itel S23 Plus Specs, Unboxing, Initial Review, and Launch Sale Price in the Philippines

Are you feeling the urge to bid adieu to your trusty but aging entry-level or midrange smartphone? Is your budget for a shiny new device hovering around the PHP 6,000 mark? If so, I've got a delightful recommendation for you – let me introduce you to the all-new itel S23+ from our friends at itel Philippines.

In an era where premium smartphones often come with premium price tags, the itel S23 Plus emerges as a game-changer. This budget-friendly smartphone defies expectations, delivering an impressive array of features at a price that won't break the bank. In this initial TechPinas review, we'll delve into the itel S23 Plus, taking a closer look at its design, display, camera prowess, internal hardware, software, unique features, security capabilities, battery life, pricing, and an exciting launch date promotion.

The itel S23 Plus or S23+ represents a significant leap forward for those seeking high-quality smartphones without the hefty price tag. Known for its commitment to providing excellent value for money, international brand itel has truly outdone itself with this stellar release.

Unboxing and Package Contents

The journey with the itel S23 Plus starts with the unboxing experience, and it doesn't disappoint. The smartphone arrives in a flat, square box with a clean white cover, accented by a silver iridescent finish that showcases the smartphone's name.

A quick glance at the bottom of the box reveals a list of technical specifications, igniting anticipation and giving potential buyers a clear ideal of what they'll get.

As listed down at the bottom of the box, the highlights of itel S23+ include the 6.78-inch FullHD+ AMOLED Curved Display, the 16GB of Mega Memory that's made possible by itel's extended RAM technology, the 32MP front-facing camera, the 50MP AI main camera at the back, the 18W Fast Charging support, the Under-Display Fingerprint Scanner, the GPT AI Assistant, and the Dynamic Bar that's coming via software update.

Lifting the cover, you will be greeted by a black internal design with the message "Breakthrough Without Limits" in red. I believe that this is the vision or manta of itel as a company. As you can see in the photo below, there are also smaller containers for the items included in the package.

Removing the large rectangular box which contains the hard case, we see the itel S23+ smartphone itself with plastic cover that also shows the five highlights of this model.

Besides the star of the show, the smartphone itself, the package includes a USB Type-C charging cable, wired earphones with a built-in microphone for calls, and a handy metal pin for ejecting the SIM card tray. There's also a free hard plastic case that helps protect the device against the knocks and bumps of daily use.

While the itel S23+ official retail package may seem to be missing a power brick, it's essential to highlight a fantastic bonus that comes with every order of this impressive smartphone. Rather than simply including a standard power brick within the package, itel has taken a thoughtful approach. Each purchase of the itel S23+ includes a complimentary itel ICH-61 Power Brick as a bundle freebie.

This strategic decision not only ensures that users receive a valuable accessory but also contributes to reducing electronic waste. By offering the itel ICH-61 Power Brick as a separate item, itel allows users to make use of their existing chargers, contributing to a more sustainable approach to tech consumption. It's a thoughtful and eco-conscious gesture that adds value to your purchase while promoting responsible tech usage. So, while you may not find a power brick inside the initial package, rest assured that itel has your charging needs covered with this thoughtful freebie.

Design

The itel S23+ emerges as a sleek and stylish companion, meticulously designed to captivate your senses. Measuring in at a svelte 164.47 x 75.17 x 7.9 mm and weighing just 178 grams, it effortlessly slips into your pocket or purse, ensuring that it's always within reach. But it's not just the compact dimensions that make itel's creation a standout; it's the thoughtful construction that truly elevates its design.

What I have here is the Lake Cyan colorway of itel S23+. As you can see, the back panel has a gorgeous iridescent pearl finish that changes hues and flashes a playful gleam depending on how light hits it. This is my recommended colorway for this handset model.

The front of the itel S23+ boasts a gracefully curved scratch-resistant glass panel that not only enhances its aesthetics but also safeguards the display from life's little mishaps. 

As you run your fingers across the surface, you'll appreciate the premium touch that the polycarbonate mid-frame with its metallic finish provides. It exudes an understated elegance that complements the phone's overall look. And when you flip it over, you'll be greeted by the iridescent finish on the polycarbonate back, available in striking colorways like Black and Lake Cyan. These colors not only add a touch of personality but also play with the light in a way that's bound to turn heads.

The itel S23+ is a good example of a handset with meticulous design, seamlessly blending aesthetics with functionality to create a device that's both stylish and practical. Its construction includes a  polycarbonate midframe, adorned with a lush metallic finish. This not only adds a touch of refinement but also gives you a premium feel when you hold it. The midframe's slim and ergonomic design ensures that the S23+ feels comfortable and substantial in your hand, despite its budget-friendly price tag.

