Lava Storm Play : You know that feeling when you pick up a phone and immediately think “this can’t possibly cost what they’re asking”? That’s exactly what happened with Lava’s Storm Play 5G. At ₹9,999, this thing shouldn’t exist – yet here we are.

The Chip That’s Got Everyone Talking

Forget everything you think you know about budget processors. Lava went ahead and stuffed a MediaTek Dimensity 7060 into this thing, and frankly, nobody saw it coming. This isn’t some recycled chip from three years ago – we’re talking about a proper 6nm processor that actually knows how to handle itself.

The numbers tell part of the story: AnTuTu scores hitting 500,000+. But numbers are boring. What matters is how it feels when you’re actually using the damn thing. Apps open without that awkward pause you get with cheaper phones. Switching between Instagram and YouTube doesn’t make the phone have an existential crisis. Even BGMI runs smooth enough that you won’t blame the phone when you lose (you’ll have to find other excuses).

Here’s the kicker – they paired this processor with 6GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage. Most phones at this price are still using last-generation memory that’s slower than dial-up internet. The difference is night and day. Files copy faster, apps stay alive in the background longer, and the whole experience just feels… premium. Weird word to use for a sub-10k phone, but there you have it.

Screen Time: Pretty Good, Could Be Better

The 6.75-inch display is where things get interesting – and by interesting, I mean “it’s fine but you’ll definitely notice the compromises.” The 120Hz refresh rate is genuinely nice. Scrolling through Twitter feels buttery smooth, and games benefit from the higher refresh rate when they support it.

But – and this is a big but – it’s still rocking 720p resolution. In 2025. Yeah, I know, it sounds terrible on paper. In practice? It’s not as bad as you’d expect, but it’s not great either. Text looks a bit fuzzy if you’re coming from a Full HD phone, and YouTube videos don’t have that crisp detail you’re probably used to.

Colors are vibrant enough in the default mode, brightness gets high enough for outdoor use, and that waterdrop notch… well, it exists. Could be worse, could be better. The display does what it needs to do without embarrassing itself.

Camera Game: Surprisingly Not Terrible

Most budget phone cameras are hot garbage. The Storm Play’s 50MP Sony IMX752 sensor actually produces photos you won’t immediately want to delete. In decent lighting, colors look natural, details stay sharp, and the dynamic range doesn’t completely fall apart.

Portrait mode works reasonably well thanks to the 2MP depth sensor, though don’t expect miracles. The 8MP front camera handles selfies without making you look like a zombie, which is honestly more than I expected.

Low light is where reality kicks in. Photos get noisy, details disappear, and highlights blow out faster than your patience when the phone updates at 3 AM. But for a ₹9,999 phone? The camera punches way above its weight class during the day.

Build Quality: Actually Feels Like They Tried

At 196 grams, the Storm Play has some heft without feeling like a brick. The matte back doesn’t show fingerprints, which is already better than half the phones out there. The horizontal camera strip looks clean – no ridiculous camera bump trying to convince you it’s a professional photography tool.

IP64 rating means it won’t die if you spill coffee on it or get caught in the rain. The side fingerprint scanner works every time, buttons have decent feedback, and the whole thing feels solidly put together. No creaks, no flex, no cheap plastic vibes.

Software: Finally, Someone Gets It Right

This is where Lava absolutely nails it. Clean Android 15. No bloatware. No ads. No random apps you’ll never use taking up space. It’s like they actually asked users what they wanted instead of assuming everyone loves having 47 pre-installed apps.

Navigation is smooth, animations don’t stutter, and the interface just gets out of your way and lets you use your phone. Some menu sections look a bit dated, but honestly? I’ll take dated menus over intrusive ads any day.

Samsung Galaxy A14 5G – 6000mAh battery smartphone with 50MP main camera

Battery: Does What It Says on the Tin

The 5,000mAh battery lasts all day under normal use. Gaming drains it faster, but that’s physics, not poor optimization. The 18W charging isn’t blazing fast – takes about two hours for a full charge – but it’s adequate for most people’s needs.

Lava Storm Play The Verdict: Surprisingly Worth Your Money

Look, the Storm Play isn’t perfect. The display resolution could be higher, charging could be faster, and low-light photos could be better. But at ₹9,999, it delivers where it counts: reliable performance, clean software, and solid build quality.

Sometimes the best phones are the ones that simply work without making a big deal about it. The Storm Play is exactly that kind of phone.