itel S25 vs itel S25 Ultra: Budget Smartphones With A Splash Of Luxury

Design and Build

The itel S25 boasts a slim 7.3 mm thickness and weighs 185 grams, making it ergonomic for one-handed use. Available in Bromo Black, Mambo Mint, and Sahara Gleam, it scores high on aesthetics.

Weighing just 163 grams and 6.9 mm thin, the S25 Ultra is one of the slimmest devices in its class. The Corning Gorilla Glass 7i ensures durability, and the RGB ring notifications add a futuristic vibe. With color options like Komodo Ocean and Meteor Titanium, it's built to stand out.

Here are the relevant specs:

Although the widths and heights of the phones are not provided in the spec sheet, both the itel S25 and S25 Ultra sport 6.78-inch displays with a 20:9 aspect ratio, meaning they are taller than they are wide. With moderately thick bezels, the S25 is possibly slightly larger in height and width than the S25 Ultra, which features thin bezels and a curved display.

With an estimated width of about 76 - 77 mm and a height of around 165 - 167 mm, the S25 offers decent ergonomics. Its weight of 185 grams strikes a balance between durability and portability. It's slightly hefty but not uncomfortably so for prolonged use. While it may feel slightly bulky in a smaller pocket due to its thicker bezels, it's still manageable for daily carry.

Likely narrower and shorter than the S25 due to its thinner bezels, the S25 Ultra's 6.9 mm thickness and feather-light 163 grams make it a delight to hold for extended sessions. The curved edges contribute to its sleek feel and improve grip despite the large screen. Its slim and lightweight design fits easily into pockets and bags without causing discomfort.

The inclusion of Corning Gorilla Glass 7i in the S25 Ultra elevates its durability significantly. Owing to this material's scratch resistance, everyday hazards like keys, coins, and grit in your pocket are less likely to damage the display.

Gorilla Glass 7i can withstand drops from greater heights compared to older versions, reducing the chances of cracks or shattering. For a budget device, this premium feature ensures the phone's aesthetics and usability remain intact over time, making it a more reliable choice for clumsier users or those frequently on the go.

itel has thoughtfully crafted its color palette to suit a range of personal styles. Let's decode the personalities behind these colors:

• Bromo Black: This color suits minimalists and professionals. This classic shade exudes sophistication and is perfect for users who want their phone to look elegant and understated.
• Komodo Ocean: It suits nature enthusiasts and adventurous souls. The name evokes tropical waters, making it ideal for those who love the outdoors or prefer a unique yet calming aesthetic.
• Mambo Mint: This one is meant for youthful, fun-loving individuals. This fresh and vibrant hue appeals to those who want their phone to reflect their energetic personality.
• Meteor Titanium: Suited to trendsetters and tech enthusiasts, the metallic undertone of this hue adds a futuristic vibe, making it perfect for someone who wants one's device to feel cutting-edge.
• Sahara Gleam: This caters to dreamers and creatives. This warm, golden hue is for those who appreciate artistic designs and want their phone to stand out with a luxurious touch.

Overall, the itel S25 Ultra, with its slim and light build, curved display, and Gorilla Glass 7i protection, is particularly well-suited for users who prioritize comfort and durability. Meanwhile, the slightly heavier itel S25 still offers a comfortable grip for most users, albeit with a more traditional design.

The thoughtful color options ensure that both phones cater to a wide variety of tastes, from professional to playful, making them not just functional devices but also style statements.

If we compare the itel S25 with the predecessor itel S24, it's slimmer and lighter. The S24 was 163.5×75.5×8.3 mm and 192 g.

IP Rating

(Related: IP ratings explained.)

The itel S25's IP54 rating offers dust and light water resistance, a rarity in this price range. The S25 Ultra takes it up a notch with an IP64 rating.

The "IP" in the IP rating stands for Ingress Protection, and those two numbers following it are like the phone's superhero stats. The first digit is for solid particle protection. Its value 5 (in the S25's IP54) indicates a moderate level of protection against dust. While not completely dust-tight, the S25 is designed to resist the entry of dust to an extent that it would not interfere with its normal operation.

And the first digit 6 (in the S25 Ultra's IP64) means your S25 Ultra is a fortress against dust, offering complete protection.

The second digit of the IP rating is for liquid ingress protection. With a value of 4 for both devices, it tells you that the phone can withstand splashes of water from any direction. So, rain or accidental spills won't turn your S25 or S25 Ultra into a paperweight. However, immersion in water is not recommended. So, if you're planning deep-sea adventures for your phone, you might want to reconsider.

