Lava Agni 3 Review – Feature Loaded Indian Challenger

Indian smartphone maker Lava has unveiled its next smartphone, the Lava Agni 3, in the affordable market segment. The device is packed with decent features and has undergone notable design modifications, positioning it strongly in the segment. Some of the notable features include the dual AMOLED display, a glass sandwich design, and an action button. Let’s take a closer look at the device’s features and evaluate its position in the segment.

Lava Agni 3 Review: Design

The Lava Agni 3 has a premium yet minimalist look, with a glass sandwich design adorned with the rectangular camera module. The camera module also houses the secondary display, which is a major talking point. On the right, users will get the power button and the “action key”, while the volume controls are on the left. The device weighs 215 g and offers a quality feel in the hand. Despite the large camera module, it remains stable when placed on a flat surface. The smartphone is available in two color variants – Heather Glass and Pristine White. The device has an IP64 certification for dust and water resistance.

Lava Agni 3 Review: Screen

The device features a 6.78-inch 1.5K AMOLED display, paired with Dolby Atmos-tuned stereo speakers for a seamless multimedia experience. With a maximum brightness of 1,200 nits and a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz, the screen is smooth and delivers punchy and bright outputs. However, when the speakers were used at full volume, some vibrations could be heard in the rear. In addition, the 1.74-inch AMOLED screen on the back can be used to take photos and videos or is useful for checking notifications or answering or rejecting calls. The Action Key is a useful addition that allows users to customize it for functions such as taking a screenshot, starting a recording, or turning on the flashlight. However, sometimes the action button does not respond to commands instantly.

Lava Agni 3 Review: Performance and Software

Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300x processor, the Lava Agni 3 performs well in various benchmarks. Performance is further enhanced with support for up to 8GB of RAM. Although the device handles games with high graphics, it tends to get a bit warm, which is understandable at this price. The device comes with Android 14 out of the box, with the promise of 3 years of software updates and an additional year of security patches. The device offers a clean UI experience with no bloatware, a rarity in this segment. One notable drawback is the absence of a dedicated gallery app or file explorer for saving photos, requiring the use of the native Google Photos app or file manager.

Lava Agni 3 Review: Camera

The Lava Agni 3 features a triple camera setup, which includes a 50MP primary camera with OIS, an 8MP ultra-wide lens and an 8MP telephoto sensor. For selfies, there is a 16 MP sensor. The main camera performs well in daylight conditions, offering near-natural colors and adequate detail. The ultra-wide lens also delivers decent performance, with slight loss of detail and minimal color shift. The telephoto sensor tends to overexpose photos at times, especially in well-lit settings. The 16MP takes good selfies, but often adds a reddish cast, making photos look over-processed with inadequate detail.

Lava Agni 3 Review: Battery

The device packs a 5,000mAh battery with 66W charging support. For modest users, the device easily lasts a day, but in heavy usage scenarios, users may need to charge it a second time for the day It takes about 50 minutes to fully charge.

Lava Agni 3 Review: Verdict

The Lava Agni 3 offers a good balance of design and features. It aims to bring premium features to the budget segment with dual AMOLED displays, an action key and an IP64 rating, among others. However, there is room for improvement in software performance and the cameras could also be more consistent. Overall, if you’re looking for a budget device with some near-premium features, the Lava Agni 3 is worth considering.

Lava Agni 3 Review: Pros and Cons

Lava Agni 3 Pros:

– Minimalistic design with a premium look

– Dynamic visualization

– Good battery life

Lava Agni 3 Cons:

– Inconsistent camera performance

– The software experience can be smoother