itel A80: The budget smartphone segment in India has witnessed a significant addition with the official launch of the itel A80 in January 2025. This latest offering from itel promises to deliver premium features at an accessible price point, challenging the conventional expectations of what budget smartphones can offer.
Game-Changing Display Technology Brings Premium Feel
The itel A80 sports a 6.67-inch HD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a punch-hole cutout for the selfie snapper. This represents a substantial upgrade from its predecessor, the A70, which featured a smaller 6.6-inch display with only 60Hz refresh rate. The higher refresh rate ensures smoother scrolling and enhanced user experience, particularly noticeable during gaming and media consumption.
The display is bright, with a peak brightness of 500 nits, making it usable even in outdoor conditions. The screen maintains a 720 x 1600 pixel resolution while offering a 90% screen-to-body ratio, maximizing the viewing area within the compact form factor.
A standout feature is the Dynamic Bar functionality, which displays essential notifications like battery status, calling alerts, and unlocking indicators around the punch-hole camera area. This innovative approach to notification management demonstrates itel’s commitment to user-centric design improvements.
Enhanced Photography Capabilities with Ring Light Innovation
The 13MP main camera on the predecessor is now replaced with a 50MP unit and we now get a new ring light on the back. This substantial camera upgrade positions the A80 as a photography-focused device within the budget segment. The phone is equipped with a single 50MP rear camera that supports HDR and is accompanied by a dual-LED flash.
The front-facing camera maintains an 8MP resolution, suitable for selfies and video calling requirements. The phone supports 1080p video recording at 30fps for both the front and rear cameras. The unique ring light feature around the rear camera serves a dual purpose, functioning both as a photography aid and a notification indicator, adding practical value to the overall user experience.
Robust Performance Foundation for Daily Tasks
Features 6.7″ display, Unisoc T603 chipset, 5000 mAh battery, 128 GB storage, 4 GB RAM. The Unisoc T603 processor provides adequate performance for everyday smartphone tasks, while the 4GB of physical RAM is supplemented by an additional 4GB of virtual RAM expansion, effectively offering 8GB of total system memory.
The itel A80 is powered by the Unisoc T603 octa-core processor, paired with 8GB of RAM (4GB built-in plus 4GB RAM expansion) and 128GB of internal storage, with support for memory expansion up to 2TB via a 3-card slot. This generous storage configuration ensures users won’t face space constraints for apps, media, and documents.
Advanced Software Experience with Android 14 Go
Running on itel OS 14, based on Android 14 Go, the device offers features like a Landscape Display clock widget for charging in landscape mode, Ultra Power Saving Mode to extend battery life, and Smart Link+ for better signal stability, reducing network latency by 20%.
The Android 14 Go edition ensures optimized performance even with the hardware limitations typical of budget devices. The custom itel OS 14 overlay adds practical features that enhance the overall user experience without overwhelming the interface with unnecessary complications.
Premium Build Quality with Environmental Protection
Itel A80 also sports an IP54 dust and water rating against debris and splashes. This level of environmental protection is uncommon in the sub-Rs 7,000 price segment, demonstrating itel’s attention to build quality and durability.
The smartphone is available in ‘Wave Blue’, ‘Glacial White’, and ‘Sandstone Black color options all of which have some sort of gradient going for them. Each color variant features unique textural elements, with the Wave Blue showcasing meteor texture with golden highlights, while the Sandstone Black offers a sophisticated frosted finish.
Long-lasting Battery Performance for Extended Usage
Itel A80 features a long-lasting 5,000mAh battery that can be charged quickly using a USB Type-C connection. This means you can enjoy up to three days of use on a single charge, which includes watching videos for up to 18 hours or talking on the phone for as long as 31 hours.
The substantial 5000mAh battery capacity, combined with the power-efficient Android 14 Go edition, ensures reliable all-day performance. While the 10W charging speed might seem modest by current standards, it aligns with the budget positioning while maintaining reasonable charging times.
Market Positioning and Competitive Landscape
The itel A80 is priced at Rs. 6,999 and available in Glacier White, Sandstone Black, and Wave Blue. It can be purchased through offline retail stores in India, with a free screen replacement offer within 100 days. This aggressive pricing strategy positions the A80 directly against competitors like the Redmi A-series and Infinix Smart series.
However, no 5G support might draw customers to rivals, such as the Redmi A4 5G. If that’s not a dealbreaker, the Itel A80 is a good starting point. The absence of 5G connectivity represents the primary compromise in the A80’s feature set, though this aligns with the budget-conscious target demographic.
itel A80 Future Outlook and Brand Strategy
Commenting on the launch, Mr. Arijeet Talapatra, CEO of itel India, stated, As we step into 2025, we reaffirm our commitment to delivering innovations that combine advanced technology, stylish design, and outstanding features at unmatched prices.
The itel A80 represents the brand’s evolving strategy to deliver premium features at accessible price points. With its combination of 120Hz display, enhanced camera capabilities, robust battery life, and environmental protection, the A80 challenges the traditional boundaries of budget smartphone offerings. For consumers seeking reliable smartphone functionality without the premium price tag, the A80 emerges as a compelling option in the increasingly competitive budget segment.