Lava is getting ready to release a phone and it is bringing back a pretty cool idea. This phone will have a screen on the back. The way this smaller screen looks and where it is placed is very similar to what Xiaomi did with their Xiaomi 17 Pro phones. Lava phones are doing something like this again. It feels like we have seen it before. The secondary display, on the back of Lava phones is what is making people think of phones. The idea is not new, for Lava. Lava has already made phones with two screens. This time Lava seems to be doing something a bit. They are making a version of these phones. Lava is still making these phones for people who do not want to spend a lot of money. Lava wants to sell these phones to people who buy range phones. This is where Lava sells the phones.

1) So what did Lava actually tell us for sure. What did they not tell us about Lava?

Lava has not launched the Lava phone yet. The name of the Lava phone is not known. We also do not know the price of the Lava phone or the exact date when it will be launched. The Lava phones chipset and display size are also not known. The same is true for the battery of the Lava phone.

Lava has published a teaser, for the Lava phone. This teaser was posted on January 8 2026. The teaser shows the back of the Lava phone clearly. It also says “Coming. This is enough to know what the Lava phone will look like.

The main thing that is for sure is that this phone has a screen, on the back. This screen is part of the camera area. The camera area is where you find the secondary display. This rear secondary display is built into the camera island.

From the teaser image and what people are saying Lavas upcoming phone has these things:

A small, rectangular secondary screen on the back

The screen is part of the camera module it is next to the camera lenses. The camera module is, like an island that has the screen and the lenses together.

A dual rear camera layout is visible (two lens rings)

The writing on the back of the phone says it has a “50- AI camera”. This means it definitely has least one camera, with 50 megapixels. The 50-megapixel AI camera is what they are talking about.

The headline is not that Lava is making a screen that folds out. It is also not that Lava is putting a display on the back of the phone. The idea is actually that Lava is making a screen that goes on the back of the phone. This screen is next, to the camera. The point of the Lava screen is that you can use it without having to turn the phone around.

Small design clues: buttons and frame layout

Gadgets360 says that the right side of the phone looks clean. This means that the power and volume buttons might be, on the side of the phone. We do not know for sure. It is an interesting idea if it is true. It would be a choice if Lava wants to keep the right side of the phone free. They might want to do this so that people can use gestures easily or so that the phone is comfortable to hold. It would also make the phone look cleaner. The Lava phone would look nice with a right side.

2) So people are saying that this new phone is really similar to the Xiaomi 17 Pro. They are calling it the Xiaomi 17 -inspired phone because it looks a lot like the Xiaomi 17 Pro. The reason everyone is calling it Xiaomi 17 -inspired is that the design of this new phone is very much, like the Xiaomi 17 Pro.

The reason we keep talking about Xiaomi is that the Xiaomi 17 Pro models got a lot of attention. This was because they brought back a version of the rear “back display” concept. The Xiaomi 17 Pro models had a screen that was meant to be useful and look good not just something to show off. The Xiaomi 17 Pro models made people think about the Xiaomi brand again.

Xiaomi’s execution: the “magic back screen” idea

The new Xiaomi 17. Xiaomi 17 Pro Max have a special feature on the back. It is called a ” back screen” or a “dynamic back display”. This screen, on the back of the Xiaomi 17 Pro and Xiaomi 17 Pro Max is really useful. You can use it to see widgets control your music check your notifications and use the camera on the Xiaomi 17 Pro and Xiaomi 17 Pro Max.

Gadgets360 says that the Xiaomi 17 Pro models have a M10 display on the back. This display can get really bright up to 3,500 nits. The Xiaomi 17 Pro models need this brightness because people often use the displays when they are outside. They use them to preview pictures they take with the camera or to take a look at something. The display on the Xiaomi 17 Pro models has to be bright so people can still see what is on the screen when they are outside, in the sun.

The resemblance: location + shape + “camera island integration”

Lavas teaser shows the display in the same area as the cameras. It is not in the middle or at the bottom of the back. The rear display is right where you find the cameras. This design is like what Xiaomi uses. They put the cameras and the display together in one place. This is one thing that makes Lavas new phone look, like Xiaomis phones. Lavas new phone has this look.

The thing is, when we say something is “inspired by” something it does not mean that it is an exact copy. The rear screen that Xiaomi has is probably a lot better. It is bigger and brighter. The software is more advanced. On the hand Lavas version is simpler which helps keep the cost down.

