Lava's new Smart 4 signal’s shift to ultra-budget smartphones stalls with outdated specs

Lava expands its budget smartphone range in India with the launch of the Smart 4, featuring notably outdated hardware, highlighting the limitations of entry-level devices in the current market.

Lava has expanded its entry-level smartphone range in India with the Smart 4, a cheaper model that arrives after the Smart 4 Plus and pushes the brand further into ultra-budget territory. Priced at ₹8,500, the phone is aimed at first-time buyers and people who mainly need basic calling, messaging and light app use, but its specifications underline how little headroom there is at this end of the market.

The headline feature is a 6.56-inch LCD panel with a 960 x 540 resolution, which works out to 540p and a relatively low pixel density by modern standards. Lava has paired that with a 90Hz refresh rate and a waterdrop notch for the 5-megapixel front camera. Under the bonnet sits the Unisoc 9863A, a 28nm chip first announced in 2018 and already used in several Lava budget models, including the Smart 4 Plus and the Yuva Smart.

Memory is limited to 3GB of RAM, which explains why the phone ships with Android 16 Go Edition rather than the full version of Android 16. The rear camera is an 8-megapixel unit, while a 5,000mAh battery provides the power supply. Charging is restricted to 10W, though Lava has at least included USB-C. The device will be sold in Konark Gold and Ajanta Grey through licensed Lava retailers across India.

The launch fits a broader pattern for Lava, which has been leaning on the same Unisoc platform across its cheaper phones while also pursuing a more ambitious tier with the Agni 4. That contrast is striking: recent coverage of the Agni 4 described a handset with a large AMOLED display, a MediaTek Dimensity 8350 chip and 8GB of RAM, while the Smart 4 is built around much simpler hardware for a fraction of the price.