Home Top 5 Reasons to AVOID the itel City 100: What You Need to Know Before Buying!

onJuly 22, 2025

Top 5 Reasons to AVOID the itel City 100: What You Need to Know Before Buying!

Mobile Review

4 min read

The itel City 100 has certainly caught attention with its attractive price and the bonus of a free magnetic speaker. It looks good and offers some compelling features for a budget smartphone. However, like any device in this segment, it comes with certain limitations and trade-offs.

While the itel City 100 might be a great fit for some, it’s crucial to understand where it falls short. Knowing these potential drawbacks will help you decide if this phone truly meets your needs. As a tech reviewer, my goal is to give you a complete picture, so let’s dive into the Top 5 Reasons to AVOID the itel City 100.

1. No 5G Connectivity

In today’s rapidly evolving mobile landscape, 5G is becoming increasingly common, even in the budget segment. The itel City 100, however, is limited to 4G connectivity.

Slower Speeds: While 4G is still widely available, 5G offers significantly faster download and upload speeds, lower latency, and better performance in crowded areas.
Lack of Future-Proofing: If you plan to keep your phone for a few years, a 4G-only device might feel outdated sooner as 5G networks expand and become more prevalent.
Limited Network Compatibility: For users in areas with strong 5G coverage, or those who frequently stream high-quality content and play online games, the absence of 5G could be a noticeable limitation.

2. HD+ Display Resolution (Not Full HD)

While the itel City 100 boasts a large 6.75-inch screen with a 90Hz refresh rate, its resolution is a clear compromise.

Lower Sharpness: The display has an HD+ (720p) resolution. On a screen this large (6.75 inches), individual pixels might be noticeable, leading to a less sharp and detailed image compared to Full HD (1080p) displays.
Impact on Content: Text might appear slightly less crisp, and images or videos won’t be as clear as they would on a higher-resolution screen. For users who consume a lot of media or read extensively on their phone, this could be a significant drawback.
Visual Fidelity: While the 90Hz refresh rate provides smooth scrolling, the lower resolution can still impact the overall visual fidelity.

3. Single Functional Rear Camera (Despite the Look)

The camera module on the back of the itel City 100 looks like it houses multiple sensors, but it’s largely for aesthetics.

Limited Versatility: Despite appearing to have three sensors, only the 13-megapixel main camera is truly functional. This means you miss out on common features like an ultrawide lens for broader shots or a dedicated macro lens for close-ups.
Basic Photography: While the 13MP sensor is adequate for basic, casual photography in good lighting, it won’t offer the versatility or quality of phones with multiple functional lenses.
No Advanced Features: Don’t expect features like Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) or Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) for smoother videos, which are increasingly found even in some mid-range phones.

4. Unisoc Processor for Demanding Tasks

The itel City 100 is powered by a Unisoc T7250 chipset. While it handles daily tasks well, it has limitations for more demanding use cases.

Not for Heavy Gaming: If you’re into graphically intensive mobile games like PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact, this processor might struggle. You’ll likely experience lower frame rates, stutters, and might need to play on the lowest graphics settings.
Multitasking Limits: While the virtual RAM helps, pushing the phone with many heavy apps running simultaneously might lead to occasional slowdowns or app crashes.
Overall Performance Ceiling: For users who demand snappy performance across all applications or plan to use their phone for more than just basic communication and light browsing, the Unisoc T7250 might prove to be a bottleneck.

5. Dated Waterdrop Notch Display Design

While the phone’s back design is modern, the front display features a design that is becoming increasingly outdated.

Aesthetic Preference: The waterdrop notch for the front camera is a design choice that many users find less appealing than punch-hole cutouts or under-display cameras, which offer a more immersive, full-screen experience.
Visual Interruption: The notch intrudes into the display area, which can be distracting when watching videos or playing games, especially for those who prefer an uninterrupted screen.
Budget Indicator: For some, the waterdrop notch immediately signals a budget device, despite the phone’s otherwise premium-looking rear.

Conclusion: Weighing the Pros and Cons

The itel City 100 offers undeniable value, especially with its free magnetic speaker, premium-looking design, and robust battery life. However, it’s essential to be aware of its limitations before making a purchase.

The absence of 5G, the lower HD+ display resolution, the single functional camera, the Unisoc processor’s limitations for heavy use, and the dated waterdrop notch are all factors that might make you reconsider. If these aspects are crucial to your smartphone experience, then the itel City 100 might not be the right choice for you. Your decision should ultimately align with your specific needs and priorities.

About the Author: AmiT Technology Amit Technology is a tech channel that’s focused on Hindi Tech and Useful videos. We make videos on New technologies, trending in technologies and many useful tech videos. Video Topic: Mobile tips & tricks | How to tutorials | Internet | Computer | Tech explain | Gadgets Unboxing & Review.