Lava Storm Play review: Strong performance at an entry-level price

Dimensity 7060 is surprisingly capable for the price
The Lava Storm Play 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7060 chipset, and for a budget device, it holds up remarkably well. It’s a 6nm chip with a 2.6GHz octa-core CPU, and in regular use—app switching, social media, browsing, and some light gaming—it feels far more responsive than most phones in this segment. It boots quickly, doesn't stutter while opening apps, and the 6GB LPDDR5 RAM (with virtual RAM expansion up to 12GB) makes multitasking fairly smooth. It is to be noted that the Storm Play is the only phone in the segment that comes with LPDDR5 RAM.

Storage speeds help keep things snappy
The 128GB UFS 3.1 storage is a big plus. It contributes more to performance than you’d think—app installations and in-app loading times are quicker, and file transfers aren’t painfully slow like on eMMC-based phones. For users who frequently move media between devices or shoot lots of photos/videos, this helps.

Clean software experience that feels refreshing
It’s running Android 15 out of the box with zero bloatware, which is honestly one of the phone’s biggest strengths. No third-party apps, no spammy notifications, and no ads in the UI. It feels clean and lightweight, almost Pixel-like in some places. Lava also promises minimal interference, which should appeal to users tired of overloaded interfaces.

Display is smooth with decent viewing angles
The 6.75-inch HD+ IPS LCD display supports a 120Hz refresh rate. The high refresh rate helps with smoother scrolling and navigation, but the 720 x 1600 resolution on such a large screen means you can spot pixelation, especially in text-heavy apps. It’s not unusable by any means, but it does feel like a compromise. Brightness levels are decent intdoors and outdoors.

Decent camera for daylight use
On the rear is a 50MP AI camera with a Sony IMX752 sensor. For stills in daylight, the results are more than usable: images are sharp with reasonably good color tuning and detail retention. Dynamic range is average, and night photography isn’t its strong point. But for WhatsApp sharing, casual social uploads, or scanning documents, it gets the job done. The front camera is serviceable for video calls and selfies in good light.

Battery life is solid, charging is slow
The 5000mAh battery easily lasts a full day with mixed usage—social media, YouTube, a few calls, and browsing. Standby drain is minimal, which is likely due to the HD+ screen and clean software. The 18W charging speed is decent here.

IP64 protection adds value
An unexpected but welcome feature is IP64 dust and water resistance. While it won’t survive a dunk in water, it’s reassuring to have protection against splashes or heavy dust—especially in outdoor settings or while commuting during monsoon.

Extras that still matter in 2025
Yes, there’s a 3.5mm headphone jack. And expandable storage. And dual SIM support. You also get a case, a screen protector, and a charger in the box—things that many brands have begun skipping. For first-time smartphone buyers or people upgrading from a 4G phone, this makes a difference.

Who should buy it
If you’re looking for a phone to play games on max settings, this isn’t it. But if you want a reliable, bloat-free 5G phone for day-to-day tasks, the Lava Storm Play 5G is easy to recommend. Especially with the added benefits of UFS storage, clean Android, and basic water resistance—all in a phone that feels thoughtfully built for practical use.