The sub-$150 smartphone market is fiercely competitive. Both the Lava Yuva Star 2 and Realme C30s aim to deliver essential smartphone functionality at an incredibly accessible price point. This comparison dissects their core specifications to determine which device offers the best balance of performance and features for the budget-conscious consumer.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Lava Yuva Star 2 emerges as the slightly better choice. While both phones share the same 10W charging and target the same price bracket, the Yuva Star 2’s Unisoc SC9863A chipset, with its distinct CPU core configuration, offers a potentially more balanced performance profile for everyday tasks.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 900 / 1800 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2025, May 05 | 2022, September 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, May 05 | Available. Released 2022, September 23 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | - | 164.2 x 75.7 x 8.5 mm (6.46 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | - | 186 g (6.56 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~260 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.75 inches, 110.0 cm2 (~87.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~82.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A55 |
| Chipset | Unisoc SC9863A (28 nm) | - |
| GPU | IMG8322 | IMG8322 |
| OS | Android 14 (Go edition) | Android 12, Realme UI Go |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM | 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, (wide), AF
auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 8 MP, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 5 MP | 5 MP, (wide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | Yes | 720p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP | 4.2, A2DP |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | FM radio | Unspecified |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 10W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Radiant Black, Sparkling Ivory | Stripe Blue, Stripe Black |
| Models | - | RMX3690 |
| Price | About 70 EUR | About 100 EUR |
Lava Yuva Star 2
- Potentially better power efficiency with big.LITTLE CPU architecture.
- More balanced CPU core configuration for multitasking.
- Competitive price point.
- Limited information available on display quality.
- Slow 10W charging.
Realme C30s
- Simple and streamlined software experience.
- Competitive price point.
- Potentially slightly faster single-core performance.
- Less efficient CPU architecture may lead to faster battery drain.
- Slow 10W charging.
Display Comparison
Neither Lava nor Realme provide display specifications beyond size. Given the price point, both likely utilize LCD panels with 720p+ resolution. The absence of details like peak brightness or color gamut suggests a focus on cost reduction. Bezels are expected to be substantial on both devices, impacting the overall screen-to-body ratio. Color accuracy is unlikely to be a strong point on either phone.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are expected to feature basic camera setups, likely dominated by a single main sensor. Details are scarce, but given the market segment, image quality will be heavily reliant on software processing. The absence of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) is a given. The usefulness of any secondary 'macro' or 'depth' sensors is questionable, as their low resolution typically results in subpar images. The Realme C30s may have a slight edge if it utilizes a larger sensor, but without specific details, it's difficult to assess.
Performance
The core difference lies in the CPU architecture. The Lava Yuva Star 2’s Unisoc SC9863A employs a big.LITTLE architecture with four Cortex-A55 cores clocked at 1.6 GHz and four slower Cortex-A55 cores at 1.2 GHz. This allows for power efficiency during light tasks and a performance boost when needed. The Realme C30s, conversely, utilizes eight Cortex-A55 cores all clocked at 1.6 GHz. While the clock speed is identical, the lack of a power-saving cluster in the C30s may result in slightly faster battery drain during sustained use. Both chipsets are built on a 28nm process, indicating similar thermal limitations. Real-world performance differences will likely be subtle, but the Yuva Star 2 has a theoretical advantage in power management.
Battery Life
Both the Lava Yuva Star 2 and Realme C30s are equipped with 10W wired charging. This translates to relatively slow charging speeds – expect over 3 hours for a full charge from 0%. Battery capacity is not specified, but both are likely to house batteries in the 4000-5000 mAh range. The Yuva Star 2’s potentially more efficient chipset could translate to slightly longer battery life, offsetting any capacity differences.
Buying Guide
Buy the Lava Yuva Star 2 if you prioritize a potentially smoother multitasking experience due to its dual-cluster CPU design. This makes it ideal for users who frequently switch between apps or use multiple apps simultaneously. Buy the Realme C30s if you prefer a simpler, streamlined software experience and are primarily focused on basic communication and light usage, as the single-cluster CPU may be sufficient for these tasks.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Unisoc SC9863A in the Lava Yuva Star 2 struggle with popular apps like WhatsApp and Facebook?
While not a powerhouse, the Unisoc SC9863A is generally sufficient for running common social media apps like WhatsApp and Facebook. The 4x Cortex-A55 cores at 1.6 GHz should provide adequate performance for these tasks, though expect some loading times and occasional lag with multiple apps open.
❓ Is 10W charging really that slow? How long will it take to fully charge either phone?
Yes, 10W charging is quite slow by modern standards. Expect a full charge from 0% to 100% to take approximately 3.5 to 4.5 hours. This is best suited for overnight charging. Neither phone offers fast charging capabilities.
❓ Can either of these phones handle basic mobile gaming?
Both phones can handle very basic mobile gaming, such as simple puzzle games or older titles. However, demanding games like PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty Mobile will likely be unplayable or require extremely low graphics settings and frame rates. The 28nm process and limited GPU power are significant constraints.
