itel has launched the City 300 5G, a budget smartphone that focuses on affordable 5G connectivity, smooth display performance and long battery life. The phone also emphasizes a lightweight software experience, since it runs Android 16 Go Edition with minimal preinstalled apps, and itel highlights an interface that is free of bloatware. It features a 6.67 inch HD+ IPS LCD with a resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels, a 120Hz refresh rate and a 240Hz touch sampling rate, while the panel uses a punch hole design and 2.5D glass. At 8.4mm thick, the phone has a relatively slim profile for the budget segment, and it is offered in three colours, which are Dark Ruby, Mist Beige and Bold Indigo.
The handset is powered by the Unisoc T8200 octa core chipset, built on a 6nm process, which pairs two Cortex-A76 cores running at 2.3GHz with six Cortex-A55 cores running at 2.1GHz, along with a Mali-G57 MC2 graphics processor at 850MHz. It comes with 4GB of LPDDR4X RAM, which can be extended with up to 8GB of virtual RAM, and 64GB of storage, while a dedicated microSD slot allows expansion of up to 1TB. For connectivity, the phone supports 5G standalone and non standalone networks across 10 5G bands, along with New Radio carrier aggregation (NRCA), and it includes the UltraLink feature, which the company says provides free calling connectivity.
For photography, the City 300 5G includes a 13MP autofocus rear camera with an LED flash that records video at up to 2K and 30 frames per second. On the front, an 8MP selfie camera with an f/2.2 aperture handles photos and video calls. The phone also includes a side mounted fingerprint sensor and face unlock, which gives users two options for securing the device. These camera and security features are in line with the entry level focus of the phone, and they cover the basic needs of users who want to take pictures, make video calls and unlock the device quickly without extra accessories.
The itel City 300 5G packs a 5,000mAh battery and charges via USB-C, and the box includes a 10W charger. It is priced at approximately $160. At this price, the phone competes in the entry level 5G segment with a high refresh rate display, a large battery and lightweight Android software. Its combination of 5G support, a 120Hz screen, expandable storage and a software experience built on Android 16 Go Edition shows that itel is aiming at buyers who want 5G connectivity without moving to a higher price bracket, and who prefer a simple interface with only a small number of preinstalled apps on their device.
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