With LAVA Z50, India finally gets its first Android Oreo (Go edition) smartphone

Domestic handset maker, LAVA, has launched LAVA Z50, the first Android Oreo (Go edition) smartphone to be made available in India despite announcements by several other OEMs in the last couple of months. While Micromax announced Bharat Go in January, the device never made it to the market and Alcatel 1X announced last week too hasn’t gone on sale yet.

Android Oreo (Go edition), also known as Android Go, is a stripped-down version of Android designed to run on entry-level smartphones. It’s comprised of three optimized areas — the operating system, Google Play Store, and Google apps — which have been reimagined to provide a better experience on lesser hardware.

LAVA Z50 Specifications

• Operating System: Android Oreo (Go edition)
• Processor: MediaTek MTK6737m | Quad-core 1.1GHz Cortex-A53 64-Bit | Mali-T720MP2 GPU
• Display: 4.5-inch FWVGA (480 x 854) TFT | 2.5D curved Corning Gorilla Glass
• RAM: 1GB
• Storage: 8GB; expandable up to 64GB with microSD card
• Front Camera: 5MP with LED flash
• Secondary Camera: 5MP with LED flash
• Battery: 2,000 mAh
• Dimensions: 135.0 × 66.6 × 9.7mm
• Weight: 140g

LAVA Z50 is available across retail stores as well as online on Flipkart, Amazon, and Snapdeal. Available in two color variants – Black and Gold – the Z50 is priced at ₹4,400 ($68). However, as part of Airtel’s ‘Mera Pehla Smartphone’ program, one can avail a cashback of ₹2,000 bringing the effective price to ₹2,400 only.

The smartphone comes with an unmatched 2-year warranty, with a special launch offer of free one-time screen replacement in case you break your phone’s display within the first year from the date of purchase.

What are your thoughts on the very affordable LAVA Z50, and on Android Go in general? Tell us in the comments!