Itel S24 review: A less expensive daytime king is more than welcome

Budget phone options are improving in 2024, offering decent displays, cameras, and battery life without breaking the bank. Since Itel’s rebrand last year, they have consistently released phones that offer good value for money.

Their latest entry phone in the S-series lineup, S24, aims to lead the budget market with an upgraded MediaTek G91 chipset and better cameras. But can it deliver on its promises?

This review examines the Itel S24's specs, features, and real-world performance to see if it lives up to the hype. Resembling the Realme 11 5G, we'll also explore whether its affordable price tag of ₦150,000 (available on Jumia) translates to a solid user experience.

Read Also: The Affordable, Reliable, and Stylish itel P55 Plus Review

Unboxing the itel S24 phone

Unveiling the Itel S24 begins with a standard black box showcasing the phone's specifications. Inside, you'll find everything you need to get started: a silicone case for protection, a USB-C cable for charging, an 18W adapter for faster power delivery, a SIM ejector tool, and the usual user manuals.

Design: Itel S24 review

The Itel S24 retains the S23's signature colour-changing back but with a larger camera module and subtler branding. Three colour options are available: Starry Black, Blue, and Dawn White (the white being the only one with the colour-changing magic). Physical buttons remain the same, with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and headphone jack for wired audio convenience.

This year's S24 boasts dual speakers, a first for the Itel S series. The display retains the noticeable bezels at the chin. However, a punch-hole notch replaces the V-notch for a more modern look.

One reviewer noted the glossy finish of the white model attracts fingerprints and smudges, but the colour scheme helps disguise them to an extent. Users have also praised the phone's comfortable grip due to its slim profile and rounded edges. The build quality is perceived as sturdy, with a combination of materials offering a premium look and feel.

Display and Speaker

For visuals, the smartphone features a large 6.6-inch IPS LCD display with a smooth 90Hz refresh rate. While the resolution isn't the highest, visuals are crisp and colours are well-represented, making it great for watching videos or playing games. The display shines indoors but struggles under direct sunlight due to lower brightness.

Itel S24’s display comes with a punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera and thin bezels around the edges, with thicker bezels towards the bottom of the panel. You don’t get any restrictions when gaming on the device.

On the bright side, the S24 compensates with impressive stereo speakers that support Digital Theater Systems (DTS) for enhanced sound quality. The audio is good overall for content consumption, although the back panel might vibrate when playing loud music.

Cameras

The itel S24 comes with a significant upgrade in camera specs compared to its predecessor, the S23. It features a 108MP main sensor that excels in capturing details and balanced exposure in good lighting. However, photos taken in bright conditions sometimes suffer from oversaturation.

While the 108MP mode offers more detail, most users will find the default 12MP mode sufficient for daily use. Video recording goes up to 2K resolution at 30FPS for both the main and selfie cameras, but stabilisation is limited in higher resolutions. Overall, camera performance is decent in good lighting but can be inconsistent, especially in low-light conditions.

When compared with another popular budget phone, the Moto G24 Power. Both phones capture similar levels of detail and dynamic range, but the itel S24 favours warmer tones while the Moto G24 leans towards cooler hues.

Low-light performance is acceptable for the price point. Enabling Super Night mode improves brightness but reduces image detail and introduces lens flare. Reviewers also claim the Selfie camera results are similar, with good quality in daylight and lower quality in low light.

Despite some shortcomings, the itel S24 camera holds its own against competitors in the budget segment. With a large 108MP sensor and wide aperture, it captures good photos in most lighting conditions. The 8MP selfie camera is decent for daylight selfies but struggles in low light.

Performance and Gaming

Finally, the itel S24 steps up its processor game with the MediaTek Helio G91, but the performance increase is gradual. It handles everyday tasks well and comes in options with 4GB or 8GB of RAM. Consider going for the 8GB option for a smoother experience.

Gaming is decent for a budget phone. You might see occasional frame drops in games like Fortnite, but it's playable overall. Keep your expectations reasonable for the price point.

Benchmarks show the itel S24 performs similarly to competitors in its price range. Real-world use confirms this—basic tasks are a breeze, but there can be some lag when scrolling or using social media apps.

In terms of games, the S24 can handle COD: Mobile at medium settings with some lag. It can also play Real Racing 3 at standard settings, but again with lag. More demanding games like BGMI struggle on the device. Overall, it's best suited for casual gaming like Temple Run, Teen Patti, and Candy Crush Saga.

Reviewers were able to play lighter games like Subway Surfers and Call of Duty Mobile but reported lag during intense moments in CODM. This is to be expected, as the S24 isn't built for heavy gaming.

Software and User Interface

The Itel S24 runs Android 13 with Itel's custom UI on top. It's clean and customisable, with some pre-installed Itel apps that can be removed.

Beyond the basics, the phone offers some interesting features like a Smart Panel, Game Mode, i-gestures for navigation, and a Dynamic Bar for quick access to functions. There's also built-in NFC support, a rarity for budget phones.

The software side might be a point to consider. The phone runs Android 13 with Itel's OS 13.5 on top, and there's no word on future updates. While features like the Dynamic Bar are interesting, keep in mind you're getting an older Android version.

Battery & Charging

The itel S24 boasts a 5,000mAh battery, a common capacity for its price range. It comes with an 18W fast charger, taking roughly 1.5 hours to reach full power. Relatively reasonable for a smartphone in this ₦150,000 price category.

Battery performance varies depending on usage. Light to moderate users (social media, browsing, light gaming) can easily get a full day's use. Casual users report the phone lasting well into the next day. However, heavy gamers or multimedia users might need a mid-day top-up.

Reasons to buy:

• Eye-catching colour-changing design
• Impressive stereo speakers
• Decent camera for daylight shots
• NFC support for contactless payments

Reasons to consider: 

• Performance lags behind competitors
• Display struggles in bright sunlight
• No 5G connectivity
• Bloatware pre-installed apps
• Older Android 13 operating system

Verdict: Should you buy the itel S24? 

Buy the itel S24 if:

• You prioritise good looks, long battery life, and a big screen for multimedia at an affordable price.
• You are okay with a dated Android version.
• You're a casual user who mainly browses the internet, makes calls, and takes pictures in good lighting. 
• You don't need 5G connectivity and are okay with a MediaTek processor for basic tasks.

Skip the itel S24 if:

• You need top performance - consider Realme C65 5G, Redmi 12 5G or Redmi 13C 5G.
• 5G connectivity is a dealbreaker (most competitors offer it at this price point).
• You prioritise low-light photography.
• You're looking for the absolute best value with the latest features for the price.

In other words, the itel S24 sacrifices performance and some trendy features (5G) for affordability. Consider your priorities before buying.

itel S24 Price in Nigeria and Ghana

The itel S24 comes in two variants: 4GB RAM with 128GB storage and 8GB RAM with 128GB storage. Prices in Nigeria range from ₦150,000 ($98) for the 8GB option to ₦189,000 ($124) for the 4GB option. It's worth noting that a higher storage variant (8GB RAM + 256GB) might be available for under ₦200,000 ($131).

In Ghana, the handset is available from its official stores and Jumia Ghana with prices ranging from GH₵ 1,250 to GHS 1,450.