After much anticipation, itel has unveiled the much-anticipated itel P55 5G smartphone that promises to redefine India’s 5G smartphone landscape. Boasting 5G network support at an unbeatable price point, the itel P55 5G emerges as India’s most affordable 5G smartphone, democratizing high-speed connectivity for a wider audience. Below is my detailed review after using the device for the past few days.
itel P55 5G Highlights
- Display: 6.6-inch HD+, 90Hz Refresh Rate, 720×1612 Pixels, 267 PPI
- Processor: Mediatek Dimensity 6080, Octa-core, Mali-G57 MC2 GPU
- Memory: 6GB RAM, 128GB Storage, Dedicated microSD Slot
- Rear Camera: 50MP Main, AI Cam, LED Flash
- Front Camera: 8MP
- Battery: 5,000mAh, 18W Fast Charging
- OS: itel OS with Android 13
- Security: Side Fingerprint Reader, Face Unlock
- Connectivity: 5G, Dual SIM, 5GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1, USB-C Port, 3.5mm Audio Jack
In the Box
- itel P55 5G
- 18W power adapter
- USB-C cable
- SIM tray ejector
- Manuals
- Transparent plastic case
- Screen protector (Pre-applied)
itel P55 5G Design
The itel P55 5G boasts a full polycarbonate construction with a matte finish on the back. Additionally, the rear panel features a subtle plastic layer that mimics the appearance of glass, elevating the device’s overall aesthetics and tactile experience. You’ll find two big camera lenses located on the top right that further enhance the device’s appearance. The phone is offered in two colors: Galaxy Blue and Mint Green. Both colors are appealing, but my personal favorite is Mint Green, which imparts an elegant and sophisticated look.
Due to the matte finish on the rear panel, it won’t attract any fingerprints. On the left side of the device, you’ll locate the SIM tray that can accommodate two Nano SIM cards and a microSD card with a capacity of up to 1TB. This tray is dual-sided, with one side dedicated to holding two SIM cards and the other side designated for the microSD card.
On the right side of the device, you’ll find the power button and volume rocker. The power button is equipped with a built-in fingerprint reader, allowing for quick and secure access to the device in a matter of seconds. Both the volume rocker and the fingerprint reader are ergonomically designed, making them easily accessible without requiring much finger stretching.
With a thickness of 8.4mm and a weight of approximately 190 grams, the device feels remarkably light. The plastic frame contributes to this lightweight feel, ensuring that even with extended use, it won’t become burdensome or feel heavy in your hand. Despite protruding slightly, the lenses prevent the device from wobbling when placed on a flat surface.
On the bottom, you’ll find a speaker, a USB-C port, a microphone, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The absence of a dual-speaker setup is completely acceptable, especially considering the phone is offered at a competitive price point. Indeed, another feature that’s absent is a secondary microphone. While its presence might enhance voice pickup, it’s not a deal breaker.
The audio output is clear and maintains its quality, even at high volume levels, without any distortion. It’s more than enough for regular music playback or voice calls on loudspeaker. You won’t find any components at the top frame, as itel has placed all the necessary parts in the bottom frame.
itel P55 5G Display
The itel P55 5G has a 6.6-inch HD+ IPS display with a resolution of 720×1612 Pixels and has a pixel density of 267PPI. The device has a 91% screen-to-body ratio and has a touch-sampling rate of 180Hz. Despite maintaining an affordable price point, Itel has successfully incorporated a 90Hz panel to deliver a smoother user experience.
The screen offers two refresh rate options: 60Hz and 90Hz. Additionally, there’s an Auto-switch Refresh Rate feature. When selected, the phone intelligently determines the optimal screen refresh rate based on your activity, balancing smoothness with battery conservation. This provides an efficient and seamless user experience. The bezels on the top, left, and right sides are all identical, but the chin is slightly larger in comparison to the other three sides.
The display features a V-shaped notch that houses the front camera, while a speaker is centrally positioned along the middle of the top frame. The screen lacks any specific glass protection, but it does come with a good-quality pre-applied screen protector. The display is well-calibrated and capable of producing good colors.
