Lava Pixel V2: A Photo-Focused Indian-Made Phone

India is fast catching up to China, in terms of smartphone manufacturing capacities. With Xiaomi operating a production center in India, Foxconn also opening another production arm in India, and the existing Indian companies enjoying a good following within home shores, it’s no surprise that local brands enjoy a good reception when they release new models.

Indian smartphone maker Lava International Limited released an upgraded version of its July 2015 release, the Lava Pixel V1. The Lava Pixel V2 reportedly packs a better punch in the camera department.

Lava’s Senior Vice-President and Head of Product Navin Chawla shared that the design sensibility of the Pixel V2 had the youth and the selfie-snapping generation in mind. He communicated that Lava understands that the trends are leaning towards better cameras, because the market is heavily interested in taking better pictures. This sensibility clearly reflects on the Lava Pixel V2’s improvements, which are mostly on the camera quality.

The other internal specs remain the same, as the Pixel V2 carries the same 2GB RAM and the same 1.3GHz speed for their MediaTek processors. The Pixel V1 carries the MediaTek MT6582 SoC, however, while the Pixel V2 carries the MediaTek MT6735.

In other aspects, the Pixel V1 has better specs, actually. If a consumer wants a bigger screen, the Pixel V1 has 5.5 inches, compared to the Pixel V2’s 5 inches. If the consumer wants a better battery, the Pixel V1 has 2650mAh, while the Pixel V2 has a mere 2500mAh. But, as Lava SVP Navin Chawla communicated, the chips fell on the cameras, as the Pixel V2 packs a 13MP primary camera, boosted with its Largan Lens, Blue Glass Filter, as well as its dual-LED flash. Its front camera packs an 8MP shooter, which is the Pixel V1’s primary camera resolution. In all, the Pixel V2 scrimped on the other specs in order to pack more powerful cameras into the device.

Here’s the run-through of the Lava Pixel V2’s tech specs;

Processor/Chipset: 1.3GHz quad-core Media MTK6735 SoC, 64-bit. It's composed of four A53 Cortex cores.

RAM: 2GB

GPU: Mali T720

OS: Android 5.1 Lollipop, with the Star OS 2.0 UI

Internal Storage: 16GB

Connectivity: GSM, HSPA, LTE, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n

Expandable Storage: MicroSD Card up to 32GB

Display: 5 inches, with a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels, 294 ppi pixel density, and protected with Asahi Dragontail Glass

Cameras: Primary: 13MP with an output of 4160 x 3120 pixels, dual LED flash, autofocus, powered by a 5-layer Largan lens; Secondary: 8MP, with an LED flash, powered by a 4-layer, 84-degree wide Largan lens

Battery: Removable 2500 mAh Li-Po battery

Goodies: Dual SIM, with 4G on both SIM cards, though only one SIM slot can access 4G during use, built-in "Beauty-fi" software for blemish "smoothing," "face slimming," "eye widening," as well as "whitening."

Lava took care to pack the Pixel V2 with editing software that presumably enhances the user’s features. With that, there is absolutely no doubt that this device is built for selfies.

The Lava Pixel V1 was launched as part of the Android One initiative, though the Lava Pixel V2 is not under the class of Androids. The Lava Pixel V2 is priced lower than the previous model, at Rs. 10,750 (around $161.98 USD) compared to the Pixel V1’s Rs. 11,350 (around $171.02 USD).

Read more on Xiaomi’s move to build a production center in India: https://www.droidreport.com/xiaomis-hugo-barra-drops-hints-about-expanding-india-10695

Read more on Foxconn’s expansion to India: https://www.droidreport.com/foxconn-announces-moves-build-factories-india-10680