Techlusive says that Xiaomis display is larger and brighter but Lavas rear screen looks more practical and not as fancy which is what you would expect from a -range phone, like Lava. Xiaomis rear screen and Lavas rear screen are two things Xiaomis rear screen is more premium.

3) This isn’t Lava’s first dual-display phone: Agni 3 and Blaze Duo

This story is important because Lava is not trying things from the beginning. Lava has already made phones with screens on the back. These phones show us what Lava thinks a second screen can be used for. Lava has already shipped these rear-display phones. They give us a good idea of what Lava wants a second screen to do. The main thing here is what Lava thinks a second screen should do. Lava has some ideas, about this because of the rear-display phones it has made.

Gadgets360 highlights two examples:

The Lava Agni 3 that is coming out in October 2024 has a cool feature. It has a 1.74 inch screen on the back. This screen is a touchscreen. It is made with something called AMOLED. The Lava Agni 3 is going to be pretty neat with this 1.74 inch AMOLED touchscreen, on the rear of the Lava Agni 3.

The Lava Blaze Duo that comes out in December 2024 has a feature. It includes a 1.58 inch AMOLED screen on the back. This screen is 228, by 460 pixels. The Lava Blaze Duo is really something to look forward to.

Lava put those screens at the back in place because they are useful for things, like:

Taking selfies using the rear cameras (rear display as a viewfinder)

Music playback controls

Timers / alarms / quick settings

When Lava talks about another phone with a display on the back in 2026 it is not a crazy idea. It is like Lava is making something better the second time around. Lava already knows what people like, about these Lava phones what things are confusing to users and what things Lava can add to the Lava phone without making the battery life bad or the software act weird.

4) Why rear displays are making a comeback. Why they went away in the first place. Rear displays are coming back. People are wondering why. The thing is, rear displays were popular a while back then they just disappeared. Now rear displays are back again. It is interesting to see why they are making a comeback. The reason rear displays went away is because people did not really need them anymore.. Now rear displays are useful again which is why they are coming back.

Rear displays have been around, for a while now. They come out people think they are really cool. Then they just disappear for a few years. Then they come back again with an idea. The reason rear displays keep coming is that they can fix some real issues that people have.. Rear displays only work well if people think them through carefully and make them in a thoughtful way.

A) The selfie and content-creation angle

The rear camera sensors are usually better, than the cameras. If you can use the cameras for taking selfies or making videos while still framing yourself properly you get:

* better pictures of yourself

* more detailed videos when you are making videos of yourself

* a better overall quality of the rear camera sensors when you are using them to take pictures or make videos of yourself

Better detail and dynamic range

Better portrait processing (often)

Better low-light performance

Often better stabilization and lens options

A rear display is really useful because it can work like a screen, for taking pictures of yourself. This is a good reason to have it on a phone. It is not just a fancy extra thing. Lots of people are making videos now so this feature is very helpful. The company Lava is telling people about a phone and they are highlighting a 50MP AI camera, which means they think taking pictures is a big deal.

B) Quick-glance information without flipping the phone

The rear display of the phone is really useful because it shows you things like the time your notifications how much battery you have left and what music is playing. You can see all this information when the phone is face down. This is very handy when you are sitting at your desk or, in a meeting or when you are charging your phone. Xiaomi is focusing on this way of using widgets on the display of the phone.

C) Differentiation in crowded mid-range markets

Mid-range phones are really similar. They usually have a screen that is either AMOLED or LCD. They also have things like 120Hz and 50MP cameras.. They can charge really fast and have 5G. But one thing that really stands out is a rear display. This is something that you can see away. Even people who do not care about the details of -range phones notice the rear display on mid-range phones immediately. Mid-range phones, with a display are definitely eye catching.

This move is an idea for Lava because it is something that makes their hardware stand out. They can show this difference in one picture on social media. The teaser that Lava put out actually does that. Lava is using this to make their hardware different, from others.

D) I want to know why the thing disappeared the time it happened

Rear displays can stop working for some reasons. They just do not work like they used to. The thing is, rear displays can fail for a classic reasons:

Some things can really drain the battery of your device if the battery management is not done properly. The battery will not last long if these things are not set up in a good way. For example if the battery management of your device is not done well then the battery will drain quickly. This is especially true for things that use a lot of power like some apps or features, on your device. The battery of your device will drain if these things are not optimised in a way.

