Itel RS4 (S666LN) Review, Price And Specifications.

 

Itel RS4 (S666LN) Quick Specs:

Display: 6.6" HD+ (1612×720) 120Hz IPS-LCD Punch-hole Display.

Software: Android 13 OS.

CPU: Helio G99 Ultimate (6nm).

RAM: 8GB/12GB (And up to 8GB or 12GB of Virtual RAM).

Storage: 128GB/256GB (expandable up to 1TB).

Rear Camera: Single-lens (50MP).

Front Camera: Single-lens (8MP).

Security: Side-mounted fingerprint reader, Face Unlock.

Port: USB Type-C.

Network: 4G (LTE).

Speaker: Single.

Battery: 5,000mAh.

Charging Speed: 45W.

Starting Price:

₦230,000, KSh 15,799.

Itel Mobile calls RS4 (S666LN) a budget gaming phone. Indeed, the phone packs necessary features that are expected of a low-end gaming phone. For instance, the RS4 is equipped with a competent mid-range gaming chipset and it features higher RAM and higher storage space. And for a smooth and immersive gaming experience, the phone has an high refresh rate display and dual speaker. The RS4 also has a good battery life. And if its battery runs down, the phone supports an unrivaled charging speed. Which enables the battery to be fully juiced back within a short period of time.

However, there are few trade-offs. Firstly, the RS4 is running on previous version of Android OS, and there is no assurance of major software updates. Secondly, the phone's high refresh rate display has a 720p resolution. And lastly, photos taken with the RS4 appear a little less true-to-life, compared to the ones taken with the competition.

Nonetheless, for a phone at this price point, photos taken with the RS4 still look decent. Also, in spite of its 720p resolution, the display looks pretty. The only issue i have with the RS4 is its lack of assurance of major software update.

Price And Design Colour:

Itel RS4 has a semi-glossy finish. And it's available in colour options of Silvery White, Elegant Beige, and Lurex Black. Currently, the price of the phone is about 220,000 naira. 

The Contenders:

The similarly priced Xiaomi Redmi 13 wears a more premium looks and has a better build quality than the Itel RS4. The Redmi phone also has a 1080p display. And the screen is slightly bigger and it's more attractive. The Redmi 13 also features higher megapixel cameras. And photos taken with the phone look better. Also unlike the RS4, the Redmi phone is running on a recent Android OS, and there's an assurance of major software updates for the phone.

However, under the hood, the Redmi 13 is equipped with a less powerful CPU and slightly lower RAM. The phone's screen refresh rate and charging speed are also lower than those of the Itel RS4.

Another contender is base version of the Samsung Galaxy A15. The A15 has the same strong CPU as the Itel RS4, yet it offers the good build quality, Android version and better camera system of the Redmi 13. Even, while both of the RS4 and Redmi 13 feature IPS-LCD displays, Galaxy A15 comes with an AMOLED display. However, the amount of RAM and storage space that comes with this version of the A15 are lower than those of the Itel RS4 and Redmi 13. The Samsung phone also has a lower charging speed and a mono speaker.

Design: Stylish And Refreshing:

The Itel RS4 is a regular sized phone and it has a regular 6.56-inch hole-punch display. The build quality is also similar to those of others at this price point. In other words, the phone has a plastic back cover and a plastic frame. And there's no glass protection on its front. The phone also has no IP rating. Nonetheless, the phone is flat (8.2nm) and well put together. It looks and feels sturdy at hand.

The Itel RS4 is also an elegant looking phone. It features a stylish hole-punch display, and its frame is coated with a metallic glossy finish. There's a big and attractive circular bump on back of the phone. And a straight line or stripe runs from the bump and goes towards the bottom end of the phone. The stripe and the circular bump give the entire back of the RS4 a refreshing and appealing looks.

Furthermore, there's also an RS inscription inside the circular ring and what appear to be two cameras and an LED flash. But in a real sense, Itel RS4 has a single-lens rear camera and an LED Flash.

Meanwhile, the other visible attributes of the Itel RS4 are similar to those of other budget phones. On the right side of the phone is volume keys and power button (which also doubles as a fingerprint reader). The phone's dual nano-SIM and microSD slot (and tray) is located on the left side. As usual, you have a 3.5mm audio jack, a microphone, a USB Type-C port, and primary speaker on the bottom edge of the phone. While the secondary speaker is placed on the top edge alongside Itel inscription.

Display: Nice-Looking, Higher Refresh Rate, But HD+ resolution:

The 6.56-inch IPS-LCD display of the Itel RS4 has a 720p resolution of 720-by-1612 pixels. Although the 1080p displays of the competition look better, this one also look nice. The screen is noticeably vibrant and clear. Colours are pop and moderately saturated. Even while the screen refresh rates of the two competing phones are peaked at 90Hz, that of the Itel RS4 can go up to 120Hz. And the higher refresh rate enables RS4 to deliver smoother gaming performance than the competition.

However, if you don't care much about gaming or higher screen refresh rate. And your interest lies more on other media contents like streaming services and YouTube videos, the bigger and more nice looking IPS-LCD display of the Redmi 13 or AMOLED display of the Galaxy A15 is worth considering.