On the right side, you'll discover the power button and volume rocker, smartly positioned for easy access and intuitive operation with your thumb or fingers. This design choice enhances your user experience by seamlessly integrating essential functions. Meanwhile, the left side maintains a minimalist look, contributing to the phone's sleek and uncluttered appearance.

The top panel of the itel S23+ adds a delightful surprise – the phrase "Designed by itel" elegantly printed. This unique touch sets it apart from other smartphone brands and underscores itel's dedication to crafting devices that seamlessly blend style with functionality. It's a subtle but meaningful detail that highlights the brand's commitment to delivering more than just a standard smartphone.

At the rear, you'll find the phone's Dual nanoSIM card tray that can ejected using the provided metal pin, the microphone pinhole, the USB Type C charging port, and a row of six holes for the loudspeaker.

Finally, at the back, we have the beautiful polycarbonate plate with an eye-catching finish that I discussed above. In the upper left corner, there's a "squircle" module that contains the main 50MP camera, a secondary AI camera, and the LED flash, each housed in individual black circles. This arrangement of imaging elements adds a touch of sophistication and elegance to the rear design. It's a testament to itel's commitment to delivering a device that excels in both style and substance.

Curved AMOLED Display

One of the standout features of the itel S23 Plus is its stunning display. Sporting a generous 6.78-inch curved AMOLED screen, it offers a visual experience that's nothing short of impressive. With a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels and a 20:9 aspect ratio, the pixel density sits at around 388 ppi, delivering sharp and vibrant visuals.

What truly sets this display apart is its peak brightness of 500 nits. This means that even under direct sunlight, you won't struggle to see your screen, enhancing usability in various lighting conditions. The icing on the cake is Corning Gorilla Glass 5, ensuring your display remains scratch-free even through everyday wear and tear. Plus, the always-on display feature adds a touch of convenience, letting you check important notifications at a glance.

Imaging Capabilities

The itel S23 Plus doesn't just shine in the display department; its camera capabilities are equally commendable given the handset's price. 

At the rear, you'll find a dual-camera setup, featuring a 50 MegaPixel primary camera with a wide f/1.6 aperture for crisp shots. The high-resolution of the main camera allows it to give you photos with impressive details while the wide aperture allows the shooter to perform well even in low light conditions. Accompanying it is a 0.08 MP AI lens, which I believe enhances depth and overall image quality. An LED flash is on hand for well-lit photos in various lighting conditions. 

Moreover, the device supports video recording at 1080p at 30fps, ensuring smooth and high-quality video capture that's good enough for vlogging.

Flipping to the front, the 32 MP selfie camera with an f/2.0 aperture lets you snap stunning self-portraits. It also supports 1080p video recording, ensuring that your video calls, TikTok clips, and vlogs look sharp and professional.

Internal Hardware

The itel S23 Plus boasts impressive hardware under its sleek exterior. 

It is powered by a 12nm Unisoc Tiger T616 chipset, featuring an Octa-Core CPU with 2 Cortex-A75 cores clocked at 2.0 GHz and 6 Cortex-A55 cores at 1.8 GHz. A known rival of this processor in terms of performance is MediaTek Helio G85.

For me, though, the real standout feature here is the abundant 16GB of RAM, which is the combination of the built-in RAM plus itel's MemFusion technology that maxes out at 8GB for this device. This is a rare find in smartphones at this price point. It definitely ensures smooth multitasking and responsive performance, making the phone ideal for productivity and gaming.

With a generous 256GB of internal storage utilizing UFS 2.0 technology, you'll have ample space for apps, media, and files. While some may miss the presence of a microSD card slot, the extensive built-in storage should be more than sufficient for the average user.

Operating System and User Interface

The itel S23 Plus runs on Android 13, customized with itel's own OS 13. This combination offers a seamless and user-friendly experience. Android 13 brings a slew of enhancements in terms of privacy and performance, while itel's OS 13 adds a unique flavor to the interface.

itel OS 13, the customized interface gracing the itel S23+, offers a delightful user experience that effortlessly balances functionality with simplicity. Navigating through the interface feels like a breeze, thanks to its clean and intuitive design. Whether you're a seasoned smartphone user or someone new to the tech world, itel OS 13 welcomes you with open arms. It embraces the best of both worlds with an organized app drawer, ensuring your applications are neatly categorized and easily accessible. This thoughtful organization minimizes clutter and makes finding your desired app a hassle-free task.

What truly elevates the usability of itel OS 13 is its seamless support for touch gestures. The curved AMOLED screen enhances the touch experience, allowing for fluid and precise navigation. Whether you're swiping up to access your app drawer, swiping left and right to toggle between screens, or employing various gestures for shortcuts, itel OS 13's responsiveness enhances your interaction with the device. It's an interface that doesn't just meet your needs but anticipates them, making every interaction with the itel S23+ a joyous experience.

