Itel A90 review: A smart budget companion
Rating: 3.5/5
The
Itel A90
is the latest addition to the brand's entry-level lineup that promises to offer a capable and feature-rich experience under Rs 7,000. Available in 4GB + 64GB and 8GB + 128GB configurations priced at Rs 6,499 and Rs 6,999, respectively, the device is mainly targeted towards first-time smartphone users and those seeking an affordable daily driver. With Android 14 Go, a 13MP primary camera, and an IP54 rating for basic durability, it claims to punch above its price tag.
But how well does it fare in real-world usage? We've spent some time with the 128 GB variant of the
Itel
A90 in Starlit Black colour (also available in Aurora Blue and Space Titanium), and here's what we think about the phone:
by Taboola
by Taboola
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Design and display
Right out of the box, the Itel A90 looks clean with a design featuring curved edges and a matte finish that feels decent in hand. The rear cameras and flashlight are placed proportionally in a triangle, while the phone feels quite lightweight in hand, with its weight well distributed.
The smartphone has a slim profile with the power button and volume rockers on the right and the SIM tray slot on the left. The 3.5mm audio jack, USB Type-C charging port and speaker grille are placed below.
Turning to the front, the Itel A90's 6.6-inch HD+ IPS display is revealed. This screen supports a 90Hz refresh rate and offers a smooth scrolling experience that makes swiping through menus and social feeds more fluid. The 480 peak brightness is also good enough for sunny days.
The smartphone also has a Dynamic Bar display interface that adds a visual edge by offering quick glanceable notifications around the selfie camera.
While it won't match the sharpness of Full HD panels, colours appear well-balanced indoors. We even managed a few episodes of a drama series during a bus ride, and the screen held up well in varying light conditions.
At around 190g and with an IP54 rating, the A90 resists splashes and dust for added peace of mind. The side-mounted fingerprint scanner and face unlock provide multiple quick access options, though we found the fingerprint sensor slightly less responsive at times.
Performance and software
The Itel A90 is powered by the Unisoc T7100 chipset with up to 8 GB of RAM (including virtual RAM expansion) and 128 GB of onboard storage. For daily tasks such as messaging, light browsing, YouTube playback, and switching between a few basic apps, the phone works without any lag.
It runs Android 14 Go Edition, which is optimised for entry-level devices. The UI is clean, light, and responsive, with minimal bloatware. Basic multitasking works fine, but launching heavier apps or games does take a few seconds.
During our testing, the phone handled a quick photo edit and casual gaming like Hill Climb Racing and Subway Surfers without heating up. However, this is not a phone meant for heavy-duty multitasking or gaming.
The entry-level phone also comes with an AI assistant, Aivana 2.0. It helped us with summarising lengthy articles in seconds, offered hands-free YouTube playback control during traffic, and suggested smart image descriptions at a café. It also offered reminders for errands and WhatsApp calls with voice command, which made completing tasks faster and convenient.
Camera
The Itel A90 comes with a 13 MP primary rear camera paired with an 8 MP front camera. The camera app is easy to navigate. In bright daylight, shots turned out decent with fair colour reproduction and enough detail for casual sharing.
We tested the rear camera outdoors, and while skies and greenery looked natural, finer textures like leaves lost some sharpness.
In low-light or indoor settings, images tended to lose clarity and showed visible noise. The Night mode offers a slight improvement, but don't expect dramatic results.
The 8 MP front camera works well for selfies in natural light. Skin tones looked balanced during an early evening selfie session, although shadow areas can get grainy in dim conditions.
Video recording is decent, maxing out at 1080p. While stabilisation is minimal, video output is fair enough for occasional clips and video calls.
Battery
The A90's 5,000 mAh battery is one of its biggest strengths. It comfortably lasted over a full day with moderate usage, including calls, YouTube, music playback, and social media scrolling. On a low-activity day, we stretched it to nearly two days before needing to charge the phone
The 10W wired charger gets the job done in around 2 hours. While the phone supports up to 15W charging, the in-box adapter is limited to 10W. There's no bypass charging here, but the phone didn't show any signs of heating while charging.
Verdict
For under Rs 7,000, the Itel A90 delivers a smooth 90Hz display, a sleek and sturdy design with an IP54 rating, and decent day-to-day performance with Android 14 Go. Its battery life is reliable, and the Dynamic Bar interface adds a modern flair.
While the camera and chipset won't wow power users, they're serviceable for basic tasks. If you're in the market for a budget-friendly smartphone with good aesthetics, essential features, and reliable battery backup, the Itel A90 can be a nice consideration.
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