As of November 2026 the itel P33 Plus is a discontinued 2019 phone. It is no longer sold new through itel’s normal channels and no longer gets software updates. It ran Android 8.1 Oreo (Go Edition) and only works on 2G and 3G, so it is a poor buy today, even second-hand. If you want its big-battery idea at a low price, look at newer itel P-series phones such as the itel P65 (2024) or the itel P70 (2025). Check for 4G, Android 14 or newer, at least 4 GB of RAM and a battery of 5,000 mAh or more with 18 W charging.
This page covers the itel P33 Plus price, specs and review, and where it was sold.
- The itel P33 Plus was a low-end phone from itel, a brand owned by Transsion Holdings, the same group behind Tecno and Infinix.
- Some of its specs were upgraded over the smaller itel P33. The biggest change was the battery: 5,000 mAh against the P33’s 4,000 mAh.
- It launched at a low price aimed at buyers on a tight budget.
Read on for the review, specs, price and availability of the itel P33 Plus in Nigeria.
Key iTel P33 Plus Specs
OS: Android 8.1 (Oreo, Go Edition)
NETWORK: 2G and 3G only (no 4G)
BODY: 158.7 x 74 x 9.3 mm (6.25 x 2.91 x 0.37 in)
RESOLUTION: 720 x 1440 pixels
RAM: 1 GB
ROM: 16 GB
SD card: Yes, microSD slot
CHIPSET: Unisoc (formerly Spreadtrum) SC7731E
CAMERA:
Rear: 8 MP + 0.08 MP
Front: 5 MP with LED flash
BATTERY: Non-removable Li-ion 5,000 mAh, no fast charging
iTel P33 Plus: Introduction
The itel P33 Plus was an entry-level smartphone. itel launched it in Nigeria on 25 March 2019, alongside the itel P33, as part of its Power series.
The P33 Plus was the upgraded version of the P33. It had the core specs needed for a basic entry-level experience.
It also had features that were less common at its price in 2019, such as a rear fingerprint scanner and face unlock.
iTel P33 Plus: Review
This review is based on the phone’s published specs and launch reporting. It covers the main areas of the phone so you know what it offered and where it falls short today.
Body
The P33 Plus measures 158.7 mm tall, 74 mm wide and 9.3 mm thick. The old version of this page converted that to 5.66 x 2.85 inches, which was wrong. The correct figures are about 6.25 x 2.91 x 0.37 inches.
At that size it is comfortable to hold, though the 6-inch screen makes one-handed use a stretch for smaller hands. The phone was not especially heavy for a 5,000 mAh battery.
The plastic body was built for everyday use rather than to look premium.
Screen Size and Resolution
For a 2019 entry-level phone, the screen was generous. The P33 Plus has a 6-inch HD+ IPS LCD with a resolution of 720 x 1440 pixels in an 18:9 shape. That works out to about 268 pixels per inch.
In 2019 its screen was a little smaller than two other budget phones of the time, the Leagoo M13 and the Tecno Spark 3. The Tecno Spark 3 had a 6.2-inch 720 x 1500 display. Both were budget handsets too, not midrange phones as an older version of this page said.
HD+ resolution was a fair choice at this price. Text and video looked sharp enough for social media and streaming at standard quality. Today, phones at similar budget prices offer bigger 6.7-inch screens with 90 Hz or 120 Hz refresh rates.
Operating System (OS)
itel shipped the P33 Plus with Android 8.1 Oreo (Go Edition). That is the lighter version of Android Google made for phones with 1 GB of RAM or less.
Because of this, the phone came with the Go versions of Google apps, such as Google Go, Maps Go and Gmail Go. These use less memory and storage than the full apps.
In 2019, Android 8.1 was recent and widely used. That is now history. Android has moved on by many versions, and current itel phones such as the P65 and P70 ship with Android 14. The P33 Plus no longer receives updates. More and more apps no longer support Android 8.1, so the phone has a shrinking choice of apps and stays exposed to unpatched security flaws.
System on Chip (SoC)
The P33 Plus runs on the SC7731E chipset from Unisoc. Unisoc is the Shanghai-based chipmaker that used the name Spreadtrum until 2018, which is why spec sheets often call it “Spreadtrum SC7731E”. Some Nigerian spec listings name a MediaTek MT6580 instead, but most sources agree on the SC7731E.
Unisoc focuses on chips for entry-level phones, and the SC7731E is a typical example. It has four Cortex-A7 cores at 1.3 GHz and an ARM Mali-T820 MP1 graphics chip.
That was enough for calls, messaging and light apps in 2019. By today’s standards it is very slow. It also has no 4G modem, which is the main reason the phone only works on 2G and 3G.
Storage
Storage matters on any phone, but you should not expect much from an entry-level model like this.
The P33 Plus has just 1 GB of RAM, which is why it runs the Go edition of Android, and 16 GB of internal storage. A microSD slot lets you add more space for photos, music and videos.
Together, these cover light use such as Facebook Lite and WhatsApp. Even that is a squeeze today, as app sizes have grown. Current budget phones start at 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB to 128 GB of storage.
Camera
The camera spec looked impressive on paper for the price.
The phone has three cameras in total. On the back is a dual setup: an 8 MP main camera and a small secondary sensor, which spec sheets list as 0.08 MP. That second sensor is a depth helper for portrait-style background blur, not a separate lens for wide or zoom shots. On the front is a 5 MP selfie camera with an LED flash. Some spec sites list 8 MP for the front camera, but launch reporting gives 5 MP.
In practice, the 8 MP main camera does the real work, and results depend heavily on good light. The extra sensor added little to everyday photos.
