Tino Talks Tech

Category: itel

  • itel S25 Ultra: They Aren’t Trying to Hide It Anymore

    itel S25 Ultra: They Aren’t Trying to Hide It Anymore

    Festive banner featuring the itel S25 Ultra smartphone prominently in the foreground, showcasing its design and triple-camera setup. Two partially visible Galaxy S25 Ultra devices are positioned in the background. The text 'itel S25 Ultra' is displayed in bold black letters, accompanied by holiday decorations, including a Santa hat on the itel logo, ornaments, a reindeer, a snowman, and a playful elf peeking around the devices, adding a Christmas vibe.

    itel is at it again, and this time, they’re not even trying to hide it. Introducing the itel S25 Ultra, a phone that literally screams “Hey, we know where we got this from,” the only difference being they’re not asking you to break the bank to enjoy it, understandable. So with a name that could easily be Samsung’s next S-series flagship, the S25 Ultra might leave you thinking if imitation truly is the sincerest form of flattery.

    Let’s start by addressing the obvious: itel has fully embraced its identity as the unabashed copycat of the smartphone world, and honestly, I can’t even be mad about it anymore. I mean, the specs aren’t bad for the price, but this whole borrowing thing isn’t something new for them.

    Specifications Overview

    FeatureDetails
    Display6.78-inch FHD+ 3D-Curved AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate, 1400-nit peak brightness
    ProcessorUNISOC T620 SoC
    RAM & Storage8GB RAM (+8GB Virtual RAM), 256GB UFS 2.2 Storage
    Rear Cameras50MP main + macro lens + unspecified third lens
    Front Camera32MP (hole-punch notch)
    Battery5000mAh with 18W fast charging
    Operating SystemAndroid 14 (Upgradeable to Android 15)
    Build6.9mm slim, 163g weight, Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, IP64-rated
    ExtrasNFC, under-display fingerprint scanner, DTS Sound, IR blaster
    ColorsMeteor Titanium, Bromo Black, Komodo Ocean
    Price (Philippines)PHP 7,999 (approx. $140 / £115) via TikTok Shop; PHP 10,999 ($195 / £160) retail

    itel’s Design “Inspiration”

    Now, let’s start with the design. Itel doesn’t just borrow design cues, they run a whole “buy one, get five” sale on other brands’ ideas, I’m not being rude but we’ve seen this multiple times. As I previously said about the itel P65, they didn’t just take one or two cues:

    they went on a full shopping spree and stuffed their cart with all the popular guys have to offer.

    One thing I can downright praise is the S25 Ultra’s curved AMOLED display and under-display fingerprint sensor which are straight out of the premium playbook and hard to achieve at this price point.

    Performance

    Now, let’s talk about that UNISOC T620 processor, I have an ugly history with these. I’ve had my beef with UNISOC chips in past itel devices, like the itel S23 and P40 Plus, where I noted the “enthusiastic” performance of their processors.

    Need a translation for that?

    They often sound better than they perform. Without actually testing the S25 Ultra firsthand, I can’t confirm whether this chipset will shine or fizzle out like its predecessors so I won’t be a hater without any physical evidence. But if history is any indicator, slightly demanding games and multitasking might not be this phone’s strong suit.

    For example, in my review of the P40 Plus, I noted how:

    the Unisoc T606 is simply too weak to handle these(FC Mobile and PUBG Mobile) games, even on the lowest settings.

    While the T620 is technically an upgrade, I wouldn’t expect miracles here.

    Cameras

    The 50MP main camera sounds promising, as does the 32MP selfie one, but again, we’ve heard this story before. On previous models like the S24, the camera hardware delivered decent results, but it was clear that “it won’t compete with the Pixel 7a or the Nothing Phone 2a.”, I also noted that those phones are 3x the S24’s price though. So if you’re looking for budget-friendly cameras that can handle everyday shots, this should suffice but don’t expect DSLR-level quality which is quite obvious to be fair.

    Battery Life and Software

    If there’s one area itel consistently delivers, it’s battery life, this one needs no introduction. The 5000mAh battery paired with 18W charging should easily get you through a day or more of moderate use. However, I wish they’d pushed for faster charging speeds in 2024, it’s starting to feel dated at this point, but slower charging means better battery life so that’s nice of them to do that.

    As for the software, itel OS 14.5 (based on Android 14) will come with its fair share of pre-installed apps, gimmicky features and a whole load of bloatware. While I’ve previously highlighted itel’s AI assistant as

    eager to help but not quite measuring up to Google Assistant

    t’s these quirky extras that sometimes add charm to their phones.

    Conclusion

    Finally here’s the thing, I’m not in a position to judge the S25 Ultra’s actual performance or value for money since I don’t actually have the device in hand. But based on these specs and my previous experiences with itel devices, the phone seems like a solid budget option for casual users.

