Itel recently introduced the itel A70 in India, marking the launch of the country’s most cost-effective 256GB smartphone. This follows their release of the itel P55 5G (review), the most affordable 5G smartphone. The itel A70 stands out not just for its ample storage, but also for features like 12GB dynamic RAM, a front LED flash, and a dynamic bar. I have been testing this smartphone for the past two weeks, and here’s my in-depth review based on my experience with the device over this period.
itel A70 Highlights
- Display: 6.6-inch HD+, 60Hz Refresh Rate, 720×1612 Pixels, 267 PPI
- Processor: Unisoc T603 Octa-core Processor, Mali G57 MP1 GPU
- Memory: 4GB RAM, 256GB Storage, Dedicated microSD Slot
- Rear Camera: 13MP + AI Cam, LED Flash
- Front Camera: 8MP, LED Flash
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- OS: itel OS 13 with Android 13 Go Edition
- Security: Side Fingerprint Reader, Face Unlock
- Connectivity: 4G, Dual SIM, 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C Port, 3.5mm Audio Jack
In the Box
- itel A70
- Power adapter (5V/2A)
- USB-C cable
- SIM ejector pin
- Manuals
- Black plastic case (Matte)
- Screen protector (Pre-applied)
itel A70 Design
The itel A70 boasts a sturdy and premium appearance with its all-plastic construction. Available in four vibrant colors – Field Green, Azure Blue, Brilliant Gold, and Starlish Black. The one I got is Azure Blue, and it looks pretty nice and eye-catching. The back of the phone is shiny but feels smooth, like matte. It’s easy to hold and comfortable in your hand. The weight is distributed well, so you won’t feel tired even if you use the phone for a long time, especially when watching videos.
Interestingly, you won’t find the itel logo anywhere on the phone, except for a small text that says ‘Awesome / Design by itel’ at the bottom left on the back. It’s almost invisible and hard to notice unless you look at it from an angle. Despite the device having a dual-camera setup, the three black rings on the rear give the impression of a triple-camera arrangement.
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The first two cameras are positioned inside the rings in a straight line, while the third ring accommodates the LED light. Even though the lenses slightly stick out, they help to keep the device stable and prevent it from wobbling when it’s placed on a flat surface. The matte finish on the back panel prevents it from attracting fingerprints.
On the left side, there’s a tray with three slots where you can insert two nano SIM cards and a microSD card. On the right side, you’ll see the power button and volume rocker. The power button also has a fingerprint reader built into it, which lets you unlock the device quickly and securely in a couple of seconds. Both the volume rocker and the fingerprint reader are designed for easy access, so you don’t have to stretch your fingers too much.
At the bottom, there’s a 3.5mm audio jack, a microphone, a USB-C port, and a speaker grille. Although the lack of a dual-speaker setup is understandable, given the competitive price of the phone, it’s worth noting that there’s no secondary microphone. While having a secondary microphone could improve voice pickup.
The audio output remains clear and maintains its quality, even at high volume levels, with no distortion. It’s more than sufficient for regular music playback or loudspeaker calls. All the necessary components are placed in the bottom frame, so there are no elements in the top frame.
itel A70 Display
The itel A70 features a 6.6-inch HD+ IPS display with a resolution of 720×1612 pixels, providing a pixel density of 267 PPI. The device boasts a touch-sampling rate of 180Hz and supports a brightness of 500 nits. The bezels on all three sides are slim and uniform, though the chin is slightly larger than the other three sides. The display delivers ample brightness and vibrant colors.
The display features a V-notch that accommodates the front camera, and a speaker is centrally located along the middle of the top frame. Although the screen lacks specific glass protection like Corning or Panda, etc., which is acceptable given the aggressive pricing of the phone. It does come with a high-quality pre-applied screen protector. Moreover, the phone appears durable and should offer reasonable protection in the event of a fall from a lower height.
Similar to the itel P55 5G, this device also lacks an Auto brightness feature, requiring manual brightness control. Indoors, there’s no issue, but when outdoors, especially in bright sunlight, it becomes difficult to read the screen if the brightness is set too low. With its 500-nit brightness capability, the device allows for easy readability under direct sunlight when the brightness is set to the maximum. The photos below is taken under direct sunlight, with the brightness set to 100%.
Another noteworthy feature of the itel A70 is the presence of a front LED flash. Positioned on the right side of the frame, it’s almost invisible. The flash activates when you set the front camera flash to On or Auto. You can also use it as a flashlight. Simply open the viewfinder, switch the camera to the front, and set the flash to On.
itel A70 Display Settings
- Light & dark them with an option to schedule.
