Infinix Zero 5G: A Groundbreaking Budget Phone with Impressive Features, but Is It the Right Fit?

Xiaomi and Realme are prominent names that frequently feature in news reports regarding smartphone releases in the mid-range and mainstream categories. With the swift frequency of new product launches from these brands, the smaller manufacturers that may offer compelling devices often go unnoticed. The Infinix Zero 5G stands out as it is presently the only smartphone under Rs. 20,000 featuring a 2X optical zoom telephoto camera, and it marks the company’s inaugural foray into the 5G space. The phone debuted in February 2022 and offers a solid range of features.

Although there are plenty of 5G smartphones available near the Rs. 20,000 mark, does the Infinix Zero 5G have enough appealing attributes to earn a recommendation? Let’s take a closer look.

Infinix Zero 5G pricing in India

Infinix has introduced the Zero 5G in a lone configuration, offering 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. Its official pricing is set at Rs. 19,999, but Flipkart is currently showcasing it for Rs. 17,999. The device comes in three color options: Cosmic Black, Horizon Blue, and Skylight Orange.

Infinix Zero 5G design

The Infinix Zero 5G has a tall design that complicates one-handed operation. It’s actually slightly taller than an iPhone 13 Pro Max (Review), which says a lot. Fortunately, at 8.77mm thick, it isn’t overly bulky and weighs a reasonable 199g. The black variant features a glossy plastic body that easily attracts fingerprints, making it a challenge to maintain a pristine appearance.

The rear camera module’s design resembles that of the Oppo Find X5 Pro (First look) as it somewhat protrudes from the back panel. This gives it an attractive look and helps differentiate the Zero 5G from other devices in its class. However, the rear panel is constructed from polycarbonate and after a few weeks of use without a case, my device showed minor scuff marks along the lower edge.

The back of the Infinix Zero 5G channels strong vibes from the Oppo Find X5 Pro

 

The volume and power buttons are positioned on the right side of the device but are slightly flat to the frame, resulting in less tactile feedback. The power button has an embedded fingerprint sensor, but it can be challenging to locate by touch. The left side features a tray that accommodates two Nano-SIM cards and a microSD card for expanding storage options. The bottom edge houses a headphone jack, USB Type-C port, and a speaker.

The screen of the Infinix Zero 5G measures 6.78 inches and utilizes IPS LCD technology with full-HD+ resolution. It also promotes a 120Hz refresh rate, a 240Hz touch sampling rate, and reaches a peak brightness of 500 nits. Infinix hasn’t clarified whether a scratch-resistant glass has been applied to the display. The bezels are relatively slim, although the camera cutout could be smaller.

Inside the box, buyers will find the Infinix Zero 5G along with a 33W charger, Type-A to Type-C cable, screen protector, clear silicone case, and SIM ejector tool.

Infinix Zero 5G specifications and software

Infinix opted for a robust SoC in the Zero 5G. The MediaTek Dimensity 900 SoC is a modern, power-efficient chipset typically found in pricier models such as the OnePlus Nord CE 2 (Review) and Oppo Reno 6 (Review). In the Zero 5G, this SoC supports 13 5G bands and allows for dual-5G standby. With increased clarity on the expected rollout of 5G in India, this is an important aspect to consider for your next purchase. Infinix also claims to have included LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage, which is uncommon in this price range.

The Infinix Zero 5G comes equipped with standard sensors and satellite navigation systems. It supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1. Though it lacks stereo speakers and an official IP rating, it does include FM radio. The device houses a robust 5,000mAh battery that should provide at least a full day of usage, if not more.

XOS 10 on the Infinix Zero 5G is somewhat overwhelming for my preferences and can be quite distracting

 

The Zero 5G runs on Infinix’s proprietary Android skin called XOS 10, although it is based on Android 11. The good news is Infinix has committed to an Android 12 update, although it will be available only in August 2022. I must admit, XOS isn’t my preferred Android skin, as the user interface can feel cluttered and at times it’s challenging to locate desired features.

There are numerous preinstalled applications that tend to fill the notification shade with unwanted alerts. I also observed that apps like AHA Games, Palm Store, Hi Browser, and InSync are superfluous and cannot be uninstalled. Some essential settings, including the battery usage graph, are unnecessarily buried in menus, making them difficult to locate without utilizing the search option.

However, I did appreciate elements like the games app, XArena, which is visually appealing and allows alterations to UI settings while gaming. Yet, it also mistakenly identified Twitter and Google Photos as games, which was peculiar. I anticipate that the Android 12 update will bring improvements to the UI.

Infinix Zero 5G performance and battery longevity

Beyond the minor quirks of the XOS interface, the Infinix Zero 5G is a fairly user-friendly device. I recommend avoiding the black color, particularly if you prefer a clean look, as it’s hard to keep free of fingerprints. The blue and orange variants appear to be more forgiving, based on images. The display on the Zero 5G is impressively bright and I encountered no issues using it outdoors, even in sunlight. However, its large dimensions make one-handed operation less convenient without engaging one-handed mode.

