itel has unveiled its latest budget smartphone, the itel S23+, just two months after launching the S23 model. The S23+ brings upgrades like an AMOLED display, higher resolution camera, and a dynamic notch inspired by the iPhone 14 Pro’s Dynamic Island.
itel S23+: Display and Design
At the core is a 6.78″ FHD+ AMOLED screen with 500 nits brightness and Gorilla Glass 5 protection. There’s also an under-display fingerprint reader and centered punch hole for the 32MP selfie camera.
A standout feature of the itel S23+ is the integration of the Dynamic Bar. Itel’s “Dynamic Bar” is a unique take on Apple’s Dynamic Island, housing notifications and battery life. Users can conveniently check notifications for incoming calls, reminders, and battery status, adding an element of interactivity.
Although not available out of the box, this feature is set to be rolled out with an upcoming software update.
Flagship-Inspired Camera and Design
The rear of the S23+ hosts a distinctive iPhone like squircle-shaped camera island and is home to the LED flash, a 50MP primary camera and an auxiliary unit. The S23+ features eye tracking and AI-powered portrait enhancement.
The glossy rear cover comes in striking Lake Cyan and Elemental Blue shades. Itel uses advanced plating and glitter sand techniques to achieve the colors and textures.
itel S23+: Performance & Software
Powering the itel S23+ is the formidable Unisoc T616 SoC paired with 8GB LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB UFS 2.0 storage. Leveraging Atom Storage Technology, the phone organizes fragmented data intelligently, maintaining optimal performance over time. Remarkably, this technology ensures a mere 3% decrease in speed even after four years of use.
Running on Android 13-based itelOS 13, the S23+ boasts seamless integration with Aivana GPT AI-based voice assistant, enhancing the user experience and functionality. Budget phones often compromise on software experience, so it will be interesting to see how the itel S23+ performs in this area.
Battery Performance and Connectivity
The itel S23+ is equipped with a robust 5,000 mAh battery, supported by 18W fast charging via a USB-C port. However, the 18W charging brick is not included in the box.
According to itel, a full charge is achieved in around two hours. Additionally, weighing just 178g and measuring 7.9mm in thickness, it’s easy to carry wherever you go.
Pricing & Availability
Despite the premium features, Itel manages to offer the S23+ for only about $120 globally. There’s also an extended 3-year warranty and 6 months of free screen replacements. The phone has already been launched in Nigeria and is going for ₦ 148,000 (around Ksh 28,000). Hopefully, itel launches the itel S23+ in Kenya soon as this would be a good sub Ksh 20, 000 – Ksh 25,000 phone.