Still, when it comes to outdoor usage. Especially under direct sunlight. It's hard to notice the difference between the display of the RS4 and those of other two phones.

Decent Camera:

The single-lens rear camera of the Itel RS4 has a 50MP lens. And there's an 8MP selfie lens on the front of the phone. Though, basically, the Itel RS4 is not a camera-centric phone, still photos taken with the phone look competitive. Especially the ones from the main rear camera.

Photos are bright, clear and detailed. HDR look impressive too. But colour rendition is on the saturated side. White balance also appears to have slight warm tinge.

Although selfies taken with the phone's 8MP front-facing camera are bright and moderately sharp, they are not detailed. And as opposed to the saturated colours of the rear camera shots, selfies have slightly dissaturated colours, and skin tone is not on point.

Generally, photos taken with the RS4 look decent. However, if you prioritize camera in a budget phone such as this one, i'd say you should consider either of the Redmi 13 or Galaxy A15.

Nonetheless, while the rear cameras of the two competing phones can shoot video up to 1080p, the one on the Itel RS4 can shoot video up to 2K at 30fps (frame per second). But the video recording of the phone's front-facing camera is also capped at 1080p.

Impressive Hardware, But Previous Version of Android OS:

Under the hood, the Itel RS4 is powered by Helio G99 Ultimate CPU. A competent 6nm mid-range gaming chipset with clock speeds of up to 2.2Ghz. The graphics part of the processor is handled by Mali-G52 MC7 GPU. Itel Mobile also equipped the RS4 with 8GB of RAM and 256GB inbuilt storage. Even, there's also 12GB or RAM and 256GB internal storage version of the phone.

The above specs are often found on the more expensive phones. In fact, at this price point, the RS4 is the only phone that has this configuration.

And because the configuration is also what you get on the more expensive budget phones, the performance of the RS4 is similar to such phones'. In other words, and unlike your average budget phones, the RS4 is impressively fast and responsive. It multi-tasks quickly and moves in between opened apps smoothly.

Even despite dubbed "a budget gaming phone", the Itel RS4 played large numbers of graphic demanding games without lagging. Though as expected, some of the games were played at medium frame rated and medium graphics settings. Yet, during gaming, the RS4 neither stutter nor get unnecessarily warm.

However, while the main contenders and few other budget phones are running on Android 14 OS, Itel RS4 comes, out of the box, with Android 13 OS. And i said earlier, there's no assurance of major OS updates for the phone.

Meanwhile, in addition to its default 8GB of RAM, RS4 also support Virtual RAM of up to 8GB. Making total amount of RAM, available on this phone, to be 16GB. The 256GB internal storage space of the RS4 can also be expanded, via microSD card, up to 1TB (Terabyte).

Battery: Though Standard Capacity, But Speedy Charging Speed.

Though like the others, the RS4 is powered by a 5,000mAh battery, unlike them however, it features an impressive 45W fast charging. And there is a complementing 45W fast charger in its box. And thanks to its power efficient 6nm CPU, the Itel RS4 has a good battery life. Even if the phone eventually runs out of battery, it'll just take you about one hour ten minutes to fully charge the battery from zero percent. With its out of the box 45W charger though.

Itel RS4 (S666LN) Full Specs.

GENERAL

Maker: Itel Mobile.

Name: RS4 (S666LN).

Year Released: April, 2024.

Dimensions: 163.6x75.6x8.15mm

Weight: 198g (6.9 oz).   

Colour: Lurex Black, Silvery White & Elegant Beige.

DISPLAY
Screen Type: IPS-LCD Touch-screen.

Size and Resolution: 6.6-inch, HD+, 1612-by-720 pixels, 120Hz (high) Refresh Rate.

Aspect ratio & Pixel Densities: 20.15:9, 269PPI.

Protection: N/a.

PORTS:

3.5mm Audio Jack: Yes.

USB Type-C Port: Yes.

MicroUSB port: No.

Lightning Connector: No.

Google Assistant Button: No.

PERFORMANCE

Chipset: MediaTek Helio G99 6nm Octa-Core Processor, 2.2GHz.

GPU: Mali-G57 MC2.

RAM: 8GB/12GB (With up to 8GB or 12GB of Virtual RAM).

Operating System: Android 13.

STORAGE

Internal Storage: 128GB/256GB.

Micro-SD card slot: Yes, up to 1TB (One Terabyte).

SIM AND NETWORK

SIM: Nano, Dual SIM slots.

Network:  GSM, HSPA+, & LTE.

CAMERA

Rear camera: Single-lens; 50MP (Wide)+ Quad-Flash.

Front camera: Single-lens, 8MP.

VIDEO RECORDING:

Rear Cameras: 720p, 1080p @ 30 fps.

Front Camera: 720p, 1080p @ 30 fps.

CONNECTIVITY:

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3, HotSpots, USB-OTG, NFC.

BIOMETRIC, SENSORS & LOCATION: 

Security: Face Unlock, Side-mounted Fingerprint Reader.

Sensors: Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor, G-sensor, Accelerometer And

Barometer sensor

Others: GPS, Location (Geo, Glonass).

BATTERY

Battery Capacity: 5,000mAh.

Reverse (Wired) Charging: N/a

Qi Wireless-Charging: N/a.

Fast Charging: 45W (Wired).