Introduction
The Indian smartphone market is witnessing a significant shift towards feature-packed, affordable 5G devices. One brand making waves in this segment is Lava, and its latest offering, the Lava Play Ultra 5G, is a strong contender in the budget-friendly 5G category. Combining powerful internals, an immersive AMOLED display, long-lasting battery life, and clean software, this smartphone is aimed at users who demand performance and style without spending a fortune.
Available in stunning Arctic Frost and Arctic Slate color options, the Lava Play Ultra 5G is designed for gaming enthusiasts, heavy multitaskers, and everyday users alike.
Pricing and Variants
The Lava Play Ultra 5G comes in two storage variants:
6GB RAM + 128GB storage: Priced at ₹14,999 (introductory offer at ₹13,999)
8GB RAM + 128GB storage: Priced at ₹16,499 (introductory offer at ₹15,499)
These competitive price points make it a strong alternative to other budget 5G smartphones in the Indian market. The device is available for purchase exclusively through leading online platforms and retail stores across the country.
Design and Build Quality
The Lava Play Ultra 5G stands out with its sleek and premium design. Measuring just 7.8mm thick and weighing 182g, it offers a comfortable grip even during extended use. The IP64 rating ensures protection against dust and light water splashes, giving you added peace of mind in day-to-day usage.
The Arctic Frost finish is particularly eye-catching, adding a modern touch to the smartphone while its textured back improves grip, reducing the chances of accidental slips.
Display – Immersive Visual Experience
One of the main highlights of the Lava Play Ultra 5G is its 6.67-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display. With a 120Hz refresh rate and 1000 nits peak brightness, this display ensures vibrant colors, deep contrasts, and smooth visuals. Whether you are streaming your favorite shows, playing high-graphics games, or browsing social media, the viewing experience is top-notch.
The AMOLED panel also supports 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, which makes colors appear more natural and lively, perfect for content creators and entertainment lovers.
Performance – Power Meets Efficiency
Under the hood, the Lava Play Ultra 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset built on a 4nm process. This ensures excellent performance while being power-efficient. The phone handles multitasking with ease, thanks to 6GB/8GB of LPDDR4x RAM, expandable via virtual RAM technology. The 128GB UFS 3.1 storage ensures faster app loading times and smooth overall performance.
For gamers, the MediaTek HyperEngine technology optimizes gameplay by enhancing graphics, reducing latency, and maintaining consistent frame rates. Titles like BGMI, Call of Duty Mobile, and Asphalt 9 run effortlessly on high settings.
Camera Setup – Capture Every Moment
The Lava Play Ultra 5G sports a 64MP primary camera featuring a Sony IMX682 sensor, delivering sharp and vibrant photos. The additional 5MP macro sensor allows for close-up photography, while the 13MP front camera is perfect for selfies and video calls.
Key camera features include:
Night Mode for low-light photography
HDR for balanced shots
Portrait Mode with natural background blur
Time-lapse and Slow-Motion video recording
The camera performance is impressive for its price segment, producing detailed shots in daylight and respectable results in low light.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery life is another area where the Lava Play Ultra 5G excels. Equipped with a 5000mAh battery, the phone easily lasts an entire day of heavy usage, including gaming, video streaming, and social media.
The 33W fast-charging support ensures you can recharge from 0% to 100% in just about 83 minutes. This makes it reliable for users who are always on the go and don’t want to worry about frequent charging.
Software Experience
Running on Android 15, the Lava Play Ultra 5G offers a clean, bloatware-free UI. This provides a smooth user experience without unnecessary pre-installed apps slowing down the phone. Lava has also promised two major Android updates and three years of security patches, ensuring long-term usability and security.
An added advantage is Lava’s Free Service@Home program, which provides doorstep service support across India.
Connectivity and Additional Features
The Lava Play Ultra 5G supports:
5G (SA/NSA) networks for blazing-fast connectivity
Dual 4G VoLTE
Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth 5.2
USB Type-C with OTG support
Additional features include:
In-display fingerprint sensor for secure unlocking
Stereo speakers for immersive audio
USB-C audio support for modern headphones
These features make the device future-ready and ideal for tech-savvy users.
Gaming and Multimedia Performance
With its 120Hz AMOLED display, Dimensity 7300 chipset, and HyperEngine optimizations, the Lava Play Ultra 5G is a delight for gamers. Games like PUBG Mobile and Genshin Impact run smoothly with minimal frame drops. The stereo speakers enhance the overall gaming experience by providing clear and balanced sound.
For media lovers, streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube look stunning on the vibrant AMOLED panel.
Pros and Cons
Pros
6.67-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate
Powerful MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor
Clean Android 15 with guaranteed updates
Impressive 64MP Sony main camera
5000mAh battery with 33W fast charging
IP64 splash and dust resistance
Free Service@Home support
Cons
No telephoto lens for advanced zoom shots
Plastic back instead of metal or glass
Limited offline availability at launch
Conclusion
The Lava Play Ultra 5G is a well-rounded smartphone that ticks almost every box for users seeking a powerful, feature-rich device at a budget-friendly price. With its premium display, strong gaming performance, long-lasting battery, and clean software, it’s one of the best-value smartphones in the sub-₹17,000 category in 2025.
Whether you’re a gamer, a heavy multitasker, or simply someone looking for a reliable 5G-ready phone, the Lava Play Ultra 5G delivers excellent value for money and is certainly worth considering.