Lava Launches Smart 4 Plus in India at ₹9,999 for Sub-10,000 Buyers

Q: In a 5G-ready India, is Lava's new 4G smartphone a budget hero or already obsolete?

Lava’s Smart 4 Plus is a niche budget buy, but for most Indian buyers in 2026 it already looks dated. At ₹9,999, it does offer some practical strengths for price-sensitive users: an IP64 rating, a large 5,000 mAh battery, Android 15 Go, two years of security updates, and Lava’s offline reach and home-service support. For buyers replacing an old 4G phone, using mostly Wi-Fi, or living in areas where 5G is still patchy, that package can still make sense. But the market has moved. India’s 5G networks are now widely deployed by Jio, Airtel and increasingly Vi, and more than 90% of smartphones shipped in 2025 were 5G-capable. Affordable 5G phones are no longer rare, which weakens the case for buying a new 4G-only device unless the price gap is meaningful. The Smart 4 Plus also makes compromises beyond connectivity. The Unisoc SC9863A is an entry-level 4G chip that is likely to feel slow in 2026, especially with only 4 GB of physical RAM. The extra “virtual RAM” helps keep apps open but does not match real memory performance. Its 10W charging is also slow by current budget-phone standards, and a 13 MP/5 MP camera setup is basic. So this is not a broad “budget hero.” It is a narrowly targeted phone for the most cost-conscious buyers who prioritize battery, durability and after-sales support over speed and future-proofing. For anyone who can stretch a little further, a 5G phone is the smarter long-term purchase.

Q: Can virtual RAM and a large battery compensate for a dated processor and slow charging in a 2026 phone?

No. On a 2026 budget phone, virtual RAM and a 5,000 mAh battery can soften the compromises, but they do not fix a weak processor or very slow charging. On Lava’s Smart 4 Plus, the Unisoc SC9863A is the main limitation. It is an entry-level chip that is likely to struggle with modern apps, heavier multitasking and gaming, even with Android 15 Go. The extra 4 GB of virtual RAM may help keep more apps open and reduce aggressive app reloads, but it uses internal storage as swap space, which is far slower than real RAM. That means it can improve basic multitasking, not actual speed. App launches, scrolling under load and game performance will still depend on the processor and GPU. The 5,000 mAh battery is a more meaningful advantage for this audience. Combined with an HD+ display and lightweight software, it should deliver solid all-day use, which matters in the under-₹10,000 segment. But battery size does not offset 10W charging. In 2026, that is notably behind the 18W-or-higher charging commonly seen even on affordable phones, and a full charge can take around three hours or more. So the trade-off is clear: the Smart 4 Plus prioritizes endurance, durability and price over speed. For calling, messaging, video streaming and light app use, that may be acceptable. For buyers expecting smooth long-term performance, faster charging or stronger multitasking, virtual RAM and a large battery are not enough compensation.

3 articles · Updated · The Hindu · Jun 25

₹9,999 is Lava's entry point for the new Smart 4 Plus, which the company unveiled in India for budget buyers in the sub-10,000 segment.
The phone pairs a 6.75-inch HD+ display with a 5,000 mAh battery, 10W charging and a Type-C port to target basic daily-use needs.
Lava equipped it with a Unisoc 9863A chip, 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, while Android 15 Go comes with two years of assured security updates.
IP64 dust and splash resistance, a 13MP rear camera, a 5MP selfie camera and dual 4G SIM support round out the package now selling through Lava retail outlets.