I’d like to start by giving props to Lava and their intention behind the Lava Agni 3. They intended to make a device that doesn’t stick to the status quo and ventures more premium and innovative features like the secondary AMOLED display. The phone also brings an Apple-like Action Button to the masses. Add to that clean software and decent performance for everyday tasks, and the Lava Agni 3 seems very enticing. However, it falls short in crucial areas such as camera quality, outdoor display brightness, and battery life, making it hard to recommend over similarly priced competitors like the Motorola Edge 50 Neo, Nothing Phone (2a) or OnePlus Nord CE4.
The Lava Agni 3 has taken the mid-range smartphone market in India by storm with its slew of premium features; some original and innovative, and some copied, or well… inspired by more expensive phones. This device comes with not one, but two AMOLED displays – a primary 6.78-inch screen on the front and a unique 1.74-inch display on the back, which enhances functionality by offering quick access to notifications and controls. Adding to its flagship-like appeal, the Agni 3 introduces an Action Control, which is very much like the Action Control on the iPhone 16 series, allowing users to customise shortcuts for different actions.
Priced competitively at ₹20,999 (for the no charger variant), the Lava Agni 3 also delivers on other notable fronts, featuring a 1.5K resolution display, IP64 dust and water resistance, and a clean Android 14 experience with Lava’s commitment to a bloatware-free, ad-free OS. Furthermore, Lava promises three major Android updates and four years of security patches, making it an attractive choice for those seeking a dependable, homegrown alternative to international brands.
However, with stiff competition from rivals like the Motorola Edge 50 Neo (review), OnePlus Nord CE4 (review), and Nothing Phone (2a) (review), which offer advantages in certain specifications, does the Lava Agni 3 have enough to stand out? In this review, we’ll explore the phone’s strengths and weaknesses to see if it truly delivers on its promises.
Lava Agni 3 Review: Build and Design
The Lava Agni 3 brings a premium feel with its glass back panel, giving it a distinct edge in terms of aesthetics. However, it lacks any form of display protection, which is a notable drawback, especially compared to competitors like the Motorola Edge 50 Neo and the Nothing Phone (2a), which come with Gorilla Glass 3 and Gorilla Glass 5, respectively. Additionally, while the Agni 3 has an IP64 rating for dust and water resistance, it falls short of the Motorola Edge 50 Neo’s IP68 rating, making it less robust against the elements.
Weighing in at a hefty 212 g, the Agni 3 feels solid and sturdy, though its bulk may be a deterrent for users who prefer slimmer, lightweight devices. Holding it for extended periods can feel a bit cumbersome, especially when using the phone in landscape mode for gaming, as the rear display combined with the camera bump can create an uncomfortable grip.
Speaking of the rear display, it is one of the most exciting elements here. You get a 1.74-inch AMOLED display on the back with a 336 x 480 resolution. This mini display is perfect for checking notifications or quickly accessing the camera, though it does lack seamless continuity with the main display. More on that later.
Lava has also introduced an Action Button, a welcome addition for a mid-range smartphone that adds a layer of functionality typically found in higher-end devices. Positioned on the right side, the Action Button allows users to customise shortcuts for various functions, from toggling the flashlight to launching apps or activating silent mode with a single press.
Functionally, it’s similar to the Action Button on the iPhone 16 series; you can even call it a rip-off. But it’s a welcome addition as it gives users the ability to experience the premium feature without spending a fortune.
However, the button’s placement can lead to some confusion. It’s easy to mistake it for the power button, resulting in unintended actions like accidentally taking a screenshot instead of locking the screen. Despite this minor issue, it’s an innovative feature to have at this price.
In summary, the Lava Agni 3’s design combines unique elements with some practical drawbacks. While the glass back and secondary display add premium touches, the thicker, heavier build and lack of display protection may be off-putting for some users. For those prioritising distinctive design and functionality, however, the Agni 3 has some compelling aspects to offer.
Lava Agni 3 Review: Display
The Lava Agni 3 is equipped with not just one, but two AMOLED displays, making it a one-of-a-kind phone in the mid-range market. The main screen is a 6.78-inch 1.5K resolution AMOLED display with 120 Hz refresh rate support, which offers sharp visuals with deep blacks and vibrant colours. It is great for content consumption, especially in HDR. However, the display’s peak brightness falls short of Lava’s advertised 1200 nits, maxing out at only 898 nits during testing. This lower brightness makes it challenging to view the screen in direct sunlight, a notable drawback in comparison to the Motorola Edge 50 Neo, which provides superior brightness levels.
Another area where the display falls behind is in its technology. The Motorola Edge 50 Neo boasts an LTPO panel, which not only improves power efficiency but also offers a more dynamic refresh rate experience. Despite these limitations, the display on the Agni 3 still performs well indoors, delivering crisp visuals and rich colour reproduction.
The secondary 1.78-inch AMOLED display also looks great. It offers users a quick-glance panel that’s perfect for checking notifications, controlling music playback, viewing the time, or accessing basic functions without flipping the phone over. This display also brings a dash of style and added utility, especially for those who want to stay updated or control apps with a single look.