I didn’t notice any color reproduction issues when viewing the screen from various angles, and it remains readable even when used under direct sunlight when the display brightness is set to full. One notable drawback of the display is the absence of an auto-brightness mode. While indoors, readability is not an issue, even at lower brightness settings. However, challenges arise when using the device under bright sunlight. If the brightness is set low, and if you unlock the phone under bright sunlight, it can lead to difficulties in reading the screen.
Key Features of itel P55 5G
- Light & dark theme with a schedule.
- Keep the screen On always and screen timeout after a certain time interval.
- Change screen refresh rate – 60Hz, 90Hz, and Auto-switch Refresh Rate.
- Eye Care mode with customizable screen intensity and custom schedule.
- Color temperature – Cool, Default, and Warm.
- Changeable font sizes – Small, Medium, and Big.
- Auto-rotate screen On/Off.
- Ultra Touch – Change Swipe speed (Normal, fast, Ultra-fast) and Motion speed (Normal, fast).
itel P55 5G Performance
The itel P55 5G is powered by the Mediatek Dimensity 6080 octa-core chipset with Mali-G57 MC2 GPU. It’s an entry-level chipset by MediaTek that supports 5G. The device is offered in two configurations – 4GB RAM with 64GB Storage and 6GB RAM with 128GB Storage. The 4GB RAM variant is offline-exclusive, while the 6GB RAM variant is available only online via Amazon India.
Both variants support Memory Fusion technology (MemFusion), which operates in a manner similar to Extended RAM. This feature utilizes a portion of your phone’s internal storage as supplementary RAM, effectively increasing the overall RAM capacity of your device. It facilitates smooth multitasking, allowing you to run multiple applications simultaneously without experiencing noticeable lags or slowdowns.
There are three MemFusion options available: 2GB, 4GB, and 6GB. Upon initial setup, the 6GB RAM variant of the itel P55 5G is configured with 4GB of MemFusion. However, you have the option to customize the amount of additional RAM you want through the settings. You can do this by going to Settings -> RAM.
itel has also included a dedicated microSD slot, allowing you to expand the device’s storage capacity by an impressive 1TB. I’ve used this device as my main phone, and overall, I’m satisfied with its performance. I haven’t encountered any freezing or hanging problems in my day-to-day activities like using social media apps, managing emails, streaming music and YouTube, and more.
I’ve even played a few basic games like Ludo, Chess, and Clash of Clans, and they worked seamlessly without any hitches. Additionally, I didn’t experience any heating problems. Given its intended purpose, the device isn’t designed for heavy gaming, so there’s little point in testing it with resource-intensive games. From messaging to calls, office editing to emails, the phone adeptly handles nearly every day-to-day task without any issues
In terms of security, the itel P55 5G is equipped with a side-mounted fingerprint reader integrated into the power button. This reader is fast and responsive. Setting up the fingerprint reader was a quick process, taking about 10 to 15 seconds, and it registered the fingerprints promptly without any hiccups. The reader is capable of detecting even slightly damp fingers, although it may struggle with completely wet ones. You can register up to five different fingerprints.
The itel P55 also offers Face Unlock functionality. While not as secure as the fingerprint reader, it is notably more responsive and faster. Once activated, simply bring the phone in front of your face, press the power button, and it swiftly unlocks. Additionally, there’s an option to brighten the screen in low-light conditions to assist the camera in recognizing your face.
The itel P55 5G is Widevine L1 certified, enabling you to stream high-definition content on various streaming platforms. During the review, I was able to watch HD content on YouTube and Hotstar, but I wasn’t able to stream HD content on Amazon Prime. I played a couple of HD videos on YouTube, going as high as 1440p at 60 fps for a few minutes, and I didn’t encounter any issues. The device remained at a normal temperature, and no signs of heating were observed.
itel P55 5G Battery
The itel P55 5G is equipped with a 5,000mAh Lithium polymer battery that supports 18W rapid charging. During my testing, I observed that the itel P55 5G took around 2 hours and 40 minutes to charge from 1% to full capacity.
