Itel P70 Review

Looking for an affordable smartphone for everyday use? The itel P70 could be a great choice. Despite its budget-friendly price, the itel P70, also known as the itel Power 70, offers solid specifications that make it a reliable option for daily tasks.

With a generous 8/128 GB memory configuration, a decent range of sensors, and an easy-to-use interface, it’s a great option for those on a tight budget. As part of the itel Power series, it also comes with an impressive 6000 mAh battery. Curious to know more about the itel P70? Keep reading for the full review!

Sales Package: Everything You Need

As part of the Transsion Holdings family, itel ensures that its sales packages are always well-equipped. Inside the box, you'll find all the essential accessories, neatly arranged in a separate compartment below the smartphone.

Included in the box are an 18-watt charger, a USB Type-A to Type-C cable, a SIM ejector tool, and a soft case. The screen protector is already applied to the phone's screen, and you’ll also find a warranty card and user manual (though you might not need to read it).

The soft case included with the itel P70 is a nice touch. Unlike the typical clear soft cases, this one has a frosted, opaque surface.

The texture feels good in the hand and gives the phone a steady grip. Another great feature is the protective bumps on the four corners of the case. These bumps help cushion the phone in case of a drop, minimizing the risk of damage to the body.

Design: Gaming Aesthetic with a Touch of Elegance

The itel P70 carries the look of a gaming smartphone, thanks to its asymmetrical striped design on the back cover. Initially, I thought the lines were simply a printed effect, but upon closer inspection, I noticed a slight inward depression, giving the design a 3D effect.

The gaming influence is further emphasized by the unique font choices for the words “MARATHON POWER” and “DESIGNED BY ITEL” on the back of the phone.

These inscriptions are designed to appear like holograms, and you need to view them from a specific angle to read them clearly. Rest assured, these details don’t detract from the phone’s overall look. In fact, most people may not even notice them from a distance.

While the P70 has a gaming-inspired design, I find that it still maintains a calm and elegant feel, especially with the black color option I tested. The silver option is also equally attractive.

The body of the itel P70 is made of polycarbonate plastic, which is typical for its price range. Despite this, it doesn’t feel flimsy. It has a solid and sturdy build when held.

However, there is a slight flex when pressing the back cover, particularly in certain areas where the fit could be a bit tighter. The rear camera lenses protrude slightly without a protective module, so I recommend using the included soft case to keep the lenses safe from scratches.

On the right side of the phone, you'll find the power button, which also functions as a fingerprint sensor, along with the volume buttons. They’re easy to press and reach, providing a firm, satisfying response.

At the bottom of the device, you’ll find a 3.5mm audio jack, a microphone hole, a USB-C port, and a speaker grille. These ports are well-aligned and smooth to the touch.

On the left side, there’s a SIM drawer that can accommodate two SIM cards and one microSD card simultaneously, which offers convenient storage options.

According to the description on itel’s official online store, the itel P70 has a thickness of 8.27 mm. However, the specifications on the back of the box list the thickness as 7.89 mm.

It's unclear which measurement is accurate, but in hand, the phone feels quite slim, despite having a flat frame and back cover. The itel P70 also doesn’t feel heavy, weighing in at just 192.4 grams.

The itel P70 comes with IP54 certification, which helps ease concerns about durability. This means the phone is resistant to dust and can handle splashes of water from any direction. However, it’s important to note that the IP54 rating doesn’t mean the phone is waterproof, so avoid submerging it in water.

Wide and Bright Screen for Outdoor Use

The itel P70 is equipped with a 6.67-inch IPS LCD display featuring a punch-hole design and HD+ resolution (720 x 1600 pixels). According to itel, the screen can reach a maximum brightness of 700 nits.

During outdoor use in daylight, I found the screen to be bright and clearly visible, as long as you activate High Brightness Mode from the settings menu.

An interesting feature of the itel P70 is its light sensor, which allows the screen brightness to automatically adjust based on the surrounding lighting. However, when it comes to sharpness and color accuracy, the display doesn’t stand out.

When I used the phone to watch 4K videos on YouTube, the image lacked sharpness and the colors appeared somewhat faded. Unfortunately, itel doesn’t provide an option to adjust the color display settings on this phone.

Additionally, I was unable to play the video in its maximum resolution because the itel P70 screen only supports Full HD (1080p at 60 fps) playback on YouTube.

The itel P70 supports an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. Using the Takostats app, I observed that the phone could reach 120 fps when displaying the Settings menu. However, when scrolling through app icons, the refresh rate dropped to around 89.9 fps. For reference, Hz is equivalent to fps.

