itel P55 Plus : The budget smartphone space in India has seen a massive change in the last few years, devices that were being offered by brands like itel in this price segment were hard to believe.
The itel P55 Plus -which I am going to talk about – tries to bring a full smartphone experience without stretching you or requiring you to dig too deep into your pockets.
From the looks of it, the P55 Plus seems to bring a little more than just the basics with UFS 2.2 storage, 18W fast charging, and a sizeable 5000mAh battery.
But does it deliver on the promise, or is it more another budget phone with shiny specs and average real-world performance? Let’s take a closer look.
Design and Construction: Aesthetically Sound and Minimalistic
The itel P55 Plus isn’t overly ambitious in its attempt to standout but, it’s designed tastefully. It flaunts a textured back panel that is soft to touch and resists fingerprints.
The phone comes in charming colours such as Royal Green and Meteor Black and does add a touch of class to the budget segment.
Its plastic body keep the weight in check, coming in at roughly 190g, and the side-mounted fingerprint reader is integrated into its power button, making for an especially comfortable grip.
The flat-edge style is very modern looking, and gives the sense that it’s a premium phone, despite the fact that it’s midrange.
Display: Large and Immersive
The phone has a 6.6-inch HD+ IPS LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate. The resolution is only 720p, but the panel is bright enough for watching movies, scrolling through social media and casual browsing.
The 90Hz refresh also helps make scrolling a bit smoother, adding more of that high-end gloss (for a phone in this price range) that some of its other specs may seem to be lacking.
There’s not a whole lot of bezel on the sides (or any notch to deal with, which is a refreshing change), but there’s still a sizable chin, as is common on budget phones.
Speed:
UFS 2.2 Is A Game-Changer This is something we talked at length about in our earlier post, but I did have a chance to go hands-on with the S20 during the Unpacked event.
Powering the itel P55 Plus is the Unisoc T606 SoC, a low-end chipset designed for low-end tasks. It is teamed with 8GB of RAM including virtual RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.2 internal storage, which is one of the standout features in this segment.
With storage type is faster app loading and file transfer you will get a quick phone response while using the phone.
The multi-tasking between basic apps is smooth and though it may not be the best at high-end games, casual games are just fine. Average apps, such as WhatsApp, YouTube and Instagram run without hickups.
Software: Clean and Feature Packed
itel runs its custom itel OS 13, which is built on Android 13 Go Edition. The UI is light, lean and mean and will work even on low end systems. It has useful tools such as app lock, kids’ mode and gesture navigation.
There are a few preinstalled apps, but they are minimal and can delete. You may not receive many system updates, but for those who have minimalist usage, it works perfectly well.
Camera: Basic but Functional
At the back, the itel P55 Plus has a 50MP main camera, it takes reasonably good shots when lighting conditions are favourable.
Images are sufficiently detailed and colors are accurate, but dynamic range is on the limited side. Low-light quality is just okay, with noise and soft focus readily apparent.
The 8MP front camera is fine for selfies and video calls, but if you do want something super high quality in terms of detail and light, it won’t be the best picture you’ve ever taken. There’s also an AI beauty mode that subtly smooths out skin tones for social media shots.
Up to 12-Hour Battery Life: Go from your morning meeting to evening class without plugging in thanks to up to 12 hours of battery life.
The battery life is one of the wow factors of this phone. It is packed with 5000mAh battery which offers 1 day of normal usage even with medium level gaming and video streaming. The inclusion of 18W USB-C fast charging is a nice step up from the 10W or 15W you see in most phones at this price range.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Faster UFS 2.2 storage
And a 90Hz screen for smooth scrolling
5000mAh battery with 18W Quick charge
Fingerprint scanner on the side
Contemporary Style with High End Touches
Budget-friendly price
Cons:
HD+ resolution, not Full HD
Mediocre lowlight photography results from the camera
Not designed for intense gaming
You’ll probably run into some software updates(periodic software updates are common).
No ultrawide or macro lens
itel P55 Plus Final Verdict
The itel P55 Plus is not attempting to be the most flashiest phone out there. Instead, it’s about what matters most to the budget-conscious buyer: Decent performance, dependable battery, solid design and good storage.
It punches above its weight, especially for a phone that costs under ₹9,000.
If you’re a type that needs a reliable phone for daily chores without lags or struggles, itel P55 Plus may be one of the best choices in its group.
