The itel P55T, priced at just Rs 8,199, offers large battery life, capable basics, and Android 14 to the ultra-budget market. Is using 4G in 2024, though, a deal-breaker? Examine my review in detail.
Itel unveiled their new entry-level P55 series, which includes the P55 and P55+, recently. However, there is a third model that falls precisely in between them: the retail-only itel P55T. Now that I’ve been using it as my backup phone for a week, let’s examine whether 4G phones will still be desirable in 2024.
Create and present
The massive 6,000mAh battery inside the P55T gives it a nice heft and makes it feel like it was built like a tank. Even without Gorilla Glass up front, the all-plastic body feels resilient enough to withstand knocks and bruises. It comes with a clear case in the box, so you won’t have to worry about that. Turn it over, and you’re treated to this awesome Astral Gold back panel that shimmers and stars and shines blue when you move it. Additionally, there is a camera island that resembles an iPhone, but the third circle is a ring flash rather than a lens.
At this price range, a punch-hole design is rather uncommon in 6.6-inch 90Hz LCD displays. Considerable display quality is provided for the price.
In 2024, 4G
Let’s talk about price: the P55T is among the most reasonably priced phones available at just Rs 8,199. The good news is that acquiring a 5G-capable phone these days just requires you to spend an additional approximately Rs 2K.
Is it really worth it to be using 4G in 2024? My home is in Noida, where there isn’t always great network connectivity—at least not with Jio. However, there seems to be a steady improvement. Even though it occasionally drops to 4G, my primary 5G phone can easily pull 20MBps at home and at work.
However, webpages on the locked-to-4G P55T were having trouble loading correctly. WhatsApp texts worked flawlessly, but overall data performance was frequently excruciatingly slow. It’s probable that Jio is redistributing 4G resources to support the rollout of 5G. However, it might be unique to Noida, and I’m not sure if it would be worse or better in other cities.
However, that is in no way the phone’s fault. The P55T should work perfectly for you if 4G has proven to be dependable thus far. It is anticipated that 4G LTE will continue to exist alongside 5G for at least an additional ten years. All you’ll be losing out on are those lightning-fast 5G speeds, which appear to be increasing every month as carriers upgrade their networks. However, since Jio and Airtel will probably stop offering free unlimited 5G plans by the end of 2024, who knows how much that will cost? Perhaps 4G will wind up being much less expensive?
Other matters
With the exception of connectivity, the Unisoc T606 chip’s internals are quite good for everyday use. I had stutters here and there, nothing too serious. The fact that this is the first phone in the world to run Android 14 Go Edition is also helpful. You won’t get to experience a stock Android experience, though, as it is a Go build with a custom skin running itel’s standard interface. However, optimization is spot on; I was able to get two days of battery life with ease.
Regarding the cameras, there will be two cameras on the back: an 8MP selfie camera and 50MP and 0.08MP sensors. In bright daylight, these shooters are actually pretty good for the price.
However, results in low light can become grainy and noisy. Additionally, the front camera performed exceptionally well, capturing some selfies fit for Instagram.
One of these should work well for you in the long run if you’re on a tight budget and can’t afford to spend more than Rs 8K. 4G is here to stay. However, there are a lot more 5G-ready options available at that price range if you can afford to spend up to Rs 10K. Based on your network conditions and future requirements, make that decision.