When it comes to budget smartphones under ₹10,000, expectations are often modest. But Lava has once again raised the bar. Following their recent momentum in the budget segment, they’ve launched the Lava Blaze Dragon — a smartphone that dares to offer premium features at a jaw-dropping starting price of ₹8,999; And the First sale is live on Amazon.com.
Can a phone this affordable really deliver? We spent some time with the Blaze Dragon, and here’s our full review.
Design & Build Quality
The Lava Blaze Dragon comes with a refined, minimalist design that feels far more premium than its price tag suggests. Its flat-edged frame and subtly curved 2.5D glass front make for a sleek in-hand feel. At approximately 210 grams, the phone is on the heavier side, which suggests a sturdy build — possibly even a glass back, though Lava hasn’t officially confirmed it.
It’s available in two color options: a bold light-toned variant and a more understated Midnight Mist for those who prefer darker aesthetics. Thankfully, Lava has avoided the overly flashy or “loud” look that plagues many budget devices.
Ports & Buttons
- 3.5mm headphone jack (a rarity above ₹10K these days)
- USB Type-C port
- Bottom-firing speaker
- Side-mounted fingerprint scanner (integrated with power button)
- Hybrid SIM tray (2 SIMs or 1 SIM + 1 microSD card)
The volume buttons are placed ergonomically, and the fingerprint scanner doubles up as a quick selfie shutter, which is a thoughtful touch.
Performance & Hardware
The Blaze Dragon is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 5G chipset — a significant move for Lava, as it's among the first times they’ve used a Qualcomm SoC in this price segment. The processor delivers excellent performance for the class, with an AnTuTu score of around 450,000.
Key Specs:
- RAM/Storage: 4GB LPDDR4X + 128GB UFS 3.1 (expandable up to 512GB)
- Battery: 5000mAh with 18W fast charging
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 5G
- OS: Android 15 (1 year OS update + 2 years security updates)
The presence of UFS 3.1 storage ensures quick app launches and smooth data transfers, giving it an edge over many competitors still using eMMC in this segment.
Display
The phone features a 6.74-inch HD+ IPS LCD panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. While the resolution isn’t Full HD, the high refresh rate brings a smooth experience when scrolling or gaming.
- Waterdrop notch
- Good brightness levels for indoor use
- Decent viewing angles
- Thicker chin at the bottom, typical for the price
Gaming & Everyday Use
Thanks to the Snapdragon chipset, the Lava Blaze Dragon handles light to moderate gaming well. Casual games like Temple Run, Subway Surfers, or even BGMI and Call of Duty Mobile run comfortably at 40fps.
It includes all essential sensors:
- Software-based gyroscope
- Proximity, accelerometer, ambient light sensor
- Side-mounted fingerprint sensor + Face unlock
Both biometric systems are fast and reliable. For call management, the phone features AI call recording, and it supports Google Dialer as well as Lava’s native option, allowing default call recording settings.
Camera Performance
Rear Cameras:
- 50MP primary sensor
- 2MP depth sensor
Front Camera:
- 8MP selfie shooter (housed in a waterdrop notch)
Camera performance is surprisingly good in daylight. Color reproduction and skin tones are natural, and for under ₹10,000, the image clarity is above average. Night mode is available but results vary depending on lighting.
Camera Modes:
- Pro Mode
- Night Mode
- Portrait Mode
- Video Mode
- Slow Motion
- Panorama
- AR Stickers
- Watermark
- Time-lapse
- Document Scanner
- QR Code Reader
- Native 50MP High-Res Mode
Videography:
- 1080p at 30fps on both front and rear cameras
Bonus: The fingerprint scanner can also be used as a shutter button for selfies — a small, useful feature that enhances usability.
Audio & Multimedia
- Mono speaker: Gets loud enough for most use-cases, but don’t expect deep bass
- 3.5mm headphone jack: Great for wired audio, especially with FM Radio support
- IPS LCD panel: Delivers decent video-watching experience for casual users
Connectivity & Software
- Dual-band WiFi
- Bluetooth 5.1
- Supports all major Indian 5G bands
The Blaze Dragon runs a near-stock Android 15 experience, with only essential Google apps and a few first-party Lava tools pre-installed. The clean UI ensures a bloatware-free experience, which is rare in this segment.
Lava also promises:
- 1 year of major Android updates
- 2 years of security updates
That’s far better than many big brands in this price range.
After-Sales & Extra Features
Lava offers free home service support with the Blaze Dragon — a standout feature in the sub-₹10K market.
Other features include:
- FM Radio (thanks to the headphone jack)
- SAR values within safe limits
- No NFC, IR blaster, or notification LED (expected at this price)
Verdict: Is the Lava Blaze Dragon Worth It?
Absolutely.
For a phone priced under ₹9,000 (with launch offers), the Lava Blaze Dragon punches well above its weight. You get:- A solid Snapdragon 5G processor
- UFS 3.1 storage
- Clean Android UI
- Decent 50MP camera
- 120Hz display
- 3.5mm jack + FM radio
Lava has clearly understood what budget-conscious Indian consumers want — and delivered it without unnecessary gimmicks.
Final Words
If you’re looking for a reliable 5G smartphone under ₹10,000 that doesn't compromise on essentials, the Lava Blaze Dragon is a solid bet. It combines performance, design, clean software, and practical features — making it one of the most value-packed devices in its category.
Price at launch: ₹8,999 (base variant with ₹1,000 early-bird discount)
Available via: Lava’s official website and partner retailers
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