During my test, the battery held up for the entire day. At the end of the day, there was still about 30% battery left. I did regular tasks like checking emails, chatting on WhatsApp, taking a few photos, browsing over Chrome, listening to music, a couple of YouTube videos, using social media, and making a few voice and video calls.
The device was set to 90Hz mode, and I didn’t play any games. Additionally, there was only one SIM card (Jio 4G) in the phone, which used a mix of 4G and 5G networks. Most of the time, the device was connected to my home Wi-Fi. In the box, you’ll find an itel branded 18W charger and a good-quality USB-C cable.
I’m satisfied with how long the battery lasts, but it takes a bit longer to charge. There are some useful built-in features in Battery Lab that help you further extend the battery life. itel provides a specialized section in the Settings known as Battery Lab, offering a range of features designed to optimize battery performance. Within this section, you’ll discover numerous options aimed at extending battery life.
AI Smart Charge: This feature works like the Adaptive Charging feature in the newest Pixel phones. When turned on, it studies how you usually charge your phone and adjusts the charging speed to protect the battery and ensure safe charging. So, if you leave your phone plugged in all night, it will only charge to a certain point and then finish up just before you wake up. This helps make your battery last longer overall. You can activate this setting in Settings -> Battery Lab -> Charge -> AI Smart Charge.
Power Boost: This feature helps the battery last longer. It does this by doing things like making the screen refresh less often, turning off location for apps, using dark colors, and switching off Wi-Fi when not in use. You can do all of these things at once by pressing ‘Enable Power Boost’. You can also choose to do some of them one by one.
- Notify Battery Draining Apps: The battery lab automatically detects which apps consume the battery power and lets you optimize with a couple of taps.
- Ultra Power Saving Mode: This mode significantly increases the battery life by only keeping the most important apps (up to 6) running.
- Additional Battery Saving Settings: You can further optimize the battery life by enabling additional options such as Sleep Standby Optimization, Short Video Optimization, and Adaptive Battery and Screen Off Optimization.
- Low Battery Shutdown Warning: You’ll receive a warning 30 seconds before your device shuts down because of a low battery.
- Charging Complete Tone: It plays a sound to let you know when charging is finished.
Wired Reverse Charging: One of the most practical features of the itel P55 5G is its Wired Reverse Charging capability. This means you can charge other devices like a smartphone or tablet by connecting them with a compatible cable. This can be really useful when you’re in a situation where you need to charge another device that’s compatible, but you don’t have access to a power outlet or a power bank.
This feature has been tried and tested on the Google Pixel 7a, OnePlus Nord, and OnePlus Nord 2T, and it performs admirably. When you link the itel P55 5G with another smartphone, such as the Pixel 7a, using a USB-C to C cable, the itel P55 5G will show a message. Select the ‘Large-current charging’ option, and the connected device will begin charging through the itel P55 5G.
Charging Safety Protection: The itel P55 5G comes with several safety measures to improve battery and charging security. You can get detailed information about these safety features in Settings -> Battery Lab -> Charge -> Charging Safety Protection.
itel P55 5G Software
The itel P55 5G runs on itel OS, which is built upon Android 13. It includes various tailored adjustments aimed at improving the user’s interaction with the device. This means it doesn’t have the Stock Android look and feel, as itel has made notable modifications to elevate the user experience. The first noticeable change is the absence of the Google Discover feed. itel has replaced it with Sharp News, which provides news stories tailored to your interests.
When you swipe right on the home screen, you’ll find a quick access panel containing frequently used apps, One-touch RAM boost, Step counter, Sharp News feed, Tips, and Important dates. You can disable the Sharp News feature from the settings. At the top of the panel, you’ll also see the date, current temperature, and your current location. You cannot disable the swipe-right panel. I haven’t noticed any ads or recommendations except in the Sharp News, which is enabled by default in the swipe-right panel. However, it can be easily disabled in the settings.
