Curved displays spent years as a feature locked behind premium price tags, showing up almost exclusively on flagship devices from brands like Samsung. Itel changed that conversation by bringing curved screen designs down to the ultra budget and mid range market, giving everyday buyers access to a high end aesthetic without the high end price.
The best itel phones with curved screens sit inside the S series lineup, and there are currently three models available. Each one takes a slightly different approach to the same design philosophy, balancing looks, protection, and battery life in its own way. Here is a full breakdown of all three.
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1. Itel S23 Plus
The itel S23 Plus, launched in late 2023, was the first itel smartphone to feature a curved display panel. The focus here was clearly on aesthetics and design over raw processing muscle, and it set the visual template that the models after it would build on.
The display is a 6.78 inch FHD+ AMOLED panel with a 59 degree golden curvature, a 93% screen to body ratio, and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. Peak brightness reaches 500 nits.
Inside, it runs on a Unisoc T616 processor paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, with virtual memory technology available to expand RAM further. The battery is 5000mAh with 18W Type C charging. Cameras include a 50MP main rear sensor and a 32MP front selfie camera.
The S23 Plus also ships with itel OS 13 on Android 13, and includes the Dynamic Bar software notification feature built into the display area around the camera cutout.
2. Itel S25 Ultra
Released in late 2024, the itel S25 Ultra updated the curved screen formula significantly, this time aiming for a slim, flagship style profile while keeping the hardware firmly in budget territory.
The display is a 6.78 inch FHD+ 3D Curved AMOLED panel running at 120Hz, with peak brightness jumping up to 1400 nits and Corning Gorilla Glass 7i protection, a noticeable upgrade over the S23 Plus in terms of both smoothness and outdoor visibility.
The build itself is one of the standout details here. At 6.9mm thick and 163 grams, it’s a slim and light device, and it carries an IP64 rating for basic dust and splash protection alongside a structural layout marketed as Titan Shield protection.
Under the hood, it runs on a Unisoc T620 processor with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage. The battery stays at 5000mAh with 18W charging, but it adds a bypass charging option that supplies power directly to the motherboard during heavy tasks, reducing heat buildup while plugged in. The camera setup is a 50MP rear sensor and a 32MP hole punch front camera.
3. Itel Super 26 Ultra
The itel Super 26 Ultra steps up in a few specific areas, shifting the focus from ultra slim design toward display performance and battery longevity.
The display is a 6.78 inch 1.5K 3D Curved AMOLED panel running at a fast 144Hz refresh rate, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i. This is the sharpest and smoothest screen in the three model lineup, and it makes a visible difference for video streaming and scrolling.
The build comes in at 6.8mm thick, and environmental protection gets an upgrade to an IP65 water resistance rating, a step above the IP64 found on the S25 Ultra.
Inside is a 6nm Unisoc T7300 processor, which offers a noticeable speed improvement over the T616 and T620 chips found in the other two models. RAM sits at 8GB with storage options of 128GB or 256GB.
The battery is where the Super 26 Ultra makes its clearest statement, at 6000mAh it holds significantly more capacity than the 5000mAh cells in the other two devices. The tradeoff is that charging speed stays at 18W, so filling that larger cell from empty takes around two hours.
Is There a Catch With Budget Curved Screens?
These three phones share a few realities that are worth being upfront about before buying.
The look is premium, the performance is not. The curved AMOLED displays create the impression of a much thinner, more expensive device by visually minimizing side bezels. For budget buyers, this is an immediate visual payoff. Under the surface though, Unisoc chipsets handle everyday tasks like scrolling, social media, and media streaming without issues, but they will show lag under high end mobile gaming workloads.
Screen protectors are a headache. Curved glass edges make it difficult to find and properly apply third party tempered glass screen protectors, especially in local markets. All three models use Gorilla Glass, but buyers who want additional drop protection will find the curved edges work against most standard accessories.
Charging takes time. With 18W charging across all three models, filling a 5000mAh or 6000mAh battery from zero takes roughly two hours. Anyone expecting fast charging comparable to what mid range competitors offer in this price range will be disappointed.
The itel S23 Plus, S25 Ultra, and Super 26 Ultra each bring something slightly different to the curved screen space. The S23 Plus works as the entry point with its original 59 degree curvature and basic specs. The S25 Ultra delivers the slimmest, most premium feeling build. The Super 26 Ultra trades a little of that slim profile for a bigger battery and a sharper, faster display. All three deliver a high end look at a price point that most curved screen phones simply don’t reach.
