Ai+ Nova 2 Ultra Review: Is This a Smart Investment?

Ai+ is a relatively new entrant in the Indian smartphone market, but does it deliver a phone truly made for India? Madhav Sheth, the man behind the Ai+ brand and former Realme India CEO, launched the Ai+ Nova 2 Ultra amid significant buzz and controversy. The brand positioned itself as a “Made in India” champion with a strong focus on data sovereignty, localized cloud storage in MeitY-approved Indian data centers, and relevance for everyday Indian users. We decided to take our time, live with the device extensively, and deliver an unbiased review rather than jumping on the hype or backlash bandwagon. Is the Ai+ Nova 2 Ultra a smartphone worth highlighting in the crowded sub-₹20,000 segment? Let’s find out.

Build & Design

The Ai+ Nova 2 Ultra sports a 6.78-inch display and measures around 8.69mm thick, weighing approximately 200 grams. It features a plastic frame and back with a glass front, which might sound entry-level on paper, but the execution feels surprisingly solid for the price. The weight distribution is even, so it doesn’t feel overly cumbersome despite the heft. The shimmering effect on the rear panel, especially in darker colour variants like black(the one we got for review), gives it a premium sparkle that catches light nicely.

One standout design element is the customizable RGB lighting setup on the back, the circular LEDs around the Ai+ logo that react to notifications, calls, charging, or gaming events. It’s more than a gimmick; you can personalize patterns, making it fun and functional, somewhat reminiscent of Nothing’s Glyph interface but more vibrant. For gamers, capacitive shoulder triggers on the right side are a thoughtful addition, enhancing control in titles like BGMI or COD Mobile.

Build quality holds up well with an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, a rarity at this price point (around ₹14,999–₹18,999 depending on variant). This provides real peace of mind for users in India’s dusty and monsoon-prone conditions. The in-display fingerprint scanner is quick and reliable, complemented by face unlock. It also includes a pre-applied screen protector, a clear case, and even bundled NovaPods Edge earbuds, making it a good value.

Performance

The device is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7400 octa-core chipset, paired with 6GB or 8GB (depending on the variant) LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB UFS 2.2 storage (expandable). The Nova 2 Ultra handles daily tasks with ease. Multitasking like switching between WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, and Chrome, feels smooth, with minimal stuttering in normal use.

Gaming is a highlight; BGMI runs smoothly at Smooth on medium settings, and COD Mobile delivers enjoyable 90 FPS sessions with appropriate graphics. The shoulder triggers and decent thermal management (minimal throttling or excessive heating during extended play) make it a solid gaming companion. GPU Mali-G615 MC2 holds its own for mid-range titles.

Software runs on the nxtQ OS based on Android 16. It offers clean-ish features such as call recording, a sidebar, icon customization, and 3-finger screenshots. However, animations can feel jerky, the launcher sometimes stutters, and pre-installed apps raise minor privacy or bloat concerns. For everyday Indian users focused on reliability over bleeding-edge features, it suffices, but power users may notice the lack of polish. 5G connectivity is solid, with good network performance.

Camera

The rear setup includes a 50MP primary sensor with an 8MP ultrawide. The front has a 13MP shooter. In good daylight, the main camera produces sharp, natural-colored images with decent dynamic range suitable for social media. Macro shots are surprisingly good, and 2x zoom holds up reasonably. The ultrawide manages shadows and dynamic range better in some scenes than the primary, offering slightly more saturated but pleasing results.

Low-light performance is average; images can appear soft with blown highlights or noise. Over-sharpening is noticeable at times, and detail retention could be better. Video recording tops out at 4K@30fps with EIS, which is usable but not class-leading. Selfies deliver natural skin tones and clean portraits without heavy beauty filters. Overall, it’s competent for the price and better than many budget competitors in daylight, but inconsistent processing and low-light struggles prevent it from excelling. Software updates could potentially refine this further.

Battery

The 6000mAh battery is a major strength. With mixed usage including heavy social media, streaming, some gaming, and calls, it comfortably delivers 8+ hours of screen-on time, often stretching to 1.5 days for moderate users. This is excellent for India’s on-the-go lifestyle, where power outlets aren’t always convenient.

Charging supports 33W, but the box includes an 18W adapter, resulting in slower full charges (about 2 hours from 0-100%). It’s not the fastest, but the massive capacity means you won’t need frequent top-ups. No wireless charging, but that’s expected. In a segment where battery anxiety is common, this is a standout feature.