Itel S23 Ultra Review - Best Budget Curved Display Phone Under 15,000 BDT
Itel S23 Ultra Review - Best Budget Curved Display Phone Under 15,000 BDT in Bangladesh
The Itel S23 Ultra brings a curved AMOLED display to the ultra-budget segment, a feature usually reserved for phones costing three times as much. With its 6.78-inch curved display, 50MP camera, and 5000mAh battery, it's turning heads in the sub-15,000 BDT market. This comprehensive review covers design, performance, camera quality, and whether this budget curved display phone is worth your money.
Key Specifications
| Specification | Details | Display | 6.78-inch 90Hz Curved AMOLED | Processor | Unisoc T606 | RAM | 4GB / 8GB | Storage | 64GB / 128GB / 256GB | Rear Camera | 50MP + AI Lens | Front Camera | 8MP | Battery | 5000 mAh, 10W | OS | Android 13, Itel OS | Network | 4G LTE |
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The Itel S23 Ultra comes in a vibrant blue and white box. Inside, you get the phone, a 10W charger, a USB-C cable, a SIM ejector tool, a transparent case, and a screen protector (pre-applied). The moment you take the phone out, the curved AMOLED display steals the show. At under 15,000 BDT, a curved display is almost unheard of. The phone feels surprisingly premium for its price, though the plastic frame reminds you of its budget nature.
Design and Build Quality
The Itel S23 Ultra features a curved 6.78-inch AMOLED display, a plastic frame, and a glossy plastic back that mimics glass. The phone measures 167.5 x 76.8 x 8.6mm and weighs 195g. The curved display gives it a flagship-like appearance, and the phone is available in stunning colors including Galaxy Blue and Mint Green. The back has a dual-camera setup with a metallic finish around the lenses.
The side-mounted fingerprint sensor is integrated into the power button and works reliably. The phone has a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is a welcome addition.
Display - The Main Highlight
The 6.78-inch 90Hz Curved AMOLED display is the star of the show. At this price point, a curved AMOLED panel is nothing short of revolutionary. Colors are vibrant, blacks are deep, and the 90Hz refresh rate makes scrolling smoother than standard 60Hz displays.
Display highlights:
- Curved AMOLED panel (flagship feature at budget price)
- 90Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling
- FHD+ resolution (1080 x 2400 pixels)
- Up to 700 nits peak brightness
- Always-on display support
The curved edges make the phone look premium, but they can cause accidental touches. Itel has included decent palm rejection software to minimize this issue.
Performance
The Unisoc T606 processor is an entry-level chip designed for basic tasks. It handles daily usage like WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube, and web browsing reasonably well. The 4GB/8GB RAM options help with basic multitasking.
Performance test results:
- AnTuTu score: Approximately 250,000-280,000
- Geekbench 6 single-core: ~380
- Geekbench 6 multi-core: ~1,350
Gaming performance is limited. Light games like Subway Surfers, Candy Crush, and Ludo King run fine. BGMI and Call of Duty will struggle, even at lowest settings. This is not a gaming phone.
Camera
The 50MP main camera is impressive on paper, but real-world performance is mixed.
50MP Main Camera
The 50MP sensor with f/1.8 aperture captures decent photos in good lighting. Daylight photos have good detail and vibrant colors (typical Itel processing). The 50MP mode captures more detail but takes up more storage space. Low-light performance is poor, with significant noise and loss of detail.
AI Lens
The secondary AI lens helps with portrait mode depth estimation. Portrait mode photos have acceptable edge detection in good lighting.
8MP Front Camera
The 8MP front camera is adequate for selfies and video calls. It has basic beauty modes that smooth out skin.
Battery Life
The 5000 mAh battery provides excellent battery life, easily lasting 1.5-2 days of moderate use.
Battery test results:
- Video playback: 16+ hours
- Web browsing: 12+ hours
- Mixed usage: 1.5-2 days
Charging is a weak point. The 10W charging takes about 2.5 hours for a full charge. There's no fast charging support.
Software - Itel OS
The Itel S23 Ultra runs Android 13 with Itel OS on top. Itel OS is a lightweight skin with basic customization options. There's some bloatware (pre-installed apps like Facebook, Opera, and some games), but most can be uninstalled. Itel promises 1 major OS update and 2 years of security patches.
Connectivity
The phone supports 4G LTE (no 5G), Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, and has a 3.5mm headphone jack and FM radio.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons | Curved 90Hz AMOLED display (flagship feature) | Slow 10W charging | Excellent battery life (5000 mAh) | No 5G support | 3.5mm headphone jack | Entry-level Unisoc T606 processor | 50MP main camera (decent in daylight) | Poor low-light camera performance | Premium curved design | Plastic build |
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Itel S23 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy A06
The Samsung A06 costs 13,999 BDT. The Itel offers a curved AMOLED display (vs PLS LCD), larger 6.78-inch screen, and 90Hz refresh rate. The Samsung offers a better processor, cleaner One UI software, and Samsung's brand reliability.
Verdict: Choose Itel for the display. Choose Samsung for performance and software.
Itel S23 Ultra vs Tecno Spark 40
The Tecno Spark 40 costs about 12,000 BDT. The Itel offers a curved AMOLED display (vs IPS LCD), better resolution, and more premium design. The Tecno offers better performance (Helio G85 vs Unisoc T606) and faster charging.
Verdict: The Itel wins on display quality. The Tecno wins on performance.
Who Should Buy the Itel S23 Ultra
- Display enthusiasts on a tight budget: Curved AMOLED under 15,000 BDT is unmatched
- First-time smartphone buyers: Great entry-level phone with premium looks
- Users who prioritize battery life: 5000 mAh provides 2 days of use
- Users who want a headphone jack and FM radio
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- Gamers: Unisoc T606 is not for gaming
- Users who want 5G: This is a 4G-only phone
- Users who want fast charging: 10W is very slow
- Photography enthusiasts: Low-light camera performance is poor
Final Verdict
The Itel S23 Ultra is a phone of extremes. It offers a curved AMOLED display at a price that seems impossible - under 15,000 BDT. The display is genuinely impressive, and the battery life is excellent. However, the processor is entry-level, charging is slow, and there's no 5G. If you're a first-time smartphone buyer or someone who prioritizes display quality above all else and doesn't play games, the Itel S23 Ultra is a unique and compelling option. For everyone else, spending a bit more on a phone with a better processor might be wiser.
Rating: 8.2/10
Price: 13,990 BDT (4GB/64GB) | 14,990 BDT (4GB/128GB) | 15,990 BDT (8GB/256GB)
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Does the Itel S23 Ultra have a curved display?
Answer: Yes, it has a 6.78-inch curved AMOLED display, which is extremely rare under 15,000 BDT.
Question 2: Does it have 5G?
Answer: No, the Itel S23 Ultra is a 4G LTE phone only.
Question 3: Does it have a headphone jack?
Answer: Yes, it has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Question 4: Is it good for gaming?
Answer: No, the Unisoc T606 processor is not suitable for gaming. Light games only.
Question 5: How is the camera quality?
Answer: The 50MP camera is decent in daylight but poor in low light.