- Keep screen on: Enable/disable.
- Screen timeout: Minutes/seconds.
- Eye care: Custom schedule, Screen intensity control.
- Auto-rotate screen: Enable/disable.
- Lift to check phone: Enable/disable.
- Font size: Small, medium, and large
- Status bar: Show/hide Internet speed, battery percentage, and notification icon.
itel itel A70 Performance
The itel A70 runs on the Unisoc T603 Octa-core Chipset, accompanied by the Mali-G57 MP1 GPU. It is available in three versions, all equipped with 4GB of RAM. However, they vary in storage capacity: 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB. A notable feature of the device is its Dynamic RAM, referred to by itel as MemFusion. With this feature, you can expand the RAM size by up to 12GB. This entails having 4GB of onboard RAM and the ability to add up to 8GB of dynamic RAM.
This feature uses some of your phone’s storage to give it more power, making it work better. It helps your phone handle many tasks at once without slowing down. By default, the device has 4GB extra power, but you can change it to 2GB or 8GB in Settings -> Special Functions -> MemFusion. It doesn’t function exactly like having 12GB of built-in RAM, but you’ll notice a significant improvement in your daily operations.
In addition to pattern and pin security, the device also features a fingerprint reader and supports face unlock. The fingerprint reader is quick and responsive, unlocking the device even if your fingers are slightly wet. You don’t have to press the button; a gentle tap with the registered finger is enough to unlock the device swiftly. Throughout my review period, I didn’t encounter any issues with the fingerprint reader, and it worked smoothly without any problems.
The itel A70 also includes Face Unlock as well. Although not as secure as the fingerprint reader, it stands out for its quick and responsive performance. To unlock the phone with Face Unlock, just bring it in front of your face and press the power button, and it will swiftly unlock. Moreover, there’s a feature that brightens the screen in lowlight situations, aiding the camera in recognizing your face.
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The itel A70 is Widevine L3 certified, allowing you to stream videos in up to 720p resolution. In my testing, I could watch HD content on YouTube at 720p. The device stayed at a regular temperature even after watching for over 45 minutes, and there were no signs of overheating.
The device adeptly manages daily tasks such as using Facebook and Instagram, handling emails, and streaming music and YouTube. However, when dealing with more demanding apps, especially with multiple apps running in the background, some challenges can be encountered. There are instances where the device slows down but swiftly recovers without significantly impacting the user experience. The RAM management is commendable, as the device reliably recalls apps even after some time has passed.
I’ve tried playing some simple games like Ludo, Chess, Cut the Rope, and Hill Climb Racing, and they ran smoothly without any issues. Moreover, I didn’t encounter any heating problems. However, due to its entry-level nature, it’s not suitable for resource-intensive games. The phone performs well in everyday tasks like sending messages, sharing media on WhatsApp, using social media apps, making voice and video calls, and streaming music and videos.
itel A70 Battery
The itel A70 is equipped with a 5,000mAh Li-poly battery and supports 10W charging. In my testing, I found that the itel A70 takes approximately 4 hours and 15 minutes to charge from 1% to full capacity. This charging speed is notably slow compared to other phones in the same segment, marking it as a significant drawback for the smartphone.
Despite the slower charging speed, in my test, the battery managed to last the entire day. By the end of the day, about 28% battery remained. Throughout the day, I performed regular tasks like checking emails, messaging on WhatsApp, taking a few photos, browsing on Google Chrome, listening to music on YouTube, and using social media apps like X, Facebook, and Instagram.
Additionally, there were a few voice and video calls. In my testing, the MemFusion was set to 8GB, and the phone had only one SIM, which was Jio 4G. The device was mostly connected to my home Wi-Fi during this period. You’ll find an itel branded 10W charger in the box and a good-quality USB-C cable. Check out all the battery-centric features of itel A70 below.
- Power Boost: This functionality enhances battery life by implementing various measures such as disabling location for apps, employing a dark theme, and turning off Wi-Fi when idle.
- Ultra Power Saving Mode: This mode substantially extends battery life by allowing only the essential apps (up to 6) to remain active.
- Sleep Standby Optimization: Automatically enable flight mode based on your sleep patterns.
- Short Video Optimization and Screen Off Optimization.