    However, the same issues that plagued their older models might still linger here:

    borrowed design, mediocre processors, and hit-or-miss execution.

    But for PHP 7,999 ($140 USD / £115 GBP), it’s a tempting deal and I don’t think anyone would even care about that. Although at the higher price of PHP 10,999 ($195 USD / £160 GBP), you might find better alternatives in brands like Xiaomi or Infinix.

  • itel Eww, What’s That? My itel P65 Review

    itel Eww, What’s That? My itel P65 Review

    You know that feeling when you look at a new device, and you just don’t know how to feel about it? That’s exactly where I stand with the itel P65. When it comes to design, I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it either. There’s a lot going on with this phone, some of it is clever, a lot of it feels a bit… borrowed. Let’s break this down.

    Design: Borrowed or Inspired?

    First off, can we talk about how much this phone “borrows” from other manufacturers? Now, don’t get me wrong, everyone does it, remember Samsung’s new Galaxy Buds 3 that look suspiciously like AirPods Pros). But itel? They didn’t just take one or two cues, they went on a full shopping spree and stuffed their cart with all the popular guys have to offer.

    The design itself isn’t ugly. It has this sleek, futuristic vibe with a slight Nothing Phone flair. Imagine if Nothing had a budget smartphone with a metallic, semi-industrial look, that’s what the itel P65 brings to the table. It’s almost like they wanted to create a “metallic Nothing Phone,” if that was even a thing.

    But it doesn’t stop there. They threw in what they call a “Dynamic Light Show”, which is essentially an LED under the flashlight that pulses with notifications and when you charge the phone. Does this sound familiar? Yeah, glyph lights… Now, a lot of Chinese manufacturers are doing this whole Dynamic Island knock-off trend, and itel couldn’t resist jumping in, although they have also done it with previous models as well, it’s still something they “borrowed”. I’m all for adapting to current trends, but it feels like they’ve put on too many “inspired” features without truly nailing any one of them.

    And wait… there’s more! They’ve also added a third button they’re calling the “Flex Button.” Now, we’ve seen something like this before on other “phones”, where it’s a customizable button for quick access to apps or shortcuts. Again, a solid idea from… if it wasn’t for the fact that it feels more like an attempt to stuff every popular feature into one device. The execution? Well, let’s just say it leaves a little to be desired.

    The Specs

    Despite all the flashy add-ons, the P65 is still a budget phone, and the specs reflect that. Here’s what we’re working with:

    • Network Technology: GSM / HSPA / LTE
    • Dimensions: 165.9 x 77.3 x 7.9 mm, weighing 192.4g
    • Display: 6.7-inch IPS LCD, 120Hz refresh rate, 720 x 1600 pixels (~262 PPI)
    • Operating System: Android 14, itel OS 14
    • Chipset: Unisoc T615 (12nm)
    • CPU: Octa-core (2×1.8 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6×1.6 GHz Cortex-A55)
    • Memory Options: 128GB with 4GB/8GB RAM or 256GB with 6GB RAM
    • Camera: 50 MP main camera, 8 MP selfie camera
    • Battery: 5000 mAh, 18W wired charging (40% in 30 mins)
    • Extras: LED notification ring, “Dynamic Bar” light show, Flex Button, USB-C, 3.5mm jack, NFC (on the 256GB/6GB model)
    • Price: Roughly $120–$130 USD depending on the configuration

    The Processor: Unisoc T615

    This is where the conversation gets serious. Powered by the Unisoc T615, a chipset we typically see in budget devices(like this one), this phone’s performance is decent but not groundbreaking which is not something to sulk about since it’s a budget smartphone. With an octa-core configuration, it handles everyday tasks like browsing and social media without much fuss or at least they say it does. But if you’re looking to push it with more demanding apps, it might struggle. Any moderate gaming or multitasking across power-hungry applications? Yeah, that’s not happening smoothly on this chipset.

    The Unisoc T615 isn’t a terrible processor, it’s efficient and gets the job done for basic needs. But in 2024, when even budget phones are starting to push boundaries with performance, it feels like itel isn’t quite keeping up with the curve. And for a company trying to wow us with flashy design features, they could have done better in the performance department.

    Conclusion

    Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Wow, you really don’t like itel.” I’ve written about their phones several times before, and while many of those articles have leaned negative, it’s because I’ve been mostly disappointed with them. Here are a few of them:

    The truth is, I don’t hate the company. I don’t expect a $130 phone to blow me away,no one does, but when a company starts borrowing design ideas from everywhere and tries to cover up lackluster performance with gimmicks, it leaves a bad taste. Itel is in a unique position to dominate the budget phone market, but they seem more focused on being flashy than providing genuine innovation or substantial upgrades.

    It’s frustrating because I know they can do better. Their devices have potential, but they often fall short by trying to do too much without focusing on what truly matters: performance, user experience, and meaningful features.

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