The solar panels add cost. The solar panels also add complexity. This is because of all the things that the solar panels need, like an extra panel and a driver. The solar panels also need glass cutouts and sealing.

People want software that is really well made or else it feels like something you would play with when you are a kid, like a toy. They need software that’s thoughtful.

Repairs and durability of things can get really complicated. The durability of products can be. It can also make repairs more difficult. This is the case with repairs and durability they are closely related and when one is affected the other is also affected, which is the case, with repairs and durability.

The new wave of displays is trying to stay away, from the problems that the old ones had. They are doing this by making the screen smaller and adding things that’re actually useful. They are also trying to make the screen brighter when it needs to be and use power when it does not need to be as bright. This is something that Xiaomi is talking about when they say their screens have ” brightness”. The new rear displays are really trying to get this right by making the screen use power smartly.

5) What the rear display, on the Lava might actually do, based on what the Lava has done in the past. The Lava has a history. This history can tell us what the Lavas rear display might actually do. We are talking about the Lava and its rear display.

We do not know what the software from Lava will be like until Lava reveals the software. We can only guess what it might be, like. We can make some guesses based on what Lava has already done with the Agni 3 and the Blaze Duo. We can also think about how Xiaomi uses the display on their phones. This can help us understand what Lava might do with their software.

Here are the most likely functions:

A) Rear-camera selfies + video framing

This is almost certain to happen because the feature is really good and that is the reason, for it. The feature has the reason to be included and that is why it is almost guaranteed to be part of it. The feature is the thing that makes it worth doing.

A “selfie preview” mode

Support for portrait selfies using main camera

Possibly a countdown timer display on the rear screen

B) Notifications and “always-on” glance mode

Time/date

Caller/notification preview

Battery/charging status

This really depends on what Lava does with notifications. Does Lava allow other companies to send notifications or does it only allow a few from the system itself? The answer to this question is important because it affects what Lava can do with notifications. If Lava allows other companies to send notifications then it can do a lot more with notifications.. If Lava only allows a few from the system then it is limited in what it can do, with notifications.

C) The music controls

Lava has already used this feature on models so it is a safe bet that they will do it again, with the Lava models. The company Lava has done this before with Lava products, which means it is likely that they will do the same thing with the new Lava models.

Play/pause

Next/previous track

Possibly volume slider

D) Camera utilities

If Lava borrows from Xiaomis idea of a camera tool then Lava is taking a page from Xiaomis book. The thing, about Xiaomis camera tool is that it is really cool. Lava likes the way Xiaomi does the camera tool thing. So Lava is doing something to Xiaomis camera tool.

Shutter button on rear screen

Recording indicator / timer

Switching between photo/video

Simple zoom toggles

E) Style features: wallpapers, animations, status lights

Some brands use displays like a smart LED notification system. They put these screens on things to show you the smart LED notification system. This smart LED notification system is, like a messenger that tells you what is going on with the smart LED notification system.

Charging animation

Call alerts

Custom patterns for contacts

This is the kind of feature that makes videos really popular. It is good for marketing. People do not have to use the feature every day for it to be useful. The feature is still good, for marketing because it creates videos.

6) The big question is this: will the way Lava does things feel good and high quality or will it feel like a silly trick?

A rear display sounds really cool. How well the user experience is depends on some very important decisions about the rear display. The rear display can be great. Only if these decisions, about the rear display are made correctly.

A) Screen type and brightness

Lava has not said if the screen is a screen, an OLED screen or an LCD screen or how bright the screen gets.

AMOLED is ideal for always-on widgets (black pixels off = power saving)

When you are taking pictures outside the brightness really matters for getting the frame with your camera. The brightness of the sun can make a difference in how your pictures turn out. So you have to think about the brightness when you are framing your shot outdoors with your camera. Brightness is very important, for camera framing.

Xiaomi says their screen can get really bright, up to 3500 nits. This is a high number. Lava probably will not be able to make their screens this bright especially since their phones are not as expensive.. That is okay because people just need a screen that they can see clearly and that is all that really matters for the Lava phones.

