSD card slot up to 32GB.
The front of the phone has an earpiece at the top, along with a 5MP camera. The front camera comes with Omni vision sensor and BSI-II sensor with blue glass filter, which is said to protect the image sensor against overexposure in the infrared wavelength range.
Lava Icon runs on Android 4.4 KitKat and has the company’s Star UI on top. The user interface provides a variety of customizable gesture controls. The back of the phone has 2500mAh battery, which is decent for a phone of this size and resolution. The primary camera is 13 MP with dual-LED flash and Sony Exmor sensor. We tried our hand at the camera, and were left unimpressed.
The dual-SIM handset offers connectivity options like 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Micro-USB. Overall, we’d say it has a premium design, however it feels extremely delicate. Lava Icon is available at select retails stores in India and will also be available online via exclusive online partner Snapdeal.com. The e-commerce website is making the deal sweeter by offering a free selfie stick with Lava Icon.
Today, LAVA introduced a new smartphone in the Indian market. The latest offering, ‘Icon’ packs specifications to rival many present high-end handsets and comes at a price of Rs. 11,990.
LAVA Icon sports a premium metal look and holds a thickness of 7.7 mm. The homegrown smartphone firm says that it has been designed to provide comfortable handling, which makes it less prone to damage.
The device features a 5-inch HD IPS display with 550 Cd/m2 brightness, which the company claims is one of the highest in the industry. The display of the handset is protected with Asahi Dragon-Trail glass that offers resistance against scratches. A 1.3GHz quad-core processor powers the device along with 2GB RAM. It offers 16GB internal memory storage which can be expanded up to 32GB.
The Icon runs on LAVA’s Star OS built on Android platform, which provides users with a variety of customizable gesture controls. A 13MP rear camera with Sony Exmor sensor is installed on the handset that features a F2.0 aperture and 5P lens for low light photography. The front has a 5MP shooter with Omni vision sensor. A 2500mAh battery is equipped with the phone to keep it running all day long. Connectivity options include 3G, Wi-Fi, Micro-USB and Bluetooth.
The phone is available at select retails stores in India and will also be available online via exclusive online partner Snapdeal.com. The e-commerce website is making the deal sweeter by offering a free selfie stick with LAVA Icon. The sale starts today from 1 pm onwards.
Lava has added another smartphone to its fuel range with the launch of the launch of Lava Iris Fuel 20, though this time around at entry level prices. The latest addition to the Fuel series packs a mammoth 4400mAh battery that is claimed to provide a 2G talktime of 42 hours, 13 hours video playback and 35 hours of music playback.
Other specs of the Iris Fuel 20 include a 5-inch FWVGA 850×480 resolution. The smartphone sports a 1.3 GHz Dual-Core processor coupled with 512 MB of RAM, while the OS on-board is Android 4.4 KitKat. Optics on the phone include a 5MP rear camera bundled with LED flash, along with a VGA front-facing cam. The Iris Fuel 20 is also claimed to support HD video playback.
Coming to connectivity options, it supports 2G connectivity, microUSB v2.0, Bluetooth v4.0 and Wi-Fi. On the memory front, the smartphone comes with 4GB in-built storage expandable upto 32GB.
The Iris Fuel 20 will be available in white and metallic grey colour options in in retail outlets across India and leading e-commerce portals at Rs. 5,399 from next week.
Indian smartphone brand Lava recently brought out their new offering in the sub-Rs.10,000 market in the form of the Iris X1 Grand. This is a successor to the Lava Iris X1 that the company launched in the May of 2014. We unbox the device for you.
The device looks like an elder sibling to the Iris X1. It sports a 5-inch display with a resolution of 480×854 pixels. The power button is located on the right while the volume rockers are placed on the left. The flip cover provided with the device has markings on it which lets you manipulate the volume without opening the case.
