The Lava Bold N1 5G goes on sale today as early deals of the Amazon Great Indian Festival kick start at midnight. The phone is priced in India at Rs. 7,499 for the 4GB RAM + 64GB storage variant and Rs. 7,999 for the 4GB RAM + 128GB model. Key highlights include a 6.75-inch HD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate, a 13-megapixel AI dual rear camera supporting 4K video recording at 30fps, and a 5000mAh battery with Type-C charging. We've spent a few hours with the device, and here are our first impressions.
Lava Bold N1 5G Design
The Lava Bold N1 5G is a notably large smartphone, measuring 165.9x76.6 x8.2 mm and weighing in at 198 grams, which gives it a substantial feel in the hand but might make one-handed use challenging for those with smaller palms. Its design draws inspiration from premium aesthetics, featuring an iPhone-like square camera module on the back that houses the dual rear sensors in a sleek, slightly raised bump. The build uses a plastic back with a glossy premium finish that's available in Champagne Gold or Royal Blue, paired with what feels like a sturdy plastic frame—though it's not as premium as metal or glass on higher-end devices. Unfortunately, the glossy surface is prone to fingerprint smudges, so we'd recommend slapping on a case right away (conveniently, Lava includes one in the box).
Port and button placements are straightforward and user-friendly: the bottom edge hosts the USB-C charging port, a 3.5mm audio jack for wired headphones, and a single speaker grille, while the SIM tray sits on the left side, and the volume rocker and power button (which doubles as a fingerprint scanner) are on the right. The IP54 rating adds peace of mind for everyday durability against dust and light splashes, and the slim 8.2mm profile helps it slip into pockets without much bulk despite the size.
Lava Bold N1 5G ports and button placements | FPJ
Lava Bold N1 5G Display
At the heart of the Lava Bold N1 5G is a 6.75-inch HD+ IPS LCD display with a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels, a 20:9 aspect ratio, and a smooth 90Hz refresh rate that makes scrolling through apps and social media feel fluid compared to standard 60Hz screens in this price range. The panel supports 16 million colors, delivering vibrant and punchy visuals that's great for casual media consumption like YouTube videos or browsing, though it lacks the sharpness of Full HD screens on pricier phones. Brightness levels seem adequate for indoor use, peaking around 450-500 nits based on initial tests, but it could struggle in direct sunlight where reflections on the glossy screen become noticeable. Viewing angles are decent without major colour shifts, and the minimal bezels around the punch-hole front camera give it a modern look. Overall, it's a solid entry-level display that prioritizes smoothness over ultra-high resolution, but we'll dive deeper into outdoor visibility and color accuracy in our full review.
Lava Bold N1 5G Processor
Powering the Lava Bold N1 5G is the UNISOC T765 octa-core processor, built on a 6nm process with a configuration of two high-performance Cortex-A76 cores clocked at up to 2.3GHz and six efficient Cortex-A55 cores at 2.1GHz, making it capable for everyday tasks in the sub-Rs. 8,000 segment.
Paired with 4GB of LPDDR4X RAM and an additional 4GB of virtual RAM expansion, it handles multitasking like switching between apps, light gaming, and web browsing without noticeable lags in our initial hands-on time. The chipset also enables true 5G connectivity across all Indian bands with dual 5G SIM support. That said, we haven't pushed it with intensive benchmarks or prolonged usage yet, so we'll reserve our final opinion on gaming performance, heat management, and long-term smoothness for the full review after more extensive testing.
Lava Bold N1 5G | FPJ
Lava Bold N1 5G Camera
The camera setup on the Lava Bold N1 5G includes a 13-megapixel AI dual rear system (likely a main sensor paired with a depth or macro lens) that supports advanced modes like Portrait, Night, Pro, and Slow Motion, along with standout 4K video recording at 30fps - a rare feature in phones under Rs. 15,000. The AI enhancements promise smarter scene detection and optimizations for better low-light shots and portraits with natural bokeh effects. Up front, there's a 5-megapixel selfie camera with screen flash for brighter self-portraits in dim conditions. In our brief testing, the interface feels intuitive, but we haven't captured enough samples to judge image quality, colour reproduction, or video stability. We'll hold off on a detailed verdict until our full review, where we'll test it in various lighting scenarios and compare it to competitors.
Lava Bold N1 5G Battery
The Lava Bold N1 5G is equipped with a 5000mAh battery, which is standard for its class and should provide all-day endurance for moderate users. Lava claims up to 30 hours of talk time and over 10 hours of YouTube playback on a single charge, which sounds promising for streaming and calls. Charging comes via a Type-C port, but there's no mention of fast charging support—expect standard 10W speeds, meaning a full charge could take around 2-2.5 hours with the included charger. We haven't drained it fully yet, but initial usage suggests it holds up well without aggressive drain. Again, we'll corroborate these claims with real-world testing, including screen-on time, standby efficiency, and charging speeds, in our upcoming full review.
Lava Bold N1 5G Conclusion
Lava Bold N1 5G | FPJ
Our initial impressions of the Lava Bold N1 5G are mixed but leaning positive for budget-conscious buyers seeking no-frills 5G access. It feels a bit bulky for extended one-handed use, which might turn off those preferring compact devices, and the Champagne Gold color comes across as somewhat dull and muted in person—opt for the Royal Blue if you want more vibrancy. On the upside, the inclusion of a 3.5mm audio jack is a welcome nod to users who still rely on wired earphones, and the clean Android 15 software without bloatware stands out as a breath of fresh air in this segment. If you're shopping around Rs. 7,500, alternatives worth considering include the POCO C71, realme C71, Tecno Pop 9 5G, Xiaomi Redmi A5, and Motorola Moto G31. We'll see how the Bold N1 holds up in deeper testing, but it seems like a solid disruptor for entry-level 5G.
