Lava Aura Curve 5G Launched in India at Rs 23,999, With a Small Screen on the Back

Lava has launched the Aura Curve 5G in India for Rs 23,999. It is the first phone in Lava's new Aura series, and unlike most phones in this price band, you cannot buy it online. It is sold only through Lava's offline retail partners across the country.

Update, 1 November: Lava has announced that its smartphone prices will rise by up to Rs 3,000 from 15 November, so the price of this phone may change. Read our report on the Lava price hike.

The Aura Curve is the shop version of the Lava Virat Curve, which came out online last month. It has the same design and the same hardware, so the main difference is where you buy it. Lava also promises its "Free Service @ Home" after-sales support, where a technician comes to your door.

Price, colours and where to buy

There is only one version, with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, at Rs 23,999. It comes in Ambar Blue and Him Silver, both with a vegan leather back. The phone is sold only in stores. Lava has not announced any bank or launch offers. It gives a one-year replacement warranty on the phone and six months on accessories. The box contains the phone, a USB-C cable, a 33W charger, a back cover and a SIM ejector pin.

A screen on the back

The most unusual feature is a small secondary screen on the rear panel. It shows notifications, music controls, battery level and custom text, so you can check things without turning the phone over. Lava says you can write your own text on it, such as your name or how you feel. Most reports call it an AMOLED screen, but nobody has given its size.

Main display

The front has a 6.67-inch curved AMOLED screen with Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2400) and a 120Hz refresh rate. Brightness reaches 800 nits in high brightness mode and 1,100 nits at peak. The panel covers 100% of the DCI-P3 colour range. The screen uses 1,920Hz PWM dimming, which should be easier on the eyes at low brightness. The cover glass is Al-Si DT Star 2 with IronGuard protection.

Performance

The phone runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 7100, an octa-core chip that goes up to 2.4GHz. It comes with 6GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage. You can add up to 6GB of virtual RAM from storage. This is a mid-range chip, good for everyday apps, social media and video, and less suited to heavy gaming.

Cameras

The rear camera is a 50MP Sony IMX752 sensor with electronic stabilisation and an LED flash. It records video up to 2K at 30fps. The camera app has Pro Video, Night, Dual-View Video, Motion Photo and Sports modes. The front camera is 13MP and uses the screen as a flash for selfies in the dark. Lava has not mentioned a second rear camera, so treat this as a single-camera phone.

Battery and charging

The 6,000mAh battery supports 45W fast charging, but the charger in the box is only 33W, so you will need to buy a 45W charger separately to get full speed. In Lava's own tests, a full charge takes 92 minutes, the battery lasts 11 hours of YouTube playback, and standby time is up to 720 hours.

Software

The phone runs Android 16 with Lava's Vayu AI features, and the company says there is no bloatware or ads. It promises two years of Android updates and three years of security patches, which is shorter than some rivals in this range offer.

Connectivity and build

The phone supports 5G, dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.4 and the main satellite navigation systems, with a USB-C port. It has an in-display fingerprint sensor, stereo speakers and an infrared blaster, which lets you control a TV or AC. It is 8.55mm thick, with an IP64 rating for dust and splashes and MIL-STD-810H certification, so it is not fully waterproof.

Key specs at a glance

Is it worth buying?

At Rs 23,999 the Aura Curve competes with plenty of online phones that have stronger chips or faster charging, such as the Infinix Hot 70 Pro at Rs 24,999, which uses the same chip but a non-AMOLED screen. What sets the Aura Curve apart is the rear screen, the clean software and the offline sale with home service. If you prefer to see and buy a phone in a shop, it gives you a rare option. If you are happy to buy online, compare it with the Virat Curve and other phones, because online sellers often give discounts that shops do not.