Lava Yuva 4 (aka Lava O3 Pro): A Feature-Rich Entry-Level Smartphone For Budget-Conscious Users

Body

The Lava Yuva 4 exudes elegance with its glossy finish and is available in three attractive colors: Glossy Black, Glossy Purple, and Glossy White. While exact dimensions and weight aren't specified, the phone's aesthetic focus on a polished, modern design suggests it's crafted to make a visual impression. Its side-mounted fingerprint sensor adds to the sleekness, offering both convenience and security. Here are the relevant specs:

Given the Lava Yuva 4's 6.56-inch display and its 20:9 aspect ratio, the dimensions can reasonably be estimated as slightly larger than its predecessor, the Lava Yuva 3, which had a 6.5-inch display with the same resolution and was 164.2×76×8.5 mm and 192 g.

Assuming similarly thick bezels (as can be seen from the images of the two phones), the Yuva 4 might measure approximately 165×76.5×8.5 mm. Since the device retains the 5000 mAh battery and comparable internals, the weight can be estimated around 190 - 195 g, similar to the Yuva 3.

The Lave Yuva 4's estimated thickness of 8.5 mm makes it slim enough to hold comfortably, even for extended periods. As for its weight, it strikes a balance between substantial build quality and being lightweight enough for everyday usage. Users who frequently browse, stream, or game on their phone will find it neither too heavy to cause fatigue nor too light to feel flimsy.

The dimensions make it pocket-friendly, though users wearing tight-fitting clothing may find its length slightly awkward. It should fit effortlessly in most bags without adding noticeable bulk.

For users accustomed to similarly sized smartphones, the Lava Yuva 4 will feel natural in hand and easy to carry. Those upgrading from smaller devices, however, may experience a short adjustment period.

Lava has introduced three glossy finishes for the Yuva 4, each with its unique appeal:

• Glossy Black: Sophisticated, timeless, and professional. Ideal users: professionals, minimalists, and anyone seeking a phone that looks clean and classic.
• Glossy Purple: Bold, youthful, and expressive. Ideal users: trendsetters, creatives, and users who enjoy standing out with a vibrant accessory.
• Glossy White: Elegant, sleek, and modern. Ideal users: those who value a fresh and clean aesthetic, as well as users who want a neutral yet stylish color.

Overall, the Lava Yuva 4's size and weight make it well-suited for most users. It offers a solid feel without being overly cumbersome, while the glossy finish ensures a premium look in the budget segment. Whether you prefer classic sophistication, youthful vibrancy, or modern elegance, the color options cater to a wide range of personalities.

In short, the Lava Yuva 4 is designed to be a practical yet stylish companion for both casual users and those who view their smartphone as an expression of personal taste.

IP Rating

(Related: IP ratings explained.)

Ah, the lack of an official IP rating on the Lava Yuva 4 - a puzzle for many smartphone enthusiasts. It's not uncommon for budget smartphones to skip the official waterproof badge. These phones often focus on delivering key features at an affordable price point, and unfortunately, achieving a certified level of water resistance can add to the manufacturing costs. So, the absence of an IP rating on the Yuva 4 isn't surprising in the budget-friendly domain.

Now, should you, as a potential buyer, be concerned? It depends on your lifestyle. If you're the type to accidentally drop your phone into puddles or have a habit of texting in the rain, you might want to exercise caution. However, for the average users who treat their device with care, it shouldn't be a deal-breaker.

To safeguard your device from the environmental elements, here are some practical tips:

• Protective Case: A good-quality protective case can be your phone's armor against accidental spills and minor impacts. Choose one that offers a raised lip around the screen for added protection.
• Screen Protector: A tempered glass screen protector is like a shield for your display. It not only guards against scratches but can also provide an extra layer of defense in case of a sudden meeting with a puddle.
• Be Mindful Around Water: As your Yuva 4 does not have an official IP rating, exercising caution around water is wise. Keep it away from pools, sinks, and rainy days. If it does get a splash, a quick wipe should suffice.

In essence, a little proactive care can go a long way in keeping your Lava Yuva 4 in top-notch condition. While it might not be ready for a deep-sea dive, with the right precautions, it can certainly weather the everyday storms of life. So, suit it up with a protective case, slap on a screen protector, and go forth without the worry of water woes!

For comparison, the predecessor Lava Yuva 3 did not have an IP rating, either.

Display

(Related: Know more about the various kinds of displays and screen specs.)

The Lava Yuva 4 features a 6.56-inch IPS LCD display with a 90 Hz refresh rate, ensuring smoother scrolling and animations compared to standard 60 Hz screens. Its 720×1600 pixel resolution (HD+) is adequate for its price, providing clear visuals for streaming, browsing, and casual gaming. The 20:9 aspect ratio and 83.3% screen-to-body ratio contribute to an immersive viewing experience, though pixel density at around 267 PPI might leave pixel enthusiasts wanting more.

