Lava Play Ultra 5G
By Muhammad Tahir · Updated July 2026 · how we review
Lava's gaming-flavoured budget phone pairs a 4nm Dimensity 7300 with a three-year security window and a clean Android build — a sensible, unshowy package that is let down mainly by the absence of NFC.
Is the Play Ultra 5G still supported?
Official promiseSupported until August 2028 · Buy-by August 2026
✓ Yes — the Play Ultra 5G is supported until August 2028, roughly 2.0 more years.
Lava promises 3 years of updates for this phone, so it's supported until August 2028 — buying it today still gets you about 2.0 years of safe use (verified July 2026).
Source: Sony's official policy · last verified 2026-07-20 · how we compute this · what happens when support ends
TrueCost
Street price ÷ months of safe use remaining. How we compute it.
1% cheaper than the under-$300 median ($6.50/mo, dying phones excluded)
Should you buy the Play Ultra 5G in 2026?
Pros
- Official commitment of two OS upgrades and three years of patches to August 2028
- Dimensity 7300 is a 4nm chip with genuine mid-range performance
- 6.67-inch flat AMOLED at 120Hz covering 100% of DCI-P3
- 64MP Sony IMX682 main camera on a large 1/1.7-inch sensor
- 3.5mm headphone jack and microSD expansion up to 1TB
- Clean Android with no ads or bloatware
Cons
- No NFC
- 33W charging takes about 83 minutes for a full cycle
- 128GB storage only, though microSD offsets it
- Bluetooth 5.2 rather than a newer revision
Full specifications
Display
| Screen | 6.67-inch flat AMOLED, FHD+ (1080 × 2400), 120Hz, 1000 nits peak, 100% DCI-P3 |
|---|
Performance
| Chipset | MediaTek Dimensity 7300 (4nm) |
|---|---|
| RAM | 6GB / 8GB |
| Storage | 128GB |
Cameras
| main | 64MP — Sony IMX682, 1/1.7-inch sensor, PDAF |
|---|---|
| macro | 5MP |
| front | 13MP |
Battery & charging
| Battery | 5,000 mAh |
|---|---|
| Charging | 33W wired (full charge in about 83 minutes) |
Build
| Dimensions | 162.1 × 75.4 × 7.8 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 182 g |
| Materials | Slim 7.8mm body with stereo speakers; Lava does not detail the frame or back material |
| Water resistance | IP64 |
Software & connectivity
| Software | Android 15 (clean, no ads or bloatware) at launch |
|---|---|
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS, USB-C, 3.5mm headphone jack, microSD up to 1TB, in-display fingerprint reader; no NFC |
| Update policy | 2 OS upgrades · 3 years of security updates (official promise) |
Better-value alternatives
Similar price, lower cost per month of safe ownership.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Lava Play Ultra update policy?
Lava officially commits to two Android version upgrades and three years of security patches from the August 2025 release, so support runs to roughly August 2028. Three years of published patch cover is unusually good under ₹15,000 and clearly better than what Infinix or Tecno offer at the same money, where nothing is committed in writing at all.
Is the Lava Play Ultra good for gaming?
For the price, yes. The Dimensity 7300 is a 4nm part that holds frame rates better than the older 6nm and 12nm chips common at this level, and the 120Hz AMOLED gives it a smooth panel to drive. It is not a flagship gaming phone — demanding titles at maximum settings will still need compromises — but it handles mainstream games comfortably.
Does the Lava Play Ultra have NFC?
No, and it is the phone's clearest weakness. Everything else about the package is sensible for the money, but the missing NFC means no Google Wallet and no contactless payments for the life of the phone. If you use tap-to-pay daily, that is a genuine reason to spend a little more elsewhere.
Compare it
Specs are collected from manufacturer documentation; prices reflect major US retailers and change often. Support end dates follow each brand's official policy (or, for Apple, its documented historical pattern). Last verified 2026-07-20.