New £499 phone launches in UK with AI assistant and 4K camera
India's Lava is taking on the UK smartphone market with a feature-packed new handset — and it's going on sale from tomorrow.
A new smartphone brand is entering the UK market with a £499 handset promising powerful AI, a 50MP camera and super-fast charging.
Indian smartphone maker Lava International Limited has announced its UK launch with the Lava AGNI 4N, which arrives with a host of features aimed at taking on more established rivals.
The 8GB RAM and 256GB storage model will cost £499 and will be available through Amazon from 4 September 2026.
It will come in two colours: Phantom Black and Lunar Mist.
Lava is pitching the AGNI 4N as a high-performance phone without the clutter that can come with some Android devices.
Sunil Raina, Managing Director, Lava International Limited, said, ''Our entry into the UK marks an important milestone in Lava's global journey.
“At Lava, we believe technology should deliver exceptional value for consumers. We want to bring UK customers a refreshingly different smartphone experience, combining high performance, a clean software experience with zero bloatware and powerful AI capabilities, without compromise.
“With the AGNI 4N, we are excited to bring this philosophy to the UK and establish Lava as a brand that delivers meaningful innovation and a great consumer experience."
Meet the phone's AI assistant
One of the biggest selling points is Vayu AI, Lava's own intelligent AI companion.
The voice-first assistant comes with a collection of AI-powered tools, including Expert AI Agents, AI Call Summary, AI Photo Editor, AI Image Generator and Document & Image Analyzer.
That means the phone can be used to summarise calls, edit and create images, analyse documents and carry out other AI-powered tasks.
Under the bonnet, the AGNI 4N is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 8350 5G processor, paired with 8GB LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB UFS 4.0 storage.
In everyday terms, that should give users plenty of power for running multiple apps, gaming and switching between demanding tasks.
There's also a 6.67-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate.
The screen can reach up to 2,400 nits of local peak brightness, helping keep things visible when you're using the phone in brighter conditions.
A camera setup built for 4K video
Photography is another major focus.
The AGNI 4N features a 50MP main camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS), alongside an 8MP ultra-wide camera.
There's also a 50MP front-facing camera for selfies and video calls.
Both the front and rear cameras can record 4K video at 60 frames per second, giving users the option to shoot high-resolution footage from either side of the phone.
The handset is powered by a 5,000mAh battery, while 66W Super-Fast Charging can take it from zero to 50 per cent in under 19 minutes.
Clean Android and a custom action button
The AGNI 4N runs Stock Android 16, with Lava promising zero bloatware.
The company is also backing the handset with its AGNI Promise, which includes two Android upgrades and three years of security updates.
The phone has an IP64 rating for protection against dust and splashes, as well as Corning Gorilla Glass protection.
Design-wise, it features an aluminium alloy metal frame, a matte AG glass rear panel and slim 1.7mm equilateral bezels around the display.
There's also a customisable Action Key, which supports more than 100 combinations, allowing users to configure the button for different functions.
Other features include Wet Touch Control, dual stereo speakers, NFC, Wi-Fi 6E and USB Type-C 3.2.
Customers will also receive a 24-month handset warranty, supported by Lava's UK service partner SBE Ltd.
With the AGNI 4N, Lava is hoping to make a splash in the crowded UK smartphone market by combining high-end hardware, built-in AI and clean Android software at a £499 price point.