The itel S24 has emerged as a compelling option in the budget smartphone market, offering a blend of impressive features and an attractive design. Here’s a comprehensive review to help you decide if it’s the right fit for you.
Design and Build Quality
The itel S24 boasts a stylish design with a color-changing back panel on the “Dawn White” variant, shifting to a soft pink under sunlight. It feels comfortable and sleek in hand, with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button for convenient unlocking. The inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack is a welcome addition for users who prefer wired audio. However, the bottom bezel is quite prominent, which might be a minor aesthetic drawback for some.
Display
The device features a 6.6-inch HD+ (720 x 1612 pixels) IPS LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate. While the resolution isn’t the sharpest, the colors are vibrant for indoor use, making it suitable for multimedia consumption. The 90Hz refresh rate provides a smoother scrolling experience. However, the outdoor brightness could be better, potentially affecting visibility under direct sunlight. It supports Widevine L1 for HD content streaming on platforms like Netflix but lacks HDR capabilities.
Performance
Powered by the MediaTek Helio G91 Ultra chipset, the itel S24 handles everyday tasks like browsing, messaging, and social media smoothly. It is available in configurations with 4GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of internal storage, with a dedicated microSD card slot for expansion. While it can handle some casual gaming, resource-intensive games like BGMI and Call of Duty: Mobile may experience lags and stutters. The phone runs on Android 13, offering a clean and user-friendly experience with some pre-installed apps.
Camera
The itel S24 sports a 108MP primary rear camera with an f/1.6 aperture and an auxiliary lens. In daylight conditions, the primary camera captures good-quality images with accurate colors and decent detail. The 8MP front-facing camera takes satisfactory selfies in good lighting. However, low-light photography performance is an area for improvement, with images appearing noisy and lacking detail. The camera app offers features like Super Night Mode, Portrait Master, and various video modes. It can record videos up to 1440p at 30fps.
Battery
The device packs a 5000mAh battery that offers good battery life, easily lasting a full day with moderate usage. It supports 18W fast charging via a USB Type-C port, allowing you to quickly top up the battery. The phone also features bypass charging, which can be useful during gaming sessions.
Price
The price of the itel S24 varies depending on the configuration and retailer. In Nigeria, the 128GB storage and 4GB RAM variant is priced around ₦118,400, while the 8GB RAM and 256GB variant can go up to ₦186,300. Prices may fluctuate, so it’s advisable to check with local retailers for the most up-to-date information.
Should You Buy the Itel S24?
Reasons to buy:
- Attractive Design: The color-changing back panel is a unique and eye-catching feature.
- Good Daylight Camera: The 108MP primary camera performs well in अच्छी lighting conditions.
- Large Battery: The 5000mAh battery provides all-day battery life.
- Stereo Speakers: The dual speakers offer a decent multimedia experience.
- Affordable Price: It offers a good set of features for its price segment.
- Expandable Storage: The dedicated microSD card slot allows for storage expansion.
- NFC Support: This is a rare feature in this price range and allows for contactless payments (market/region dependent).
Reasons not to buy:
- Low-Light Camera Performance: Images in low light may lack detail and appear noisy.
- HD+ Display: The 720p resolution might not be the sharpest for all users.
- Performance in Heavy Gaming: Resource-intensive games may experience lag.
- Outdoor Brightness: The display might struggle in direct sunlight.
- No 5G Support: If 5G connectivity is a priority, this phone does not offer it.
Advice on Buying
If you are on a tight budget and prioritize a stylish design, a good daylight camera, and long battery life for everyday tasks like social media, browsing, and watching videos, the itel S24 is a worthy contender. The inclusion of stereo speakers and NFC (depending on the region) adds to its value proposition.
However, if you are a heavy gamer, require excellent low-light camera performance, or need a high-resolution display for detailed visuals, you might need to consider slightly more expensive options.
In conclusion, the itel S24 offers a balanced set of features for its price, making it a compelling choice for budget-conscious buyers who don’t want to compromise too much on style and essential functionalities.
