Samsung's S25 series is still a while away. The official release is set for February, but itel has introduced some intriguing alternatives—the S25 and S25 Ultra. That's correct, you heard right. However, temper your excitement; these models are firmly in the “budget-friendly” category.
itel's New Models
itel has launched these new phones in the Philippines as successors to the S24 series, which is known as the itel S24 series. From the naming to the design, it’s evident that itel playfully poked fun at the upcoming Galaxy S25 by adopting a similar boxy design, but with a distinct ring light flash (and a secondary one too).
Specifications Breakdown
The S25 sports a flat AMOLED display, whereas the S25 Ultra enhances this with a curved AMOLED and a two-tone color design. The specifications are, well, quite basic. The S25 offers a 6.78-inch FHD+ AMOLED screen with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. It’s powered by a yet-to-be-confirmed chipset, although whispers suggest it’s the Unisoc T612.
You’ll find a 50MP main camera alongside a 32MP selfie camera, DTS Audio for what they claim is an immersive sound experience, and a respectable 5000mAh battery. Unfortunately, there’s no mention of fast charging for this model. On the bright side, it does have IP54 splash resistance, which is a nice perk.
Enhanced Features in the Ultra
The S25 Ultra comes with a slightly improved specifications list. It maintains the same display size and refresh rate but upgrades to a curved AMOLED display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i (which is a less durable version compared to Victus glass).
Inside, the Unisoc T620 chipset is present, again paired with the 50MP main and 32MP selfie camera combo. It also features an in-display fingerprint sensor for extra security. Thankfully, the Ultra variant increases the water resistance rating to IP64, making it more dust and water-resistant than its sibling.
Pricing and Launch Information
The Itel S25 is priced starting at PHP 5,799 (around USD 110) for the 8GB/128GB model, while the S25 Ultra starts at PHP 10,999 (approximately USD 210) for the same RAM but with double the storage at 256GB. The itel S25 is already available for pre-order, while the S25 Ultra is set to launch on November 10th.
The S25 is available in three colors—Bromo Black, Mambo Mint, and Sahara Gleam. The S25 Ultra, however, offers Meteor Titanium, Bromo Black, and Komodo Ocean.