I tested several games to see if any could take advantage of the phone's high refresh rate, but during my testing, I didn't find any games that could exceed 60 fps.

The itel P70 also supports a Dynamic Bar feature, which displays notifications similar to the iPhone’s. Unfortunately, this feature only supports system apps, such as face unlock and phone activity notifications.

Adequate Performance for Daily Use, Light Gaming Still Possible

It was a smart decision for itel to equip the P70 with an HD+ resolution, which is relatively low. This choice pairs well with the phone's processor, the MediaTek Helio G50 Ultimate. The lower screen resolution helps prevent the SoC from working too hard.

Although the Helio G50 was released in November 2024, it’s essentially a rebranding of the Helio P35, which debuted in 2018. This 12nm chipset is considered a bit outdated, given its components.

The Helio G50 has eight CPU cores, all based on Cortex A53 architecture. Four cores run at a maximum speed of 2.2 GHz, while the other four run at 1.6 GHz. The chipset also features the PowerVR GE8320 GPU, an ISP with a maximum camera support of 50 MP, and a 4G internal modem.

The itel P70 comes with 128 GB of eMMC 5.1 storage and 8 GB of LPDDR4x RAM. The large RAM helps deliver smooth performance for daily tasks.

In my tests, the itel P70 was able to open up to 14 applications without needing to reload them when switching between them. Scrolling through social media felt smooth, and both face unlock and fingerprint unlocking were quite fast.

However, this phone isn’t designed for people who are in a rush. On a few occasions, I noticed a 1-2 second delay before the app I wanted to open actually launched.

There was also a slight delay when searching for something in the Settings menu using the search bar. This can be attributed to the use of eMMC 5.1 storage, which has slower read-write speeds compared to UFS storage.

Testing with Synthetic Benchmarks and Gaming Applications

The synthetic benchmark scores I tested reflect the performance of the itel P70. In AnTuTu v10, the phone scored 138,788. On Geekbench 6, the CPU scored 191 in the single-core test and 824 in the multi-core test.

I also tested the phone with the 3DMark app, but it’s not compatible with the 3DMark Wild Life test, so I couldn’t run that. This isn’t surprising, given that the phone’s chipset isn’t particularly fast.

The itel P70 was able to run the Sling Shot and Sling Shot Extreme tests, achieving graphics scores of 758 and 405, respectively.

In the PCMark Work Performance 3.0 test, the itel P70 scored 5423.

The application didn’t provide a direct comparison with other devices to show how high the itel P70’s score is, but according to PCMark, devices scoring above 4500 are suitable for light daily tasks.

To test the phone’s performance endurance, I ran the CPU Throttling Test for 10 minutes. The performance initially dropped to the 150s but gradually returned to 95% of its peak performance.

So, how does the itel P70 perform in gaming? While it’s not designed for heavy gaming, it can still handle lighter games.

In Mobile Legends, the highest graphics setting is “High-Ultra,” but for smoother gameplay, I recommend using the “Medium” graphics setting with a “Low” frame rate.

For PUBG Mobile, the “Smooth” graphics setting with a “Medium” frame rate is the best option. During my 30-minute gaming sessions with both games, the phone remained only slightly warm—there was no overheating. However, games like Genshin Impact are not enjoyable on this device.

Camera: Flash on Both Front and Back, But What’s the Result?

Although the itel P70 might look like it has three rear cameras, it actually has only one. The topmost lens is the active 13 MP main camera with an f/1.8 aperture, accompanied by a flash. The two lenses below it are purely decorative.

The main camera features autofocus, allowing you to adjust the distance to the subject for sharper photos. It also supports 4x digital zoom.

On the front, there’s an 8 MP selfie camera with an f/2.0 aperture and fixed focus. Interestingly, it also has a flash, which is common in phones from the Transsion Holdings family. This flash is useful for selfies and video calls in low-light environments.

The selfie camera also offers a zoom-out feature for wider shots, which is helpful when taking group selfies. Both the main and front cameras are capable of recording videos at 720p 30 fps and up to 1080p 30 fps. However, there’s no EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization), so the footage may not be very stable.

The camera app has several features to enhance photos, including Time Lapse, Beauty Mode, Portrait Mode, Panorama, and Slow Motion.

There’s also a Wide Selfie mode, which works like Panorama but uses the selfie camera. Auto HDR is available to improve photos in challenging lighting, though sadly, there’s no Night Mode.

