Can a sub-8K phone do this? itel City 100 says "hold my chai tea"

For many of us, “affordable” often means compromising on… well, a lot. But itel, a brand that truly understands the pulse of the Indian mass market, just dropped something that aims to change that narrative. Meet the itel City 100, a smartphone that’s hitting shelves at just INR 7,599 (₱5,016.49), armed with a surprisingly snazzy look and some AI tricks up its sleeve.

So, is it all talk, or can this phone genuinely deliver a premium vibe without emptying your wallet? Let’s dive in.

Specifications

The first thing you’ll notice about the itel City 100 is its design. It sports a remarkably slim 7.65mm unibody that feels lightweight and surprisingly premium for its category. Itel’s gone a step further, giving it an IP64 rating for dust and splash resistance – a huge win for a phone in this price range, making it quite resilient to India’s varied weather conditions. Plus, it’s been “tested for 60 months of smooth performance,” which, if true, promises long-term durability. You can grab it in stylish Fairy Purple, Navy Blue, and Pure Titanium.

Front and center is a 6.75-inch HD+ IPS LCD display that boasts a 90Hz refresh rate. Now, while it’s not a Full HD+ or AMOLED, that 90Hz refresh rate means smoother scrolling and a more fluid experience than the typical 60Hz panels found in this segment. It even gets quite bright at 700 nits, which is great for outdoor use. Powering the show is the Unisoc T7250 octa-core processor, paired with 4GB of physical RAM that can be expanded with up to 8GB or even 12GB of virtual RAM (depending on which report you read!). You also get a generous 128GB of expandable storage, so plenty of space for your apps and photos.

Here’s where the itel City 100 gets really interesting. It runs on Android 14 and introduces Aivana 3.0, Itel’s very own on-device AI assistant. This isn’t just a fancy name; Aivana promises some genuinely practical features:

Text Extraction: Point your camera, use a two-finger gesture, and grab text from images. Handy!

AI Writing & Editing: Summarize notes, rephrase sentences, or change the tone of your text.

Document Conversion: Turn images into editable Word, PDF, or Excel files.

Smart Navigation: Navigate to addresses directly from messages.

This kind of AI integration at this price point is a bold move and could significantly enhance the user experience for those who need quick productivity tools on the go.

Of course, a good phone needs solid battery life, and the City 100 doesn’t disappoint with its 5,200mAh battery. Paired with 18W fast charging via a USB-C port, Itel claims it will deliver “all-day usage.” And yes, it’s apparently designed to operate smoothly even in extreme temperatures, which is pretty neat.

For photography, you get a 13MP rear camera and an 8MP front camera, both enhanced by AI. While we usually keep our expectations grounded for budget phone cameras, Itel’s AI optimization might squeeze out some decent shots.

The Full Package

Priced at just INR 7,599, the itel City 100 aims to be more than just a smartphone; it’s a value proposition. itel is sweetening the deal with a free magnetic speaker worth INR 2,999 and, perhaps even more impressively, a free screen replacement within the first 100 days of purchase. That’s real peace of mind, especially for users who might be new to smartphones or prone to accidental drops.

This launch perfectly aligns with itel’s long-standing strategy in India: democratizing technology for the masses. By offering features often seen in higher-priced segments – like IP rating, 90Hz display, and AI capabilities – in an accessible package, the itel City 100 looks like a strong contender for budget-conscious buyers who want more from their phone. It’s now available in offline retail stores across India.

So, if you’re in the market for a stylish, durable smartphone that won’t break the bank and comes with some surprisingly smart features, the itel City 100 might just be worth a closer look. It seems itel is once again pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the entry-level segment.