Video streaming offered great visuals on the device’s display, showing vibrant colors and adequate brightness. However, HDR video playback is not supported, resulting in a washed-out appearance for such content. The single speaker produces loud sound, but I missed the immersive experience offered by stereo speakers. The display’s refresh rate isn’t dynamic, meaning it will remain at 120Hz even when there’s no interaction with the screen.

If you set the refresh rate to ‘Auto’, it will maintain 120Hz on the home screen and in the Gallery app, but revert to 60Hz in other applications. To achieve smoother scrolling within apps, you’ll need to manually set the refresh rate to 120Hz; this allows for 120Hz or 90Hz, depending on the app.

Gaming performance on the Infinix Zero 5G is solid, and battery life is commendable

 

The Infinix Zero 5G proves to be a capable performer. Benchmark results were impressive given its SoC, achieving 475,637 points in AnTuTu and scoring 730 and 2,037 points in Geekbench’s single and multi-core assessments, respectively. Popular games like Asphalt 9: Legends and Call of Duty: Mobile ran smoothly, featuring quality graphics and playable frame rates. The device did warm slightly after a half-hour gaming session, but it remained comfortable to hold.

Throughout my review period, the battery life of the Infinix Zero 5G was quite satisfying. The phone easily lasted a full day even with intensive use and typically exceeded that duration with moderate to light usage. In our HD video loop assessment, it lasted for 16 hours and 35 minutes, which is above the average. The bundled charger also provides relatively fast charging, reaching 92 percent in an hour, which is efficient given the battery capacity.

Infinix Zero 5G camera capabilities

The telephoto camera of the Infinix Zero 5G is a significant highlight, as it distinguishes this phone within its category. This camera features a resolution of 13 megapixels, with autofocus and an f/2.46 aperture. It offers 2X optical zoom as well as a maximum of 30X digital zoom.

Sample shots from the Infinix Zero 5G telephoto camera (tap to view full size)

 

When taking photos in daylight, the telephoto function performed admirably. It captured respectable detail in both landscapes and close-ups. Exposure levels were well managed, and the focus on subjects was sharp. I found the detail acceptable up to 10X magnification, but the image quality diminished significantly beyond that. At 30X zoom, textures became grainy and subjects were just barely recognizable. Low-light telephoto performance was subpar, even at 2X, and worsened with increased zoom.

Main camera sample from the Infinix Zero 5G (tap to view full size)

 

The Infinix Zero 5G’s rear also includes a 48-megapixel primary lens and a 2-megapixel depth sensor, with no ultra-wide-angle option available. I found the primary camera to be somewhat underwhelming, as it often captured photos during the day with poorly managed exposures. In scenes featuring expansive landscapes and bright sunlight, the main camera frequently produced hazy and washed-out images, with the telephoto lens frequently outperforming it in terms of detail.

Low-light camera samples from the Infinix Zero 5G (tap to view full size)

 

Low-light landscapes often appeared overly dark and lacked significant detail, unless the Super Night mode was activated, which improved the results noticeably. I appreciated photographs taken in Portrait mode, as they showcased a pleasing level of background blur and the edge detection was mostly accurate.

Selfie camera samples captured by the Infinix Zero 5G

 

The 16-megapixel front-facing camera did not meet expectations in either daytime or nighttime shooting conditions. While I managed a few acceptable shots, most daytime selfies suffered from exposure issues, dull colors, and unconvincing skin tones. Low-light selfies appeared grainy and dark; although the Super Night mode aided in brightness, the captured details remained lackluster and the colors appeared distorted.

Video recording on the Infinix Zero 5G can reach 4K at 30fps, but without any stabilization. Daytime footage often exhibited oversaturated colors. Low-light video results were grainy and showcased poor white balance. The quality did not see substantial improvement at 1080p, and footage continued to lack stabilization. The only way to achieve smoother video is to activate the ‘Ultra steady’ toggle, which crops the frame and limits the resolution to 1080p at 30fps.

Conclusion

The Infinix Zero 5G presents an appealing array of specifications on paper, which is what first drew my attention. The notable attributes include a strong 5G SoC supporting multiple 5G bands, impressive battery longevity with relatively swift charging, and a commendable telephoto camera. However, the performance of the other cameras and the cumbersome software experience make it difficult to recommend this phone.

If your primary focus is obtaining a robust telephoto camera around this price point, I would advise spending a bit more to consider the Motorola Edge 20 (Review), which boasts an equally powerful 5G SoC but features a 3X telephoto lens, a 144Hz AMOLED display, and an IP52 rating. If you’re eager to stick to the Rs. 20,000 budget, excellent alternatives like the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G (Review) and Realme 9 5G Speed Edition (Review) are available for consideration.

---