Camera Performance

The itel P70’s camera performance is quite good for its price range. With the main camera, I was able to capture sharp photos with decent detail in daylight. The color tones are pleasing to the eye, leaning toward a natural look.

I highly recommend enabling Auto HDR mode, as the difference it makes is quite noticeable. HDR mode enhances the dynamic range and brings out the highlights in photos, improving overall quality.

This applies to both the main and front cameras. When using Portrait Mode for bokeh shots, the separation between the background and subject is sometimes clean and other times a bit rough. Interestingly, indoor photos tend to look better than outdoor ones.

In low light, the detail and sharpness decrease, but noise is still manageable with the main camera. However, I wouldn’t recommend using the front camera in low-light conditions, as the results are not very good.

One interesting observation is that the selfie camera actually produces better color tones than the rear camera when recording video. In daylight, the itel P70’s front camera captures my skin tone quite accurately, which is a pleasant surprise.

In contrast, the main camera’s color tends to look dull, especially in video recordings, even though it performs better for still photos. Here are some sample photos I took with the itel P70 camera—feel free to judge the quality for yourself.

itelOS 14.5 Interface, No Guarantee of Future Upgrades

The itel P70 runs on Android 14 with the itelOS 14.5 interface. When I first powered it on, the phone quickly received two software updates, with the second update bringing the January 2025 security patch.

As for whether the phone will receive an upgrade to Android 15, I’m not sure. itel has not provided any guarantees regarding this matter. Some YouTubers from Africa suggest that the itel P70 will receive 1-2 years of software updates, but it’s unclear if this includes major OS updates or just security patches.

Personally, I feel that a phone released with Android 14 in 2025 already feels somewhat outdated, but considering it's a budget device, I’m willing to overlook that.

Upgrading the operating system can sometimes cause performance issues, so I was pleased to find that the P70’s software performed well after a week of use. I didn’t experience any lag, crashes, or stuttering while navigating through the menus—it felt smooth and seamless.

Another pleasant surprise was that I didn’t encounter any ads, either on the screensaver or within built-in apps. There were only notifications from some pre-installed apps, which can be easily turned off.

Like most budget phones, the itel P70 does come with some pre-installed apps, such as AHA Games, Hi Translate, Lazada, Visha Player, and Qpon. Some of these apps can be uninstalled, while others cannot.

itelOS 14.5 offers a variety of customization options, allowing you to personalize the appearance of the interface to suit your preferences. You can adjust the number of app icon rows, change the shape and size of the icons, and even customize the color scheme in the settings menu.

If the default look doesn’t appeal to you, itel also provides a selection of free wallpapers and themes that you can download to change things up.

itelOS 14.5 includes several practical features, such as a QR Code Scanner, Screen Recorder, and Landscape Display. The Landscape Display feature is simple but useful.

It shows a clock when the phone is charging and placed in landscape mode, making the P70 a handy desk clock when not in use.

Additionally, there’s Digital Wellbeing and Parental Controls. Digital Wellbeing is designed to help you maintain a healthy relationship with your phone by limiting screen time, blocking distracting apps, and even reminding you to get some rest.

Parental Controls work similarly, but are tailored to help parents monitor and manage their children's phone usage. Parents can disable certain apps and set limits on screen time.

Decent Sensors, IR Blaster, and Basic Speaker and Microphone Setup

Entry-level phones typically come with basic sensors, but the itel P70 offers more. It includes an accelerometer, light, proximity, and compass sensor, along with a fingerprint scanner conveniently placed on the power button.

However, the absence of a gyroscope is understandable for a budget phone. The light sensor ensures that the auto-brightness feature works smoothly, so you don't have to manually adjust the screen brightness when moving between different environments.

The compass feature is another helpful addition, especially when you need to determine the qibla direction. What’s more, the itel P70 comes equipped with an infrared (IR) blaster, which allows the phone to double as a TV remote.

I was able to control other devices like Polytron TVs and Sharp air conditioners easily. I personally think an IR blaster should be a standard feature on all phones — it’s a lifesaver when the remote goes missing. Unfortunately, the itel P70 doesn’t support NFC, which might be a downside for some users.

As for the speaker and microphone, the itel P70 only has one of each. The microphone quality is typical of phones in the 1-million IDR range, unable to filter out ambient noise effectively. Still, it performs adequately for phone calls, ensuring that voices remain clear.

The single speaker’s sound quality is average, with audio that tends to sound flat. On the bright side, the sound doesn’t distort even at maximum volume.