B) Touch vs non-touch

The touch support makes the back screen of the phone really useful for things like music controls and quick replies and toggles. This is a plus.. It also makes things more complicated. Lava has made screens before that you could actually use for things that make sense. So it will be very important to see if this new phone from Lava still lets you use touch on the screen. The touch functionality, on Lava phones is something that people will care about.

C) Software polish

The difference between “cool on day one” and “useful for a year” is software:

I want to know if it is possible to make changes, to the widgets. Can the widgets be customised to suit my needs? I am looking to make some adjustments to the widgets.

I want to know if I can turn it off easily to save power. The thing I am talking about is the power. I do not want to waste the power. Can I disable the power easily to save the power?

Does the thing. Does it crash or does it mis-trigger sometimes when you are using it?

So I was wondering if the thing works well with my camera apps and also with the notifications, on my phone. Does it integrate cleanly with camera apps and notifications? I mean can I use my camera apps. Still get the notifications that I need.

This is where Lavas prior experience, with building things could really help Lava. Lava has already built the feature pipeline before so that should make it easier for Lava to get it right this time and avoid the problems that usually happen when you do something for the first time.

D) Durability and case compatibility

Rear displays are found in the place where

Your hand is holding onto the phone tightly. The phone is being squeezed by your hand. Your hand has a grip, on the phone.

The camera bumps really stick out. These camera bumps are pretty noticeable because they protrude from the surface. The camera bumps are what you see when you look at the back of the thing and they protrude.

Cases can really make a phone thicker. They often have cutouts. The cutouts on cases are usually for the camera and buttons on the phone. These cases add thickness to the phone. The cutouts are there so you can still use the camera and buttons easily. Cases with cutouts are pretty common. They help keep the phone safe. The thickness of the case can be a bit of a problem. The cutouts, on cases make it easier to use the phone.

A bad case can really mess up the screen. If Lava is really serious about this they should include a case that works with the screen in the box when you buy the phone.. They should make sure that the official accessories they sell will work with the rear screen window. This way the rear screen, on the Lava phone will actually be useful.

7) Why Lava would do this in 2026: the business and branding angle

So I was thinking about Lava and what they might be planning for 2026. It seems like Lava is going to do something. I want to know why Lava would make this move. Is it because of the business side of things. Is it about the Lava brand name? Maybe Lava wants to change how people see the Lava brand.

I think Lava is trying to make the Lava brand look fresh and new in 2026. This could be good for the Lava business. People might start to see Lava in a light. The Lava brand could become more popular.

Why would Lava do this now? What is special about 2026 for Lava? Maybe there are some changes coming for Lava. Maybe Lava is trying to stay of other companies. The Lava business plan for 2026 is really interesting. I want to learn more, about what Lava has planned.

Lava is one of the Indian brands that are trying to create a unique identity, for themselves. This is a deal because the market is mostly controlled by big Chinese companies and global giants. A rear display is something that works well for Lava in ways:

A) A cool thing, about this is that it has a “hero feature” that does not need the most expensive chipset. The “hero feature” is something that people will really like. It is great that the “hero feature” can work without the most expensive chipset.

You cannot always beat your competitors when it comes to how fast your processor’s, for the same price.. You can stand out with:

design

The camera features are really important to me when I am buying a camera. I want to know what kind of camera features it has. The camera features can make a difference in the pictures I take. I like to learn about the camera features that are available. What are some common camera features that people like? I think camera features such as image quality and a nice lens are very important. The camera features can also include things like flash and zoom. I like a camera, with useful camera features.

unique hardware touches

A rear screen is really what it sounds like. It is a feature that you can see. The rear screen is something that makes the phone stand out from phones. The phone has a screen and that is what makes the phone different, from other phones.

B) A premium vibe without premium price

Xiaomis rear display is something you see on high end phones. By doing something Lava can make their phone seem really cool too. While still keeping the rest of the phone simple. This means Lava will probably use a -range chipset, a camera that gets the job done and a battery that lasts a long time. The people at Techlusive say that Lava is taking a laid back approach they are not trying to be too flashy like Xiaomi is. Lavas phone will be more practical, than Xiaomis phone.

C) The Indian market really loves it when they can see the value they are getting

In India the word “value” often means a lot of things to people.

* It can be about getting a deal when you buy something

1. It is also about what you believe in and what’s important to you like your family and friends and the things you care about like the value of being honest and fair.

