India’s Lava Smart 4 Released: New Phones in 2026 Still Using 8-Year-Old Chinese Chips

Fast Technology reported that Indian mobile phone manufacturer Lava recently released its new entry-level phone, the Lava Smart 4, priced at 8,499 Indian Rupees, which is approximately 601 RMB.

Although it is a new phone to be released in 2026, the hardware configuration of the Lava Smart 4 is quite “retro”.

The new device features a 6.56-inch LCD screen on the front with a resolution of only 960 x 540 and supports a 90Hz refresh rate.

The Lava Smart 4 comes with only 3GB of RAM and runs Android 16 Go Edition pre-installed.

The device also has only 32GB of internal storage, but it supports microSD card expansion up to 512GB.

In terms of chip, the Lava Smart 4 is equipped with the SC9863A octa-core processor from Unisoc, a Chinese company. The chip was released in 2018, is built using a 28nm process, and has a maximum CPU frequency of 1.6GHz, positioning it in the entry-level smartphone market.

In terms of imaging, the new phone features an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front camera, with the overall configuration primarily designed to meet basic usage needs such as scanning QR codes and making video calls.

The Lava Smart 4 has a built-in 5000mAh battery, supports 10W charging, and uses a USB-C interface.

In addition, the phone retains a 3.5mm headphone jack and FM radio function, while also supporting side fingerprint recognition and MIL-STD-810H durability certification.

3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, and a chip released 8 years ago are already quite rare in new smartphones in 2026.