The Lava Iris X1 Grand
In the Box you get:
Lava Iris X1 Grand Handset
In-ear Earphones
Charger and USB cable
Flip cover
Screen Protectors
Information booklet
The Iris X1 Comes along with a free Flip case and screen protector.
The device runs Android KitKat 4.4.2, out of the box, but it promises a guaranteed upgrade to Android Lollipop 5.0 which makes the deal attractive for the price. There aren’t a lot of bloatware on the device and the interface felt snappy and responsive.
Lava offers a free flip case with a round opening in the front which looks “inspired” from LG G3. The case is magnetic, so the screen shuts off when the case is on. You get quick access to the phone log, messages, music, settings and camera from the round screen so it would come handy when you are on the move.
The Lava Iris is priced at Rs. 6,500 which along with all the freebies such as flip case and the screen protectors makes it a bargain. Overall, the Lava Iris X1 Grand felt great in its first impressions, and we’ll take the device to task in our in-depth video, so stay tuned for that.
Indian mobile phone brand Lava was all ready to unveil its brand new device to take on the likes of the Redmi Note and the Yureka. On its website, it only posted the number 8 with the tagline “Get Ready to do more!” calling it their latest flagship offering. Now the company has officially launched the device and its called the Lava Iris X8.
Earlier Flipkart had mistakenly leaked the specs of the device. The listing was later removed, but it did flaunt off some impressive specs which got folks excited for the device.
The Website listing for the Lava Iris X8
The Iris X8 sports a 5.0 inch, 1280×720 IPS HD display. The display will be protected with Asahi Dragontrail glass. The device is powered by a 1.4GHz octa-core MediaTek processor along with 2 GB RAM. It has 16 GB internal storage that is expandable up to 32 GB.
On the camera front, the Iris X8 packs an 8 MP camera on the back along with dual LED flash, while a 3 MP selfie camera sits on the front. The device is powered by a 2500 mAh battery. It also offers features like Smart Wake-up and Gesture controls.
The Iris X8 comes with Android KitkKat 4.4 out of the box and is apparently upgradeable to Lollipop. Lava has also tied up with Airtel to provide 500 MB of bundled 3G data per month for two months.
By the looks of it, the X8 seems like a great device for anyone who doesn’t want to wait in line for the YU Yureka or the Redmi Note. With a price tag of Rs. 8,999, the device has good enough features to compete efficiently in the sub-Rs.10,000 market. Wait for the hands-on and full review of the Lava Iris X8 on iGyaan, coming up soon.
Lava’s latest device, the Iris Win 1 has landed in our hands. Check out the unboxing of the new Lava Iris Win1. It runs on a Windows 8.1 operating system and was launched for a mere Rs. 4,999. It comes packed with a Quad Core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, a 5 MP primary camera, 1 GB RAM and 8 GB ROM.
Indian smartphone company, Lava has launched the Iris Fuel 60. The phone’s USP is the massive 4000 mAh battery which extends its usage time and decreases the frequency of charging. The phone also has multiple gesture features which might make it more attractive to the buyers.
The Iris Fuel 60 is only 1000 mAh short of Gionee’s Marathon M3 which comes with 5000 mAh behemoth. But while the Marathon M3 can set you back by Rs. 13,999, Lava’s big battery bombshell comes at a rather affordable price of Rs. 8,888.
But even at a low price, the device isn’t short on accompanying specs. It comes with a quad-core, 1.3 GHz processor along with 1 GB RAM, which is the same as the Marathon M3. The internal storage stands at 8 GB; that is expandable up to 32 GB, a standard at this price point. It also provides USB OTG support which will take its storage capacity further.
The device flaunts a 720p HD IPS display and is protected by scratch resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 3o. The main camera on the device is a 10 MP shooter while on the front is a 2 MP shooter. The device presently runs on Android 4.4, but the company claims that it will soon be bringing an Android L update for the device.
If battery woes are your biggest concern for a smartphone, then this phone can be your ideal option. It has pretty much the same specs as the Marathon M3 but comes at Rs. 5000 cheaper at a loss of 1000 mAh worth of battery storage. Lava has put a serious contender in the big battery game.
