itel is known for manufacturing affordable yet feature-packed Android smartphones, and their latest budget offering – the itel P55T – looks to continue that trend. Priced accessibly, the itel P55T aims to provide users with a smooth and enjoyable experience on a day-to-day basis without breaking the bank. Let’s take a closer look at what this affordable smartphone has to offer.
Design and Display
Starting with its design, the itel P55T sports a unibody plastic construction that is lightweight and easy to hold. It has curved edges and a compact form factor that makes it comfortable for one-handed use. On the front, it features a 6.6-inch HD+ IPS LCD screen with a 20:9 aspect ratio and a waterdrop notch at the top for the selfie camera.
The display provides vibrant colors and sharp text thanks to its HD+ resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels. Videos and games look bright and detailed on this large screen. Itel has also included a scratch resistant cover on the display to protect it from accidental bumps and scuffs during regular use.
On the right side, you’ll find the volume rocker and power button which provide tactile feedback. Both sides are uniformly curved to nestle comfortably in the palm. The rear panel has a simple texture finish and houses the triple camera module along with an LED flash in the top left corner. Overall, the design is no-nonsense yet appealing for the price.
Hardware and Performance
Under the hood, the itel P55T is powered by a MediaTek Helio A22 quad-core processor clocked up to 2GHz, paired with 3GB of RAM. This ensures snappy performance for basic tasks like messaging, calling, browsing social media and more. The integrated Mali-G57 MP1 GPU handles graphics well for casual games too.
Storage-wise, there is 32GB of onboard storage that can be expanded up to 256GB via a dedicated microSD card slot. So you get ample room to store all your photos, videos, apps and files. It runs on Android 11 (Go edition) which is optimized for low-end devices. The interface is clean and intuitive with no bloatware.
During my review period, I faced no lag or stutters while multitasking between apps. Loading multiple social media feeds and web pages was relatively fast. Even graphics-intensive games like Asphalt 9 ran smoothly at medium settings. The fingerprint sensor on the rear responded quickly to unlock the phone. Overall, for basic day to day usage, the P55T’s performance is quite commendable given its price point.
Camera Specifications
For imaging, the itel P55T sports a triple rear camera system comprising a 13MP primary sensor, a 2MP depth shooter, and a 2MP macro lens. On the front, it has an 8MP selfie snapper housed in the waterdrop notch.
The primary sensor captures good dynamic range shots in ample lighting. Details are preserved well and colors look natural. Portrait shots with live bokeh come out nicely with well-defined edge detection. Closeup macro shots have decent clarity. Low-light photos understandably have noise but are still usable.
For selfies, the 8MP front camera takes lively and well-lit images. Beautification mode can be toggled as needed. You also get a range of editing filters and effects. Video recording maxes out at 1080p30fps on both front and back cameras. Overall, the cameras are capable enough for casual photography on a budget.
Battery Life
To ensure all-day usage, itel has equipped the P55T with a sizable 5,000mAh battery. During my testing, with moderate usage including calls, messaging, clicking photos, 1-2 hours of music streaming, and casual browsing/gaming, the phone easily lasted over 1.5 days on a single charge.
Even with heavy gaming/streaming spanning 3-4 hours in a day, it still didn’t need charging until the next evening. The phone also supports fast charging, though itel only bundles a 10W charger in the box. With this, it took around 2.5 hours for a full refill. Safe to say, battery life is one of the P55T’s biggest strengths.
Accessories and Software Features
Out of the box, users get all the basic necessities like a 10W charger, USB cable, documentation, and a transparent silicone case for protection. Software-wise, some notable apps preinstalled are Google Duo for video calling and Candycrush Friends Saga for casual gaming. The Google Play store allows for discovering more.
Safety features include face unlock, fingerprint sensor, screen lock patterns, and fingerprints. You also get features like Dual Apps, Digital Wellbeing, App lock, Gesture control for navigation, Game mode with notification controls etc. Connectivity options are dual 4G VoLTE, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, OTG support, and 3.5mm audio jack.
Verdict
Priced at just NGN 115,000 in Nigeria, the itel P55T is an excellent choice if your budget is tight but you still need a capable all-rounder device. It delivers on performance, battery life, user-friendliness and cameras way beyond what you’d expect at this cost. The HD+ display, side-mounted fingerprint sensor and expandable storage are other welcomed additions.
While build quality can be improved and low light photos could be better, itel has definitely optimized the P55T experience-wise. For basic daily needs, it proves to be flawlessly dependable. With after-sales service also on offer, itel aims to give value and reliability over time. If you need an affordable phone that just works without fuss, the P55T makes a strong case for itself.