Now, to the million-dollar question: How to keep your S25 or S25 Ultra safe and sound?

• Get a Protective Case: A rugged case is like a suit of armor for your phone. It adds an extra layer of defense against accidental drops and bumps. Plus, it can shield your S25 or S25 Ultra from dust, keeping it in superhero mode.
• Embrace the Screen Protector: A tempered glass screen protector is the unsung hero of smartphone longevity. It guards your display against scratches and minor impacts, ensuring your viewing experience stays crystal clear.
• Water-Resistant Pouch for Adventures: If you're venturing into the great outdoors or anticipating encounters with water beyond splashes, consider a water-resistant pouch. It's like a spa day for your S25 or S25 Ultra - protected and pampered.

IP54 and IP64 is your phones' way of saying, "I've got this, but a little extra care won't hurt." So, deck out your device with a sturdy case, a trusty screen protector, and maybe a waterproof pouch for those adventurous days. With a bit of TLC (tender loving care), your S25 or S25 Ultra will be the superhero companion you can rely on, rain or shine!

For comparison, the predecessor itel S24 did not come with an IP rating.

Display: Vibrant and Immersive Visuals

(Related: Know more about the various kinds of displays and screen specs.)

Both phones' 6.78-inch AMOLED displays are a showstopper, offering 120 Hz refresh rate and 1400 - 1800 nits peak brightness, ensuring vibrant visuals even under direct sunlight. The 1 billion colors and 1080×2436 resolution deliver a crisp and immersive viewing experience. The S25 Ultra adds an Always-On display, a luxury usually found in premium devices.

itel S25 display. Image credit: itel

Here are the relevant specs:

The itel S25 and itel S25 Ultra boast AMOLED displays, a technology that elevates their status in the entry-level segment. While the displays are largely identical in size, resolution, and refresh rate, the brightness levels and the Always-On feature in the S25 Ultra set them apart slightly.

AMOLED displays deliver true blacks by individually controlling pixels. When a pixel isn't needed, it turns off, resulting in infinite contrast ratios that make visuals pop, whether you're watching videos, gaming, or reading text.

AMOLED is more energy-efficient than traditional LCD panels, especially when displaying dark themes or black-heavy content. With support for 1 billion colors, the displays ensure vibrant, lifelike visuals, perfect for viewing HDR content or enjoying media-rich experiences.

The 120 Hz refresh rate ensures ultra-smooth visuals. Whether you're scrolling through social media, gaming, or simply navigating menus, the display feels fluid and responsive.

While casual users might not always notice, gamers and heavy multitaskers will appreciate the seamlessness. A higher refresh rate also enhances animations and transitions, making the overall user experience more refined.

The displays' 1080×2436 px resolution with a 393 PPI density results in sharp and detailed visuals. Text appears crisp, images are well-defined, and even small elements retain clarity.

This resolution strikes a balance between visual quality and energy efficiency, perfect for both multimedia consumption and everyday tasks.

In terms of brightness, the S25 offers 1200 nits in HBM (High Brightness Mode), while the S25 Ultra provides 1000 nits. These levels ensure excellent visibility in direct sunlight, making both phones ideal for outdoor use.

Whether you're checking your GPS on a sunny day or replying to texts outdoors, the screens remain legible without straining your eyes.

The S25 peaks at a whopping 1800 nits, while the S25 Ultra reaches 1400 nits, both levels particularly useful for HDR playback. This means you'll enjoy vivid highlights and immersive visuals when watching HDR-supported content.

If you love streaming videos, you'll notice brighter whites and greater detail in scenes with high contrast.

Both displays support a 10-bit color depth, allowing them to reproduce 1 billion colors. This ensures smoother color gradients and realistic rendering of shades.

Media enthusiasts and photographers will appreciate the richness in colors, as this feature allows for professional-grade color accuracy and depth, even on budget-friendly devices.

Both phones' 5000000:1 contrast ratio ensures that content appears vivid and well-defined, contributing to an enhanced viewing experience across various lighting conditions.

The contrast ratio signifies the difference between the brightest and darkest parts of the display. A higher contrast ratio generally indicates richer, more dynamic visuals with deeper blacks and brighter whites.

The 1500 Hz instantaneous touch sampling rate enhances the display's responsiveness, particularly noticeable during fast-paced gaming or when performing rapid gestures.