The emergence of Chinese companies into the Indian market has taken most of the sheen off the Indian phone makers. Even Motorola’s high specification, low priced devices have taken customers away from the Indian handset manufacturers. But with the combined strengths of feature phones and smartphones, the Indian brands have continued to grow. The companies have benefitted from the shift to smartphones in the lower segment, and their offerings are perceived as affordable. These factors have helped Lava reach the second spot on the podium amongst the Indian handset model.
The report was published by market research venture called Cybex Exim. The company took into consideration the following handset manufacturers: Micromax, Lava, Motorola, Karbonn, Gionee, Lenovo, Spice, Intex, XOLO, Panasonic, Zen, Maxx, Videocon, Xiaomi and Lemon.
To elaborate on their findings, Mr. Amit Gupta, Cybex Exim said, “To understand the market dynamics, we track the import shipments of various players on a daily basis. Domestic players have shown remarkable growth over the last two quarters; majorly credited to the success of Indian brands like Micromax, Lava and Karbonn. With local vendors reducing the price gap between the entry level smartphones and feature phones, usage for mid-price phones is expected to increase at a high rate. At the same time, the recent launch of Android One devices is expected to drive more volumes in the price sensitive market with many other local players geared up to introduce their devices in the coming quarter.”
Cybex Exim’s findings is as follows:
Volume data of Top 5 Indian players (in Mn) July – September’14 – Cybex Exim Solutions Pvt Ltd
Company
Feature Phones
Smart Phones
Total Volume
% Volume Share
MICROMAX
5,058,002
3,723,445
8,781,447
31.2%
LAVA
5,307,184
1,968,575
7,275,759
25.8%
KARBONN
4,591,947
1,803,583
6,395,530
22.7%
INTEX
2,542,483
965,627
3,508,110
12.5%
SPICE
1,764,181
426,992
2,191,173
7.8%
This has been a good year for Micromax. According to a study by Counterpoint Research, Micromax outsold Samsung in Q2 of 2014 to become India’s biggest smartphone supplier. Also, Micromax finished on the pole position of Cyber Exim’s report. The company is also taking some risks like introducing a Cyanogen-powered smartphone in the coming future.
Lava has said that the company will be investing about 500 crores in a phased manner to set up its own manufacturing unit in India over the next couple of years. This would be a positive step towards increasing tech-based manufacturing workforce in the country.
It’s great to see these Indian companies on a growth track. But looking at the competition they are facing against the Chinese companies, its time the companies up-ed their game. The phones need to get better in terms of specs and overall quality. The Indian companies may also want to take a leap into the flagship business and challenge the name brands.
Lava has launched an updated Iris Pro 30 which will be known as Pro 30+. The new phone came about seven months after the last phone and features a few new updates.
The Lava Iris Pro 30+ goes from a 1.2 GHz dual core processor of the predecessor to a 1.5 GHz quad-core Mediatek 6589 turbo processor. The device comes with 1GB RAM. The major upgrade has been the internal storage. The Iris Pro 30+ takes a leap from the 4 GB internal memory of Iris 30 and takes it to a more functional 16 GB, which is expandable up to 32 GB. The graphics on the device are powered by PowerVR SGX544 GPU clocked at 357 MHz.
The main camera on the Iris Pro 30+ is a 13 MP shooter with a BSI II sensor having a size of 1/3.2 inch and 1.1 micron Omni BSI-II pixel architecture to capture images in low-light. It supports full HD video recording. The 3 MP front camera on the device would be appreciated by selfie enthusiasts.
Like its predecessor, the device has a 4.7 inch, 1280×720 display with a pixel density of 312 ppi. The device really disappoints in the fact that it comes with Android Jellybean 4.2.2 out of the box. An Android Kitkat update would have made this phone more attractive. In times when companies are being judged by the speed of updates, Lava should have taken more care in the operating system department.