Lava Yuva 4 display. Image credit: Lava

Here are the relevant specs:

The Lava Yuva 4 is equipped with a 6.56-inch IPS LCD display boasting a 90 Hz refresh rate and 720×1600 pixel resolution. While this combination is common in budget smartphones, it offers several notable strengths and a few limitations worth exploring.

IPS (In-Plane Switching) LCD technology is known for maintaining color accuracy and brightness even when viewed from off-center angles. This is particularly advantageous for group viewing, such as sharing videos or photos with friends.

IPS panels deliver better color reproduction compared to older TN (Twisted Nematic) panels, ensuring vibrant visuals. While the brightness levels might not match AMOLED displays, IPS LCDs typically perform well in indoor and moderately bright outdoor environments.

IPS LCDs are slightly less power-efficient than AMOLED panels but strike a good balance between battery usage and visual quality. The Lava Yuva 4's 5000 mAh battery compensates for any potential drawbacks here.

The 90 Hz refresh rate is a standout feature in the Lava Yuva 4's price segment. It enhances the fluidity of animations, transitions, and scrolling, making interactions with the phone feel snappier and more premium compared to standard 60Hz displays.

Its benefits include smooth scrolling on social media apps like Instagram and Facebook, enhanced gaming experience for supported titles (like PUBG Mobile Lite and Free Fire), and improved overall responsiveness in daily tasks like browsing and multitasking.

While the jump from 60 Hz to 90 Hz is noticeable, not all apps and games take full advantage of this feature.

At 6.56 inches, the display is large enough to comfortably watch movies, play games, and browse the web without feeling cramped.

The 20:9 aspect ratio is great for vertical scrolling and provides a cinematic experience for widescreen videos.

The display's HD+ resolution of 720×1600 pixels results in a pixel density of around 267 PPI (pixels per inch). While this is less crisp compared to Full HD (1080p) screens, it's perfectly acceptable for an entry-level device. This resolution is adequate for the following types of content:

• Streaming Videos: YouTube and Netflix content in HD look reasonably sharp on this screen size.
• Browsing: Websites, social media, and e-books display text clearly without noticeable pixelation.
• Casual Gaming: Most casual or 2D games look fine at this resolution.

However, there's content that may demand a higher resolution, such as:

• High-Definition Gaming: Games with intricate details or textures, like Genshin Impact, may appear slightly less detailed.
• Professional Photo or Video Editing: Creators working with fine details might feel the limitations of HD+.
• 4K Video Playback: The display's resolution is insufficient to fully showcase 4K content's sharpness.

In conclusion, the Lava Yuva 4's display is a well-rounded offering for its price. The IPS LCD technology ensures decent colors and viewing angles, while the 90 Hz refresh rate adds smoothness typically found in pricier devices. The 720×1600 px resolution suffices for most everyday tasks and casual media consumption but might leave pixel-peepers and advanced users wanting more for detailed gaming or content creation.

For budget-conscious users seeking a smooth, reliable display for regular use, the Lava Yuva 4 delivers excellent value.

For comparison, the predecessor Yuva 3 featured a 6.5-inch IPS LCD display with the same resolution and refresh rate.

Networks

(Related: Cellular networks explained.)

The Lava Yuva 4 supports GSM, HSPA, and LTE networks, ensuring reliable connectivity for calls and data.

GSM and HSPA are the stalwarts, providing 2G and 3G connectivity, respectively. Then there's LTE, the foundation of modern 4G networks, delivering faster internet speeds and improved call quality.

SIM

The Lava Yuva 4's dual Nano-SIM (dual stand-by) capability adds flexibility, catering to those who navigate between personal and professional domains.

Chipset - Performance

Under the hood, the Unisoc T606 chipset powers the Yuva 4. This 12-nm processor, paired with an octa-core CPU (comprising two types of cores), delivers decent performance for multitasking, social media, and light gaming. The Mali-G57 MP1 GPU ensures basic graphical tasks run smoothly, though it may struggle with intensive gaming or 3D rendering. Here are the relevant specs:

The Lava Yuva 4's Unisoc T606 chipset with an octa-core CPU and a Mali-G57 MP1 GPU positions the device squarely in the entry-level segment, offering a balanced performance for day-to-day tasks while maintaining efficiency.

The CPU comprises two types of cores:

• 2×Cortex-A75 cores (1.6 GHz): These are high-performance cores, designed for demanding tasks such as gaming, multitasking, and processing-intensive apps. They ensure the phone can handle temporary bursts of workload efficiently, such as loading a game, editing photos, and managing heavy browser tabs.
• 6×Cortex-A55 cores (1.6 GHz): These are energy-efficient cores, optimized for lighter tasks like texting, browsing, streaming, and background processes. They prioritize power-saving, extending battery life during routine usage.