- Charging Safety Protection: Similar to the P55 5G, the A70 incorporates multiple safety measures to enhance battery and charging security. For details on these safety features, navigate to Settings -> Battery Lab -> Charge -> Charging Safety Protection.
itel A70 Software
The itel A70 runs on itel OS 13, which is built on Android 13 Go Edition—a streamlined version of Android 13. It comes pre-installed with essential Google Go Edition apps. In addition to the mandatory Google apps, itel has included a selection of third-party applications such as Facebook Lite, Spotify, Vishal Player, Welife, Palm Store, and others. While some of these apps can be installed or disabled, a few are non-removable or cannot be disabled. Moreover, a few apps, including Palm Store, may send you recommendations, but you can easily disable these notifications.
The itel A70 UI has minimum bloatware and also doesn’t have the Google Discover feed or the Quick Access panel seen in P55 5G. You will have a few options to customize the homepage. Itel has also added a few helpful widgets like Weather and Calendar, similar to iPhone’s widgets, which work well. You see all your apps in the app drawer, and at the top is the Recent Apps section. You can’t remove it directly, but you can hide apps one by one (by holding them down) to get rid of the Recent Apps section.
The Itel A70 comes with its pre-installed Dialer and Contacts app. With the Contacts app, you can back up your phone contacts to your Google account and record calls manually or automatically. It also supports a “Flash for Calls” feature that flashes to alert you when there’s an incoming call, even if your phone is locked.
Moreover, the Dialer supports the Unknown Number Identification feature. This functionality aids in reporting and identifying unknown numbers for both calls and messages. The Dialer app consistently updates its Spam data. You can choose to set it for automatic updates or manually update it yourself.
itel A70 Key Features
- Smart network allocation: Prioritizing and ensuring network resources for currently active applications.
- Smart dual channel: intelligently select Wi-Fi or mobile data to enhance the Internet experience.
- Auto switch to mobile data: Automatically switch to mobile data if the Wi-Fi network cannot access the Internet.
- Smart Wi-Fi: Location-based Wi-Fi operations.
- Downloadable themes and wallpaper from the itel store.
- Gesture controls: Slide Up/Down, Slide Up with 2 Fingers, Pinch in/Pinch out, Clockwise rotate
- Dynamic bar: Face unlock, Background call, Charging animation, Charge completion reminder, and Low battery reminder.
- Built-in FM Radio.
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The scrolling experience throughout the UI was smooth, and I did not observe any jitters. Overall, the user experience is very good on the itel A70, and itel has done well in terms of optimization. We currently lack information about future Android updates for the itel A70 from itel.
There is a possibility that itel may release security updates quarterly for the next two years, but this is not confirmed. Given that it’s an entry-level phone, the chances of receiving the next major Android update are uncertain but not ruled out. We’ll provide updates as soon as we receive more information from the company.
itel A70 Connectivity
The device supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, Dual VoLTE, and GPS. I used the device with an Airtel network and didn’t face any network-related issues. Voice calls, including VoLTE, were clear, and I didn’t experience any connectivity problems.
itel A70 Rear Camera
The itel A70 is equipped with a dual-camera setup at the back, featuring a 13MP primary camera supported by an AI camera. The camera offers various modes such as Video, Photo, Portrait, Lowlight, Pro, Panorama, and HDR. In the regular Photo mode, AI Beauty is supported, allowing you to control the intensity of AI enhancements applied to the image. This mode also automatically recognizes scenes and adjusts parameters in real time for optimal quality.
The rear camera allows you to shoot videos in 1080p and 720p at 30 frames per second. Unfortunately, the device does not support time-lapse or slow-motion videography. You can customize the photo quality and ratio from the camera settings and enable an option that allows you to capture pictures by tapping on the fingerprint reader.
Rear Camera Samples
The 13MP rear camera captures good photos with sufficient details in favorable lighting conditions. It maintains decent image quality, ensuring clarity and sharpness in the pictures. However, they show noticeable noise when used in lowlight settings. Check out a few camera sample shot on itel A70 below.
Note: It’s important to mention that all images have been resized and compressed to improve user experience by reducing loading times. As a result, the quality may seem slightly reduced due to the compression. It’s worth noting that all the images were taken using the default camera app with default settings.
itel A70 Front Camera
The itel A70 features an 8MP front camera housed within the display notch, accompanied by an LED flash on the frame’s right side. The front camera supports various modes, including Video, Photo, Portrait, Lowlight, Wide-selfie, and HDR. Additionally, you can record 1080p and 720p videos at 30 frames per second using the front camera.
