Nova AI Plus: The Next Generation of Intelligent Performance in Budget Phones

 It’s not every day you come across an AI-focused smartphone in the sub-INR 10,000 price bracket. Nova attempts to change this narrative with the Nova AI Plus. Priced at around INR 8,000, this AI-focused smartphone brings a plethora of features to the table, such as a 120Hz refresh rate, 5,000 mAh battery, RAM expandable up to 1TB, HD+ screen, among others with the aim to become the best budget phone in the segment.

So does the Nova AI Plus really refine the next generation of intelligent performance in budget phones. Well, let’s find out. 

Display and Design

On paper, the Nova AI Plus sounds like it’s ready to impress . It packs a big 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a smooth 120 Hz refresh rate and HD+ resolution. Plus, you also get a peak brightness of around 450 nits.

While the above specs do sound solid, especially for this price, note that doesn’t quite live up to the promise. For example, the screen looks fine indoors, with lively colors and decent brightness. However, the story changes when you step outside. Despite the peak brightness of around 450 nits, the display gets a tad hard to see under sunlight. That said, for general streaming and everyday use, the Nova AI remains serviceable, just not exceptional.

Performance and Everyday Experience

Under the hood, the Nova AI Plus comes with the Unisoc T8200 chip and comes with 6GB of physical RAM, plus an extra 6GB available through virtual expansion. For everyday tasks and multitasking, things feel smooth and transitions between apps are fluid.


This entry-level 5g mobile phone runs on NxtQ OS, an Android 15-based system that’s refreshingly clean and free from unnecessary bloatware. For gaming and high-intensity apps, it delivers steady performance, though it doesn’t reach the same frame rate consistency of premium-tier processors.


Performance

One thing that stands out as a drawback is the phone’s storage tech. While the base storage size is perfectly fine for everyday use, the Nova AI Plus still uses older storage modules instead of the faster UFS 3.1 (or newer) options found in most modern phones. In practice, that means things like transferring files, installing apps, or handling large data loads can feel a bit slower than expected.


This means that file transfers, app installations, and large data operations won’t be as snappy. While it’s not a deal-breaker at this price, however, you might feel the throttle when you game or put the phone through its paces. 


Camera


The Nova AI Plus packs a 50MP rear camera and a 50MP front camera, which sounds impressive on paper. 

Now, to be fair, cameras on budget phones rarely blow anyone away, and this one is no different. Still, this entry-level 5g smartphone manages to capture fairly good photos in daylight and crisp selfies that’ll do the job.

Just be ready to give them a quick touch-up before posting to Instagram or Facebook for that extra polish.


Battery

On the positive side, the Nova AI Plus redeems itself when it comes to battery reliability. The device houses a 5,000mAh battery optimized by AI-driven power management and this allows you to balance consumption intelligently across apps and work.

The phone also supports 18W fast charging and it takes around 2-3 hours to fully recharge.

Verdict

The Nova AI Plus stands as an important milestone in the evolution of affordable smartphones. Its biggest success in becoming one of the best budget phones in this price bracket lies in democratizing access to intelligent performance.

While it’s not without compromise. But for those prioritizing smart functionality, long battery life, and affordability, the Nova AI Plus delivers a compelling balance.


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