Following the release of the Ai+ Nova 2 and Nova 2 Ultra in early April, the Madhav Sheth-owned brand has today released the Ai+ Nova 2 Neo and Nova 2 Pro 5G in India to cater to the sub-Rs 20,000 market. Aimed at value-conscious buyers, Ai+ notes that these smartphones are suitable for creators, professionals, and performance-focused upgraders. Earlier, the brand released the Open Review Program for these devices, in which tech journalists, creators, and community members came together to review these phones and offer raw thoughts to their audience before the launch. The brand notes that the feedback through these reviews will be implemented for product improvement and optimisation.
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Ai+ Nova 2 Neo 5G, Nova 2 Pro 5G price: price, availability
| Phone | Storage | Price |
| Ai+ Nova 2 5G | 4GB + 128GB | Rs 12,999 |
| 6GB + 128GB | Rs 13,999 | |
| Ai+ Nova 2 Pro 5G | 6GB + 128GB | Rs 15,999 |
| 8GB + 128GB | Rs 17,999 |
As part of the early bird offer, the Ai+ Nova 2 Pro 5G can be purchased for Rs 1,000 less using an instant bank discount applicable on major credit and debit cards. Both phones go on sale on Flipkart and select retail outlets starting June 26th at 12 noon.
What the Ai+ Nova 2 Neo 5G offers
Starting with the Ai+ Nova 2 Neo 5G, the device features a 6.74-inch HD+ LCD display with 120Hz refresh rate and up to 600 nits HBM brightness, which is on par with the competition, including Ai+’s own Nova 2 5G. Running at its core is the MediaTek Dimensity 6300, a slightly superior choice over the Unisoc T8200 found on the HMD Vibe 2 and Lava Shark 2 5G at a similar price point. One can expect the phone to output AnTuTu scores of around 6 lakh, just like the Realme C83.
Photography is taken care of by a 48MP Sony IMX582 primary camera, while up front, there’s an 8MP selfie shooter. Given the camera hardware, it could offer sharper and more consistent results over the 13MP sensor found on the Lava Shark 2 5G. Everything on the phone is powered by a 6,000mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging, which should last at least an entire day with heavy use, as we’ve seen on the Nova 2 5G in our review.
On the software front, the Nova 2 Neo 5G runs on nxtOS based on Android 16, which features NxtPrivacy Dashboard, while the AI Key should offer support for running different AI tasks. Some of the additions include a 3.5mm headphone jack, FM radio support, IP65 rating, and expandable memory up to 2TB through a dedicated microSD slot.
What the Ai+ Nova 2 Pro 5G brings to the table
Moving on to the Ai+ Nova 2 Pro 5G, the handset flaunts a superior 6.9-inch FHD+ LCD display with a 144Hz refresh rate and 800 nits HBM brightness support compared to the Nova 2 Neo. For Rs 15,999, the phone offers a higher resolution over the Realme C83 and OPPO K14x, both of which are restricted to 720p displays.
It gets the MediaTek Dimensity 7100, the same processor we saw on the recently released Pova 8, priced at Rs 29,999. This is a 6nm processor that should offer enough prowess for handling daily tasks and medium-level gaming. In a segment where ultrawide sensors have become rare, the Nova 2 Pro 5G gets an 8MP ultrawide unit alongside a 48MP rear camera with a Sony IMX582 sensor.
Just like the Nova 2 Neo, the Nova 2 Pro 5G gains a 6,000mAh battery, but with faster 33W charging and an IP65 rating for protection against dust and water splashes. The phone also features a customisable rear panel notification lights, which users should be able to tweak per their liking using the phone’s nxtOS software layered on top of Android 16.
Where do the Ai+ Nova 2 Neo 5G, Nova 2 Pro 5G stand in the market?
The Ai+ Nova 2 Neo 5G rivals the likes of recently released 5G phones, such as the HMD Vibe 2, Lava Shark 2 5G, and Lava Bold N2 5G. It carries a tad superior processor and added functionalities like the AI Key that should result in better day-to-day performance and better productivity in everyday use.
On the other hand, the Ai+ Nova 2 Pro 5G competes against the Realme C83 and OPPO K14x, providing a higher resolution and display refresh rate, and a much more capable processor. However, the 6,000mAh battery falls short of the said phones.