Although itel includes DTS Sound software, it lacks any built-in equalizer presets. Users have to manually adjust the equalizer, which can be a hassle for those unfamiliar with audio settings.

Equipped with a 6000 mAh Battery That Offers Decent Endurance

The itel P70 comes with a 6000 mAh battery, which is a signature feature of the itel P (Power) series. However, having a big battery doesn’t always mean the phone will last longer, so I ran a few tests to see how well it performs.

For the first test, I played a 4K offline video for 10 hours with the screen brightness and volume set at 50 percent. I also turned off cellular data, WiFi, and Bluetooth. The test started with a fully charged battery, and by the end, 22 percent of the battery was left.

This means 10 hours of video drained about 78 percent of the battery. I think this result is quite normal because some phones are more efficient. For example, the Tecno Spark 30 Pro, with a 5000 mAh battery — which is 1000 mAh smaller — still had 23 percent battery left after a similar test.

In everyday use, the battery performance was pretty consistent. Watching YouTube for 30 minutes used up 4 percent of the battery, and scrolling through TikTok for 30 minutes drained the same amount.

Gaming consumed a little more power, with 5 percent drained after 30 minutes of Mobile Legends on “High” frame rate and “Medium” graphics. A 30-minute session of PUBG Mobile with “Smooth” graphics and “Medium” frame rate also used 5 percent.

For a phone with a 6000 mAh battery, the itel P70’s battery life is decent, but not amazing. The Helio G50 chip isn’t very power-efficient, which keeps the battery from lasting longer.

Still, the itel P70 can easily last a full day if you don’t play games too much. itel also claims that the battery will stay healthy at around 80 percent even after 4 years of use, which is great for long-term durability.

The itel P70 supports 18-watt fast charging. With the included charger, the battery charges up to 33 percent in 30 minutes and reaches 63 percent after an hour.

It takes about 2 hours to fully charge, which is reasonable for a battery of this size. The phone also supports reverse charging, which means you can use it to charge other devices using a USB Type-C to Type-C cable.

Conclusion

A tight budget doesn’t mean you can’t get a reliable phone for everyday use, and the itel P70 proves just that. Launched in February 2025 with a starting price of IDR 1,329,000, this phone delivers satisfactory performance across various aspects.

Itel has managed to strike a good balance by including small but useful features that add value to an entry-level phone. These include IP54 protection, a front camera flash, an infrared blaster, and a screen recorder. The sensors are also quite complete for its class, making the itel P70 feel well-equipped.

In my opinion, entry-level phones should be designed this way — performance doesn’t have to be top-notch as long as the device is comfortable for daily use.

The itel P70 is an ideal choice for those looking for a second phone to complement their primary device. It’s also suitable for social media managers, delivery drivers, or anyone who needs a basic yet reliable phone. Additionally, it’s a great gift option for parents or children who don’t require high-spec devices.

Key Strengths of the itel P70 (Power 70):

• Sleek and lightweight design with an IP54 rating for dust and splash resistance.
• The body is resistant to stains and easy to clean.
• Bright and clear display, even under sunlight.
• Large 6.67-inch screen, perfect for watching videos.
• Helio G50 SoC handles everyday tasks smoothly, such as messaging, social media, and video streaming.
• 8 GB RAM ensures seamless app switching.
• Capable of running games like Mobile Legends and PUBG Mobile at low graphics settings.
• Decent camera performance in bright lighting conditions.
• Complete sensors, including a fingerprint scanner, accelerometer, proximity, light sensor, and compass.
• Infrared blaster turns the phone into a remote for various electronic devices.
• Clean itelOS interface with no ads.
• 6000 mAh battery provides enough power for a full day of normal use.
• Triple slot design supports two SIM cards and a microSD card simultaneously.
• Comprehensive package includes a charger, cable, SIM ejector, screen protector, and a soft case.

Hal yang harus diperhatikan dari itel P70 (Power 70)

• Display quality isn’t the best, with inconsistent sharpness and colors.
• The 120 fps refresh rate only works on certain menus.
• Speaker and microphone quality is average.
• Not ideal for competitive gaming due to the SoC’s limited performance.
• Camera performance is inconsistent, with less precise bokeh and poor results in low-light conditions.
• Videos captured with the main camera look pale, and there’s no stabilization for either the main or selfie camera.
• No NFC support for contactless payments.
• No clear guarantee of security patch updates or Android version upgrades.
• Full charging takes about 2 hours, which may feel slow to some users.