Reasons to Buy

• All-day battery life with quick charging
• Premium aluminium alloy frame that feels solid and expensive
• Sharp 1.5K AMOLED display with strong brightness
• Clean Android 15 software with no bloatware
• Deep AI ecosystem powered by Vayu AI
• Fast UFS 4.0 storage and a smooth Dimensity processor

Lava is aiming higher this year with the Lava Agni 4, priced at ₹24,999, and there’s a clear shift in its intent. The earlier Agni series tried experimental ideas. This time, Lava wants to build a strong mainstream device that can compete with segment favourites like the OnePlus Nord CE 5, Motorola Edge 60 Fusion, and the Edge 60 Stylus. The Agni 4 enters a very crowded range where buyers expect polish, reliability, and good cameras. Lava has focused on performance, display quality, and software clarity. The big question, though, is whether this balance is enough to win over people looking for a dependable mid-range phone.

Design That Feels More Premium Than Its Price

The Lava Agni 4 doesn’t follow the quirky design of its predecessor. Instead, it takes a more refined route. The aluminium frame instantly makes the phone feel stronger and more premium. You usually find this material in phones well above this price. The back uses Matte AG Glass and looks neat in both Phantom Black and Lunar Mist White. However, the white model feels slippery, so a case becomes necessary.

The phone weighs 195g, which sounds heavy, yet the weight distribution keeps it comfortable. The front looks clean due to the slim 1.7 mm bezels. This symmetry gives the phone a modern look that even some rivals struggle to match. The buttons feel solid, and the new Action Key is surprisingly useful. You can map more than 100 shortcuts to it, which adds convenience.

The biggest drawback here is the IP64 rating. In this segment, many phones offer better protection. The Edge 60 Fusion and Stylus bring IP68, which feels much safer for accidental water exposure. Lava does include its anti-drop diamond frame and Gorilla Glass protection, which help. Features like Wet Touch Control also make the display more usable in humid conditions. Overall, Lava nails the premium feel but still falls short on practical durability.

A Bright and Punchy Display That Holds Its Ground

The phone includes a 6.67-inch 1.5K AMOLED panel with 120 Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 2400 nits. It looks vibrant, sharp, and smooth. Outdoor visibility is strong, and HDR content appears rich. The high pixel density enhances clarity, especially while reading or watching videos.

However, competition has become fierce. Motorola’s Edge 60 Fusion reaches 4500 nits and supports HDR10+. The Edge 60 Stylus also goes brighter than the Agni 4. The Nord CE 5 sticks to FHD+ but still delivers an extremely fluid experience. So, the Agni 4 does well, but it doesn’t lead the segment. It gives a satisfying viewing experience, yet rivals offer more brightness and certification advantages.

Clean Software and an Ambitious Take on AI

Lava has made software a priority. You get stock Android 15 with no unwanted apps or pop-ups. This alone improves daily use. But Lava goes further with Vayu AI, a new assistant placed on the home screen. Unlike purely functional assistants, Vayu tries to add some character. It responds with a warmer tone and can handle voice controls.

Beyond that, Lava includes several AI agents that focus on practical needs in India. You get an AI Math Teacher, an English Tutor, a Horoscope assistant, a call summary tool, and a rewriting feature. There’s also an AI photo editor and a text-to-image generator. The phone supports Circle-to-Search, making information access quicker.

Compared to the Nord CE 5, which depends largely on Gemini, or Motorola’s minimal Moto AI, the Agni 4 offers the most AI depth among its rivals. The long-term reliability of these agents remains to be seen, but the attempt is bold.

Strong Performance With Fast Storage

The Agni 4 uses the Dimensity 8350 5G, paired with 8GB RAM and 256GB UFS 4.0 storage. Daily performance feels quick. Apps open fast, animations stay smooth, and multitasking rarely slows down. The benchmark scores beat many rivals, including the Edge 60 Fusion and Edge 60 Stylus.

The Nord CE 5 uses a variant of the same chip but shows slightly lower numbers. In real use, the gap is minor, yet the Agni 4 holds the edge during heavy tasks. Gaming is also stable. Titles like CODM and BGMI run fluidly due to strong thermal management and a large vapor chamber.

UFS 4.0 storage is a huge plus. It makes loading times faster than most phones in this range. Performance is one of the Agni 4’s strongest areas and a big reason to consider it.

Cameras Need Better Tuning

The camera system includes a 50MP OIS main sensor, 8MP ultra-wide, and a 50MP selfie camera with 4K 60fps support. On paper, it sounds promising. In reality, the output feels inconsistent. The biggest issue is flickering in tricky light. Colours shift often, and skin tones look uneven.

Portraits vary a lot. The phone struggles with edges, sometimes blurring parts of the subject. The ultra-wide sensor lacks detail and accurate colour. During low light, the software brightens the image too much, losing natural tones. Selfies look sharp but still show smoothing at times.

Rivals pull ahead here. The Nord CE 5 takes more balanced portraits. The Edge 60 Stylus does better in night shots. The camera is the Agni 4’s weakest link and the one thing holding it back from being a complete package.

Reliable Battery for Everyday Use

The 5000 mAh battery lasts comfortably through a full day. Streaming, social media, maps, and gaming do not drain it too quickly. Charging is quick with 66W fast charging. The phone reaches 50% in under 20 minutes. It sits slightly behind the Nord CE 5’s 80W system but still performs well.

Most users will find the battery experience reliable and consistent.

Verdict: A Solid Attempt With One Big Gap

The Lava Agni 4 brings a premium build, strong performance, a clean interface, and the most ambitious AI suite in its class. It shows Lava’s push to compete seriously in the mid-range segment. However, the camera performance keeps it from taking a clear lead. In a market where quality photos matter, this becomes a noticeable drawback.

If you want a sturdy phone with fast performance, good battery life, and clean software, the Agni 4 fits the bill. But if the camera is your priority, rival options feel more dependable.