While both core types are clocked at 1.6 GHz, their internal architectures are tailored for different purposes The Cortex-A75 cores feature larger caches and a more complex pipeline, enabling them to execute more instructions per cycle, making them better suited for high-intensity tasks. The Cortex-A55 cores, in contrast, have a simplified pipeline and focus on low-power efficiency, making them ideal for everyday tasks.

The division of labor between these core types follows ARM's big.LITTLE architecture, which maximizes performance and power efficiency by assigning tasks to the most appropriate cores. This approach ensures the phone remains responsive while preserving battery life.

The Mali-G57 MP1 is an entry-level GPU tailored for budget smartphones. It supports basic gaming and graphical tasks but isn't designed for heavy-duty rendering or advanced graphical effects.

It can handle casual games like Candy Crush and Subway Surfers, light 3D games with modest graphical demands (e.g., PUBG Mobile Lite and Free Fire), and smooth UI transitions and media playback.

However, it will struggle with graphically intensive games like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty Mobile at high settings, and advanced AR/VR applications or GPU-intensive tasks like 4K video editing.

With this combination of under-the-hood components, the Yuva 4 is adequate for casual tasks, including:

• Everyday Use: Smooth handling of messaging, browsing, and social media apps.
• Media Consumption: Watching HD videos, streaming, and light multitasking.
• Casual Gaming: Games optimized for budget hardware or with low settings.
• Basic Productivity: Light document editing, presentations, and running simple apps.

However, it will struggle with more demanding tasks, such as:

• Heavy Multitasking: Switching between many apps or running resource-heavy apps simultaneously.
• High-End Gaming: Demanding titles or games with high-quality graphics settings.
• Professional Workloads: Tasks like photo or video editing, machine learning, and advanced coding environments.

In summary, the Unisoc T606 with its big.LITTLE CPU architecture and Mali-G57 GPU provides a dependable performance for everyday tasks and casual gaming, making it well-suited for budget-conscious users. However, users with advanced requirements, such as hardcore gaming and professional-grade multitasking, may find its limitations noticeable.

For the entry-level segment, the Lava Yuva 4's processing configuration strikes a practical balance between affordability, efficiency, and usability.

For comparison, the predecessor Lava Yuva 3 featured the same chipset, CPU, and GPU combination.

Memory and Storage

Here are the relevant specs:

The Lava Yuva 4 is available in two variants, both utilizing UFS 2.2 storage, ensuring faster read and write speeds than older eMMC standards. Additionally, the dedicated microSDXC card slot allows for storage expansion, a major plus for budget-conscious users who need flexibility.

For comparison, the predecessor Yuva 3 had a similar memory and storage configuration.

Cameras

The triple-camera setup on the back includes a 50 MP primary sensor offering sharp, detailed photos for the price; a VGA lens; and an auxiliary sensor. The camera can record videos in 1080p at 30 fps, which is impressive at this price point.

On the front, the 8 MP selfie camera handles video calls and selfies adequately. While it won't win awards for detail or dynamic range, it serves its purpose in good lighting conditions.

Rear Camera

Image credit: Lava

The Lava Yuva 4 comes equipped with a triple-camera setup, headlined by a 50 MP primary lens and supported by two auxiliary lenses. This arrangement aims to provide basic versatility in photography while keeping the price accessible. Let's explore the roles of each lens and the accompanying features. Here are the relevant specs:

Specification	Lava Yuva 4
Number of Cameras	3 (Triple)
Resolution (Megapixels)	50 MP (wide), N/A (VGA), N/A (auxiliary lens)
Autofocus	AF, N/A, N/A
Video Recording	1080p at 30 fps
Other Features	LED flash, panorama, HDR

The 50 MP wide lens is the star of the camera system, offering high resolution and flexibility for various scenarios. The wide-angle field of view makes it suitable for landscapes, group photos, and general-purpose photography.

This lens supports AF, ensuring sharp and well-focused images by automatically locking onto the subject. This is particularly useful for dynamic scenes or when shooting close-ups.

While not explicitly specified, the VGA lens likely serves as either a depth sensor or a macro lens.

As a depth sensor, it enhances portrait shots by creating a bokeh (background blur) effect. As a macro lens, it allows for close-up shots, capturing small details like textures, flowers, and insects.

The additional, auxiliary lens could serve as another basic utility, possibly aiding in light capture or functioning as a monochrome sensor for improved low-light photography. Its specific role is typically limited in this price range.

