Itel A70 Short Review in Points: What’s Good And What’s Not?

Itel made a grand entrance into 2024 by introducing the Itel A70, an affordable smartphone designed for those on a budget. Packed with a whopping 256GB of storage, this ultra-budget device is priced at just 7K. Boasting a sleek design reminiscent of the iPhone and a user interface similar to iOS, the Itel A70 offers a delightful experience. With its generous battery life and a wide range of color and storage options, this smartphone aims to reach even the remotest corners of the Indian market, bringing the joy of owning a smartphone to people in villages and small towns. However, let’s dive deeper and analyze the Itel A70 in two sections: What’s Good and What’s Not.

itel a70 Review: What's Good

dESIGN

Apple’s high-end iPhones have set the benchmark for the design of numerous affordable and mid-range smartphones. Some brands, like Realme with their Dynamic Island style Mini Capsule, have attempted to replicate certain features. On the other hand, some choose to imitate the iPhone in its entirety. The latest addition to this list is Itel, who has gone to great lengths to imitate the iPhone 15 Pro Max with their newly released itel A70 smartphone. However, I highly doubt that this device was truly made in California.

With just one glance, you’ll immediately notice that this device has taken inspiration from the design and style of the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The itel A70 proudly displays its triple camera setup at the back, or so it wants you to believe. In reality, it only has two sensors, but cleverly adds a third cutout to create the illusion of a triple-lens setup.

To add to the deception, the black case included in the box gives the phone an iPhone-like appearance, complete with a MagSafe-style charging ring on the back. However, it’s important to note that this 7k device is nowhere near capable of wireless charging.

But when you flip the phone over, the dream of resembling an iPhone comes crashing down. Thick bezels surround the display, and instead of a sleek Dynamic Island, it features a basic water drop notch for the selfie camera. This device falls short of the fancy features iPhones are known for.

You might be wondering, despite all the talk about itel A70 being a copycat, why is the design good? Well, the reason is simple. Despite its resemblance to an iPhone, itel has managed to create a well-built and stylish smartphone that comes at an affordable price of just Rs. 7299. Made of plastic, it is available in four vibrant colors – Brilliant Gold, Stylish Black, Field Green, and Azure Blue.

During our review, we got our hands on the Gold shade, and let me tell you, the back of the phone is truly mesmerizing. Under sunlight, it looks like a dazzling play of lights, with glittery lines that give it a shooting star appearance. Not only does it look great, but it is also slim, measuring 8.6mm in thickness, and lightweight, weighing only 187 grams. The weight distribution is well-balanced, allowing for comfortable conversations with friends and family for hours, even without earphones plugged in. It seems like itel is quite fond of the word ‘Awesome’, as you can find it not only on the back panel of the phone but also on the protective case, a total of seven times! The right spine of the phone houses the power and volume buttons, while the left edge features a SIM tray. On the bottom side, you’ll find a USB-Type-C port, a speaker grille, and a headphone jack. Overall, despite its similarities to an iPhone, itel A70 offers a stylish and well-designed smartphone that stands out on its own.

bATTERY lIFE

The Itel A70 may be considered an entry-level smartphone, but it packs a punch with its impressive 5000mAh power bank. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the battery lasted me throughout the entire workday without needing a recharge until nighttime. In terms of screen time, I was able to enjoy around six to seven hours before needing to plug it in again.

sOFTWARE

Itel’s fascination with the iPhone goes beyond mere design imitation. There’s more to it, as they have incorporated certain features inspired by iOS. The notch attempts to function like a dynamic island, although its usage is limited, similar to Realme’s Mini capsule. However, if we overlook this aspect, the itel A70 runs on Android 13 Go Edition, which comes with minimal bloatware. It offers a plethora of customization options, allowing you to personalize your device to your liking. The optimization is quite decent, and the company has promised two years of security updates, ensuring that you will receive Android 14 and Android 15.

itel a70 Review: wHAT'S nOT gOOD

PERFORMANCE

The Itel A70 boasts the powerful Unisoc T603 chipset, along with a generous 4GB RAM and up to 256GB of storage. However, during my usage, I noticed that the device struggled to keep up with multitasking, making apps run at a snail’s pace. The performance of the Itel A70 is rather lackluster, leaving plenty of room for improvement. Switching between apps is far from seamless, often resulting in the device freezing up. While tasks like web browsing and social media are manageable, this device falls short when it comes to demanding activities like gaming and video editing. The saving grace, though, is the ample 256GB storage option. Some benchmarking scores are-

• AnTuTu- 155,087
• Geekbench multi-core- 881
• GFX Bench Manhattan-1083
• PC Mark Battery- 15 hours 8 minutes

cAMERA

The back of the phone has three cutouts that may resemble an iPhone, but only two of them have camera sensors – one with 13MP and the other with 0.08MP. However, when we tested the device by taking some photos, we realized that Itel didn’t put much effort into making the cameras useful. The main 13MP sensor takes decent shots in bright daylight, but the level of detail is limited. Sometimes, the shots appear overexposed. There is also a lowlight mode, but it captures shots that are filled with noise and lack fine details.

On the other hand, the 8MP selfie sensor takes good selfies, especially when there is ample light. The skin tone looks natural and the overall shots appear authentic when the filter is turned off. The camera produces shots that are suitable for sharing on social media platforms, as long as you’re not too concerned about intricate details.

display

The Itel A70 boasts a generous 6.6-inch IPS LCD with a resolution of 720×1612. However, it falls short in terms of HD visuals, which is noticeable when watching YouTube videos. The scrolling experience is not as seamless either, due to its 60Hz refresh rate. While the screen’s 500 nits peak brightness performs well indoors, using the device outdoors becomes challenging as the screen becomes difficult to see under sunlight, even when it’s not at its brightest.

cHARGING sPEED

With its hefty 5000mAh battery, the smartphone promises long-lasting power. However, the charging process is a different story altogether. The included 10W adapter takes a whopping 3 hours to fully charge the device from 0 to 100%. Even if you only need 50% battery life, you’ll still have to wait 1.5 hours. In our fast-paced world, finding the time to dedicate 1.5-3 hours for charging can be quite a challenge when you’re constantly trying to keep up with everything.

ALSO READ: itel P55 5G Review: Fulfilling 5G Expectations of Every Indian

ALSO READ: Motorola Moto G24 Power Review: Affordable Companion for Everyday Use

Review Verdict: Should you buy Itel a70?

Looking for a budget-friendly smartphone that doesn’t break the bank? Look no further than the Itel A70, priced at just Rs. 7299. This device is perfect for those who want a smartphone experience without emptying their wallets. With its sleek design, decent battery life, and user-friendly interface, it ticks off all the right boxes. However, if you’re looking for a device that can handle more than just basic tasks like calls and light browsing, you might want to explore other options. The performance of the Itel A70 is not its strongest suit, and charging can be a bit slow. Additionally, the camera setup is just average, so don’t expect professional-quality shots. Before making your final decision, it’s worth considering competitors like the Infinix Smart 8, Redmi 13C, Poco C65, and Realme Narzo N55, which also fall within the under-10k category. Take your time to compare and choose wisely.