Lava Blaze Pro 5G Review: Is This Budget 5G Smartphone Worth Your Money?

In a rapidly expanding 5G landscape in India, affordable 5G smartphones are carving their niche, with Lava's recently launched Blaze Pro 5G being one of the contenders. The question that lingers, however, is whether this budget-friendly device lives up to its 5G promises. In this comprehensive review, I will delve into every facet of the Lava Blaze Pro 5G, from design and display to camera performance and software. Additionally, I will share my own insights into whether this smartphone should find a place in your pocket.

PROS

• 120Hz display
• Great battery life with fast charging
• Bloatware-free stock Android experience
• Reliable everyday performance
• Free doorstep phone repair service

CONS

• Average cameras
• Mono speaker
• Poor haptics
• Inconsistent fingerprint sensor

Design and Ergonomics

The Lava Blaze Pro 5G has a smooth, matte plastic back that is fingerprint-resistant, at least on the Starry Night model. However, one of the phone's most notable features is its comfort. When you hold the device, you will notice how the slightly curved frame makes it ergonomic and ensures a secure grip.

Even without a protective case, you can flaunt this phone without worrying about accidental damage. However, it is worth noting that the device weighs 203 grams, and applying the included case adds a bit of heft to the device, so keep that in mind.

Display and Outdoor Visibility

The smartphone boasts a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, contributing to a responsive and fluid user experience. The display quality is decent, and it fares well in outdoor conditions. While the screen's brightness is fair for its price range, harsh sunlight can pose visibility challenges. Nevertheless, the 120Hz refresh rate is a notable feature that enhances the overall display experience.

The device allows you to fine-tune color settings to suit your preferences, and it even offers a night mode to reduce blue light emissions for comfortable night-time reading. Additionally, features like Dark mode and an always-on display are available for added convenience.

Performance and Benchmarks

Powering the device is an Octa-Core MediaTek Dimensity 6020 7nm processor, which is a rebranded Dimensity 700. With 8GB of RAM and UFS 2.2 storage, the phone performs smoothly in everyday tasks, showing no signs of lag or frame drops. Although it tends to warm up slightly during intensive gaming and 5G data usage, it remains manageable.

As for synthetic benchmark scores, the Blaze Pro 5G performs well, ensuring a satisfying user experience. Have a look for yourself:

Camera

The camera setup on the Blaze Pro 5G includes a 50MP main camera with an f/1.8 aperture and an AI secondary camera, accompanied by an 8MP front-facing camera with an f/2.0 aperture. The camera interface is user-friendly, offering various modes like night mode, video, photo, portrait, and more.

In daylight conditions, the phone delivers decent shots, though the dynamic range isn't exceptional even with auto HDR. Portrait mode exhibits average edge detection. The 8MP front camera performs well in well-lit scenarios, but low-light shots and night mode results are just passable.

The phone supports 2K video recording at 30 fps, albeit without optical image stabilization (OIS). While electronic image stabilization (EIS) is available, it slightly zooms in during video recording. The overall video quality is average.

Battery Life

The phone packs a 5000mAh built-in battery, offering all-day usage even with the 120Hz display active. Users can expect nearly 6 hours of screen-on time with two days of moderate use on Wi-Fi. Under heavy use, the battery may last less than a day. Charging is swift with the included 33W fast charger, taking about 40 minutes to reach 50% and around 1 hour and 45 minutes for a full charge.

Stock Android Experience

One aspect that stands out in the Blaze Pro 5G's favor is its choice of a stock Android UI. This approach, where OEMs build upon the stock Android experience rather than overhauling the entire OS, is increasingly favored by users. Lava's decision to adopt this approach is laudable, as it provides a clean, familiar interface that users appreciate.

Regarding software support, the phone is slated to receive the latest Android 14 update and will get quarterly security updates for at least the next two years.

While the device features a DuraSpeed feature to restrict background apps, it may inadvertently terminate important apps like the music player. Users are advised to disable it for essential apps. Storage-wise, the phone offers around 111GB of free storage out of the 128GB total, utilizing UFS 2.2 storage technology that boasts impressive sequential read speeds.

Remarkably, the phone comes with minimal bloatware, primarily offering Google apps and a stock Android dialer and messaging app.

Audio Quality

Audio output from the phone's mono bottom speaker is of decent quality, offering a satisfactory listening experience. While the sound quality is passable, the loudness may be considered inadequate. Users should be aware that this phone does not feature stereo speakers, a notable omission compared to some competitors.

On the bright side, the audio quality through headphones is satisfactory. The device supports Widevine L1, enabling HD streaming on platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, despite the absence of an HDR display.

Dual SIM and Connectivity

The Lava Blaze Pro 5G supports dual SIM cards with 5G compatibility on both slots. Connectivity options include 5G with support for multiple bands, dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.0, and GPS + GLONASS. However, NFC support is notably absent. Call quality is reliable, and there are no connectivity issues on Wi-Fi, 4G, or 5G networks.

Biometric Authentication

While the Blaze Pro 5G impresses in terms of design, its biometric authentication methods warrant a closer look. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor, while convenient, has its quirks. It may take a second or two to function, and its accuracy can be hit-or-miss, failing to register fingerprints at times.

Additionally, the in-display fingerprint sensor icon on the lock screen can be misleading, causing inadvertent taps. However, it's commendable that Lava provides both fingerprint and face unlock options for added security.

Haptics and User Experience

I found the haptics to be a sore point in the smartphone. The haptics provide a coarse vibration that is unpleasant when typing. Turning off the haptics makes the whole experience much, much better.

Free Phone Repair Service at Home

Lava's Blaza Pro 5G includes free in-home phone repair service, which is a commendable move. This will save you the time and hassle of going to a service center, as Lava will provide doorstep services to repair your phone.

Please note that this service is only available for phones under warranty, and if the issue is major, the phone will be taken to a Lava service center. I hope more companies follow this approach and offer similar services. Great job, Lava!

Visit Lava's Service@Home page for more information.

Should You Buy the Lava Blaze Pro 5G?

With a price tag of Rs. 12,499, the Lava Blaze Pro 5G presents itself as a compelling budget-friendly smartphone. However, its camera performance falls short of expectations, and the absence of stereo speakers is notable. That said, Lava's commendable efforts to deliver a stock Android experience deserve recognition, making this device a viable option in its price range.