The device comes with essential Google Apps already installed. Additionally, there are some third-party apps like Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, Palm Store, Visha Player, WPS Office, Spotify, and others. You can delete some of these apps, while others can be disabled if you don’t want to use them. When you open the app drawer, you’ll see all the apps installed on your phone. At the top, you’ll find the Recent Apps section. Unfortunately, there is no direct option to remove the Recent Apps section, but you can hide all apps one by one (By long pressing on it) to remove the Recent App section from the drawer.
itel comes with its own pre-installed Dialer and Contacts app. The Contacts app allows you to safely back up your phone contacts to your Google account through its Sync feature. The itel Dialer offers both Auto and Manual call recording options. Additionally, there’s a handy “Flash for Calls” feature that will continuously alert you with a flash if your phone is locked and you have an incoming call.
Furthermore, the Dialer includes a built-in Unknown Number Identification feature. This feature helps in reporting and identifying unknown numbers for calls and messages. Though there isn’t much detailed information on how this works, the Dialer app regularly updates its Spam data. You also have the option to set it for automatic updates or manually update it yourself.
itel P55 5G Features
- Downloadable themes and wallpaper from the itel store.
- Gesture controls: Slide Up/Down, Slide Up with 2 Fingers, Pinch In with 2 Fingers, etc.
- Hide apps from the launcher.
- My Video Shows – Set a video background for an incoming call.
- DTS Sound: Smart, Music, Video Game.
- Equalizer with manual control.
- Aivana Voice Assistant – Check here for more info.
- Smart Panel: Access commonly used functions, including a virtual volume bar.
- Social Turbo: Voice Changer, Video Retouching, Voice Recorder, Peek Mode, Sticker Maker, Flashlight notification for WhatsApp, Clean WhatsApp Memes.
- Game Mode with Game Assistant Panel.
- Dual Apps: Facebook, Messenger and Instagram.
- Video Assistant: Prevent notifications while watching videos.
- Kide Mode: App Management, Bad Posture Alert, Auto Eye Care, Time Limit and more.
- i-Smart: Quick Start, Tapping Wake, Music Gestures, Flip Mute, Answer Calls with a Gesture, Full-screen and Partial screen capture.
- Mobile Anti-theft: Check here for more info.
- Harassment Filter: Block unknown numbers.
- Build-in Health app: Steps, Calories, Weight Management, Manual workouts, Custom workout plans, and more.
- Built-in FM Radio.
As mentioned earlier, the itel P55 5G runs on itel OS, based on Android 13. itel hasn’t provided information about future Android updates. There’s a possibility of receiving an Android 14 update in the coming months. However, there’s no official confirmation. It is anticipated that itel may release security updates on a quarterly basis. We’ll provide an update once we receive official confirmation from the company.
itel P55 5G Connectivity
One of the key features of the itel P55 5G is its 5G++ NRCA support. This technology provides superior 5G connectivity and faster internet speeds, even in areas with limited network coverage. Additionally, it ensures improved connectivity indoors or in places like basements. The device supports a wide range of bands, including n1, n3, n5, n8, n28, n38, n40, n41, n77, and n78, ensuring better compatibility. Furthermore, the device is compatible with Smart 5G, which intelligently switches between 4G and 5G networks to conserve battery life.
The device is compatible with Wi-Fi 5 (2.4 / 5 GHz), Bluetooth 5.1, Dual VoLTE, VoWiFi, and GPS. I used the device with a Jio 4G network and did not encounter any network-related problems. All voice calls, including Voice over LTE (VoLTE) and Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi), were crystal clear, and I did not notice any connectivity hiccups. I also conducted a 5G test on the Jio 5G network and achieved an impressive average speed of 980 Mbps.
itel P55 5G Rear Camera
The itel P55 5G comes with a dual-camera setup at the back, consisting of a 50MP primary camera and an AI camera. Itel has included various customization choices in the camera app, allowing users to take AI-enhanced photos and creative, playful pictures. Check out all the camera modes supported by itel P55 5G below.