The phone supports USB OTG and is powered by a 2000 mAh battery. The phone is priced at Rs.11,990 and will be exclusively available on Amazon.in bundled with a 16 GB memory card. The sale will start from 1pm onwards on August 26. Now considering the price and the outdated operating system, a free memory card would hardly matter. You’d be better off being in line and spending a few more bucks for a Xiaomi phone.
If Lava wants the phone to work, it should come up with an updated operating system as soon as possible.
Domestic smartphone maker, Lava International Limited, has just announced an Android 4.4.2 Kitkat update for LAVA Iris 504Q+.
The new update, as company said , will improve user experience through an enhanced user interface, superior battery life and software performance. The update also comes with new dialer app which will automatically prioritize contacts according to the most frequently dialed numbers in the phone book. Also the dialer will offer a true-caller like service which will match unknown number from businesses with a local listing on Google Maps.
The users of Lava Iris 504Q+ will soon get the upgrade notification; on tapping the notification, the user will be guided through the upgrade download and installation process. Alternatively, the users can download and install manually through “Check Update” functionality that can be found in Settings.
The update will be downloaded on the memory card only and the user needs to have the memory card inserted in the smartphone while installing. After installation, the Android KitKat software can run with or without memory card in smartphone.
The new upgrade is said to increase the performance of the device. The Lava Iris 504Q+ packs in 1GB RAM and an internal memory of 8GB, which is expandable up to 32GB via micro-SD card, giving users enough space for applications and multimedia content. It is powered by a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor and Mali 400 MP2 at 500MHz Graphics Unit.
Another noteworthy feature of the devices is its 10 MP rear auto-focus camera that is powered by Sony Exmor RS Sensor having sensor size of 1/3.2 inch allowing enhanced lowlight performance. Through its unique gesture control and voice command functionality, a user can click a picture by saying just “Cheese” or “Capture” or with a swipe of the hand in air. Lava Iris is available in Grey and Silver colors at the price of Rs. 11,900.
The Moto E is one tough nut to crack. Other Android phone brands despise it. Companies like Micromax and Lava and others were taken aback by the spectacular performance of the Moto E and the huge appreciation it has received in India.
Lava X1 is Lava’s challenger to the Moto E, and we’ve already had a hands on with the device. Now we take a detailed look into the phone to see how it scores up against its competing low budget KitKat devices.
Design, Hardware and Build:
Design though “inspired”, is good to the eyes. Especially the touch panel
The phone is another Lava phone with iPhone-esqe design features, using a lot of plastic. The device is light to hold in comparison to the Moto E, which is heavy on weight and features. The back cover looks extremely flimsy, but Lava provides a flip cover in-box and that is one good point about the Iris X1.
The screen goes to sleep when the flip cover is closed. The volume rocker buttons are marked on the cover and can be easily pressed, so they’re quick to access when traveling. The only issue with the flip cover is its affinity to attract dirt. Lava has provided three microphone openings for active noise cancellation.
Unlike the Moto E, the X1 can be appreciated as it has the power button and the volume rockers on right and left side respectively, which is much simpler to use.
Another attractive feature is the capacitive touch buttons at the bottom of the screen. These buttons are invisible in the bezel and light up when you need them.
Display and Multimedia:
The text is good to read on X1 even at 281 pixel density.
The 4.5 inch screen on the device is an IPS display. The resolution of the screen is 854 x 480 pixels. The display is capable of good color reproduction. The blacks are predominant on the display, and that gives a pretty saturated color. The viewing angles are a bit of a disappointment as the screen tends to dim down when viewed from the side.
2 finger multi touch is disappointing.
The display only supports two finger multi-touch. This flaw makes gaming on the device no fun. The display also has a matte feel which doesn’t feel all that smooth.
The videos and images look good on the display. Though sometimes, the videos tend to get choppy. Even games like Candy Crush Saga and Subway Surfers had a jerky performance.
