itel A90 Unboxing and Review

As the summer season comes to an end and the rainy season sets in, itel Philippines has launched its latest smartphone, the itel A90. Priced at just around Php 3,000 online, this device is packed with features that make it an ideal choice for anyone looking for an affordable and reliable smartphone.

The itel A90 boasts a durable design with IP54 dust and water resistance, along with options for 3GB or 4GB of RAM supported by RAM Expansion technology. It offers up to 256GB of internal storage, a 6.6-inch display with a 90Hz refresh rate, and a robust 5,000mAh battery and support up to 15W fast charging. Additionally, the smartphone includes a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front-facing selfie camera.

I was lucky enough to get my hands on one, and I'm excited to share my unboxing experience and explore the smartphone's features in detail. This will help you decide if it's the right choice for you. So, let’s dive into the unboxing!

Unboxing the itel A90

The front of the retail box prominently displays the itel A90 branding, including details about its 24-month warranty for manufacturing issues, RAM and storage options, and a 36-month lag-free performance guarantee, which I will explain later in the review. On the top of the box, you will find the model name, serial number, IMEI number, and color of the device. The back of the box contains important information along with six key features of the itel A90.

Now, let’s open the smartphone package. Inside, you will find the itel A90 itself. After setting the phone aside, you’ll also discover a 10W charging adapter, a USB Type-C to USB-A charging cable, a SIM card ejector tool, standard documentation, and an anti-drop shield case that provides built-in protection to help the phone withstand accidental drops.

Having unboxed everything, I will now take a closer look at the device's physical features.

Design and Walk Around

The itel A90, like its predecessors, showcases a stunning design with vibrant aesthetics. I particularly appreciate this design, especially because the back panel is is both scratch-resistant and fingerprint-resistant. My phone is in the Space Titanium color, but it is also available in two other colors: Starlit Black and Aurora Blue.

Despite its emphasis on durability, the itel A90 has a slim profile, measuring just 8.55mm thick and weighing 187 grams.

On the front, the smartphone features a 6.6-inch HD+ (720 x 1612) IPS display. At the top of the display, there is a drop notch that houses the front-facing camera and the earpiece. As is common in this segment, the side bezels are relatively slim, though the chin is noticeably thicker. Additionally, the phone comes with a pre-installed screen protector.

On the back of the device, you'll notice three circular camera modules that will likely look familiar to you. Additionally, there are two circular elements situated above and below the LED flash, which are mainly meant to enhance the device's aesthetic appeal. The phone features a dual-camera setup that includes a 13MP main camera and a depth sensor.

On the left side of the device, there is a card tray with a 3-card slot that accommodates two nano-SIM cards and a dedicated slot for a microSD card. The right side features the standard volume rocker and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor that is integrated into the power button.

At the bottom of the device, there’s a USB Type-C charging port, a downward-firing speaker, a microphone, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Display and Multimedia

The itel A90 features a 6.6-inch IPS display with a HD+ resolution of 720 x 1612 pixels and a smooth 90Hz refresh rate. It has a typical brightness of 480 nits and includes an Always-On option, which allows users to view the time and notifications while the device is charging.

The IPS panel on the itel A90 produces vibrant colors and offers good viewing angles. Although the display can achieve a peak brightness of 1500 nits, using the device in direct sunlight may be challenging, even at maximum brightness. With a pixel density of 267 ppi, the display remains clear and sharp despite its HD+ resolution.

In terms of audio quality, the speaker performs at a standard level for smartphones in this price range. While it can achieve high volumes, the overall sound quality is average. For a better listening experience, it is recommended to use headphones or connect to external speakers.

Camera

Rear Cameras

The itel A90 is equipped with a dual-camera setup, featuring a 13MP main camera with an aperture of F3.0 and autofocus capabilities, along with a depth sensor. It includes various photographic functions and has an integrated Sliding Zoom Button on the unlock button, allowing for quick one-handed zooming and snapping of photos.

While the camera is not the phone's most impressive feature, it performs adequately in bright lighting conditions. However, there is room for improvement in terms of dynamic range in certain situations.

For indoor and low-light photos, performance is lacking, with some images appearing muddy and washed out. Nonetheless, these photos are still suitable for casual use on social media.

Front Selfie Camera

The itel A90 is equipped with a 5MP F3.0 front camera, which performs well in well-lit environments. Although the background blurring for portrait selfies is not perfect, it remains acceptable for most users.

Video Recording

The itel A90 supports video recording at 1080p and 30fps for both the main and front cameras. However, videos recorded with the main camera may appear shaky due to the lack of image stabilization.

Itel OS 14, Apps, and Security

The itel A90 runs on itel OS, which is based on Android 14 (Go edition). The interface is user-friendly and easy to navigate, featuring Google’s standard app suite along with some additional applications that may not always be necessary.

One of the key features of the device is the GPT AI Assistant. Once activated, this voice assistant provides instant responses, engages in deep conversations, aids with reading, handles command queries, and extracts information for smart interactions. Another notable feature is itel’s Dynamic Bar, which allows users to view notifications and take actions, such as answering calls or responding to message alerts.