- Film Mode: This mode provides a variety of templates tailored for specific occasions such as Party, Motion, Performance, Travel, Vintage, Family, Street, Super Star, Beats, and Sports. Selecting the right mode for the situation will lead to an improved outcome.
- Video: Shoot videos in 720@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 1080p@60fps, and 2K@30fps. It also supports Bokeh video that blurs the background and highlights the character and Face retouching.
- AI Cam: This is the default camera mode, and you can enable or disable the AI features based on your preference. This mode also supports a 50MP setting, allowing you to capture high-resolution images. It also supports 2X zoom.
- Beauty Mode: It includes various AI-powered features like Face Retouching and Body Retouching. Some of the features include AI smart body, Slim body, Slim head, Slim legs, etc.
- Portrait mode with light patterns like Natural light, Mono backgrounds, Tree shadow, etc.
- Short video mode: This includes various video effects, and you can also control the amount of AI effect needed.
- Slow-motion: Capture slow-motion videos at 120 fps or 240 fps.
- Time-lapse: Capture time-lapse videos at 2K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, and 720p@30fps.
- Super night mode: Improved low-light photos.
- AR-Shot: Take fun photos with AR filtes.
- Pro mode: Manually control ISO, White Balance, Auto Focus, Shutter Speed etc.
- Panorama: Capture Panorama shots.
- Documents: A special mode to capture documents.
- Dual-video: Record videos from both front and rear cameras simultaneously.
- Sky Shop: When the sky is captured, a special AI effect will be applied to the sky for an enhanced output
Rear Camera Samples
Check out the images captured using itel P55 5G below. Please note that all the images have been resized and compressed to enhance user experience with faster loading times. Consequently, the quality may appear slightly diminished due to compression. All the images were shot using the default camera app with default settings.
The camera has a lot of AI features, but they don’t always work perfectly. Sometimes, I get good detailed images, but other times, the colors don’t come out right. Under good lighting conditions, the image quality appears respectable, with vibrant colors that enhance the likability of the photos. However, there is room for improvement regarding finer details and dynamic range. In most cases, the camera manages to capture decent colors, but it tends to struggle with maintaining a proper balance between highlights and shadows. Nevertheless, considering the price at which it is offered, the camera performs adequately.
itel P55 5G Front Camera
The itel P55 5G comes with an 8MP front camera that is housed inside the display notch. Just like the rear camera, the front camera also comes with various modes, including Film, Video, AI CAM, Beauty, Portrait, Short Video, Time-lapse, AR Shot, and Wide Selfie. Coming to the video, you can record 2K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, and 720@fps videos using the front camera.
The Beauty mode offers Face Retouching and Makeup capabilities. Face Retouching includes AI Makeup as well as additional filters like Natural, Warm, First Love, Venus, and more. The Makeup feature lets you refine skin texture, adjust tone, and fine-tune facial parameters. In optimal lighting conditions, the camera captures high-quality selfies with a good level of detail. AI optimization may lead to subtle variations in skin tone. While the portrait mode functions adequately, its edge detection is only average.
Itel has also integrated a handy feature called Smile Shot. Once you enable Smile Shot, there is no need to tap on the screen to hit the shutter button to capture the selfies. Simply open the selfie camera and smile, and the photo will be taken instantly. I’ve put this feature to the test several times, and it worked flawlessly on each occasion. You can activate Smile Shote from Camera Settings -> Shooting Methods -> Enable Smile Shot.
What I Like
- Light-weight design
- Consistent performance
- Good visual experience
- Decent cameras
- 5G support
- Ample storage
- Very good battery life
- 2-year warranty
What I Didn’t Like
- No auto-brightness option
- Slow charging
- Unreliable AI features in the camera
itel P55 5G Opinion
The itel P55 5G is primarily an entry-level smartphone that offers 5G support at an incredible price of ₹9,999. With card discounts, the price can even drop further to as low as ₹8,999. Despite maintaining highly competitive pricing, itel has managed to provide a 90Hz display and 50MP rear camera. Additionally, the device comes with a Mediatek chipset, 6GB of RAM, and a generous 128GB of storage.
