The itel S23+ strikes me as a distinctive product in the sub-Rs 15,000 range. While everyone is adopting the 5G trend, smartphones continue to use cellular connectivity that is a generation old. Its design, cameras, battery life, and display, however, make up for it. How does the smartphone do in this regard? With this itel S23+ review, let’s discover out. Continue reading.
Rating: 7.5 / 10
Verdict
For those on a tight budget, the itel S23+ seems like a decent multimedia consumption gadget. Not to mention, its battery life and design are excellent. The cameras are impressive as well, especially in daylight. However, they suffer in low light, much like the majority of other smartphones in this class. But the smartphone’s performance and lack of 5G could be its biggest turnoffs.
Create and present
By looking at the itel S23+, one cannot quickly tell that it is a low-cost gadget. The smartphone has a stylish curved screen design, which is typical of the market this smartphone is in. In addition to improving the device’s appearance, the curved screen design makes it sleeker and simpler to grip thanks to its thin edges. The rear panel of the phone is matte except for the camera module, which adds a glossiness that makes for a striking contrast.
Additionally, the design language deters fingerprints, however if you’re a no-case person, smudges could get in the way. It’s important to note, though, that a premium case is included with the phone. Furthermore, even with a sizable 5,000mAh battery.
With its 6.78-inch AMOLED display, the itel S23+ does gaming and streaming video justice. With its FHD+ resolution and thin bezels, the display promises an engaging viewing experience. The itel S23+, in contrast to its rivals, only has a basic refresh rate of 60Hz. Users coming from a phone with a high refresh rate, such 90Hz or 120Hz, should be the only ones concerned about this because scrolling and animation may appear choppy. Still, the gadget offers a decent viewing experience. When viewing movies and TV shows, the panel’s colors appear vivid, and the deep blacks and shadows improve the overall picture quality.
Cameras
With its dual-camera configuration, the itel S23+ has a 50MP main sensor and an AI lens. The phone also has a high-resolution 32MP front camera with a punch-hole arrangement for selfies and video calling, which sets it apart from the competitors. However, the quality of the images is about average for a low-cost smartphone. Both the front- and rear-facing cameras employ pixel-binning technology to create a compressed image that looks beautiful during the day to add perspective. The details are typically pleasing, and the colors seem vibrant and vivid. To improve the image’s overall attractiveness, I would have preferred a greater dynamic range.
Speaking of selfies, exposure to background elements and skin tones should have been improved, even though the larger sensor size helps with face detailing. There’s not much to expect from the cameras inside or in low light. The colors are a little subdued and the photographs sometimes look grainy, even in night mode. The cameras had trouble accurately metering the light.
Both software and performance
In terms of performance, the itel S23+ uses an internal 128GB of storage along with a Unisoc Tiger T616 chipset that can support up to 6GB of RAM. This is the area where the phone takes shortcuts. To begin with, the device lacks 5G capability, which would not have been a problem a year or a year and a half ago.
Furthermore, the phone’s performance in benchmarks and real-world scenarios is lackluster. Since the S23+’s performance is more in line with inexpensive gadgets, it’s perfect for everyday activities like social media browsing and streaming. When you do something more intensive, like multitasking or playing games, you will experience lags and frame drops on the phone.
Battery and charging rates
With its 5,000mAh battery, the itel S23+ offers an exceptional battery life considering its regular usage. The phone should last you the whole day, even with daily use and occasional streaming, as it isn’t designed for heavy users. In addition, the device may be charged using an 18W fast charger (included in the package) in as little as 60 to 90 minutes to fully recharge from 0% to 100%.
Final verdict
Even if the gadget is intriguing, you should reevaluate your demands before purchasing the itel S23+. The phone lacks the newest, cutting-edge features like a high refresh rate screen and 5G capabilities, and it is not the quickest smartphone in its class. Should that be your desired outcome, investigate other affordable choices such as the Redmi 12 5G (review), Realme 11x 5G (review), and Lava Blaze 2 5G (review).
With a starting price of Rs 13,999, the itel S23+ is primarily intended for consumers who place a high value on flawless viewing. Budget smartphones with AMOLED screens have been hard to come by lately. The elegant way that the itel S23+ handles it is by including a curved one with thin bezels. The S23+ appears to be a good buy in the budget range for people who watch movies and TV episodes mostly on their smartphones. The gadget also has perks in terms of design, cameras, and battery life.
