Itel Launches the Itel RS4 in Kenya

 

Image of the Itel RS4 courtesy of Itel Kenya 

A few weeks after releasing the Itel S24, Itel is back with another phone, the Itel RS4, which Itel markets as a gaming phone. This is the first time we have seen such a device from Itel.

The Itel RS4 brings new features to the table such as a 120Hz refresh rate, Mediatek G99 Ultimate, stereo speakers, and a 45W wired charger. Let's dive straight into it and see what itel has to offer.

Overview of the itel Rs4

Design and Build Quality

The design of the Itel RS4 looks appealing. At the back, the phone has a zipper-like line stretching from top to bottom only missing out the camera cut-out, however, the design of the line stretching may differ depending on the color that you chose.

The camera module is circular just as we have seen in most smartphones in 2024 with the branding “RS” in the middle of the camera module. At the top, we get a microphone which doubles as the secondary speaker. At the bottom, there is a headphone jack, speaker grill, and microphone, and on the left side there is a sim tray that supports dual sim, overall the design of the phone looks good.

On the right side, we get a power button which doubles as a fingerprint sensor, and the volume up and down buttons.

Display

The phone's display is an IPS LCD screen with a resolution of 720 by 1612, paired with a fast 120Hz refresh rate. However, the display is a letdown. Having an IPS LCD on a gaming smartphone is not ideal in 2024.

Itel could have included an AMOLED display with a lower refresh rate, like 90Hz, and a higher resolution. Nonetheless, I guess you get what you pay for.

The screen brightness may not be bright adequate because the phone uses an LCD panel, making it difficult to use in direct sunlight. Itel has not specified the type of screen protection for the phone, so you may want to consider using a screen protector.

I'm a bit bothered by the chunky bezel at the bottom of this phone. It makes the phone look a bit ugly, in my opinion. However, the rest of the phone has slim bezels.

Performance

The Itel RS4 is equipped with a decent processor, the Mediatek G99 Ultimate, which is a 6nm processor for improved efficiency. The G99 Ultimate can handle most tasks with ease and even play some demanding titles.

However, if you are a hardcore gamer who plays games at the highest possible settings, the G99 Ultimate might not meet your expectations. In that case, you may want to consider a smartphone with a better processor.

I have noticed that the RS4 processor is marketed as "ultimate," but I personally consider it more of a gimmick. Even MediaTek has not included the G99 Ultimate on their website, yet it is included in this phone.

The RS4 is available in three storage configurations: 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, and 256GB 12GB RAM. I'm pleased that the base model starts with 8GB RAM and 128GB, as this would be ideal for most people for efficient multitasking.

However, in Kenya, we are likely to get the 12GB RAM version with 256GB. The RAM can be expanded up to another 12GB, making the total 24GB. Keep in mind that the G99 Ultimate doesn't support 5G connectivity.

Key Features

Cameras

On the camera front, the itel RS4 features a dual camera, a 50MP main camera paired with a secondary lens that Itel claims to be an AI camera at this point they are just labeling everything AI. Being a gaming-centric phone we don’t expect much on the camera, especially with that single 50MP.

At the front, there is an 8MP selfie shooter and it should take good photos in good lighting condition. Both the rear and the selfie camera can record videos up to 2k 30fps with electronic video stabilization in both the rear and the selfie camera, however, the EIS is not always as effective as optical image stabilization but it will get the job done.

The Itel S24 had an issue with its camera. When taking photos of human subjects, a message would pop up saying "couldn’t connect to the camera," prompting you to close other apps that may use the camera or flashlight. I hope the RS4 doesn’t have that issue.

Operating System

The RS4 comes with Android 13 pre-installed on top of ItelOs. This is disappointing because Android 14 has been available for some time now, and Android 15 is already in beta testing.

Also Based on my experience with Itel smartphones, they tend to come with a lot of pre-installed apps, probably to keep the prices of the phones low, but this compromises the user experience. I hope this time things have changed and the user interface is good.

When it comes to software support, Itel doesn't have a good track record of sending out software updates. Itel smartphones rarely receive OS updates, although they do get security patches. However, there is a need for consistency. You can always look for a system update notification pop-up.

Battery

The phone has a huge 5000mAh which supports 45W fast charging and itel claims it can charge up to 80% in 30 minutes. One nifty feature I like about the RS4 is the ability to bypass charging, giving the option to continue gaming without having to charge the battery which might lead to overheating.

The battery should you a full day of use or longer depending on your usage, this is because of the newer chipset which is optimized to run efficiently and conserve power, and the 720p screen resolution

Pricing and Where to Get Yours

The Itel RS4 is priced at KES 21,500, which is a very competitive price. You are likely to find other similarly priced devices offering good value for money, such as the Redmi 12.

You can grab yours at any itel store, Safaricom stores, and online stores such as jumia.

Conclusion

Itel has made a bold move with their new midrange device, featuring a premium design, the fast Mediatek G99 Ultimate processor, a 120Hz refresh rate, and rapid charging speeds, making it a well-rounded phone in the areas mentioned.

However, there are a few drawbacks with this device, first off, the lack of guaranteed security updates, the IPS LCD which are very important specification in gaming smartphones, and the lack of 5G connectivity.

Overall the Itel RS4 should get the job done if you take into consideration the lack of an AMOLED screen, unguaranteed software support and lack of 5G.