Aivana GPT AI Assistant

The itel S23 Plus comes equipped with the Aivana GPT AI Assistant. This powerful AI-driven assistant adds a layer of convenience to your daily tasks. Whether you need information, assistance with tasks, or even just a chat, Aivana is there to lend a hand. This feature makes the smartphone not just a communication device but a true personal assistant.

Dynamic Bar: Coming Soon

The itel S23 Plus has another trick up its sleeve - the Dynamic Bar. While it's not available out of the box, a future software update promises to introduce this feature. While the specifics of the Dynamic Bar remain under wraps, it's an exciting prospect that adds a layer of intrigue to the phone's future capabilities. Itel's commitment to improving the user experience is evident through this upcoming addition.

Privacy and Security

Security is a paramount concern for itel, and the S23 Plus is well-prepared to protect your data. It offers both facial recognition and an under-display fingerprint scanner. These biometric security measures ensure quick and secure access to your smartphone while keeping your data safe from prying eyes.

Battery and Fast Charging

With its high-capacity 5,000 mAh non-removable Li-Po battery, the itel S23 Plus ensures you stay powered throughout the day. Whether you're browsing, streaming, or gaming, this phone has the endurance to keep up with your demands. Furthermore, the support for 18W wired fast charging means that when it's time to recharge, you won't be left waiting for long.

Price in the Philippines and Launch Date Shopee Voucher Promo Details

Now, let's talk about what makes the itel S23 Plus even more enticing - its price. The official suggested retail price (SRP) in the Philippines is set at PHP 7,499, a remarkable value given the smartphone's impressive feature set. However, itel has sweetened the deal further with a launch promo.

The official launch date for the itel S23 Plus is October 5, 2023. On this special day, buyers can take advantage of exclusive Shopee vouchers that bring the price down to as low as PHP 5,699. But that's not all - itel is including an itel ICH-61 Power Brick and an I678 Glass Screen Protector with every Shopee order, adding practical value to your purchase. Additionally, buyers have the delightful option of choosing between itel ISW-31 Smartwatch or itel N75 OpenAir Air Conduction Earphone as freebie!

If you're interested, you may purchase itel S23 Plus and take advantage of the generous Launch Sale Shopee Voucher Promo here: https://tinyurl.com/itelS23Plus

itel S23 Plus Specs

Dimensions: 164.47 x 75.17 x 7.9 mm

Weight: 178 grams

Build: Curved Scratch-Resistant Glass Front, Polycabonate Mid-Frame with Metallic Finish, Polycarbonate Back with Iridescent Finish

Colorways: Black, Lake Cyan

DISPLAY:

Size: 6.78 inches

Resolution: 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio, (~388 ppi density)

Type: Curved AMOLED

Brightness: 500 nits (peak)

Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 5

Always-on Display

MAIN CAMERA:

Dual:

50 MP, f/1.6, AF

0.08 MP AI Lens

Features: LED flash

Video: 1080p 30fps

SELFIE CAMERA:

Single: 32 MP, f/2.0

Video: 1080p 30fps

PLATFORM:

OS: Android 13, itel OS 13

Chipset: 12nm Unisoc Tiger T616

CPU: Octa-core (2 x 2.0 GHz Cortex-A75, 6 x 1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)

GPU: Mali-G57 MP1

MEMORY:

RAM: 8GB + 8GB MemFusion, 16GB RAM Total

Internal Storage: 256GB

Storage type: UFS 2.0

MicroSD Card Slot: No

SOUND:

Loudspeaker: Yes

3.5mm jack: No

SECURITY:

Facial Recognition: Yes

Fingeprint Scanner, Yes, Under-Display

COMMUNICATIONS:

4G LTE-A: Yes

5G: No

WLAN: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Bluetooth: 5.0, A2DP, LE

SIM: Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)

USB: USB Type-C 2.0, OTG

FEATURES:

Aivana GPT AI Assistant 

Dynamic Bar (Coming Soon via Software Update)

BATTERY:

Type: Li-Po 5,000 mAh, Non-removable

Fast Charging: 18W Wired

Official Retail Package

Design - Rather Flat, Square Box with White Cover, Red and Black Internal Case

Cover Print - Model Name of Smartphone in Silver Iridescent Finish

Bottom Print - Technical Specifications List

Contents: Unit itself, USB Type C Charging Cable, USB Type C Wired Earphones with Microphone for Calls, Metal Pin For Ejecting SIM Card Tray, Free Hard Plastic Case

itel S23+ Official Price

Official SRP in the Philippines - PHP 7,499

itel S23+ Launch Sale Promo Price via Shopee Vouchers

Launch Date - October 5, 2023

Sale Price on October 5 Launch: Up to PHP 5,699 via Shopee Vouchers

Official Bundle: itel ICH-61 Power Brick and I678 Glass Screen Protector per Shopee Order

Official Freebies: Buyers may choose itel ISW-31 Smartwatch or itel N75 OpenAir Air Conduction Earphone