There are a couple of drawbacks to consider. Firstly, there’s a concern about software updates. Itel hasn’t given any official word on this. Secondly, the device may have some useful customizations, but it’s missing some basic user interface features like hiding recent apps, disabling the swipe-right menu, and the quick shortcuts menu might be a bit confusing. A significant downside of the display is the absence of an auto-brightness sensor. This means that in bright outdoor conditions, especially under direct sunlight, it might be hard to see the screen when the brightness is set to the lowest level.
Itel has really delivered with the P55 5G. It offers 5G support, a dependable MediaTek chipset, 6GB of RAM, a good 90Hz display, and a generous 128GB of storage. The inclusion of a dedicated microSD slot, wired reverse charging, USB-C port, and a 3.5mm audio jack is a plus. The software runs smoothly without any lag, and the design is clean and lightweight.
What’s more, the price is a steal at just ₹8,999 with a card discount. The added perks of a 2-year warranty, free screen replacement within 100 days of purchase, and a complimentary plastic case in the box make it even more appealing. If you’re on the hunt for an affordable 5G smartphone with a 90Hz display and ample storage, the itel P55 5G won’t disappoint. It currently stands as the most budget-friendly, No-compromise 5G smartphone in the Indian market.
itel P55 5G Case
Itel provides a complimentary transparent plastic case along with a pre-applied screen protector in the package. While the included case is of decent quality, it may not offer robust protection against accidental drops due to its fragility. For enhanced protection, it is recommended to use a good-quality third-party case.
itel P55 5G Pricing, Colors, and Availability
The itel P55 5G comes in two shades – Galaxy Blue and Mint Green. The 4GB RAM with 64GB Storage variant is priced at ₹9,699 and is exclusively available in offline stores across India. The 6GB RAM with 128GB Storage variant is priced at ₹9,999 and will be exclusively available via Amazon India. The device is covered by a 2-year limited warranty, which includes a one-time screen replacement within the first 100 days from the date of purchase. The itel P55 5G is manufactured in India under the Make-in-India initiative.
itel P55 5G Full Specifications
| Model Number | itel P661N |
| Display | 6.6-inch HD+ IPS 267PPI G+F, Incell 720 x 1612 Pixels 90Hz Screen-refresh Rate 180Hz Touch-sampling Rate 91% Screen-to-body Ratio |
| Processor | Mediatek Dimensity 6080 Octa-core Mali-G57 MC2 GPU |
| OS | itel OS based on Android 13 |
| RAM | 4GB (+4GB Memory Fusion) 6GB (+6GB Memory Fusion) |
| Storage | 64GB 128GB UMCP microSD Up to 1TB (Dedicated) |
| Front Camera | 8MP 1080P@30fps Recording |
| Rear Camera | 50MP (Primary), f/1.6 AI Cam LED Flash 720/1080p/2K@30fps 1080p@60fps Slow Motion Time-lapse Dual Video |
| Battery | 5,000mAh Li-Polymer 18W Charging |
| Connectivity | Dual SIM (2+1 Slot) 5G++ NRCA Support Wi-Fi 5 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac) Bluetooth 5.1 USB-C Port, USB OTG 3.5mm Audio Jack GPS, FM Radio |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient Light Magnetometer Proximity Gyroscope |
| Security | Side Fingerprint Reader Face Unlock |
| Network Bands | 2G: B2, B3, B5, B8 3G: B1, B5, B8 4G: B1, B3, B5, B8, B28, B38, B40, B41(160M) 5G: n1, n3, n5, n8, n28, n38, n40, n41, n77, n78 |
| Dimensions | Height: 164 mm Width: 75 mm Thickness: 8.4mm Weight: 190 Grams |
| Power Adapter Rating | Model: U180llB Input:100-240V ~ 50/60Hz, 0.6A Output: 5V ~ 2.4A, 7.5V ~ 2.4A, 18W Max |
| SAR Value | Check here |
| Colors | Galaxy Blue Mint Green |
Disclosure: itel India provided me with the itel P55 5G 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 P55 5G.