Lava R5v, with Mid-Range Specs, Launched in Nepal for Rs. 14,499

Although Lava isn’t a big name in Nepal, it is a company that has been making phones since 2009. It focuses on budget smartphones and has been selling them in Nepal before Chinese smartphone makers like Xiaomi and Huawei took hold of the market.

Lava R5v is the first phone that Lava will be launching in a while. The last phones the company launched were the Lava R3 Note and Lava R5. Though the R5v is termed as a ‘flagship phone’, it is actually a budget flagship phone with specs similar to phones in the lower-midrange price segment. Well, it is available in Nepal. As for the pricing, the Lava R5v price in Nepal is Rs. 14,499.

Lava R5v Overview

At the front, the Lava R5v has a 6.22 inch IPS LCD HD+ display. I find the design of the RV5 appealing. The polished mirror look at the back looks cool in the renders. R5v is powered by an octa-core MediaTek Helio P22 processor and IMG graphics. This processor and GPU are combined with 2GB or 3GB RAM.

The 3GB RAM is accompanied by 64GB internal storage, whereas the 2GB RAM comes together with 32GB internal storage. The phone comes with 13MP + 2 MP dual rear cameras and an 8MP f/2.0 selfie shooter.

The battery on the Lava R5v is rated at 3500 mAh and it supports 10W fast charging.

Lava R5v Key Specifications

Display: 6.22-inch 19:9 HD+ panel
Resolution: 720×1520 pixels
Chipset: MediaTek Helio P22 MT6762
GPU: IMG GE8320, 650MHz
OS: Star OS on top of Android Pie
Memory: 64GB/3GB RAM; 2GB/32GB; internal storage (expandable up to 256GB using micro SD card)
Primary Camera: 13 MP + 2MP phase detection autofocus, LED flash, bokeh effect
Secondary Camera: 8 MP, f/2.0
Battery: Non-removable Li-Ion 3500 mAh battery

Lava R5v Price in Nepal: Rs. 14,499

Impression

As I already said, I find the design of the Lava R5v appealing. This plays a huge factor in people’s purchase decision.

The Helio P22 processor is good enough for normal apps like Insta and Twitter. It may even give you a little gaming performance. And for the price this phone may release with, that amount of performance seems ideal. The 2GB/3GB RAM will give you a decent multitasking experience.

For most phones in the budget range, dual cameras are just a marketing gimmick. So we will have to see if the cameras in the R5 are really worth it. The 13MP primary shooter is perfectly fine to capture scenery in broad daylight and to click some photos of your loved ones. The 8MP selfie camera will probably click sharp and detailed images. But don’t expect Lava to give you good night shots, this camera will fall apart as soon as the sun sinks below the horizon.

Overall, the price of Lava R5v falls under budget, while offering mid-range specs. Is it worth buying? Yes. Should you buy it? Well, I don’t know… However, major players like Samsung and Xiaomi have penetrated every budget segment of the market and I don’t think customers will be tempted to buy a good phone from Lava.