The Ultimate Guide to Lava Iris X8 Specs Prices Pros & Cons

Introduction to Lava Iris X8

The Lava Iris X8 was launched in February 2015 as a budget-friendly smartphone that offers a blend of basic features appealing to the average consumer. Designed to cater to a market looking for affordable phones with decent functionality, the Iris X8 manages to offer a satisfactory experience for its price bracket. Through this comprehensive overview, we will break down the features, specifications, performance, and overall appeal of this device.

Design and Build

The Lava Iris X8 has dimensions of 143.4 x 71 x 8.6 mm, making it moderately compact and easy to hold. Weighing at 160 g, the phone has a substantial feel without being cumbersome. The device features a dual SIM slot, allowing users the flexibility of managing two numbers simultaneously, ideal for balancing work and personal communication.

Build quality is decent for its price range. The phone comes in two classic color options, black and white, maintaining a professional and sleek appearance. The use of Asahi Dragontrail Glass provides a commendable level of screen protection, adding a layer of scratch resistance which is a welcome touch in this category.

Display

Equipped with a 5.0-inch IPS LCD screen, the Lava Iris X8 provides a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels. This results in a pixel density of approximately 294 ppi, which is respectable for general multimedia consumption. The screen-to-body ratio stands at about 67.7%, offering users an adequate display area for videos and games.

Though not outstanding by today's standards, the display is sufficiently bright and vibrant for everyday tasks such as browsing, social media, and light gaming. The incorporation of IPS technology ensures better viewing angles and color reproduction compared to other budget LCD screens.

Performance and Software

The Lava Iris X8 is powered by an octa-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A7 processor. This configuration provides adequate performance for daily tasks and ensures smooth operation for basic applications. It’s paired with options of either 1GB or 2GB RAM, allowing users to choose based on their usage requirements. For light users, the performance should be satisfactory, although heavy multitasking may strain the device.

The device originally shipped with Android 4.4.2 KitKat, with an upgrade path to Android 5.1 Lollipop. This ensures a more modern interface and improved functionality over its lifetime. The software experience is relatively fluid, offering a straightforward and user-friendly interface ideal for novice smartphone users or those preferring simplicity.

Camera Capabilities

The Lava Iris X8 features an 8MP rear camera capable of satisfactory shots in good lighting conditions. It includes dual-LED flash, HDR, and panorama features, which expand its versatility in mobile photography. Although not cutting-edge, it does provide a decent quality for social media sharing and personal memories.

On the front, a 3MP selfie camera allows for basic video calls and casual selfies. It’s not designed for serious photography enthusiasts but serves its purpose in providing connectivity and face-to-face interaction through video communication.

Storage

Storage options include either 8GB or 16GB of internal memory, with the capability to expand via microSDHC. This flexibility can be quite useful for users who need more space for apps, images, and media files. However, with the rise in size of modern applications and files, the available internal storage might be a limiting factor, necessitating the use of an external SD card.

Battery Life

Incorporating a non-removable Li-Po 2500 mAh battery, the Lava Iris X8 provides a decent battery life for average use. It offers up to 291 hours in standby and up to 14 hours of talk time on 2G, dropping slightly to 9 hours and 40 minutes on 3G. This performance is typical for budget smartphones of its time, balancing the phone’s processing capabilities with power efficiency.

Connectivity and Additional Features

The Iris X8 supports GSM and HSPA networks, providing satisfactory connectivity for standard mobile communications. It comes with Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n capabilities, allowing for wireless internet connection and hotspot creation. Bluetooth 4.0 offers reliable wireless pairing with peripherals, while the inclusion of FM radio presents an additional media option.

Positioning is supported through GPS, assisting in navigation and location-based services. However, NFC is not available, which limits the phone's scope for newer connectivity applications like contactless payments. The device also includes standard communication ports like microUSB 2.0 for charging and data transfer.

Conclusion

The Lava Iris X8, though discontinued, presented a competitive choice in the realm of budget smartphones during its release. Its design, adequate performance, and essential smartphone features made it a popular choice for consumers seeking value without breaking the bank. While it may not hold up against modern-day standards, its legacy as a practical, cost-effective option remains notable.

For those considering buying this device today, it serves best for basic smartphone needs and as an entry point for new users or as a backup device. However, prospective users should be aware of its dated software and modest hardware capabilities.