Is It Really An AI-powered Smartphone?
The Indian smartphone market has always been competitive in the budget 5G space. With players like Redmi, POCO, and Infinix, buyers already have plenty of choices under ₹10,000. Into this crowd enters the nxtQ AI+ Nova 1, priced at ₹8,000. Built with Android 15-based NxtQ OS and entirely developed in India, it aims to strike a chord with new smartphone buyers in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Its makers also highlight data security, claiming storage on MeitY-approved Google Cloud servers.
But does this made-in-India phone really stand a chance? More importantly, does the “AI” in its name carry any real weight, or is it just another marketing label? After using the phone as my daily driver, I found that while it shines in some areas, it struggles in others. Let’s take a closer look.
Design That Feels Familiar
At first glance, the design of the nxtQ AI+ Nova 1 feels quite familiar. The phone sports a large display with a waterdrop notch and bezels that are hard to miss, especially at the chin. My unit in the glossy green finish looked attractive but also caught fingerprints easily. You’ll probably keep wiping it down if you prefer a clean look.
The rear hosts a dual-camera setup on the top right, slightly raised. It doesn’t bring anything unique but keeps up with rivals like POCO M7 5G and Infinix Hot 50 5G. The phone feels comfortable in hand thanks to rounded edges, and the side-mounted fingerprint scanner doubles up as the power button. A 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C port, and single speaker sit at the bottom.
There is no IP certification, but this isn’t unusual in this segment. The lack of display protection, however, is a concern. No Gorilla Glass or equivalent means extra care or a tempered glass is a must.
Display: High Refresh, Low Sharpness
The phone offers a 6.7-inch HD+ LCD panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. The smoothness of scrolling feels great, but the resolution of 720×1600 pixels limits the experience. With a pixel density of 262 ppi, text and visuals lack sharpness.
The 450 nits peak brightness struggles outdoors under direct sunlight. In comparison, the POCO M7 offers a sharper Full HD+ panel, while the Infinix Hot 50 5G edges ahead with brightness. For streaming or gaming visuals, the nxtQ AI+ Nova 1 feels less exciting.
Software: India-Built But Missing the AI
The nxtQ AI+ Nova 1 runs on Android 15 with NxtQ OS, a custom interface developed in India. It feels lightweight and clean, with minimal bloatware, which is refreshing. However, the much-advertised “AI” angle feels overstated.
Other than the pre-installed Gemini AI app, there are no AI-driven features. No smart camera modes, no battery learning, not even voice enhancements. The branding suggests advanced AI integration, but in reality, it does little to back that claim.
While the effort of creating a made-in-India OS is commendable, the lack of AI tools makes the name misleading.
Performance: Adequate but Not Class-Leading
The phone is powered by the Unisoc T8200 processor paired with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, expandable up to 1TB. For daily tasks like social media browsing, calling, and light streaming, it works fine. However, when compared to rivals, it struggles.
On Geekbench, it scores 738 (single-core) and 1998 (multi-core), with GPU at 1401. In contrast, POCO M7 5G and Redmi 14C outperform with stronger chipsets, making multitasking and gaming smoother.
Games run decently at low to medium settings, but frame drops appear with demanding titles. Casual players may find it passable, but if gaming is a priority, better options exist in the same budget.
Camera: Numbers Don’t Tell the Story
On paper, the 50MP dual rear setup sounds promising. In practice, the results are disappointing. Daylight shots look soft and washed out, with poor dynamic range. The lack of HDR tuning or AI scene optimization makes photos flat.
Low-light shots fare worse, filled with noise and weak detail. Even with the LED flash, images look outdated. The front 5MP camera also underdelivers, producing selfies with unnatural skin tones and blurry edges. Video recording goes up to 4K, but shaky footage without stabilization makes it unreliable.
For a phone that carries “AI” branding, the camera lacks intelligent enhancements and feels underdeveloped.
Battery: A Dependable Performer
Where the nxtQ AI+ Nova 1 redeems itself is battery life. The 5000mAh unit comfortably lasts a day and a half with moderate usage. Even under heavy load, it makes it through a full day.
Charging is capped at 18W, which isn’t fast in 2025, but acceptable for the price. A full charge takes close to two hours. Compared to rivals, it is slower but still reliable.
Verdict: A First Step, But Needs Refinement
At ₹8,000, the nxtQ AI+ Nova 1 offers reliable battery backup and decent day-to-day performance. But it struggles in areas that matter to buyers — display sharpness, performance under pressure, and camera quality. Most importantly, it doesn’t justify its “AI” branding, which feels more like a marketing choice.
Still, it is encouraging to see a made-in-India phone taking shape with its own OS. With better hardware choices and genuine AI integration, future versions could become strong contenders. For now, the nxtQ AI+ Nova 1 stands as an affordable option for basic users but falls short against more polished competition.
