Itel P55+ 4G Review: A budget smartphone that doesn’t skimp features

Itel is recognized for introducing smartphones that deliver a high-quality user experience at an affordable price point. The brand recently unveiled the Itel P55 Series in the market, consisting of two models – Itel P55 and Itel P55 Plus 4G. The base model is priced at Rs. 7499, while the premium model costs Rs. 9999. The Itel P55+ boasts a vegan leather design, fast charging capability, and 256GB storage, features that are not commonly seen in budget-friendly devices. Are these characteristics enough to make the Itel P55+ stand out in its category? Let’s explore this question further in our review.

Itel P55+ Review: Design and Build

Itel has established itself as a leader in producing affordable entry-level smartphones with an appealing design. Despite their low cost, these devices seldom compromise on quality. The Itel P55+ follows the same philosophy of the brand. Available in Meteor Black and Royal Green, each color option offers a unique look for the back panel. I had the opportunity to try the Royal Green model, which features a vegan leather back. The dual-tone design of the vegan leather combines two shades of green, giving the phone an elegant appearance. Although the smartphone is made of plastic, it does not appear cheap in any way.

The rear of the Itel P55+ has a premium look and feel, and the material used ensures that it remains free from smudges and dirt, regardless of how it is handled. On the top-left side of the panel, two large circular camera cutouts house the dual sensors and an LED flash. The word ‘Power’ is stitched at the bottom. Overall, the Itel P55+ has a sleek design and feels comfortable to hold, even during extended periods of use. It measures 8mm in thickness and weighs 187 grams.

In terms of button placement, the volume rockers and power buttons are located on the right edge, while the left edge houses the SIM tray. The bottom edge features a USB-C charging port, a speaker grille, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The top edge is left vacant. At the front, there is a punch-hole screen with an 8MP selfie sensor and an LED flash. The Dynamic Bar feature allows users to conveniently check notifications, battery levels, and other important updates.

Despite its affordable price tag, the Itel P55+ includes a proximity sensor. However, it lacks an ambient light sensor, which means that users have to manually adjust the brightness at night, as the screen can be overly bright at times.

Overall, considering its price point, the design and build quality of the Itel P55+ are commendable.

Itel P55+ Review: Display

Now that we have discussed the rear side, let’s shift our focus to the front of the device. The Itel P55+ 4G boasts a reasonably sized 6.56-inch HD+ LCD panel on its front. The display offers a resolution of 720×1612 pixels, an aspect ratio of 20:9, and a pixel density of 269 PPI.
When it comes to the visual output produced by the panel, it is vibrant, bright, and exhibits a good level of detail. The viewing angles are satisfactory, although they could have been better. Surprisingly, the screen remains legible even under direct sunlight. This is an area where some mid-range devices struggle, but Itel has managed to deliver a good performance in this regard.
With a 90Hz refresh rate, the scrolling experience is smooth, and content consumption is also decent on this device. However, it is worth noting that the device only has L3 Widevine certification, limiting video playback to SD quality. Additionally, the thick bezels surrounding the screen on all four sides do not contribute much to the overall experience.

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Itel P55+ Review: Performance

The Itel P55+ smartphone is equipped with the Unisoc T606 12nm chipset and Mali G57 MP1 GPU, providing a fast and smooth performance. With 8GB of RAM, you can seamlessly run multiple apps in the background. However, it’s important to note that the Unisoc T606 chipset is slightly faster than the Helio G85, but the graphics performance is slower due to the Mali G57 MP1 not being as efficient as the Mali G52 MP2.

Due to the slower graphics performance, gaming on this device may be underwhelming. While lighter games like Candy Crush run well, graphics-intensive titles are not recommended. During my experience playing BGMI, the device started heating up within minutes, causing the game to lag and slow down. Therefore, the Itel P55+ is not suitable for avid gamers.

On the positive side, the device offers 256GB of onboard storage, which is impressive considering its price range of under 10k. This allows you to store a significant amount of content in your device’s gallery. Additionally, benchmark testing results are as follows:

• Geekbench single core: 375
• Geekbench multi-core: 1404
• AnTuTu: 265446
• PC Mark battery: 9 hours

In terms of software, the Itel P55+ runs on Android 13 with a custom skin out of the box. This provides various options for customization and personalization. While there are some pre-installed apps on this entry-level device, they are not overwhelming and can be easily removed if not needed.

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Itel P55+ Review: Cameras

The Itel P55+ 4G smartphone is equipped with dual camera sensors at the back, consisting of a 50MP primary sensor and an AI lens. The camera user interface (UI) is similar to other Itel family members, featuring a zoom option at the bottom and quick toggles for timer, aspect ratio, filters, and more at the top. Additional camera features include Pro Mode, Panorama, Short Video, Ultra HD, AR Shot, HDR, and more.

Now, let’s discuss the image quality. The 50MP primary sensor captures decent shots during the day, with acceptable dynamic range and detailing. However, the photos lack sharpness, and the color balance is not accurate. In some cases, the output can be inconsistent, with light orange appearing as a dark red shade. HDR shots are slightly better than normal shots, but there is still some distortion around the edges.

On the other hand, the AI lens does not serve any useful purpose, and it is recommended to avoid using it.

At the front, there is an 8MP selfie shooter that takes impressive selfies suitable for social media in daylight. The skin tone appears mostly natural, and the facial details are not overly cleared or whitened. In low-light conditions, the flash can help capture clearer pictures, but there is still some noise present. The facial details are softened, giving an artificial appearance. Additionally, in low-light situations, it takes around five seconds to process a shot, which may cause you to miss a moment where a quicker snap is needed.

Both the front and back cameras of the Itel P55+ can record 1080p videos at up to 30fps.

Overall, the camera setup of the Itel P55+ is considered to be mediocre.

Itel P55+ Review: Battery Life and Charging

The Itel P55+ 4G is equipped with a powerful 5000mAh battery that provides reliable backup, lasting up to 1.5 days with moderate usage. Even with a refresh rate of 90Hz and gaming activities, the battery can still last a full day. During a typical office day involving calling, messaging, social media browsing, video watching, and more, the device had a 25% battery remaining by night. One of the standout features of this device is its fast charging capability. Itel includes a 45W adapter with this affordable smartphone, allowing the battery to be charged from 0 to 100% in just one hour. This charging speed sets the Itel P55+ apart from other entry-level devices in the market.

Review Verdict: Should you buy the Itel P55+?

Itel P55+ is priced at Rs. 9999 and offers a decent budget smartphone option with a vegan leather design, long battery life, and quick charging capabilities. The device operates on Android 13 OS and boasts a 90Hz display. Despite its underwhelming camera setup and limited display features, the P55+ has the potential to make a mark in India’s entry-level market. Alternatively, Moto G24 Power could be considered for users seeking a 6000mAh battery, while the more affordable Itel P55 could be suitable for those not requiring fast charging or extensive storage.