The itel City 100, officially released in April 2025, is a noteworthy entry in the budget smartphone market. It is designed for users who want a reliable and durable device without compromising on essential features. The phone offers a combination of a smooth, high-refresh-rate display, a capable processor, and a large battery, making it a strong contender in its price segment.
Design and Display
The itel City 100 features a sleek, unibody design that feels surprisingly premium for its price. It is slim at 7.7mm and lightweight at 185g, making it comfortable to hold and use. The device is built for durability, boasting an IP64 rating for dust and water resistance and is certified as drop-resistant up to 1.5m. It is available in appealing colors like Navy Blue, Pure Titanium, and Fairy Purple. A side-mounted fingerprint sensor provides quick and secure access.
Performance and Software
Under the hood, the itel City 100 is powered by the Unisoc T7250 chipset (12nm). This octa-core processor is designed for efficient performance, capable of handling everyday tasks such as social media, web Browse, and casual gaming with adequate fluidity. The device comes with options for 4GB, 6GB, or 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB or 256GB of UFS 2.2 internal storage. UFS 2.2 storage is a welcome addition, as it offers faster app launches and better overall performance compared to older eMMC storage. The storage is expandable via a dedicated microSDXC card slot.
The smartphone runs on Android 14 with itel’s new Pure OS 14.5 on top. This clean, user-friendly interface is designed to minimize bloatware and ads, providing a smoother and more polished software experience than previous itel devices.
Camera Rating
The itel City 100 features a capable camera system for its price point. On the rear, it sports a 13MP main camera with an f/1.8 aperture, which can capture clear photos in well-lit conditions. It’s accompanied by an auxiliary lens to enhance images. For selfies and video calls, there is a good 8MP front camera. Both cameras support 1080p video recording at 30fps. The camera system also includes a dual-LED flash and HDR features for better photography.
Battery Rating
A significant strong point of the itel City 100 is its battery life. It is equipped with a large 5200mAh non-removable battery. This substantial capacity, combined with the power-efficient Unisoc chipset and HD+ display, ensures excellent all-day battery life for most users. The device supports 18W wired fast charging via a USB Type-C port, allowing for reasonably quick top-ups.
Price and Value
The itel City 100 offers exceptional value for money in the entry-level smartphone market. With prices in Nigeria starting from approximately ₦110,900 to ₦119,300 (around $70-$80 USD), it delivers a compelling package that includes a smooth 90Hz display, a durable and stylish design, reliable performance, and a very long-lasting battery. It’s an ideal choice for users seeking a feature-packed smartphone without a premium price tag.
The itel City 100 is a highly attractive and practical choice in the competitive budget smartphone segment. It successfully combines a modern and durable design with a fluid 90Hz display and dependable performance for daily tasks.
While its camera and charging speeds are modest, its overall balance of features, combined with the clean Pure OS and aggressive pricing, makes the itel City 100 an excellent and highly recommended device for its target audience.