The Lava Yuva 4's camera system is enhanced with several features to improve the shooting experience. AF (Autofocus) automatically adjusts the lens to ensure the subject is sharp and clear.

This reduces the chances of blurry photos, especially useful for moving subjects or impromptu shots.

LED flash provides illumination in low-light scenarios or complete darkness.

While not as sophisticated as a dual-tone flash, it helps capture usable images at night or indoors.

Panorama mode enables you to capture wide, sweeping landscapes or large group photos in a single shot.

By stitching multiple images together, it creates a seamless, ultra-wide photograph.

And HDR (High Dynamic Range) nalances the exposure in photos where there's a mix of bright and dark areas, ensuring neither highlights are blown out nor shadows are overly dark.

This is ideal for backlit scenarios, sunsets, or scenes with complex lighting.

The main camera supports 1080p video recording at 30 fps, sufficient for creating standard-quality videos for social media or casual use.

While it lacks advanced stabilization or 4K resolution, it's adequate for basic vlogging and family moments.

In practical terms, this camera setup excels at:

• Capturing detailed shots in good lighting with the 50 MP sensor.
• Balanced exposure in tricky lighting, thanks to HDR.
• Portrait shots with blurred backgrounds or close-ups using the auxiliary lenses.
• Casual videography for everyday scenarios.

However, it may struggle with:

• Low-light photography, where the LED flash may not fully compensate for noise and graininess.
• Professional-grade photography or videography, given the limited capabilities of the auxiliary lenses and lack of stabilization.

For its price, the Lava Yuva 4's main camera setup is a competent performer, especially with its 50 MP primary lens delivering sharp images in favorable conditions. While the secondary and auxiliary lenses add basic functionality, they're best viewed as complementary rather than standalone assets.

The camera features, including HDR, autofocus, and panorama, further enhance versatility, making this setup well-suited for casual users and budget-conscious photography enthusiasts.

For comparison, the older Yuva 3 featured a triple camera setup, consisting of a 13 MP wide lens supporting AF, a VGA lens, and an auxiliary lens. Its video recording capability and feature set matched those of the Yuva 4.

Battery and Charging

(Related: Battery specs and charging types explained.)

Here are the relevant specs:

The Lava Yuva 4 is powered by a robust 5000 mAh Li-Po battery, ensuring all-day usage for most users. Paired with the efficient Unisoc T606 chipset, it offers excellent battery life for browsing, video playback, and light gaming. However, the 10 W wired charging might feel sluggish, taking longer to recharge such a large battery.

For comparison, the older Lava Yuva 3 came with a similar battery but with 18 W wired charging.

Sound

(Related: Know more about the sound specs and features.)

Here are the relevant specs:

The inclusion of a 3.5 mm headphone jack (and not to mention the FM radio) caters to users who still value these traditional features.

For comparison, the predecessor Yuva 3 had a similar audio setup.

Connectivity

The Lava Yuva 4 covers the connectivity essentials, with the various options contributing to a well-rounded connectivity suite. With support for Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, it ensures you can connect to common Wi-Fi networks.

The Yuva 4 boasts Bluetooth 5.0, ensuring a seamless connection, whether you're connecting to headphones, speakers, or other devices. With features like A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) for high-quality audio streaming and LE (Low Energy) for power efficiency, your Bluetooth experience reaches new heights.

The Lava Yuva 4 features GPS and GLONASS positioning systems for accurate navigation and location services.

While the Yuva 4 lacks NFC, which might be a downside for those who use mobile payments, it includes FM radio for entertainment on the go.

Last but not least, the trusty USB-C 2.0 - the universal connector. Whether you're charging your device, transferring files, or connecting to external devices, USB Type-C 2.0 ensures a reliable connection. It's the jack-of-all-trades, allowing you to expand your device's capabilities and stay connected to the wider world of technology. And the support for OTG (USB On-The-Go) enables your device to act as host and connect to other USB devices, such as flash drives, keyboards, cameras, and more, without needing a computer as an intermediary.

Sensors

The Lava Yuva 4 comes equipped with the following sensors:

• Proximity Sensor: Detects the presence or movement of an object (say, with infrared, sound, light, or electromagnetic fields) without physically contacting it. It is used, for example, to turn off the screen when you position your device close to your ear while making a call.
• Fingerprint Sensor: Used for quick and secure unlocking. It is side-facing in the Yuva 4.
• Accelerometer: The accelerometer detects changes in the device's orientation and acceleration. If you tilt, shake, or move your device, the accelerometer knows.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• What is Lava Yuva 4 release date?

  The Lava Yuva 4 has been announced on the 28th November, 2024. It is expected to release in December 2024.

• What is Lava Yuva 4 price?

  The Lava Yuva 4 is priced starting from INR 6999 (about USD 83) for the 4 GB / 64 GB variant.