Lava Agni 2 5G review – Decent performance, good design

• The Agni 2 5G is the latest mid-range offering from Lava in India.
• The smartphone is priced at ₹21,999 and is available in a single memory variant.
• Here’s our review of the Lava Agni 2 5G that will help you decide whether you should buy the device.

Indian smartphone maker Lava recently launched the Agni 2 5G, its latest mid-range offering in the country and the successor of the Agni smartphone that was launched in 2021.

The Lava Agni 2 5G comes with several upgrades over its predecessor, including a better display, better performance and faster charging. The main highlights of the device include its glass back, curved AMOLED display and the clean software experience.

Lava has also offered free device replacement for one year in case of hardware issues and free service at home. However, it is too early to talk about this.

I have been using the Lava Agni 2 5G smartphone for a few weeks now, and here is my detailed review of the latest mid-range offering from the Indian smartphone maker.

Price and availability

The Lava Agni 2 is priced at ₹21,999 for the lone 8GB RAM + 256GB internal storage variant. It is available in a single Glass Viridian colour variant from Amazon India.

Lava Agni 2 specifications

Pros and cons

Pros

• Good design with a glass back
• Bloat-free software

Cons

• Average camera
• Bulky

Design and display

Design was one of the key areas that Lava focused on and it is evident with the Agni 2 5G’s minimalistic look. It comes with a frosted glass back that gives it a premium look as most devices in this segment offer a plastic back.


The Lava Agni 2 5G gives a premium feel when you hold it in your hand but the back can be a bit slippery. While the matte finish is able to prevent fingerprint smudges, I recommend using a case to get a better grip.

It is to be noted that the Agni 2 5G weighs 210 grams and may feel bulky to some. One-handed usage may be difficult for extended durations, especially if you’re adding more weight by using a case.


The smartphone comes with a large circular camera module that houses the quad camera setup at the back. Apart from this, it comes with the Lava 5G branding at the bottom left corner.


Coming to the sides, it comes with a plastic frame that is prone to scratches. While the left side is bare, the right side comes with the volume rockers and the power button.


On the top, the device comes with just a microphone. The bottom is equipped with a SIM tray, a microphone, the USB Type-C port and the speaker grille.


Display is another area where the Agni 2 impressed me. The device comes with a 6.78-inch Full HD+ curved AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 950 nits of peak brightness. It is one of the few devices in the segment that offers a curved AMOLED display in this segment. The other device is the recently launched Realme 11 Pro 5G.

The smartphone’s display comes with HDR 10+ support and features thin bezels, making it a good option to watch content or play games. The high brightness also ensures proper visibility, even in direct sunlight.

Software and performance

In terms of software, the Lava Agni 2 5G runs on Android 13 out of the box and the company has promised to offer two Android updates and three years of security updates. This means that the device will get the Android 14 and Android 15 updates.

The device offers a near-stock experience and unlike a majority of devices in this segment, it comes with a bloat-free UI and does not come with any pre-installed applications. It was refreshing to not have to uninstall a slew of apps soon after booting up a device in this segment.

While my experience with the device was good, the UI needs a little refinement to make it smooth.

The device is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7050 chipset and comes with 8GB RAM and 256GB of internal storage. The chipset is able to handle day-to-day tasks with ease and can multitask without any issues. I played games like Battlegrounds Mobile India on the device and while the device did not stutter, it heats up a little after an extended gaming session.

It is powered by a 4,700mAh battery coupled with 66W fast charging support. It takes around 45 minutes to fully charge the device and a full charge easily lasts for a day with normal usage and light gaming.

Camera

The Lava Agni 2 5G is equipped with a quad camera setup at the back consisting of a 50MP primary camera, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera, a 2MP depth sensor and a 2MP macro sensor.


The device offers a simple camera UI and comes with options such as night mode, film, portrait, beauty, macro, time lapse, slow motion, pro mode and more.


The camera performs decently in daylight conditions, capturing good detail and dynamic range. The images captured using the ultra-wide sensor did not turn out as good and looked grainy.

The device struggled a bit in low-light conditions but this is expected at this price point.

On the front, the device comes with a 16MP selfie camera, which captures decent images in daylight but struggles in low-light conditions, just like the primary camera.

Verdict

The Lava Agni 2 5G is a good phone at this price point and punches above its weight. The glass back, clean software and immersive display make it a great option under the ₹25,000 segment.

The average cameras and occasional software bugs are the biggest drawbacks of the device. In this segment, you can also consider the Realme 11 Pro, which also offers a curved AMOLED display.

SEE ALSO:

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Realme 11 Pro 5G review – a mid-ranger with a premium design

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