Review Verdict: While it is hard to find an under Php 5k phone–not including any flash sale–that has a decent set of specs to offer, and itel nails it with the P65 with its flashy design and decent set of features.
Pros
- Good RAM/Storage configuration for its price
- Unique back panel design for its price
- Flex button is a nice addition
Cons
- Image quality is average
- Backlight has limited use
itel entered the budget gaming scene with the RS4, which made the case as one of the most affordable phones you can buy with a Helio G99 and 12GB RAM combo. itel loves to push price-to-specs ratio further, and that also applies to the P65. This under Php 5k phone introduces a fancy back panel design–but is this budget phone more than just looks?
itel P65 Review Philippines: Design
The P65’s main draw is its Cyber Mecha back panel design, which give it gamer looks with various lines resembling a mecha’s armor. The fancy design reminded us of the POVA 6 Pro, which does not come as a surprise since both TECNO and itel are under Transsion.
You get a bold POWER branding on the back, which is the usual tagline itel uses for all of its P series phones. They could have done away with that, but perhaps it goes along with the whole aesthetic. One thing that we’re annoiye is the glossy finish that attracts fingerprints like crazy–you’re better off using the included case to keep it looking pristine.
The camera module is unnecessarily huge, housing two cameras, an LED flash, and a backlight for notifications. Unlike implementations with other phones, the one on the P65 does not support music playback–we hope they add it through a software update.
The button and port layout is a familiar affair, but the P65 gains a fourth button on the right side that’s called the Flex Button. This programmable button can do things like set the phone to mute, turn on the flashlight, or act as a camera shutter button. You can even map it for games–but we really doubt if you’d actually do so on a budget phone.
itel P65 Review Philippines: Display
The P65 has a 6.7-inch IPS display with a HD+ resolution and a 120hz refresh rate–the latter being a rare feature to offer for an under Php 5k phone. The bezels are thick especially the chin, but the 120hz refresh rate makes the P65 smooth as far as navigating through the phone is concerned.
The colors on the display is decent, though you’ll have to be mindful that its resolution limits video streaming to 720p–resulting in pixels being more visible compared to Full HD+ displays. Brightness is also a factor you’ll need to manage expectations: while it has a decent brightness range indoors, the display is hard to use outdoors.
We can’t say the same positive remarks for audio: while you still get a headphone jack, the audio quality from the single, bottom-firing speaker is not great–so it’s best to either use wireless earphones or your favorite wired ones.
itel P65 Review Philippines: Camera
You are technically getting a dual rear camera setup on the P65, but only the 50-megapixel main shooter is the one that matters–the other is simply a filler camera.
While the P65’s camera performance is nothing outstanding, they are mostly good enough for social media posting. Just avoid shooting in low-light, as images tend to become grainy and lose a lot of detail.
When it comes to videos, the P65 can shoot at up to 1080p resolution at 30FPS. You do get Ultra Steady mode, which applies a crop to keep your footage more stable using EIS–a nice feature to have for a budget phone.
itel P65 Review Philippines: Internals and Battery Life
Powering the P65 is a Unisoc T615 processor that’s paired with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. The RAM and storage combination is a decent one for its price, while the processor is serviceable enough for daily use. The T615 is a modest upgrade over the T606 used on the P55, and it is capable of running games like Genshin Impact–albeit at the lowest graphics settings.
You get Android 14 out of the box, which is nice to have for an under Php 5k phone. We’re not sure about software updates, but we hope for at least an upgrade to Android 15 for the P65.
The P65 packs a 5000mAh battery inside, and we got 12 hours and 34 minutes in PCMark’s battery benchmark, which translates to a least a day of use before you need to charge it. Topping it up is done using a 18w USB-C charger, and it takes around 2 hours to fully charge it.
itel P65 Review Philippines: Wrap-up and Conclusions
itel nails it once again with the P65 as a value-packed budget with an official price of just under Php 5k. With features like having 8GB RAM, 128GB internal storage, and a 120hz refresh rate, the P65 is a good deal for those who want a flashy-looking phone without breaking the bank.
itel P65 Review Philippines: Price
The P65 is priced at Php 4,799 and is available at itel’s official Shopee store.
