Lava Pixel V1 first impressions: Software Lollipop served in a fancy design!

Last year, Google launched the first generation Android One smartphones with much enthusiasm and hope, and expected them to change the market dynamics. Though, the phones could not really fare that well in the market and succumbed to the tough competition from domestic as well as Chinese smartphone players which had offering with better or similar specs at the same price point. This time however, Google took a back seat while Lava announced the first second-generation Android One smartphone. The Lava Pixel V1 is the new flag bearer in the Android One series of smartphones.

Unlike earlier when Google launched the Android One phones in partnership with three domestic smartphone companies in India, this time Lava is the sole partner to have brought out the second generation Android One smartphone in the country. Noticeably, another major change is that the hardware of the new Android One phone is exclusive to Lava, as it has done the hardware in-house. Android One was Google's dream project under which the tech giant introduced a specific hardware prototype with its direct support for software updates on raw Android experience, offered in the budget segment.

PROS

• Stock Android with Google support for software updates
• 13MP rear and 5MP front cameras
• 32GB internal storage

CONS

• old generation quad-core chipset

Talking of budget, the new Android One smartphone is not that budget friendly, when compared to its previous generation siblings, but at the same time it does bring some upgraded specifications on-board.

The Lava Pixel V1 Android One 2nd generation smartphone has been launched for Rs 11,350, which is quite an attractive price point, but the question is that whether the price is worth its value! We were at the launch-event of the phone, and here are our first impressions:

Android Goodness

The USP of the Android One smartphones is the software, so we start with this department. The phone runs on raw form of Android, which means no bloatware and additional customized features that companies impose on users, which in turn mean smoother experience, and snappier performance. The Lava's Android One smartphone too comes with almost stock Android 5.1 Lollipop, with just Flipkart and Myntra apps pre-loaded on it. While you cannot uninstall these apps, the good part is that you still get the almost raw interface. Like the previous generation Android One phones, this one too gets Google's back support, and will receive new set of software updates on priority basis, and thus will not get outdated in terms of software. Isn't it quite attractive!

Design and Display

The 2nd-gen Android One is bigger and looks better! The Lava Pixel V1 is made of plastic with metal buttons, and metallic back panel that can be removed to expose the battery, SIM slots and microSD card. Despite the plastic chassis, the phone does look nice, sturdy and better than many of its counterparts in this price range. The front of the phone, especially, gives it a premium feel due to the narrow bezels around the screen. Also, you don't get capacitive keys for navigation, which can be good and bad both, depending on the situations. There is a 5MP camera that, as per the company, gets software enhancement to offer image quality of an 8MP camera. The right side place the Volume and Power keys, while the rear panel has a camera placed at the top left corner, with metal ring around it, and Lava's and Android One's branding. The top has ports for microUSB and audio jack.

The Pixel V1 has a lean sort of a body and weighs in quite light at 135g. The phone is comfortable to be held for long and offers good grip in hand.

Lava's Pixel V1 Android One 2nd-gen smartphone features a bigger display screen, at 5.5-inch, in comparison to the 4.5-inch displays on the first-generation Android One smartphones. The HD display offering 720p resolution, topped with Asahi Dragon Trail Glass for protections against damages, reproduces colours well but is slightly reflective. It offers good viewing angles and is quite a visual delight.

Processor and memory

Sadly, Lava and Google did not bring about much change in the processor and the Lava pixel V1 smartphone gets the same old 1.3GHz quad-core Mediatek MT6582 processor, which powered the previous generation Android One smartphones. To support the processor, there is a 2GB RAM. The good part is that the phone offers 32GB of internal storage, which is quite a lot. Considering that there are no such additional apps and UI customization, you get most of the RAM and internal memory space for yourself. Additionally, the phone also gets a microSD card slot to expand the memory by up to 32GB.

Camera

Lava's Pixel V1 has quite a lot for the camera enthusiasts. It sports a 13-megapixel rear camera with 1.4micron pixel size, f2.0 aperture, 5P largan lens and blue glass filter. Essentially, it can capture better photos with more detailing, even in low-lighting conditions. Up front, you get a 5MP camera with 4P lens that can interpolate images in 8MP resolution. The front-camera has f2.4 aperture.

During the short time, the camera did not seem very impressive for its specs, but we would keep the final view for our detailed review of the phone.

Battery

The 2nd gen Android One smartphone runs on a 2,600mAh battery, which as per the company can run for a day.

Conclusion

The Lava-made Pixel V1 Android One smartphone does score well in the design department, but in terms of specs, it will get tough competition when compared with others in this price range. The phone lacks 4G support, which has become quite a standard feature for most smartphones these days.

Lava has launched the phone in an exclusive partnership with Flipkart, which mean that the phone will be available only on Flipkart online. The good part is that this time the phone is not restricted to online only, and will be available via brick and mortar stores as well.

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