The touch sampling rate measures how often the screen registers touch inputs per second. A high touch sampling rate improves the responsiveness of the touchscreen, making it quicker to react to user inputs. The instantaneous touch sampling rate is used during moments of rapid touch activity, such as in gaming or complex gestures. It temporarily increases the sensitivity and response speed, ensuring that every touch is registered with minimal delay.

Both displays feature 2160 Hz high-frequency PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) dimming, reducing flicker and eye strain, especially at low brightness levels.

This ensures a comfortable viewing experience even during extended usage.

The S25 Ultra's Always-On feature adds both functionality and style. You can check the time, notifications, or battery level without waking the device. Because of AMOLED's pixel independence, only the required pixels light up, ensuring minimal battery drain.

The Always-On display is perfect for busy users who want quick glances at important info without fully unlocking their device.

So, are they good displays? Absolutely! Both phones punch above their weight with premium AMOLED panels, delivering vivid colors, sharp resolution, and fluid performance. The differences in brightness values might favor the S25 slightly for extreme HDR scenarios, while the S25 Ultra's Always-On display enhances everyday convenience.

Both are fantastic choices for users looking to enjoy vibrant, immersive screens at budget-friendly prices, rivaling displays found in pricier midrange devices.

For comparison, the predecessor S24 featured a 6.6-inch, 720×1612 px IPS LCD display, with a 90 Hz refresh rate and 480 nits peak brightness.

Networks

(Related: Cellular networks explained.)

The itel S25 and S25 Ultra support GSM, HSPA, and LTE networks, ensuring reliable connectivity for calls and data.

GSM and HSPA are the stalwarts, providing 2G and 3G connectivity, respectively. Then there's LTE, the foundation of modern 4G networks, delivering faster internet speeds and improved call quality.

SIM

The itel S25 and S25 Ultra's dual Nano-SIM (dual stand-by) capability adds flexibility, catering to those who navigate between personal and professional domains.

Chipset - Performance

Under the hood, the itel S25 and S25 Ultra run on the Unisoc T620 chipset with an octa-core CPU. While not a gaming powerhouse, the combination of Cortex-A75 and Cortex-A55 cores ensures smooth multitasking. Here are the relevant specs:

The Unisoc T620 chipset powering both the itel S25 and S25 Ultra strikes a balance between affordability and decent performance. While it's not built to rival flagship processors, it offers a capable and reliable experience for most everyday tasks.

Built on a 12-nm process, the Unisoc T620 is moderately efficient but not as energy-saving as newer chips with 7-nm or 5-nm processes. That said, its focus is more on cost-effectiveness than cutting-edge efficiency.

Positioned for entry-level and lower midrange devices, it provides a good balance for users seeking functionality without breaking the bank. This chipset is designed for casual usage, offering adequate speed for browsing, multimedia consumption, and light gaming.

The CPU in the Unisoc T620 is octa-core, consisting of two types of cores:

• Cortex-A75 (Performance Cores): These are high-performance cores, optimized for speed and intensive tasks. They handle demanding workloads such as app launches, multitasking, video editing, and more demanding games. While not as powerful as Cortex-A76 or Cortex-X cores found in premium devices, the A75 cores deliver respectable performance for an entry-level chipset.
• Cortex-A55 (Efficiency Cores): These are power-efficient cores that manage less intensive tasks like background apps, web browsing, and routine system operations. Their role is to extend battery life while keeping the phone responsive for everyday use.

The combination of performance and efficiency cores allows for a big.LITTLE architecture, where tasks are dynamically assigned to the appropriate cores. This ensures a balance between performance and battery longevity.

While the GPU for the Unisoc T620 isn't specified, it's likely to be a Mali-G52 MP2 or a similar configuration, given the chipset's class and Cortex cores. This level of GPU is typically capable of running games like Candy Crush, PUBG Mobile Lite, and Call of Duty: Mobile at low to medium settings.

You can also expect smooth playback for Full HD videos and efficient rendering for UI animations. However, it might struggle with graphically demanding titles like Genshin Impact or high-quality video editing due to its limited power.

With these components working in tandem, the itel S25 and S25 Ultra are equipped to handle a variety of casual tasks efficiently, including:

• Everyday Use: Browsing, streaming, social media, and messaging apps work smoothly.
• Multitasking: The 6 GB and 8 GB RAM variants complement the CPU, making it suitable for moderate multitasking without noticeable lag.
• Casual Gaming: Popular titles with medium-to-low graphical requirements run without major hiccups.
• Media Consumption: The AMOLED displays, paired with the chipset, make for an excellent media-viewing experience.

