The budget segment of smartphones in India is an ultra-competitive segment that’s ripe for taking due to limited players in the market. Amidst the likes of Redmi, Realme, POCO, and Motorola, itel is emerging as a true competitor. Its latest launch – the itel A70 – is a compelling package offering solid specifications at a price point that undercuts its competitors like Redmi A2+ and Poco C55. Let’s put these three handsets through the brass tack and compare them to see why the itel A70 is the one to go for.
A Design That Screams Both Form And Function
When it comes to the design, the itel A70 stands out from the other two thanks to its modern aesthetics and build quality. The smartphone features an iPhone-like stunning triple cut-out dual camera arrangement on the back. Additionally, the sandblasted technology used on the rear panel offers a glass-like elegant fit and finish that feels luxurious in hand. In contrast, the Redmi and Poco offerings have faux leather panels, prone to wear and tear and smudges over time.
itel is also offering four attractive colors as opposed to the three offered by Redmi and Poco. As far as ergonomics are concerned, the itel A70 again has an upper hand over the Redmi A2+ and Poco C55. itel’s offering is the thinnest at 8.6mm and lighter than the competition at 187g. The Redmi A2+ on the other hand, is 9.09g thick and tips the scale at 192g. Lastly, the Poco C55 also weighs 192g but is slightly thinner than the Redmi offering at 8.77mm.
It is 2024, and rear-mounted fingerprint scanners feel like an antique. The positioning of the rear-mounted fingerprint scanner is a hit or miss most of the time while trying to unlock the phone. Not to forget the smudges you leave on the camera lens while trying to reach the sensor. While the Redmi and Poco phones still offer a rear-mounted fingerprint authentication, the itel A70 stands out with the side-mounted module.
It means that the itel A70 is not only easier to unlock, but the sensor also adds a chic appeal to the overall look. It is evident that the A70 is a winner, when it comes to looks and ergonomics.
No More Compromise When it Comes to RAM and Storage
When you are in the market for a budget handset, all options are restricted to a maximum onboard storage of 128GB and 6GB of RAM. itel is challenging this stereotype of entry-level phones by offering 2x the storage space with 256GB on-board. In contrast, the Redmi A2+ and the POCO C55 offer up to 128GB of storage. itel also offers up to 2TB of expandable storage, which is double of 1TB offered on the other two.
In the RAM department as well, itel comes on top with its 4GB + 8GB RAM expansion, offering up to 12GB effective RAM to handle any process or task. In comparison, the Poco C55 offers 4GB or 6GB of RAM with 5GB of RAM expansion through the Turbo RAM feature. The Redmi A2+ only offers up to 3GB virtual RAM with 4GB RAM onboard.
A Display That Stands Out
In the sub-Rs 10,000 segment, it is hard to differentiate when it comes to the display. An IPS panel with an HD+ panel featuring a waterdrop or punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera is the norm, and 6.5-inch is a common size. Therefore, it’s no wonder all three smartphones feature the same kind of display.
The itel A70 comes with a 6.56-inch display that offers a great viewing experience. It stands out with its dynamic display bar, a feature restricted to premium devices. The dynamic display bar utilises the space around the waterdrop notch with indicators showing live information about tasks and notifications. The A70 is truly a modern device with both form and function imbued in its front and back panels.
In contrast, the POCO C55 comes with a larger 6.71-inch screen, and Redmi A2+ features a 6.52-inch display. Both smartphones come with a waterdrop notch.
Support for the Latest Charging Port
All three entry-level smartphones are powered by a 5,000mAh unit under the hood. This is unsurprising, considering a 5,000mAh battery is the norm under Rs 10,000 in India. However, the Poco and Redmi offerings are restricted to 10W charging through decades-old micro-USB charging tech.
In contrast, the itel A70 comes with the universally accepted USB Type-C port, which helps reduce e-waste created by discarded electronic goods and facilitates faster data transfer. The A70 races past the competition in terms of featuring the latest charging port.
It is All About The Dynamic Range
In the camera department, all three smartphones ship with a dual rear camera arrangement with an AI or portrait secondary shooter. The Poco C55, itel A70, and Redmi A2+ come with 50MP, 13MP, and 8MP primary camera lenses, respectively.
However, the A70 makes it up in HDR, which is a burning issue in budget phones. Itel A70 has Super HDR support, producing stunning images with superior dynamic range. In the selfie department, itel A70 with an 8MP shooter pips Redmi and Poco offerings with a 5MP front camera.
Powerful Performance
In the performance department, the itel A70, Redmi A2+, and Poco C55 are all powered by an octa-core processor. Both the itel’s offering and POCO C55 boots the more recent Android 13 (Go Edition) out of the box, which gives it an upper hand over the Redmi A2+ (ships with Android 12 Go Edition).
Bottomline
The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. While Redmi and Poco might offer better specifications in some departments, the itel A70 is a complete all-round spec sheet that offers a bang for the buck package. It has a better design, RAM, storage, charging port, and HDR performance. Not only does the itel A70 look more appealing than the other two devices, but it also runs a more recent operating system.
The itel A70 stands out in this comparison because of its 4GB + 8GB RAM combination and 128GB or 256GB storage priced at Rs 6,799 and Rs 7,299, respectively. POCO C55 offers the 128GB configuration at Rs 7,499, whereas the Redmi A2+ is priced at Rs 7,799 for the 128GB variant. For those on a tight budget, itel has recently introduced a 64GB model which carries an attractive price tag of Rs 6,299. Needless to say, the itel A70 offers an all-round package at a price that undercuts the competition with a much better value-for-money proposition.
Another factor favoring the itel A70 is that it offers a one-time free screen replacement within 100 days of purchase, making it stand out from its rivals.
If this is something that compels you, the itel A70 can be purchased at retail stores across the country and Amazon.in. Buyers can lower the price further by availing the exchange offer on Amazon and also benefit from options like No-Cost EMI, bank offers, etc.
