Cheap itel phones (primarily feature phones) are relatively common in Cameroon. Itel mobile is a smartphone maker like Infinix (who just released the infinix hot 9) and Tecno, all owned by Transsion Holdings.
As I first started by stating, Itel is just an entry-level smartphone, so you shouldn't expect mind-blowing performance or features on them. Itel phones are packed with essential features to get you through your daily activities.
Overall, the design is not very pleasant. The body is made of plastic, especially the back cover. This makes the phone prone to scratches, so don't even think about putting it in the same pocket as your keys.
However, such a combination can handle everyday light phone usage very well. But when it comes to gaming and multitasking, such a combination is prone to disappoint you.
Over to the RAM section, Itel disappoints again as you won't get that much. The Itel Vision 1 Plus ships with only 3 GB of RAM, which is not enough. According to today's standards, a smartphone should have at least 4 GB of RAM.
I say so because devices like the Itel A36, Itel S15, Itel P33 Plus, Itel P33, and even the Itel A56 ship with only 1 GB of RAM. Moreover, 1 GB of RAM on a smartphone today is not something anyone is fond off anymore. I wouldn't recommend anyone to go for a 1 GB RAM smartphone unless you were completely out of choices.
In the comment box below, let us know your thoughts about Itel phones and your experience with them. Are itel phones in Cameroon reliable or worth your money?
itel Mobile's focus on Cheap Phones
Itel provides very cheap smartphones across Africa and parts of Asia. It claims its primary focus is on delivering cost-effective and high-specification mobile devices. Itel smartphones are affordable, which might raise questions about Itel devices' quality and performance. We will look at the recent entry-level releases by this company (itel Vision 1 and itel Vision 1 Plus) while comparing them with their predecessors already in the Cameroon market.
Cheap Itel Phones: Design
Itel just uses basic designs for its smartphones. You won't find any fancy metallic edges of glass back covers except for the Itel Vision 1 and the Vision 1 Plus, which have a rear camera bump similar to iPhone SE 2020. The Itel Vision 1 is also one of the few Itel phones which sports a 6.09 inches display with a waterdrop design for the front camera.
But I guess Itel do this on purpose as they aim to provide smartphones at a very cheap price yet packed with some decent features, so the cheap plastic body and the basic design are evident.
Cheap itel Phones in Cameroon: Hardware & Software
Software
Regarding hardware and software, Itel smartphones are not lagging behind when equipping their smartphones with the latest android versions. For example, the Itel Vision 1 runs on Android 9 out of the box, which is not bad, although Android 10 would be much better.
A look at another device like the Itel A25 shows the same results. Itel has equipped the Itel A25 with Android 9.0 (Go Edition). The same goes for the Itel A56.
The latest Android version is essential for the best smartphone experience, and although Itel is yet into the Android 10 league, they are still doing their best to give their smartphones a recent Android version. I hope devices like Itel Vision 1, Itel Vision 1 Plus, and the Itel A56 will get OTA (Over Air) updates. However, as you will expect, forget about updates when you get such dirty cheap devices.
Hardware
Itel smartphones don't utilize the most powerful chipsets (like a Qualcomm Snapdragon or Mediatek). For example, the Itel Vision 1 uses a Unisoc SC9863A chipset paired with a 1.6 GHz Octa-core processor. This is the most potent combination when it comes to modern smartphones.However, such a combination can handle everyday light phone usage very well. But when it comes to gaming and multitasking, such a combination is prone to disappoint you.
It can't handle massive games, and you will most likely notice some lags here and there.
Cheap itel Phones in Cameroon: Memory
Nowadays, most smartphones have at least 64 GB of internal storage. However, I consider 32 GB of internal storage the least amount of internal storage you should use in a smartphone.Most Itel devices come equipped with 16 GB of internal storage, which is not pretty since you have to add a memory card to your budget. However, Itel's latest smartphones ship with 32 GB of internal storage, like the Itel Vision 1.
The same goes for the Itel Vision 1 Plus, which you would expect to have at least 64 Gb of internal storage as it is superior to the Itel Vision 1.
Over to the RAM section, Itel disappoints again as you won't get that much. The Itel Vision 1 Plus ships with only 3 GB of RAM, which is not enough. According to today's standards, a smartphone should have at least 4 GB of RAM.
But this doesn't mean 3 GB of RAM won't run your device smoothly. There are a lot of factors that determine that, including the Android version. So when it comes to RAM, I don't think Itel phones give enough.
Cheap itel Phones in Cameroon: Camera
When it comes to the camera, Itel phones are pretty crappy. Most of them come with 8 MP rear cameras, which don't perform well even in broad daylight. Don't expect iPhone or Xiaomi-like camera capabilities.So if you're looking to buy an Itel smartphone expecting a decent camera, you're disappointed. The Itel Vision 1 Plus possesses a 13 MP rear camera, which might perform a bit better as it also has a 2 MP depth sensor.
Cheap itel Phones: Battery
When it comes to battery, this might be the only part where Itel smartphones really perform. But I don't mean all the Itel smartphones. The two latest devices from Itel in 2020, the Itel Vision 1 and the Vision 1 Plus, are powered by huge batteries, which is a considerable upgrade.The Itel vision 1 ships with a 4000 mAh battery, while the superior Itel Vision 1 Plus is equipped with a 5000 mAh battery. With this cell size, you can be assured of decent battery life.
Should You Buy Cheap itel Phones in Cameroon?
Itel smartphones are indeed very cheap; they go for as low as 25000 Francs CFA or $50, and for devices like the Itel Vision 1, you get it just for 55000 Francs CFA or $100 globally. This might be a wallet-friendly price, but it can only work if you buy something that will last.We recommend you not buy these cheap itel phones if you are focused on getting a decent and durable smartphone to use for a long time.
However, if you are on a very tight budget, then you may go ahead to get them.
However, if you are on a very tight budget, then you may go ahead to get them.
Here's what you should expect from cheap itel smartphones:
- Design - Made of plastic prone to scratches and easy breakage, it's unreliable.
- Hardware - Less powerful chipsets and GPU can only handle light usage without lag or hanging. This depends on the purpose which your smartphone is for.
- Software - Some run on Android 9.0, so they are reliable.
- Memory - The phones might have enough internal storage for just a few apps and pictures, but the RAM and ROM are not enough. (Not Reliable)
- Camera - The camera is reasonably good but not good enough for Instagram. (Not Reliable)
- Battery - Reliable. A 4000 mAh battery will give you decent battery life.
Wrapping it up
Many Cameroonians will likely fall for the low prices placed on these cheap itel phones. However, as the old adage goes, you get what you pay for. So do not expect a miracle when you get these devices at such budget ranges.In the comment box below, let us know your thoughts about Itel phones and your experience with them. Are itel phones in Cameroon reliable or worth your money?