Despite their versatility, the phones will encounter limitations with tasks like the following:

• Heavy Gaming: Titles with complex graphics, such as Genshin Impact and Fortnite, will demand a more robust GPU and CPU.
• Professional-Level Productivity: Tasks like 4K video editing, advanced graphic design, or AI-heavy applications may exceed the chipset's capabilities.
• Future-Proofing: With technology advancing quickly, newer apps and games requiring more computational power may strain the Unisoc T620 in the coming years.

In summary, the Unisoc T620 delivers a solid, dependable experience for budget-conscious users. The two performance cores and six efficiency cores ensure a responsive and energy-efficient experience for most tasks. While these phones aren't built for power users, they comfortably cater to casual consumers seeking reliable performance for day-to-day activities, with occasional light gaming and entertainment.

For comparison, the predecessor itel S24 featured the Mediatek Helio G91 Ultra chipset, housing an octa-core CPU (2×2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 + 6×1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) and the Mali-G52 MC2 GPU.

Memory and Storage

Here are the relevant specs:

With RAM options of 6 GB and 8 GB with 128 GB storage, the itel S25 is perfect for daily use. The Ultra takes storage up a notch with options up to 512 GB of UFS 2.2 storage. Combined with 8 GB RAM, this device handles intensive apps with ease.

For comparison, the predecessor S24 came in three variants, offering 4 GB or 8 GB of RAM paired with 128 GB or 256 GB of eMMC 5.1 internal storage, expandable via a dedicated microSDXC slot.

Cameras

itel S25. Image credit: itel

The itel S25's dual-camera setup is led by a 50 MP primary sensor, ideal for well-lit shots. The second lens is auxiliary, perhaps for depth sensing. The camera can record videos at 1440p, which is impressive at this price.

A triple-camera system sets the S25 Ultra apart. Alongside the 50 MP main sensor, it features a macro lens for close-up photography. Video capabilities remain the same at 1440p.

Battery and Charging

(Related: Battery specs and charging types explained.)

Here are the relevant specs:

The 5000 mAh battery offers excellent endurance, complemented by 18 W fast charging. The inclusion of bypass charging ensures longer battery health.

Bypass charging expedites the charging process by directing power directly to the device's battery, bypassing certain components, to maximize charging efficiency. This feature is particularly prominent in smartphones and other portable electronic devices, where fast and convenient charging is highly valued by users, though manufacturers must implement robust safety mechanisms and adhere to industry standards to ensure the safe and reliable operation of devices equipped with bypass charging technology.

For comparison, the older itel S24 had a similar battery and charging setup.

Sound

(Related: Know more about the sound specs and features.)

Here are the relevant specs:

The itel S25's 3.5 mm headphone jack is a plus for wired audio enthusiasts. However, the S25 Ultra's slimmer design sacrifices the headphone jack, which may be a dealbreaker for some.

For comparison, the predecessor itel S24 had an audio setup similar to the S25's.

Connectivity

The itel S25 and S25 Ultra don't compromise on connectivity and convenience. With support for Wi-Fi, they ensure you can connect to common Wi-Fi networks.

The itel S25 and S25 Ultra feature Bluetooth, ensuring a seamless connection, whether you're connecting to headphones, speakers, or other devices.

Both phones feature the GPS positioning system for accurate navigation and location services.

Depending upon the market where you get your S25 or S25 Ultra, it may have NFC, which is a huge plus, enabling contactless payments - a feature not always available in budget phones. This technology also allows you to share files and connect with other NFC-enabled devices with just a tap. It's like having a digital handshake, simplifying tasks and making your device interactions effortless.

The itel S25 and S25 Ultra also sport infrared port.

Last but not least, both models support the trusty USB-C 2.0 - the universal connector. Whether you're charging your device, transferring files, or connecting to external devices, USB Type-C 2.0 ensures a reliable connection. It's the jack-of-all-trades, allowing you to expand your device's capabilities and stay connected to the wider world of technology.

Sensors

The itel S25 and S25 Ultra come equipped with the following sensor, in addition to other, unspecified ones:

• Fingerprint Sensor: Used for quick and secure unlocking. It is the in-display, optical type in both models.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• What is itel S25 and S25 Ultra release date?

  The itel S25 and S25 Ultra have been released in November 2024. They were announced on the 9th November, 2024.