In terms of security, the itel A90 is equipped with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button, as well as a facial recognition feature for unlocking the device. While the fingerprint sensor is quick and accurate, the facial recognition feature may perform slower in low-light conditions.

Hardware and Performance

The itel A90 is powered by the Unisoc T7100 chipset, an entry-level processor manufactured using a 28nm process. It features eight Cortex-A55 cores, with four cores operating at 1.8GHz and the other four at 1.2GHz. The device also comes with a PowerVR GE8322 GPU.

The itel A90 also features a RAM Expansion technology called MemFusion. This allows users to virtually increase the phone's RAM by using internal storage. For the 4GB variant, up to 8GB of internal storage can be utilized, while the 3GB variant can take advantage of up to 5GB of internal storage.

In terms of performance, the device is suitable for casual and light tasks. However, users may encounter occasional delays when navigating and opening apps, as well as stutters and lags with some applications and games, even when running on the lowest settings. itel Lab has certified the device for 36 months of lag-free performance through a combination of software, hardware, and other optimizations. Nevertheless, it's important to understand that this 36-month timeframe does not guarantee complete freedom from lag. Actual experiences may vary based on factors such as network conditions and individual usage habits, so it is advisable to maintain moderate expectations.

The itel A90 is available in the Philippines in two variants: a model with 3GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, and another with 4GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. For this review, my unit features 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, which is not available in the market. Right out of the box, my unit has 128GB of storage with 12.62GB already used. If you need more storage, you can expand it with a dedicated microSD card slot, supporting up to 2TB.

Below are the benchmark scores for this device:

• AnTuTu v10.5.0 – 159,240
• AnTuTu Storage Test v10.5.0 – 15,681 (307.0 MB/s Seq. Read, 246.0 MB/s Seq. Write)
• Geekbench 6.4.0 – 216 (Single-core), 865 (Multi-core)
• PCMark – 5,003 (Work 3.0)
• 3DMark – 473 (SSE – OpenGL ES 3.1), 569 (SSE – Vulkan)

The device has an IP54 rating, which means it is protected against dust and water, making it suitable for everyday use. You can confidently use it during outdoor activities or on rainy days, as it remains safeguarded from sand and dust particles.

Additionally, it comes with an anti-drop shield case that offers built-in protection, helping the phone withstand accidental drops. Below is an image of the itel A90 featuring the anti-drop shield case.

Battery and Connectivity

The itel A90 is equipped with a large 5,000mAh battery, which lasts an entire day under casual to moderate usage without needing a recharge. In the PCMark Work 3.0 Battery Life Test, the device, powered by a 28nm chipset, only achieved a score of 11 hours and 45 minutes. It includes a 10W charger, although the phone can support a fast charging power of up to 15W.

Additionally, the itel A90 offers standard connectivity features, such as dual SIM support (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by), 4G LTE, WiFi 4, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, a 3.5mm audio jack, and USB Type-C.

itel A90 Specifications

6.6-inch HD+ (720 x 1600) IPS display, 267ppi
90Hz refresh rate, 480 nits (typ), 1500 nits (peak)
Unisoc T7100 SOC (28nm)
PowerVR GE8322 GPU
3GB/4GB RAM (LPDDR4X) with expandable RAM
128GB/256GB of internal storage (eMMC5.1)
Expandability via microSD Card up to 2TB
13MP F3.0 Main Camera with LED Flash
5MP F3.0 front camera
Dual-SIM / 4G LTE
WiFi 4 / Bluetooth 4.2 / GPS
USB Type-C / 3.5mm audio jack
Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
IP54 Dust Protected and Water Resistant
itel OS 14 (Android 14 Go edition)
5,000mAh Battery with 15W Fast Charge
Dimensions: 163.94 x 75.7 x 8.55mm
Weight: 187g
Colors: Starlit Black, Space Titanium, and Aurora Blue

Price and Availability

The itel A90 is available in two variants: a 3GB + 128GB model priced at Php 6,499 and a 4GB + 256GB model priced at Php 6,999. You can find the phone at itel kiosks nationwide and online on platforms such as Shopee, TikTok, and Lazada.

If you shop online, you can purchase the itel A90 at discounted prices using vouchers. The 3GB + 128GB variant can be yours for as low as Php 3,400, while the 4GB + 256GB variant is available for Php 3,900. Additionally, these purchases come with a free itel PowerBank worth Php 449, although supplies are limited.

From June 1 to 8, customers can enjoy a 0% installment option on the itel A90 and other items available at the itel Official Shopee Store.

Verdict

Despite strong competition in the entry-level price segment, we recommend shortlisting the itel A90. It is an affordable, attractive, and reliable smartphone that features ample internal storage and a durable design, including a free anti-drop shield case and IP54 dust and water resistance ratings. However, it does fall short in terms of chipset performance and camera quality.