Similar to the rear camera, the front camera also supports AI mode and allows you to control the intensity of AI enhancements. However, it’s important to note that AI mode functions only in the regular photo mode and not in portrait mode. The front camera also has a Smile Shot, which automatically takes a photo when you smile without pressing the shutter button. Additionally, a Wide-Selfie mode lets you capture wide-angle selfies using software techniques.
Surprisingly, the front camera performs better than anticipated and can take some nice selfies suitable for social media posting. The AI might change the skin tone a bit. Even though it’s an entry-level phone, the selfie camera is quite impressive for its price. It works well indoors and outdoors with good details under good lighting conditions. The regular photo mode is more than enough for regular selfies unless you want to use some AI enhancements.
itel A70 Free Case
While maintaining competitive pricing and including a pre-applied screen protector, itel goes the extra mile by providing a complimentary case with the phone. The case, in an elegant all-black color with a matte finish, features the distinctive Awesome branding on the rear. It fits well with proper openings for buttons and sides. Notably, the case has slight protrusions near the rear camera, safeguarding it from scratches when the phone is placed on a flat surface. Boasting good-quality construction, the case offers more than sufficient protection against scratches from everyday usage.
What I Like
- Massive 256 storage
- Excellent build quality
- Good visual experience
- Decent front camera
- Front LED flash
- Excellent battery life
- Good software experience
What I Didn’t Like
- No auto-brightness option
- Slow charging
- Poor vibration motor
itel A70 Opinion
Unveiling the initial smartphone of 2024, itel aims to reshape the budget segment with innovative features, embracing a more assertive strategy this year. The itel A70 emerges as an entry-level smartphone tailored for individuals requiring ample storage without breaking the bank. Packed with an expansive 256GB storage, a high-quality HD+ display, 12GB dynamic RAM, a responsive Android 13 Go Edition, Front LED flash, decent cameras, durable design, and a reliable 5000mAh battery lasting all day, this device offers compelling value at an affordable price of under ₹7,299.
The 256GB model of the itel A70 is currently accessible for ₹6,799 as part of the Republic Day offer on Amazon. Additionally, you can benefit from an instant SBI card discount of ₹679, reducing the final price to ₹6,120, making it an exceptional steal of a deal. If you’re in search of a budget-friendly smartphone with 256GB storage, the itel A70 offers an unbeatable deal.
itel A70 Pricing, Colors, and Availability
The itel A70 comes in four colors: Field Green, Azure Blue, Brilliant Gold, and Stylish Black. It’s available in three different memory and storage options: the 4GB/64GB at ₹6,299, the 4GB/128GB at ₹6,799, and the 4GB/256GB at ₹7,299. You can buy this phone on Amazon.in and also itel partner stores in India. The itel A70 comes with a one-year limited warranty. This includes a one-time free screen replacement if needed within the first 100 days after you buy it.
itel A70 Full Specifications
| Model Number | itel A665L |
| Display | 6.6-inch HD+ IPS LCD 269 PPI 720 x 1612 Pixels Waterdrop Notch 60Hz Screen-refresh Rate 120Hz Touch-sampling Rate 500-nits Brightness |
| Processor | Unisoc T603 Octa-core Mali G57 MP1 GPU |
| OS | itel OS 13 Android 13 Go Edition |
| RAM | 4GB On-board 8GB Dynamic RAM |
| Storage | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB microSD Up to 2TB |
| Front Camera | 8MP LED Flash 720p/1080P@30fps Portrait Mode Wide Selfie |
| Rear Camera | 13MP (Primary) AI Cam LED Flash 720/1080p@30fps HDR Mode Pro Mode |
| Battery | 5,000mAh Li-Polymer |
| Connectivity | Dual SIM (2+1 Slot) Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n) Bluetooth 5.0 USB-C Port, USB OTG 3.5mm Audio Jack GPS, FM Radio |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Magnetometer Proximity Gyroscope |
| Security | Side Fingerprint Reader Face Unlock |
| Dimensions | Height: 16.4 cm Width: 7.6 cm Thickness: 0.9 cm Weight: 187 Grams |
| Power Adapter Rating | Model: U100llB Input:100-240V ~ 50/60Hz, 0.35A Output: 5.0V ~ 2.0A |
| SAR Value | Check here |
| Colors | Field Green Azure Blue Brilliant Gold Starlish Black |
Disclosure: itel India provided me with the itel A70 unit for review. This review is entirely based on my personal experience and research, without any incentives received for its publication. Please note that the review contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you click on them and make a purchase of the itel A70.