AI Plus’s two new phones – Pulse and Nova 5G – are in the market, and both are under the name of Indian brands. Pulse starts at ₹4,999 (with offers), and Nova 5G at ₹7,999 (with offers). This is Madhav Sheth’s new venture, and he claims that these phones are designed and assembled entirely in India. But is this really a money-making machine or just a marketing ploy? I tested both phones – from unboxing to performance – and I give a straight answer as to whether these are right for you or not.
What do you get in the box?
The boxes of both phones are very similar, just the names are different – Pulse and Nova 5G. There is a Made in India tag on the box, and the manufacturer United Tarry Links is also from India. Open the box and you will find inside:
- Phone
- Type-A to Type-C cable
- 10W charger (both phones support 18W, but the charger is only 10W)
- SIM ejector pin
- Transparent case
- Paperwork
Unboxing is simple, but it is good to give the charger and case. For Nova 5G, 18W charger should have been in the box, because 10W is a bit slow. Overall, the content of the box is decent at this price.
Design: Cheap but crisp
Pulse: Full plastic body with matte finish. Side frame is also plastic, but the red power button gives a little vibe. Weight is 193g. Screen protector is pre-applied, but after removing the sticker, some traces of glue remain – a quality issue. There were scratches or smudges on my test unit, but a new phone will come clean.
Nova 5G: Also has a plastic body, but with a glossy finish which captures fingerprints. Design is almost similar to Pulse but feels a little premium due to the glossy look. Both phones have Type-C port, 3.5mm headphone jack, and single speaker at the bottom. Nothing on top. Build quality is okay for the price, but not premium.
Colors include Black, Blue, Green, Pink, and Purple. The green one looked quite vibrant.
Performance: Enough for basic use
Pulse: Unisoc T615 processor, AnTuTu score ~3,00,000. A 4G phone, which feels a bit old in 2025. Fine for basic use – WhatsApp, YouTube, calls – but struggles with heavy apps or gaming. Options of 4GB / 6GB RAM and 64GB / 128GB storage, expandable up to 1TB via microSD.
Nova 5G: Unisoc T8200 processor, AnTuTu score ~5,10,000. Supports 5G, which is notable at this price. With 6GB / 8GB RAM and 128GB storage, apps open faster but not flagship level. BGMI runs on low settings with some frame drops.
Both run on NxtQuantum OS (Android 15 based) – bloatware-free, close to stock Android. Features include NxtPrivacy Dashboard, NxtQuantum PlayStore, Theme Design Tool. Data stored on Google Cloud servers in India.
Camera: This much is available at this price
Both have 50MP dual rear camera (main + AI sensor) and 5MP front camera. Pulse photos are over-sharpened, colours slightly unnatural, and noisy in low light. Nova 5G is slightly better but has focus issues. Both struggle with video recording – focus jumps and 1080p is not clean. At this price, behind competitors like Poco M7 5G or Redmi A4 5G.
Display: LCD, Basically Fine
Pulse: 6.7-inch HD+ TFT IPS, 90Hz, 450 nits brightness. Outdoor visibility average, colours a bit dull.
Nova 5G: 6.7-inch HD+ LCD, 120Hz, 450 nits brightness. Slightly better smoothness, but still not premium.
Both displays are fine for basic use but not ideal for premium content consumption or gaming.
Battery: Solid Backup
Both have 5000mAh battery, lasting 1.5–2 days in normal use. 18W charging supported, but only 10W charger in the box – takes about 2 hours to charge fully.
Extras: Some good, some basic
- Connectivity: Pulse – 4G, Nova – 5G (n1/n3/n5/n8/n28 bands), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, 3.5mm jack.
- Sensors: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor, face unlock.
- Speaker: Single speaker, average sound, low loudness.
- Storage: MicroSD slot for up to 1TB expandable storage.
Pricing: Cheap, But Worth It?
- Pulse: ₹4,999 (4GB+64GB), ₹6,999 (6GB+128GB).
- Nova 5G: ₹7,999 (6GB+128GB), ₹9,999 (8GB+128GB).
Available on Flipkart – Pulse from 12 July, Nova 5G from 13 July.
| Features | Pulse | Nova 5G |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Unisoc T615 | Unisoc T8200 |
| RAM | 4GB / 6GB | 6GB / 8GB |
| Storage | 64GB / 128GB, 1TB expandable | 128GB, 1TB expandable |
| Display | 6.7-inch HD+ TFT IPS, 90Hz | 6.7-inch HD+ LCD, 120Hz |
| Camera | 50MP Dual Rear, 5MP Front | 50MP Dual Rear, 5MP Front |
| Battery | 5000mAh, 18W (10W charger) | 5000mAh, 18W (10W charger) |
| Operating System | NxtQuantum OS (Android 15) | NxtQuantum OS (Android 15) |
| Build | Plastic, 193g | Plastic, 196g |
| Connectivity | 4G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, 3.5mm | 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, 3.5mm |
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- ₹4,999 starting price for Pulse – cheapest Indian smartphone.
- Nova 5G with 5G support and decent performance.
- Android 15 and bloatware-free NxtQuantum OS.
- 5000mAh battery in both.
- 3.5mm jack and expandable storage.
Cons:
- Average camera with focus issues.
- Only 10W charger in box despite 18W support.
- Plastic build, no premium feel.
- Pulse stuck with 4G in 2025.
- Uncertain after-sales service in small cities.
Conclusion
AI Plus Pulse and Nova 5G are budget phones suitable for basic use. Pulse is for users shifting from feature phones to smartphones, Nova 5G for those wanting cheap 5G. Both lag in camera and build quality compared to rivals.
After-sales service remains uncertain in smaller cities. In this price range, a second-hand Poco or Redmi may offer better performance and camera. If you want a new budget phone for basic use, these are worth trying, but consider long-term reliability.