It gets hard to surprise customers month after month in the extremely cut-throat budget smartphone segment in India but the AI+ Nova 2 Ultra 5G seems to tick quite a few unusual boxes for its price segment. Packed with the rarely seen in this range 144Hz AMOLED display, 6000mAh battery and a peculiar RGB light on the rear of the phone the brand focuses on the look and the entertainment aspect of the device. With its starting price being below the 17,000-mark it promises high-end hardware that isn’t going into the overpriced mid-range segment.
144Hz AMOLED Display
It’s impossible to miss that The biggest highlight for the AI+ Nova 2 Ultra 5G has to be the 6.78-inch 1.5K AMOLED display. This display has a 144Hz refresh rate and thanks to that, the scrolling through the menus, using social media apps or playing a game is buttery smooth. With true blacks, great contrast ratio and a bright 2500 nits peak brightness the display is easy to use even in bright sunlight. The slim bezels around the display give the phone a very premium feel in the hands.
RGB Lighting Adds a Unique Touch
While the designs of most budget smartphones have begun to look the same, AI+ Nova 2 Ultra 5G introduces an RGB LED ring on the back that can be customized in various colors to show call, message and gaming notifications and even when it’s being charged. This adds an interesting aesthetic to the phone, particularly for those into gaming. The lights can be configured through the settings menu to choose the colors, pattern of blinking and to turn them off entirely when not needed.
Massive 6000mAh Battery
Battery is another plus point for the AI+ Nova 2 Ultra 5G as it comes packed with a mammoth 6000mAh battery. The phone comfortably lasts through an entire day of extensive use that includes gaming, watching videos and taking pictures. For a moderately active user it can even stretch up to two days on a single charge without requiring charging. Even with a battery this big it charges up at 33W speed but since the charger provided in the box is of 18W, a faster charger needs to be purchased separately.
Dimensity 7400 Smooth Performance
The AI+ Nova 2 Ultra 5G is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7400 chip and performance with this 4nm processor is smooth as the brand’s UI feels lightweight and clean, NxtQ OS is based on Android 16. Navigating through the UI and apps is smooth and without much lag or jitters even during multitasking and gaming on games like BGMI or Call of Duty Mobile. The company still needs to fine-tune the software further but it’s fairly good for the price.
50MP Camera Works Best in Daylight
The primary camera on the back is a 50MP Sony IMX752 with OIS and shots in daylight look clean and detailed with a good amount of dynamic range and pleasant colors. Portait photos look good with acceptable skin tones and background separation. The 8MP ultrawide camera works fine for landscape and group photos but with both of the cameras the photos taken in low light were disappointing as they looked grainy.
Heavy Build But Strong Battery Trade-Off
The 6000mAh battery packed in makes the AI+ Nova 2 Ultra 5G weigh over 200 grams which means that for very long usage sessions it can feel a bit hefty. The frame and the back are plastic but the build feels robust and durable. For this price segment, considering that it’s getting this big of a battery that can easily last two days, the compromise on weight distribution feels a bit insignificant.
Should You Buy AI+ Nova 2 Ultra 5G?
AI+ Nova 2 Ultra 5G is definitely a good phone for those who prioritize a high refresh rate display, huge battery and don’t have a huge budget. The combination of a 144Hz AMOLED display, 6000mAh battery, RGB lights and Dimensity 7400 processor at under 17,000 makes it a compelling offer but since the software is a bit raw and the camera quality under low light is not great, those who are very particular about camera performance should maybe skip.
