Lava is really fighting hard in the sub-Rs 10,000 smartphone market with its Iris range. The company recently launched its Iris X8 smartphone in India. While the device looks similar to others in it's Iris range, the X8 boasts of an octa-core processor and is trying to sell itself by saying "Do more with 8 cores!" and promising an Android 5.0 Lollipop update. Here's my take. Lava Iris X8 The all-white Lava Iris X8 looks good out of the box. However, the smartphone feels heavy when compared to other Iris models. It has the same matte finish soft plastic back cover from previous models to give it a premium feel. Overall, the device looks simple and will please Lava's target buyers. However, Lava could have trimmed the thickness of the smartphone a bit. The Iris X8 sports a 5-inch 720p HD IPS display with ASAHI glass protection. It runs on a 1.3GHz MediaTek MT6592 octa-core 32 bit CPU with 2GB RAM and 16GB internal memory. The device runs on Android 4.4.2 KitKat operating system and Lava has promised to offer Android 5.0 Lollipop upgrades soon. Overall, the device offers a pleasant experience. Specs: 5-inch 720p HD IPS display | 1.3GHz MediaTek MT6592 octa-core 32 bit CPU | 2GB RAM | 16GB internal memory (32Gb expandable) | Android 4.4.2 KitKat OS | 8MP rear camera | 3MP front camera | dual SIM (3G+2G) | Bluetooth | WiFi | USB OTG support | 2,500mAh battery Price: Rs 8,999 What about performance? The Lava Iris X8 scored a decent 26740 on AnTuTu Benchmark (v5.6.1). The device will easily cater to the general needs of the average user. The MT6592 octa-core CPU with 2GB RAM is capable of satisfying users on their gaming and multimedia needs. However, I found the capacitive navigation buttons to be low on response. The display quality is good thanks to the good 5-inch 720p HD display. The viewing angles are good and outdoor visibility is decent. The Lava Iris X8 sports an 8MP rear snapper which can click decent images. However, the camera is very slow to focus. Low light images were decent but appeared a bit grainy. The 3MP front camera is okay for clicking a few selfies. The device is powered by a 2,500mAh battery which can easily last a day for average users. The standby battery life of the device is good. Thankfully, the phone has no unnecessary bloatware. The smartphone offers an almost stock Android experience- which I like but many buyers may not. What you may not like? Lava is relying totally on hardware and the same trademark look in its Iris series with very little focus on the UI. While stock Android may be desired by many, Lava needs to deliver on the software front as well to stay in the budget smartphone race with Asus, Xiaomi, Moto E and others. In this case, the decent looking X8 might bore users with a very common interface. Should you buy it? There is nothing remarkably attractive in this phone. But, there is no harm if you opt to buy this either. The X8 is just another octa-core Android smartphone in the budget segment. The only differentiator is the promise of Android Lollipop in future.
