itel A300+ Unboxing And First Impressions
Budget smartphones tend to follow a familiar formula. Manufacturers usually focus on getting the largest possible display, decent cameras, a big battery and an attractive design at a low price. The itel A300+ takes a slightly different approach.
At around ₦146,900, depending on the storage configuration, the phone comes with a feature that is rarely seen in this price category: a 2.01-inch interactive secondary display on the back.
That display sits alongside the rear camera setup and gives users access to certain functions without having to turn the phone around.
The A300+ also packs a 7,000mAh battery, dual SIM support, microSD expansion and up to 12GB of extended RAM through MemFusion.
This first look focuses on the design, box contents and unusual rear display rather than providing a full performance review.
itel A300+ Box Contents
The A300+ comes in a relatively straightforward retail box with the main specifications printed on the back.
Inside the box, itel includes the phone alongside several useful accessories.
The package contains:
- Protective silicone case
- 22.5W charging adapter
- USB charging cable
- SIM ejector tool
- MTN data pin
- Qualcomm tag
The included 22.5W charger is worth noting because the phone has a very large 7,000mAh battery. While having a charger in the box is convenient, 22.5W isn't particularly fast for a battery of this size.
The protective case could also be useful because the glossy rear section of the phone can attract fingerprints and smudges.
Design and Build Quality
The itel A300+ looks considerably different from what you might expect from a budget phone in this price range.
The rear panel is the main attraction, with the camera arrangement and secondary display giving the phone a distinctive appearance.
The phone has a fairly premium-looking design despite targeting the affordable segment.
The power button and volume controls are located on the right side. The power button also doubles as the fingerprint scanner.
On the left side is the SIM tray, while the bottom houses the main speaker, USB-C port, microphone and 3.5mm headphone jack. A secondary speaker is positioned at the top.
The A300+ supports dual SIM cards as well as microSD card expansion, giving users some flexibility when it comes to storage and connectivity.
The 2.01-Inch Rear Display
The most unusual feature is undoubtedly the 2.01-inch interactive rear display.
Rather than being simply decorative, the screen can be interacted with and provides access to certain functions without requiring users to turn the phone over.
That makes the A300+ different from the majority of smartphones in its price range.
Exactly how useful the display becomes will depend heavily on the available functions and how well they fit into everyday use. For some people, it could become a genuinely useful shortcut. Others may barely use it after the novelty wears off.
One particularly interesting possibility is using the rear display as a viewfinder for taking selfies with the main camera.
Instead of relying on the front-facing camera, users could potentially use the higher-quality rear camera while framing themselves through the secondary display.
This could be especially useful for people who want better-quality selfies without depending entirely on the front camera.
The rear panel does, however, attract fingerprints and smudges fairly easily, making the included protective case useful for keeping the phone cleaner.
Software and Memory
After completing the initial setup, the A300+ offers a relatively familiar software experience for anyone who has used recent itel smartphones.
The interface is clean and straightforward, although there are some pre-installed applications.
The phone also supports MemFusion, which allows part of the internal storage to be used as virtual RAM. According to the configuration, the available memory can be expanded up to 12GB through this feature.
However, virtual RAM shouldn't be confused with having 12GB of physical RAM. Its effectiveness also depends on the phone's actual hardware and how the feature is implemented.
Since this is only a first look, longer-term performance wasn't evaluated at this stage. Gaming performance, multitasking and battery endurance are better judged after spending more time with the device.
7,000mAh Battery
Battery capacity is another major selling point of the A300+.
The phone comes with a 7,000mAh battery, which is significantly larger than what is found on many conventional smartphones.
A battery this large could make the phone particularly attractive to users who spend long periods away from a charger or simply want fewer charging sessions throughout the day.
However, battery capacity alone doesn't tell the whole story.
Actual endurance will depend on the display, processor, software optimisation, network conditions and usage patterns. Because this was only the initial setup and unboxing, a specific battery-life figure would be premature.
The included 22.5W charger should recharge the battery, but charging a 7,000mAh cell at that speed is unlikely to be particularly quick compared with phones offering faster charging systems.
A proper battery test after extended everyday use will give a much clearer picture.
Storage and Pricing
The itel A300+ is available in 64GB and 128GB storage configurations, with both versions listed with 4GB of RAM.
The current Nigerian itel store listing starts the phone at approximately ₦146,900, with the final price depending on the selected storage configuration.
At this price point, it is clearly aimed at buyers who want a large battery and unusual features without moving into the more expensive mid-range segment.
First Impressions
The most interesting thing about the itel A300+ isn't necessarily its specifications on paper. It's the combination of features itel has chosen to put into a relatively affordable phone.
A 2.01-inch interactive rear display is something you simply don't see on most phones around this price.
The 7,000mAh battery is another major attraction, while dual SIM support, microSD expansion, a headphone jack and a charger in the box add some practical value.
The big question is whether the rear display becomes something genuinely useful or simply a feature that looks impressive when you first take the phone out of the box.
Using it as a rear-camera selfie preview, checking certain information without turning the phone around and interacting with supported functions could make it more than just a gimmick.
That is something that requires real-world use to determine.
Conclusion
The itel A300+ is an interesting addition to the budget smartphone market because it isn't trying to compete purely through conventional specifications.
For around ₦150,000, it offers a large 7,000mAh battery and an unusual secondary display that gives the phone a distinctive identity.
The included 22.5W charger isn't particularly impressive considering the battery capacity, and the real usefulness of the rear display still needs to be established through everyday use.
For now, the A300+ certainly makes a strong first impression. The more important test will be whether its unusual features remain useful after the novelty wears off.