itel A70 : Budget smartphones have this annoying habit of disappointing you the moment you take them out of the box. But every once in a while, something comes along that makes you think twice about spending more. The itel A70 might just be one of those rare gems that proves you don’t need to break the bank for a decent phone experience.

Design That Punches Above Its Weight Class

Let’s be honest – nobody expects much from a phone that costs under Rs 7,000. Yet somehow, itel managed to create something that doesn’t scream “cheap” the moment you pick it up. The A70 sports a design that’s clearly inspired by Apple’s iPhone, complete with a camera module that tries its best to look premium.

The phone measures just 8.6mm in thickness, making it surprisingly slim for a device packing a 5,000mAh battery. Available in four color options – Brilliant Gold, Stylish Black, Field Green, and Azure Blue – there’s something for everyone’s taste. The build quality feels solid enough for daily use, though you’ll definitely want to keep that included case on.

Display That Gets the Job Done

The 6.6-inch HD+ IPS LCD display won’t win any awards, but it’s perfectly adequate for the price point. With 500 nits peak brightness, viewing indoors is comfortable, though outdoor visibility under direct sunlight can be challenging. The 720 x 1612 pixel resolution delivers decent sharpness for social media scrolling and video watching.

One neat trick up the A70’s sleeve is the Dynamic Bar feature – a software implementation that creates iPhone-like animations around the camera notch. It’s not particularly useful, but it adds a touch of visual flair that makes the phone feel more expensive than it actually is.

Camera Performance That Surprises

Here’s where things get interesting. The A70 claims to have a triple camera setup, but in reality, it only has two sensors, cleverly adding a third cutout to create the illusion of a triple-lens setup. It’s a bit cheeky, but the actual camera performance is surprisingly decent for the price.

The 13MP main camera handles daylight photography reasonably well, producing images with acceptable colors and decent detail. The handset shines in the selfie department, even in indoor conditions, capturing detailed and impressive shots. Night photography isn’t its strong suit, but that’s hardly shocking at this price point.

Performance That Knows Its Limits

Powered by the Unisoc T603 chipset with 4GB of RAM, the A70 handles basic tasks without much fuss. The handset is good for basic tasks like communication, browsing, social media scrolling, and some navigation. However, don’t expect miracles – heavy gaming will push this phone to its limits, with noticeable stuttering in demanding titles.

The phone offers up to 256GB of internal storage in the top variant, which is genuinely impressive for the price. Add the ability to expand storage via microSD, and you’ve got plenty of space for your apps, photos, and offline content.

Battery Life That Actually Delivers

One area where budget phones often excel is battery life, and the A70 doesn’t disappoint. The 5,000mAh battery easily lasted an entire day on a single charge, clocking around five to six hours of screen time. The 10W charging isn’t exactly fast by today’s standards, taking about two and a half hours for a full charge, but it gets the job done.

Software Experience With Caveats

Running Android 13 Go Edition, the A70 offers a relatively clean Android experience optimized for budget hardware. The itel OS customizations are minimal, which is refreshing in a segment often plagued by heavy skins and bloatware. However, individuals seeking a relatively clean software experience and long-lasting battery life may need to explore other options.

Pricing That Makes Sense

Starting at Rs 6,299 for the 4GB+64GB variant, going up to Rs 7,499 for the 4GB+256GB model, the A70 offers genuine value in the ultra-budget segment. This pricing puts it in direct competition with Motorola’s G04 and other entry-level offerings, but the generous storage options give it an edge.

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The Reality Check

Let’s not kid ourselves – the A70 isn’t going to replace anyone’s flagship phone. It’s built for a specific audience: first-time smartphone buyers, seniors who need something simple, or anyone looking for a reliable backup device. In those roles, it performs admirably.

The phone’s biggest strength is knowing exactly what it is. There’s no pretense of flagship performance or premium features. Instead, itel focused on delivering a solid, reliable smartphone experience at a price that won’t hurt your wallet.

itel A70 Final Verdict

The itel A70 emerges as a noteworthy contender for those eyeing a sub-Rs 8,000 smartphone with an appealing design and solid performance. It’s not perfect, but it’s honest about its limitations while delivering where it counts. For anyone seeking their first smartphone or a dependable secondary device, the A70 deserves serious consideration.

In a market where budget phones often feel like compromises, the itel A70 feels like a thoughtful attempt to give users the smartphone experience they actually need, not just what manufacturers think they want