What in the name of branding confusion is this? The Itel A9 5G? Since when did Itel’s A-series become home to 5G phones? The A-series is usually reserved for barebones, entry-level Android phones—the kind you buy because your budget won’t stretch another inch. So seeing “A9 5G” slapped on what looks like a competent budget 5G device is… odd. Mildly confusing. But hey, here we are.
The A9 5G recently launched in India and, according to leaks and early hands-on impressions, it looks like a mildly updated version of the Itel P55 5G. Same DNA, newer hardware, and a new software. The big story here? Itel might finally be taking 5G seriously in the budget space—and not just slapping it on for marketing. Let’s get into the details.
Itel A9 5G – Specs Sheet
| Category | Specs |
|---|---|
| Body | Plastic, IP54 |
| Display | 6.67″ HD+ (720p) IPS LCD, 120Hz, 267ppi, Panda Glass |
| SoC | MediaTek Dimensity 6300 |
| OS | Android 14 |
| RAM & Storage | 4/6GB LPDDR4X, 128GB UFS 2.2 |
| Rear Camera | 50MP |
| Selfie | 8MP |
| Video | 2K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Audio | Single mono speaker, 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Comms | 5G, 4G LTE (Cat 18), WiFi 5, BT 5.4, GPS, USB-C |
| Features | Side fingerprint, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity sensor, IR blaster |
| Battery | 5000mAh, 18W fast charging |
| Price (6/128GB) | ~$118 (rumoured) |
Body
We’ve got a plastic build here—as expected, and okay for a budget phone. The IP54 rating is a welcome addition, giving it protection against dust and light splashes. Is it premium? No. But it doesn’t feel like it’s going to fall apart either.
Display
Here’s where the contradiction kicks in. This device is equipped with a fairly standard 6.67” IPS LCD with 720p (HD+) resolution. That’s rather meh, especially stretched across this size but we must remember that this is a budget phone. To compensate users, Itel have added support for 120Hz refresh rate. That’s great. It’s rare to see such a high refresh rate on budget phones, especially those with 5G.
Finally, there’s Panda Glass protection (think of it as Gorilla Glass’s less-famous cousin). So you get a screen that’s basic in sharpness but decent in feel and durability.
SoC – MediaTek Dimensity 6300
Now this is the headline. The Dimensity 6300 is one of MediaTek’s latest budget 5G chipsets. It’s a slightly improved Dimensity 6100+, bringing better efficiency and a small bump in performance.
This SoC competes with:
- Snapdragon 4 Gen 2
- Unisoc T8200 (T765)
- And leaves older chips like Unisoc T7280 and Helio G99/G100/G200 behind in performance and 5G capability
It’s not a gaming beast, but it can handle daily tasks, medium to serious gaming, and multitasking without issue. And paired with LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 2.2, things should feel snappy.
OS – Android 14
Thankfully, this phone runs full Android 14, not the Go Edition. Hopefully Itel has also learned to leave the bloatware at the door.
The Itel OS is lean and smooth, and whilst it is not feature rich, the Itel A9 5G is actually be fun to use.
RAM & Storage
- 4GB and 6GB RAM options are standard for budget 5G.
- 128GB UFS 2.2 storage is good—fast and reliable.
This setup ensures the device doesn’t feel slow or laggy for day-to-day use.
Cameras & Video
This is where Itel is trying to be flashy:
- 50MP rear camera: Might look impressive on paper, but don’t expect Pixel-level photos.
- 8MP selfie: Serviceable.
- 2K@30fps and 1080p@30fps video recording is a bit of a surprise. Most budget phones max out at 1080p, so if the 2K recording holds up, this would be a nice bonus.
Don’t expect good pictures in low-light tho, but under bright lights or in daylight, this setup works well.
Sound
There is a single mono speaker on this device. It is fairly loud but lacks depth and bass. On the good side, you still get a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is basically an endangered species in 2025. So if you still love your wired earphones, you’re in luck.
Comms
- 5G support – ✅
- 4G LTE (Cat 18) – very fast
- WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.4, GPS, USB-C – all standard and acceptable
The connectivity package here is solid for a phone this cheap.
Features
Now this is interesting:
- Side-mounted fingerprint scanner – nice
- Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity sensor – nice
- IR Blaster – wait, what?
That last one’s unexpected. You can use this phone as a TV or AC remote. That’s rare in this segment and a genuinely useful feature for many users. I’m glad to see that Itel has finally adopted the IR blaster.
Battery
- 5000mAh – standard, will last all day
- 18W fast charging – should top up your phone in just about an hour. It’s not premium but at least it’s not 10W. Not blazing fast, but not agonizing slow either.
Price – $118 (~₦180,000)
If the leaked price holds, then this is one of the cheapest 5G phones with a Dimensity 6300. That’s a strong value proposition. Itel is clearly gunning for the Redmi 13C 5G, Lava Blaze 5G, and Poco M6 5G here.
Conclusion – Budget 5G Done Right?
The Itel A9 5G is Itel’s way of saying: “We can do 5G too, and not just in name.”
It’s a budget 5G phone with decent performance, a fast display, full Android, and clean aesthetics. It looks like Itel took the Itel P55 5G, cleaned it up, boosted a few features, and gave it a weird name. But hey, if the experience is better than the name, we’ll take it.
If Itel can keep the software lean and the price stable, this might be their second 5G phone worth recommending.
TL;DR
- Good: Dimensity 6300, 120Hz display, IR blaster, decent cameras
- Meh: 720p screen, single mono speaker, 18W charging
- Surprising: Full Android 14, 2K video, Panda glass
Verdict: If you want 5G without burning a hole in your pocket, the Itel A9 5G is worth a look—even if the name makes zero sense.
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