Ai+ Nova 2 Power first impressions: a promising contender under Rs 20,000

• By Ramneek Singh
Published On: 8 October 2026 | 17:06 IST

To strengthen its portfolio and offer buyers more choices, Ai+ recently expanded its Nova 2 lineup by releasing the Nova 2 Power. Priced at Rs 17,999 for the base 6GB RAM and 128GB storage option, the smartphone runs on a decently capable midrange 5G-supported processor, the MediaTek Dimensity 7100 SoC, carries a 48MP Sony primary camera, and packs a generous 7,000mAh battery. While we’ll be going in depth on every aspect of the AI+ Nova 2 Power in our full review, here’s a quick look at the smartphone’s design, display, and other key features you should know about.

Rounded ergonomics with a bit of heft

The Ai+ Nova 2 Power distinguishes itself from the crowd by housing a plateau-like camera island, which comprises dual camera lenses, an LED flashlight, and a ring-shaped light called ‘NxtHalo Ambience Light’. The ring light can be configured to indicate incoming calls, notifications, and charging status. As for the rear panel’s appearance and finish, we received the Nova 2 Power in the Midnight Black colourway, which reflects a shade of dark blue when viewed from an angle.

The device is offered in several other colours, including Blue Fusion, Deep Purple, Golden Blue Fusion, and Ocean Green. The Midnight Black variant sports a reflective, glossy panel that tends to pick up smudges and fingerprints during extended use. Hopefully, you can easily wipe the marks away with a cloth or by rubbing the phone against shirts or jeans.

While the extended rounded corners keep the phone from digging into your palms, the Ai+ Nova 2 Power weighs on the heavier side at 222g. Having tried similarly priced phones, such as the iQOO Z11 Lite and Realme C100x, the Nova 2 Power feels noticeably hefty to hold for long durations. Noteworthy design additions include an orange-accented power button for a personal touch and a dedicated top-firing speaker for stereo audio output.

Modern-looking display

The latest smartphone from Ai+ flaunts a 6.75-inch HD+ IPS LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate. As noted above, the rounded corners give the device a modern look, while the punch-hole cutout provides more screen real estate and less visual distraction than a teardrop notch. In my brief time, scrolling through the UI and interacting with the display was fluid thanks to the high refresh rate.

What more does the Ai+ Nova 2 Power offer?

The Ai+ Nova 2 Power runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 7100 SoC, the same chipset found in higher-priced phones such as the Infinix Hot 70 Pro and Lava Virat Curve. In our testing, the chipset delivers an AnTuTu score of around 7,50,000, indicating strong mid-range performance for medium-intensive gaming and multitasking.

Under the hood, the Ai+ Nova 2 Power runs on the Android 16-based NxtQ v1 custom skin. The software’s key features include omitting pre-installed apps, additional marketplaces, and recommended notifications. This is evident in the app drawer, which, when opened, shows only essential first-party and Google apps. As for the look and feel, NxtQ carries several reminiscences of OriginOS, such as the status bar, Settings layout, PIN code screen, and more.

For optics, the Ai+ handset houses a 48MP Sony IMX582 main camera paired with an 8MP ultrawide lens, an extremely rare addition to a sub-Rs 20,000 smartphone this year. This should give the phone an edge over its competitors in the segment, most of which lack a dedicated ultrawide lens for capturing a wider perspective.

The Nova 2 Power is powered by a 7,000mAh battery, which can be topped up quickly with the bundled 33W charger that supports output via a Type-C port.

Closing thoughts

With the MediaTek Dimensity 7100 processor, the Ai+ Nova 2 Power stands out as one of the most capable 5G smartphones under Rs 20,000 for performance. While we haven’t tested its capabilities in depth yet, the processor is positioned above more popular chipsets in its price class, such as the Dimensity 6300/6400 and Unisoc T8200.

Then comes the large 7,000mAh battery and snappy software; the 120Hz display should make daily use enjoyable. The 48MP primary camera, paired with an 8MP ultrawide lens, offers photography flexibility for casual users and enthusiasts. With that in mind, the Ai+ Nova 2 Power has an edge over close rivals like the iQOO Z11 Lite and Moto G37 Power, thanks to a more advanced processor and a more utilitarian ultrawide lens, making it a worthwhile choice for users who care about these features.

Our full review of the Ai+ Nova 2 Power should be up in a few days, with all the crucial details and findings on how it actually fares across multiple aspects. So stay tuned!