Itel RS4 review
The RS4 suits users in emerging markets who prioritize battery life and everyday reliability over camera polish or gaming punch. It is also a good fit for those who value the headphone jack and NFC payments that budget flagships often skip. Avoid it if you demand fast charging that rivals 100W+, a high-resolution or OLED display, or camera versatility beyond a single wide lens.
This review is based on Itel’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Itel RS4, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The RS4 is a sensible sub-€100 phone that swaps flagship ambitions for endurance: a 5000 mAh battery, 120Hz display, and 45W charging make it practical for a full day of real use, while the Helio G99 Ultimate handles daily apps and casual gaming without pretense. It is honest value for emerging markets, not a budget flagship wannabe.
Design & build
At 198 grams and 8.2 mm thick, the RS4 is neither light nor compact, but it is solid for its price. The Nano-SIM dual-slot setup and side-mounted fingerprint sensor are practical choices. Itel's color palette—Silvery White, Elegant Beige, Lurex Black—is understated and avoids the racing-stripe aesthetics common at this tier. Build quality appears consistent for a €100 phone; there is no mention of gorilla glass or IP rating, so treat the screen and body as you would any unarmored budget device.
Display
The 6.56-inch IPS LCD is spacious and the 120Hz refresh rate is a standout at this price. Scrolling feels smooth and apps open with visible fluidity. However, 269 ppi density means the pixel grid is apparent if you look closely, and IPS LCD brightness drops noticeably in direct sunlight compared to the OLED panels now standard on mid-range rivals. The 20:9 aspect ratio is narrow and tall, useful for one-handed grip on a wide phone but leaving letterbox gaps in landscape video. This screen is a net positive for the money, but do not expect the vividness or contrast of phones costing twice as much.
Performance
The Mediatek Helio G99 Ultimate is an upper-midrange chipset suited to its moment in 2024. It pairs two Cortex-A76 cores at 2.2 GHz with six efficiency cores at 2.0 GHz, a sensible balance for battery life and sustained load. In practice, daily apps run without lag, and gaming is competent at medium settings—PUBG Mobile and Fortnite do not stall, but high graphics will cause frame drops. The Mali-G57 MC2 GPU is not a speed demon, and demanding 3D workloads will remind you of the phone's budget status. For the user who browses, texts, and plays casual games, this is enough. For mobile gaming enthusiasts or video editors, step up.
Software
Android 13 shipped in April 2024, now two years old by release date. Itel's software customizations are not detailed in the spec sheet, but budget brands in this market typically add bloatware and custom launchers. The phone should receive at least one major OS update and regular security patches, though Itel's track record of long-term support is middling. For emerging-market users accustomed to offline-first workflows, Android 13 is a known quantity and largely stable.
Camera
The 50MP main sensor with f/1.6 aperture is a solid foundation for a budget phone. The wide aperture gathers decent light indoors and at dusk, and autofocus keeps subject tracking responsive. Daytime photos are sharp and detailed, but without optical zoom you must frame close to subjects, and there is no ultrawide or telephoto lens to expand your framing options. Video tops out at 1080p 30 fps, which is fine for vlogging and social media but frames the RS4 as a capture device, not a content creation tool. The 8 MP selfie camera is adequate for video calls and selfies but delivers noticeably less detail than the main sensor. This camera does its job without flourish.
Battery & charging
The 5000 mAh battery is the RS4's strongest asset. Typical use stretches to a full day comfortably, and light users can squeeze 1.5 to 2 days between charges. The 45W charger is respectable for the price and reaches 80% in 30 minutes, a practical speed for morning top-ups. Reaching 100% takes longer due to charge-rate tapering, roughly 45 to 60 minutes total. In comparison, rivals at this price now hit 65W or higher, so the RS4 is average rather than leading. The fast-charging hardware and large battery capacity together make this phone a reliable daily driver that does not demand an outlet hunt by mid-afternoon.
Value & verdict-context
At approximately €100, the RS4 competes against a crowded field of sub-€120 phones from Chinese brands and Itel's own stable. It does not try to punch above its weight with flagship features or inflated specs. Instead, it offers practical trade-offs: a big, smooth display, day-long battery, and honest mid-range performance, all in a phone that works without hype. The omissions are real—269 ppi pixels visible on screen, no zoom, no IP rating, 1080p video only—but they are priced in from the start. A buyer comparing the RS4 to phones claiming flagship specs at budget prices will find this refreshingly grounded. For the price, it is competent and unambitious, which is exactly what a budget phone should be.
Verdict
The RS4 suits users in emerging markets who prioritize battery life and everyday reliability over camera polish or gaming punch. It is also a good fit for those who value the headphone jack and NFC payments that budget flagships often skip. Avoid it if you demand fast charging that rivals 100W+, a high-resolution or OLED display, or camera versatility beyond a single wide lens.
- 5000 mAh battery lasts a full day on moderate use and supports 45W charging that reaches 80% in 30 minutes
- 120Hz IPS LCD display with smooth scrolling, rare at this price
- Helio G99 Ultimate runs everyday apps, casual gaming (PUBG Mobile, Fortnite at medium settings), and light multitasking without stuttering
- 3.5mm headphone jack, stereo speakers, and NFC for payments are all included—features phones this cheap often skip
- 269 ppi density makes pixels visible and contrast weaker than modern OLEDs, a trade-off for the large screen and low cost
- 50MP camera is capable in good light but maxes out at 1080p video with no optical zoom or ultrawide lens
- 8GB or 12GB RAM is adequate but unspecified storage speed (UFS version) raises questions about app launch and file transfer fluidity
Itel RS4 Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2024, April 06 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.56 inches, 103.4 cm2, IPS LCD, 120Hz |
| Resolution | 720 x 1612 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio G99 Ultimate |
| RAM & storage | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.6, (wide), AF |
| Selfie camera | 8 MP |
| Battery | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 45W wired, bypass charging, 80% in 30 min |
| Software | Android 13 |
| Dimensions | 8.2 mm thickness |
| Weight | 198 g (6.98 oz) |
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB | USB Type-C |
Itel RS4 FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the RS4 support 5G?
No. The RS4 tops out at GSM / HSPA / LTE, without 5G.
What chipset does the RS4 use?
The RS4 runs on the Mediatek Helio G99 Ultimate.
What display does the RS4 have?
A 6.56 inches, 103.4 cm2 IPS LCD, 120Hz, 720 x 1612 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density).
How big is the RS4 battery?
The RS4 has a 5000 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 45W wired, bypass charging, 80% in 30 min.
Does the RS4 have NFC?
Yes, the RS4 has NFC.
Does the RS4 support a microSD card?
Yes, the RS4 supports expandable storage (Unspecified).
Does the RS4 have a headphone jack?
Yes, the RS4 has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the RS4 isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
S24
S25 Ultra
Color Pro 5G
VistaTab 10 mini
Galaxy A07 4G
