itel P55 review: more than just the most affordable 5G phone

itel P55 has been launched in India at Rs 9,699.

• By Ashish Kumar -
Published On: October 13, 2023

itel aims to democratise 5G use in India with its newly-launched P55 smartphone. This handset stands as the most cost-effective 5G phone in the country, featuring MediaTek's mid-range Dimensity 6080 SoC at its core. What's more, the phone boasts several handy features, including a 90Hz refresh rate display, a 5,000mAh battery, and a 50MP primary camera, all priced under Rs 10,000.

I decided to take the itel P55 out for a spin to see how it performs in the real world. Continue reading to find out.

Verdict

Design and display

• The itel P55 design certainly doesn't reflect its price point. I appreciate its nicely curved corners and gradient back with a textured finish, which not only provides a pleasant in-hand feel but also helps keep fingerprints and smudges at bay. The phone is also relatively lightweight, weighing in at just 190 grams, making it comfortable to hold for extended periods.
• I received the Galaxy Blue colour variant for review, which features a shiny surface around the 'larger than life' camera sensors, adding a striking contrast to the overall design. The handset is also available in a Mint Green shade. The phone boasts flat edges and houses a USB Type-C port between the speaker grille and a 3.5mm headphone jack on the bottom edge. 
• For security, the fingerprint sensor is conveniently located on the right spine, embedded within the power button. The scanner flawlessly unlocks the device in a relatively quick manner.

• Display-wise, the itel P55 features a 6.6-inch IPS LCD panel with HD+ resolution and 90Hz refresh rate, complemented by a waterdrop notch. The display generally impresses considering its price point. It may face challenges in terms of viewing angles and sunlight legibility, but, on the whole, colours appear bright, making it well-suited for indoor content consumption. The 90Hz refresh rate performs well across the user interface and supported applications.
• That said, the display seems to lack auto brightness, forcing you to adjust screen brightness per the ambience.

Cameras

• In terms of optics, the itel P55 sports a 50MP AI dual rear camera setup. On the front, you'll find an 8MP camera designed for selfies and video calls. The image quality looks decent in well-lit environments, with the colours really popping in, making the images likeable, despite the underwhelming details and dynamic range. The highlights also appear overexposed at times. But, given its price, we can let it slide.

• Talking about selfies, you will find them appealing as long as the sun is out. There are respectable levels of facial details, even though the skin tones might not look accurate. The phone's portrait mode performs acceptably but could benefit from improved edge detection. 

• In low-light conditions, there's a dedicated Super Night mode for the rear cameras that employs long exposure to capture more light, resulting in reduced noise across the frame. Additionally, this mode automatically activates in the AI Cam mode when the sensor detects low-light conditions.

Performance and software

• Under the hood, the itel P55 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6080 SoC, which is the same chipset found in the Infinix Note 30 and Tecno Pova 5 Pro. The SoC is equipped with 5G capabilities, supporting up to 10 bands, including the popular n77 and n78. In everyday use, this handset delivers reliable performance, allowing you to smoothly navigate social media apps, browse the web, and even multitask. While the device can handle high-end games like BGMI, the gaming experience is somewhat limited. The itel P55 is better suited for casual gaming with lower graphics settings.

• The smartphone attains commendable scores for a budget device in benchmarking tests. It scored 4,04,880 points on the AnTuTu test, and on Geekbench, it achieved 751 points in the single-core test and 2,076 points in the multi-core test. The phone is equipped with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of user-expandable storage for which there is a dedicated slot for a microSD card.

• Software-wise, the itel P55 boots Android 13 out of the box. There is the company's custom skin running on top, which enhances the overall user interface and includes a selection of pre-installed third-party apps. Notably, most of these third-party apps can be uninstalled after the initial setup. The skin provides a user-friendly and intuitive experience, complete with numerous customization options and essential features such as call recording.

Battery and charging speeds

• The itel P55 is furnished with a robust 5,000mAh battery and boasts 18W fast charging support. Considering the nature of the device, it should comfortably last an entire day and then some. Impressively, the P55 scored an outstanding 14 hours and 46 minutes on the PCMark battery test. This indicates that even with intensive usage, the handset should reliably see you through a full day.
• When it comes to charging, the handset can take approximately 90-100 minutes to achieve a full charge from 0-100 percent.

Final verdict

The itel P55 smartphone, available at an enticing price of Rs 9,999 in India, delivers exceptional value for budget-conscious consumers. Realme C53 and Redmi 12 5G stand as competitors within this segment. If 5G is not what you are after and are looking for a camera-centric smartphone priced under Rs 10,000, then the Realme and Redmi options are worth considering.

The itel P55, in contrast, is an appealing option for those looking for an affordable 5G smartphone. Besides 5G, the phone also delivers on the design, display, battery, and performance fronts. While not without flaws, the cameras capture decent shots in daylight. Additionally, the software is not without bloatware. But, all in all, the itel P55 is a good device for its asking price.

Editor's rating: 7.5 / 10

Reasons to buy

• The performance is good for everyday use.
• The 5,000mAh battery ensures extended usage.
• The display quality is respectable for the price.

Reasons not to buy

• The software is ridden with bloatware.
• The cameras could use some improvement.