It’s especially useful when using the rear camera, as it can act as a viewfinder for selfies, though this feature comes with limitations. While you can use the rear camera’s high-quality sensors for selfies with the secondary display, it lacks a seamless app continuity – switching from the rear display to the main screen doesn’t resume from where you left off, and users need to unlock the phone and reopen the camera app on the front. This breaks the flow a bit and could be improved with smoother transitions between the two displays.
Additionally, while the display handles notifications and basic widgets well, it lacks the finesse of flagship foldables with similar features. For example, the display doesn’t offer a real-time preview when taking photos of other people, so it misses out on a potential interactive function. Overall, while the secondary display is innovative and visually appealing, its practical benefits feel a bit limited, and it could become even more useful with updates to software functionality and seamless continuity.
Nevertheless, the combination of a primary high-resolution screen with the secondary rear display is innovative, but the mediocre display brightness is a real pain point.
Lava Agni 3 Review: Performance and Software
Under the hood, the Lava Agni 3 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300X processor which is capable of competing with mid-range heavyweights, handling most day-to-day tasks and moderate gaming with relative ease. It supports 14 5G bands, putting it on par with other devices in its category and ensuring smooth connectivity for users who want to leverage 5G networks. It even puts up a decent fight in CPU benchmarks such as AnTuTu and GeekBench.
However, when it comes to graphics performance, the Agni 3 lags behind competitors like the Nothing Phone (2a) and OnePlus Nord CE4, particularly in GPU benchmarks where the difference is noticeable in graphically demanding apps or games.
On the software front, the Lava Agni 3 shines with its clean, bloatware-free experience running Android 14. Lava has committed to providing three major Android updates and four years of security patches, which is a promising offering in this price range.
Users who prioritise a clean software experience without intrusive ads will find this device to be a breath of fresh air. The OS itself is intuitive and smooth, with little to no lag in general navigation.
Overall, the Lava Agni 3 provides a reliable experience for standard tasks, although it may not satisfy users looking for high performance in gaming or intensive multitasking. It’s a device better suited for users who value a clean software environment and are willing to compromise slightly on graphics-heavy performance.
How do the cameras perform?
The Lava Agni 3 offers a versatile camera setup. On paper. It has a 50 MP primary sensor, an 8 MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and an 8 MP ultrawide sensor, along with a 16 MP front camera for selfies.
In bright lighting conditions, the primary camera captures images with accurate colours and good dynamic range, though the quality noticeably drops as lighting decreases, even by a bit.
In moderately low light, images show signs of noise, especially on the ultrawide and telephoto cameras. The main camera also exhibits shutter lag in low light, which can lead to blurry images, making it a less reliable option for night photography.
Portrait mode photos are decent, maintaining a good colour profile, but the noise issue persists when light levels are less than ideal. Additionally, video recording is limited, with only the rear camera supporting 4K resolution, while the front camera maxes out at 1080p.
While the Agni 3’s camera setup looks impressive on paper, its performance is inconsistent, particularly in challenging lighting. Those who want superior camera performance would be better off opting for the Motorola Edge 50 Neo.
Lava Agni 3 Review: Battery Life
The Lava Agni 3’s battery life is adequate but falls short when compared to its peers. In the PCMark Battery Test, the phone lasted 12 hours and 8 minutes, a respectable result but still outperformed by competitors like the OnePlus Nord CE4, which offers superior battery endurance. This difference is noticeable in real-world usage, with the Agni 3’s battery draining faster during heavy tasks like gaming or prolonged use of 5G.
However, the phone compensates somewhat with its 66W fast charging support, which can take the device from 0 to 100% in around 47-48 minutes. Unfortunately, the base model of the Lava Agni 3 does not include a charger in the box, requiring users to pay an additional ₹2,000 to get one. This feels like a drawback, especially given the phone’s positioning in the mid-range category where most phones include a charger in the box.
Should you buy it?
I’d like to start by giving props to Lava and their intention behind the Lava Agni 3. They intended to make a device that doesn’t stick to the status quo and ventures more premium and innovative features like the secondary AMOLED display. The phone also brings an Apple-like Action Button to the masses. Add to that clean software and decent performance for everyday tasks, and the Lava Agni 3 seems very enticing. However, it falls short in crucial areas such as camera quality, outdoor display brightness, and battery life, making it hard to recommend over similarly priced competitors like the Motorola Edge 50 Neo, Nothing Phone (2a) or OnePlus Nord CE4.
While the innovative design and bloatware-free OS will appeal to certain users, the compromises in durability, camera output, and battery endurance make this device a less compelling choice unless design and software are your top priorities.
Lava Agni 3 Key Specs, Price and Launch Date
| Release Date: | 25 Oct, 2024 |
| Market Status: | Launched |
Key Specifications
Storage
128 GB
-
Battery capacity (mAh)
5000
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Rear Camera Megapixel
50 + 8 + 8
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Screen size (in inches)
6.78
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Dhriti Datta
Perpetually sporting a death stare, this one can be seen tinkering around with her smartphone which she holds more dear than life itself and stuffing her face with copious amounts of bacon. View Full Profile
