Lava Blaze 2 vs Xiaomi Poco M5: The Ultimate Budget Battle

The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the Lava Blaze 2 and the Xiaomi Poco M5. Both promise impressive features without breaking the bank, but which one truly delivers?

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xiaomi Poco M5 emerges as the stronger contender thanks to its more powerful chipset (Helio G99 vs. Tiger T616), potentially better camera performance, and a slightly more refined overall experience. While the Blaze 2 offers a sleek design, the Poco M5's performance advantage makes it the better choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	Lava Blaze 2	Xiaomi Poco M5

Network
2G bands	GSM 900 / 1800	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41
Speed	HSPA, LTE	HSPA, LTE
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE

Launch
Announced	2023, April 10	2022, September 05
Status	Available. Released 2023, April 18	Available. Released 2022, September 13

Body
Build	-	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions	165 x 76.1 x 8.6 mm (6.50 x 3.00 x 0.34 in)	164 x 76.1 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 3.00 x 0.35 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	203 g (7.16 oz)	201 g (7.09 oz)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution	720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density)	1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density)
Size	6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.2% screen-to-body ratio)	6.58 inches, 104.3 cm2 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 90Hz	IPS LCD, 90Hz, 500 nits (HBM)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Unisoc Tiger T616 (12 nm)	Mediatek Helio G99 (6 nm)
GPU	Mali-G57 MP1	Mali-G57 MC2
OS	Android 12	Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOS

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	128GB 6GB RAM	64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM
	UFS 2.2	UFS 2.2

Main Camera
Dual	13 MP, (wide), AF 2 MP	-
Features	LED flash	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple	-	50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Single	8 MP, (wide)	5 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm
Video	Yes	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, LE	5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared port	-	Yes
NFC	No	Yes
Positioning	GPS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
Radio	FM radio	FM radio
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	18W wired	18W wired
Type	Li-Po 5000 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Glass Blue, Glass Black, Glass Orange	Black, Green, Yellow
Models	LZX409	22071219CG
Price	About 100 EUR	About 100 EUR
SAR	-	1.04 W/kg (head) 0.83 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	-	0.52 W/kg (head) 0.83 W/kg (body)

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 121h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: 1363:1
Loudspeaker	-	-27.6 LUFS (Good)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 386311 (v9) GeekBench: 1896 (v5.1) GFXBench: 12fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Lava Blaze 2

Sleek design
Affordable price
Simple user interface

Less powerful chipset
Potentially lower display brightness
Unknown camera quality
Limited availability of detailed specs

Xiaomi Poco M5

Powerful Helio G99 chipset
Excellent battery life (121h endurance)
Brighter display (448 nits)
Generally better camera performance

Design may be less premium
18W charging is relatively slow
Software experience can be cluttered

Display Comparison

Both phones feature displays with a high contrast ratio of 1363:1, promising deep blacks and vibrant colors. However, the Poco M5 boasts a measured peak brightness of 448 nits, which should provide better visibility in bright sunlight compared to the Blaze 2, which likely has a lower brightness level. Screen size and resolution are likely similar, around 6.5 inches with FHD+ resolution, but specifics for the Blaze 2 are less readily available.

Camera Comparison

While both phones are marketed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Poco M5 is expected to have a better camera system. The Helio G99 chipset often pairs with more advanced camera sensors and image processing capabilities. The Blaze 2's camera is likely adequate for basic photography, but the Poco M5 should offer better image quality, especially in low light. Specific megapixel counts and features are needed for a more precise comparison.

Performance

This is where the Poco M5 truly shines. The Mediatek Helio G99 (6nm) is significantly more powerful than the Unisoc Tiger T616 (12nm). The Cortex-A76 cores in the Poco M5's CPU offer a substantial performance boost over the Blaze 2's Cortex-A75 cores. Expect smoother app loading, faster multitasking, and better gaming performance on the Poco M5.

Battery Life

Both phones share the same 18W wired charging. The Poco M5 boasts an impressive endurance rating of 121 hours, suggesting excellent battery life. While the Blaze 2's battery capacity is unknown, it's likely to be around 5000mAh, similar to the Poco M5, but the Poco M5's efficiency advantage due to its chipset should translate to longer real-world usage.

Buying Guide

The Lava Blaze 2 is a good option for users prioritizing aesthetics and a simple user experience. It's ideal for basic tasks like calling, texting, and light social media use. The Xiaomi Poco M5 is better suited for users who want a smoother experience for gaming, multitasking, and photography, offering more power and versatility.