itel RS4 – a budget gaming phone
A week ago, itel Philippines invited us to review the new and upcoming itel RS4. It was a rare occasion for itel to be requesting us to review one of their products, so we took the plunge and here we are.
The itel RS4 is a budget gaming smartphone that aims to deliver an ultimate gaming experience without breaking the bank. Let’s dive into the various aspects of this device and see how it fares.
Design and Build Quality
The RS4 sports a sleek and stylish design with a racing-inspired aesthetic. The phone measures 164 x 75.6 x 8.6mm and weighs 198g, making it relatively slim and lightweight for a smartphone positioned for gaming. The back panel features a metallic texture with a vehicle line design, available in three color options: Slivery White, Lurex Black, and Elegant Beige. What itel sent is the Slivery White. The large camera module on the back resembles racing timing codes, giving the phone a dedicated look for speed and passion. It, however, somehow looks like the recently launched realme 12 series.
The front of the device is dominated by a 6.6-inch punch-hole display with a 94% screen-to-body ratio, resulting in an immersive viewing experience. The bezels are minimal, and the overall design shows a premium feel, which is a step up from previous itel models.
Display
As earlier mentioned, the itel RS4 boasts a 6.6-inch HD+ IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1612 x 720 pixels. The standout feature of this display is its 120Hz refresh rate, which ensures smooth scrolling, gaming, and media consumption. The high refresh rate, combined with a 240Hz touch sampling rate, provides a responsive and lag-free experience, especially during intense gaming sessions.
Additionally, the RS4 features a “Sunshine Screen” technology that intelligently adjusts the display brightness based on ambient light conditions, ensuring optimal visibility even in direct sunlight. This feature is particularly useful for gamers who enjoy playing outdoors or in bright environments.
Performance and Gaming
Under the hood, the itel RS4 is powered by the MediaTek Helio G99 Ultimate gaming processor, built on a 6nm process. This octa-core CPU, with a maximum clock speed of 2.2GHz, is designed to handle demanding games and multitasking with ease. Compared to its predecessor, the G91, the G99 offers a 40% improvement in CPU performance and a 60% boost in GPU performance, while reducing GPU power consumption by 40%.
To complement the powerful processor, the RS4 comes with up to 256GB of internal storage and up to 24GB of RAM (12GB physical RAM + 12GB extended RAM). The extended RAM feature, called “MemFusion,” allows the device to use a portion of the internal storage as virtual RAM, resulting in smoother app performance and multitasking capabilities.
For an enhanced gaming experience, the RS4 features the iBOOST game engine, which optimizes performance and provides three modes: Low, Power Balance, and Boost. Additionally, the device includes a Z-axis motor for haptic feedback and a gyroscope sensor, enabling a more immersive gaming experience with spatial awareness.
It is, however, an aging chipset; and have been somewhat “overused” by a lot of mobile phone manufacturers. While it has the power to let you play some known mobile games, it lacks some of the modern features that new chipsets have. I sincerely hope itel chose a different chipset for the RS4, but I believe that they decided to use the G99 to manage the final cost of the device. Had they picked a different chipset, the RS4 may have been priced higher.
Benchmark Results
Camera
The itel RS4 features a 50MP AI-powered rear camera and an 8MP front-facing camera The rear camera setup includes various shooting modes, filters, and up to 10x zoom, allowing users to capture detailed images and videos. The front camera supports AI beauty effects and portrait blur, catering to selfie enthusiasts.
One unique feature of the RS4’s camera is the “Sky Shop” mode, which intelligently applies effects like rainbows and sunsets to the sky captured in photographs, adding a creative touch to your images.
Some of the photos I took looked okay, but photos tend to be a little mushy and grainy when taken in low light settings. Thankfully the flash is good enough to compensate for the lack of light. Color reproduction is good as well, and the amount of HDR is good enough for my standards.
Sample Photos
Battery and Charging
The RS4 is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery, which should provide decent battery life for most users. However, as mentioned in the cons, heavy gaming sessions may drain the battery faster than expected.
To combat this issue, itel has included a 45W fast charging solution that can charge the battery from 0% to 80% in just 30 minutes. The device also supports three charging modes: Hyper Charge (up to 45W), Smart Charge (intelligent charging management), and Low-Temp Charge (to prevent overheating). In my experience, battery lasts for about 14 hours before the battery icon flashes red (20%), which is good!
Additionally, the RS4 offers a “Battery Lab” feature that provides various battery-saving options, such as Power Boost and Ultra Power Saving modes, to extend the battery life further.
Software and Additional Features
The itel RS4 runs on the latest Android 13 operating system, with itel’s custom skin, itel OS 13.5. This OS includes several useful features, such as the Dynamic Bar, which provides quick access to important information and third-party apps.
The device also comes with the Aivana virtual assistant, which supports various functions like calling, messaging, weather updates, navigation, and more. Additionally, the RS4 offers features like Game Mode, Dual App, Video Assistant, i-Smart, and Peek Proof, catering to different user needs.
For health-conscious users, the RS4 includes a “My Health” feature that accurately tracks steps, provides exercise reminders, and records workout data, which can be synced with smart devices for comprehensive health monitoring.
Pricing and Availability
The itel RS4 is available in two configurations: 16GB + 128GB priced at ₱6,299 and 24GB + 256GB priced at ₱7,499. On the official launch day of April 15, 2024, itel is offering a special sale price starting at ₱4,000 with a Shopee voucher, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious consumers.
Also, itel is providing free gifts like the itel A10 EARBUDS or itel BudsFire (limited quantity) with the purchase of the RS4.
Conclusion
The itel RS4 is a compelling budget gaming smartphone that offers a well-rounded package at an affordable price point. With its powerful MediaTek Helio G99 Ultimate processor, 120Hz refresh rate display, and ample RAM and storage options, the RS4 delivers a smooth and immersive gaming experience. The device’s sleek design, fast charging capabilities, and additional features like the iBOOST game engine and Sunshine Screen further enhance its appeal.
While the camera performance may not be groundbreaking, the RS4 strikes a good balance between performance and affordability. For budget-conscious gamers or those seeking a capable all-around device, the itel RS4 is definitely worth considering, especially with the attractive launch day pricing and freebies.
Giancarlo Viterbo is a Filipino Technology Journalist, blogger and Editor of gadgetpilipinas.net, He is also a Geek, Dad and a Husband. He knows a lot about washing the dishes, doing some errands and following instructions from his boss on his day job. Follow him on twitter: @gianviterbo and @gadgetpilipinas.