Battery
The battery was the phone’s main selling point.
The P33 Plus packs a 5,000 mAh battery, which was big for a budget phone in 2019 and is still standard capacity today. Paired with a low-power chip and a 720p screen, it gave long standby time and a full day of heavy use or more.
The trade-off is charging. The P33 Plus does not support fast charging, so a full charge takes a long time. Newer itel P-series phones add 18 W charging. The itel P70 went further at launch in 2025, with a 6,000 mAh battery and a 4,000 mAh charging case in the box.
This long battery life was aimed at buyers in Nigeria, where unreliable grid power makes battery life a top concern.
Itel P33 Plus: Full Specs
OS: Android 8.1 (Oreo, Go Edition)
NETWORK: GSM (2G) and HSPA (3G), no 4G LTE
SIM: Dual SIM
BODY: 158.7 x 74 x 9.3 mm (6.25 x 2.91 x 0.37 in)
DISPLAY: IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen
SIZE: 6.0 inches
RESOLUTION: 720 x 1440 pixels, 18:9 ratio (about 268 ppi)
RAM: 1 GB
ROM: 16 GB
SD card: Yes, microSD slot
CHIPSET: Unisoc (Spreadtrum) SC7731E
PROCESSOR: Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7
GPU: ARM Mali-T820 MP1
CAMERA:
Rear: 8 MP + 0.08 MP (depth)
Front: 5 MP with LED flash
BATTERY: Non-removable Li-ion 5,000 mAh, no fast charging
SECURITY: Fingerprint (rear-mounted), face unlock
LAUNCHED: 25 March 2019 (Nigeria), on sale from 1 April 2019
iTel P33 Plus: Verdict
The P33 Plus was a low-end phone, and it should be judged as one.
In 2019 it did what an entry-level phone was supposed to do. The weak point was the SC7731E chip, which was slow even then and has aged badly. The 5,000 mAh battery was the best part of the phone. For long standby time on a small budget, it was a sensible choice at launch.
In 2026 the verdict is different. With no 4G, 1 GB of RAM and Android 8.1 with no updates, it is not worth buying, even cheap and second-hand. For the same idea in a modern phone, look at an itel P65 or P70. The P65 uses a Unisoc T615 chip with a 6.7-inch 120 Hz screen, a 5,000 mAh battery with 18 W charging, a 50 MP main camera and Android 14. If water and dust resistance matter, the itel City 100 (2025) has an IP64 rating, a 6.75-inch 90 Hz screen and a 5,200 mAh battery.
Itel P33 Plus: Price and Availability
Launch price (2019): itel’s recommended retail price at the March 2019 Nigerian launch was ₦26,300. Some retailers listed it at about ₦25,300 to ₦26,500. By around 2020 it was selling for about ₦33,000.
Availability (2019): Sold online through JUMIA and other Nigerian retailers, as well as itel’s offline dealers.
Availability (2026): The phone is discontinued and you will rarely find it new. Any remaining units are old stock or used. For a new budget itel phone, the P70 launched in Nigeria in March 2025 at about ₦124,900. Nigerian phone prices vary a lot between sellers, so confirm the exact model and price with the retailer before you pay.
FAQ
Is the itel P33 Plus still available in Nigeria?
No, not as a current product. itel replaced it years ago with newer P-series phones, including the P36 in 2020, the P55 series in late 2023, the P65 in 2024, and the P70 in 2025. Any P33 Plus you see for sale is old stock or used.
Does the itel P33 Plus support 4G?
No. The P33 Plus only works on 2G and 3G networks, because its SC7731E chip has no 4G modem. That means slower mobile data than any 4G phone, and it becomes a bigger problem as networks move to 4G and 5G.
Can the itel P33 Plus be updated to a newer Android version?
No. It launched on Android 8.1 Oreo (Go Edition) and never received a major Android upgrade. It no longer gets security patches, so it is not a good choice for mobile banking or payment apps.
What is the difference between the itel P33 and the P33 Plus?
Both launched in Nigeria on 25 March 2019. The Plus had the bigger battery, 5,000 mAh against 4,000 mAh on the P33, and a larger 6-inch screen. At launch the P33 cost ₦24,000 and the P33 Plus ₦26,300.
Which itel phone should you buy instead of the P33 Plus?
For a modern budget phone with long battery life, the itel P65 and itel P70 are the closest successors. The P70 comes with a 6,000 mAh battery plus a 4,000 mAh charging case. Whatever you choose, look for 4G or 5G, Android 14 or newer, at least 4 GB of RAM and 18 W charging.
Does the itel P33 Plus support fast charging?
No. The 5,000 mAh battery charges at standard speed, so a full charge takes several hours. Fast charging, usually 18 W, only arrived on later itel P-series models.
Sources
- itel Mobile unveils P33 and P33 Plus in Nigeria, Mobility Arena
- itel P33 Plus specs, Mobility Arena
- itel P33 Plus Specs and Price, NaijaTechGuide
- itel P33 Plus, TechViews
- Itel Launches Budget P33 Plus In PH, Unbox
- 7 Best iTel Smartphones to Buy in Nigeria (2020), Dignited
- Tecno Spark 3 specifications, GSMArena
- The best Itel phone in Nigeria for 2025, TechCabal
- itel P65 Full Specs and Official Price in the Philippines, Pinoy Techno Guide
- itel City 100 launched in India, FoneArena
- itel launches City 100, Gizmochina
- itel Mobile Unveils P36 and P36 Pro, The Guardian Nigeria
About this article
- Fact-checked before publication.
- Published · Updated