Camera:
The X1 holds a 8 mega pixel auto focus camera with LED Flash. The image is captured using a BSI sensor. The secondary camera is a 2 megapixel shooter. The camera is decent for the price point. It is definitely better than the five megapixel shooters that are dominant at this specifications range.
The camera shoots videos at a maximum of 480p which maybe a downer for many.
Phone and Battery:
The X1 is powered by 1800 mAh battery. Lava claims it gives a standard talk time of about 9 hours 45 minutes. The phone would last you a whole day on regular use.
The phone keypad is pleasing to the eyes and easy to use.
Android and UI:
Simplistic KitKat is the best thing LAVA did.
The operating system running on the Iris X1 is a fairly unhampered Android KitKat OS with minimum bloat-ware. The only add-ons are an FM radio, a torch and the Office suite. This basic look gives full customizable options in the hands of the users.
Performance and Gaming:
The phone has a 1.2 GHz Broadcom quad core processor. It is supported by a 1 GB RAM and 4 GB ROM. Even with a quad core processor, the phone has several lags and might get annoying after a while. The phones normal functions are decent, but the multimedia performance needs a performance boost.
Conclusion:
The Phone is a decent try but Lava needs to buck up on the performance issue.
Lava seems to have come out with the device in a haste, and they could have worked more on it. Of course, the company lacks the innovation capability and years of experience that Motorola Mobility has. The phone has a good look, and the untampered Android KitKat is its strength. Lava does have to learn some lessons from the X1 and hopefully the X2 (if it ever comes out,) will have fewer of X1’s flaws and more of its fortes.
The Moto E revolution is evident in the market and looks like its going to be the standard from here on. Like an asteroid it came and devastated the previous generation standard spec sheets of the lower-end smartphone market. Clearly, a new era of the lower-end smartphone evolution has begun and Lava just layed its claim to the throne with the Lava iris X1.
All major companies including Samsung have stated that they are going to bring in a competition for the Moto E. We feel it’s about time we should start a MOTO watch section to see how close the other folks are coming to touch the towering ceiling set by the Motorola.
The easy slide out box is pretty standard for a Lava device. The box contains the standard sets of inhabitants. A good sized micro USB wall charger, flat cable earphones, a round cable micro USB to USB cable. The back cover looks extremely flimsy but the branding on the back is pretty classy. It is an effort to hold it up, though the lack of a rubberized back panel makes it slippery.
Where the X1 wins over the Moto E is the free flip cover provided in the box. The flip cover is functional as the screen locks when it’s closed. Another cool aspect of the cover is that the volume rocker positions are marked on the cover itself so you can access them easily while on move. The only issue though, the white cover can get dirty, very easily.
The phone comes with the Android 4.4.2 right out of the box. It is powered by a removable 1800 mAh battery, which is slightly smaller than the non-removable 1980 mAh in the Moto E. The processor on the X1 is a Quad core 1.2 Ghz Broadcom chipset. It holds 1 GB of RAM and has an expandable memory upto 32 GB.
Coming to the handset, at the top it looks blatantly iPhone-ish minus the physical button. The screen is a 4.5 inch IPS display with a resolution of 854 x 480 pixels. The Moto G’s Corning Gorilla glass 3 is more pixel dense but the X1 isn’t that far behind, it has some good color reproduction capabilities.
Overall, it looks like a decent effort on the part of Lava, the most it could do at the moment in the face of stiff competition. Apart from the Moto E, Lava will also cross swords with Micromax which recently released its Unite 2. The phone has outperformed some of the major flagships in benchmark tests.
For the moment the phone is exclusively sold on Amazon at a price of Rs 7999. This is an audacious step, considering Lava is no Moto to have the luxury of exclusive marketing tie-ups. The X1’s closest competition, the Unite 2 costs Rs 6999 on flipkart.
For now, like Lava and others, we’ll wait and see how the market responds to this new era of intelligent evolution in the basic smartphones business.