The idea of value in India is really, about what matters to people and that is usually the value of being a good person and treating others with respect and kindness and that is what the word value really means.

big battery

fast charging

good camera

unique design

A rear display is really something you can see. People can see it when they look at photos when they are, in stores and when they see it in their friends hands. The rear display is something that you can show to people away.

8) What do we know about the camera: it has a 50MP AI camera and it also has dual rear lenses

From Lava’s teaser and coverage, the most concrete spec detail is the 50-megapixel AI camera branding.

So what that probably means is

The main sensor is 50MP

“AI” is used for things like recognizing what is, in a scene making portraits look better taking pictures at night and getting the right balance of light and dark in a photo. It can also do things like create new pictures and what it can do depends on the software that Lava uses.

We do not know:

the secondary lens type (ultra-wide? depth? macro?)

sensor sizes

OIS/EIS specifics

video limits (4K? 60fps?)

front camera resolution

The Lava phone has a display and this makes me think that Lava will make sure the camera is good for people who like to make things. This means the Lava phone will have pictures of yourself from the back video that does not shake and buttons that are easy to use.. For now we do not know much about the Lava phone. The one thing we know for sure about the Lava phone is that it has two cameras, on the back and one of them is 50MP. The Lava phone has a rear camera design and this is confirmed.

9) Let us look at Xiaomi and see what Lava can learn from them. There are some things that Lava can take from Xiaomi and some things that Lava will probably not take from Xiaomi. The Xiaomi comparison is very interesting when we think about Lava. Lava and Xiaomi are two companies but Lava can still learn a lot from Xiaomi. What can Lava borrow from Xiaomi? What are the things that Lava will probably not borrow from Xiaomi? These are the questions we need to think about when we compare Lava and Xiaomi.

To figure out what Lava is trying to do we need to look at what Xiaomi’s doing with their rear display idea. This will give us an idea of what Lava might be aiming for with their own plans. Lava is trying to accomplish something and looking at Xiaomis display story can help us understand what that is.

Coverage around Xiaomi’s 17 Pro series highlights:

A secondary rear display used for widgets/controls and camera tools

A “dynamic” or “magic” back display framing the camera area as a signature feature

Xiaomis devices are really phones, with high prices and great parts. Lava can take the idea and style but they will probably make it smaller and not as powerful. Xiaomis devices have all the things so Lavas version will not be the same. Xiaomi is known for its devices so if Lava wants to make something similar it will have to make some changes.

smaller panel

fewer advanced animations

simpler widget system

…while still keeping the “core wins” (rear selfie preview + glance info).

That is the way to do something, like that. The smart way is to think it through and then do it that way. The smart way to execute it is what we should be looking for.

10) What to look out for next as Lava reveals information, about what is coming up. We will have to wait and see what Lava reveals next.

Lava is saying that their announcement is coming soon. This means we will get the set of information little by little. When it comes to marketing a phone Lava usually does things in a certain way. So we should look out for the following things, from Lava:

Name + launch date window (a firm date or “launching next week”)

Rear display feature demo videos (selfie preview, widgets, music controls)

Processor announcement (often teased as “gaming ready” or “5G powerhouse”)

Pricing hint (e.g., “under ₹20,000” or “under ₹25,000”)

Battery + charging speed (huge in India marketing)

Software promise (Android version, update policy, bloatware claims)

So we have to wait until then. The teaser gives us an idea of what’s coming. Lava is going to make a deal about the rear display again. This time it will look more like something Xiaomi would do with the camera stuck to the back in an area. The main thing about the camera is that it will be 50 megapixels, which’s a really big deal, for Lava and their new camera.

11) Bottom line

Lava is coming out with a smartphone that looks really cool. The best part of this phone is the screen on the back. This is similar to what Xiaomi did with their 17 Pro phone, which also had a screen on the back. Lava has not told us what this phone will be called or when it will be available.. We do know that it will have two screens, one on the front and one on the back. The phone will also have a camera, with 50 megapixels and artificial intelligence to help take better pictures. There will be two cameras, on the back of the phone.

The most interesting part is that Lava isn’t a newcomer to this idea: it already shipped phones like the Agni 3 and Blaze Duo with rear displays, and it has established a practical playbook (rear-camera selfies, music controls, quick tools). If Lava can deliver a smooth software experience and keep the rear display genuinely usable—not just decorative—this could be a strong differentiator in a crowded mid-range market.