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

Itel made a remarkable entry into 2024 by introducing the Itel A70, an affordable smartphone designed for small budgets. Featuring a whopping 256GB of storage, this ultra-budget device costs just 7K. Boasting a sleek design reminiscent of iPhone and a user interface similar to iOS, the Itel A70 offers a pleasant experience. With its generous battery life and wide range of color and storage options, this smartphone aims to reach even the farthest corners of the Indian market, bringing the joy of smartphone ownership to people in villages and small towns. However, let's dig 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 design benchmark for many 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, which has gone to great lengths to emulate the iPhone 15 Pro Max with its new itel A70 smartphone. However, I highly doubt that this device was truly made in California.

With just a glance, you will immediately notice that this device took inspiration from the design and style of the iPhone 15 Pro Max. THE itel A70 proudly flaunts its triple camera setup on the back, or at least that's what it wants you to believe. In reality, it only has two sensors, but cleverly adds a third cutout to create the illusion of a three-lens setup.

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

But when you turn the phone over, the dream of looking like an iPhone falls apart. Thick bezels surround the display, and instead of a sleek Dynamic Island, it features a basic waterdrop notch for the selfie camera. This device doesn't offer the fancy features that iPhones are known for.

You might be wondering, despite all the rumors that the Itel A70 is a copy, 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. 9,999. 7299. Made of plastic, it is available in four vibrant colors: Shiny Gold, Sleek 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 the sunlight, it appears like a dazzling play of lights, with glittery lines that give it the appearance of a shooting star. Not only does it look great, but it's also slim, measuring 8.6mm thick, and lightweight, weighing just 187 grams. The weight distribution is well balanced, allowing for comfortable conversations with friends and family for hours, even without headphones plugged in. It seems that Itel really likes the word “Awesome”, because you can find it not only on the back panel. of the phone but also on the protective case, seven times in total! The right edge of the phone houses the power and volume buttons, while the left edge has a SIM tray. On the underside, you'll find a USB-Type-C port, a speaker grill, and a headphone jack. Overall, despite its similarities to an iPhone, the itel A70 offers a sleek, 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 5,000mAh power bank. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the battery lasted me through the work day without needing to be recharged until night. In terms of screen time, I was able to get about six to seven hours before having to plug it back in.

software

Itel's fascination with the iPhone goes beyond simple design imitation. There's more, as they've incorporated some iOS-inspired features. The notch attempts to function as a dynamic island, although its use is limited, similar to Realme's Capsule Mini. However, neglecting this aspect, the itel A70 runs Android 13 Go Edition, which comes with minimal bloatware. It offers a multitude of customization options, allowing you to customize your device to your liking. The optimization is pretty decent and the company has promised two years of security updates, guaranteeing that you will receive Android 14 and Android 15.

itel a70 Summary: WHAT’S WRONG

PERFORMANCE

THE Itel A70 features the powerful Unisoc T603 chipset, along with a generous 4GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage. However, during my use, I noticed that the device struggled to keep up with multitasking, causing apps to run at a snail's pace. The Itel A70's performance is rather mediocre, leaving plenty of room for improvement. Switching between apps is far from seamless, often leading to device crashes. 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, however, is the vast 256GB storage option. Some benchmark scores are-

• AnTuTu-155,087
• Multi-core Geekbench – 881
• GFX Manhattan-1083 Bench
• PC Mark battery – 15 hours 8 minutes

camera

The back of the phone has three cutouts that may look like an iPhone, but only two of them have camera sensors – one 13 MP and the other 0.08 MP. However, when we tested the device by taking a few photos, we realized that Itel hadn't put much effort into making the cameras useful. The 13 MP main sensor takes decent photos in broad daylight, but the level of detail is limited. Sometimes the shots seem overexposed. There's also a low-light mode, but it captures photos filled with noise and lacking fine detail.

On the other hand, the 8MP selfie sensor takes good selfies, especially when there is enough light. Skin tone looks natural and overall photos look authentic when the filter is turned off. The camera produces photos that can be shared on social media platforms, provided you don't worry too much about the intricate details.

display

The Itel A70 features a generous 6.6-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 720×1612. However, it falls short in terms of HD visuals, which is visible when watching YouTube videos. The scrolling experience isn't as smooth either, due to its 60Hz refresh rate. While the display's 500 nit peak brightness works well indoors, using the Taking the device outdoors becomes difficult as the screen becomes difficult to see under sunlight, even when it is not at its brightest.

CHARGING SPEED

With its heavy 5,000 mAh battery, the smartphone promises long-lasting power. However, the charging process is a completely different story. The included 10W adapter takes 3 hours to fully charge the device from 0-100%. Even if you only need 50% battery life, you'll still have to wait 1.5 hours. In our fast-paced world, finding time to dedicate 1.5-3 hours to charging can be quite a challenge when you're constantly trying to keep up with everything.

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Review Verdict: Should You Buy Itel a70?

Are you looking for an economical smartphone that won't break the bank? Look no further than the Itel A70, priced at just Rs. 9,999. 7299. This device is perfect for those who want a smartphone experience without emptying their wallet. With its sleek design, decent battery life, and user-friendly interface, it ticks 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 may want to explore other options. The Itel A70's performance isn't its strong suit and charging can be a bit slow. Also, the camera setup is just average, so don't expect professional-quality photos. 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 into the sub-$10,000 category. Take your time to compare and choose wisely.