Having previously focused more on the realm of affordable phones, through Zero X Pro they tried to penetrate the middle segment which is dominated by products belonging to big brands.
Honestly, I was quite surprised when I found out that the Infinix Zero X Pro brought some hardware that I didn’t expect to sell for less than 5 million rupiah. Call it a 108 MP camera and a telephoto camera with a periscope lens.
The question is, can Infinix optimize the presence of the typical hardware of this flagship product so that it can produce a user experience that is equivalent to an expensive cellphone?
Attractive Nebula Black color
Infinix Zero X Pro is a smartphone with a design that is able to provide its own uniqueness, aka not the market. When I first held it, I felt that this device had a fairly premium presentation even though it didn’t have a metal frame.
The material is glass-coated and looks quite stunning with a finish called Nebula Black. This color gives the appearance of a night full of stars, and will be even more charming when exposed to light.
Fingerprints are still very likely to stick, but not very visible because of the dark color. What needs to be underlined, Infinix does not explain what kind of glass is used on the front and back. Is it Gorilla Glass, or any other glass.
The Zero X Pro is also quite fun to operate with one hand, although it’s not the slimmest or the lightest. It weighs 193 grams. One thing that might be a bit annoying is the camera housing which looks very protruding.
On the back you will not find a fingerprint sensor. The power button on the side also works according to its original function. Infinix buried a fingerprint sensor behind the screen.
This smartphone has two nano-SIM slots and a dedicated slot specifically for microSD. At the bottom there is a USB-C port side by side with a speaker hole and a 3.5mm audio jack port.
120Hz AMOLED screen
The screen is one of the most prominent sectors of the Zero X Pro. For a product worth 4 million rupiah, it is quite tempting to see this phone equipped with a 6.67-inch Full HD + AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. Yes, 120Hz! And you are also given the option of 60Hz mode if you want a longer battery life.
With such a high refresh rate, of course, moving images will look much smoother. For example, when you scroll. The brightness level is also quite good for outdoor use, and the colors are quite okay.
But all these advantages are less than perfect because the Zero X Pro only has a Widevine L3 certification, not L1. That means, content from platforms like Netflix cannot be played in HD resolution. A very unfortunate drawback because in its price class, almost all mobile phones are Widevine L1.
A little discussing the audio sector, Zero X Pro also doesn’t have stereo speakers. There is only one speaker at the bottom. In fact, there is also one microphone hole.
108 MP camera and periscope lens
Infinix buried three rear cameras on the Zero X Pro. The main one is the 108 MP f/1.8 camera that has been equipped with OIS. Furthermore, there is an 8 MP camera with a periscope lens capable of up to 5x optical zoom and 60x digital zoom. Dancing again, this telephoto camera is supported by OIS and PDAF, as well as Super Moon mode.
Finally, there is an 8 MP f/2.3 ultra-wide camera for wide-angle photo and video needs. Meanwhile, for those who like selfies, Infinix provides a 16 MP f/2.0 camera in front (without autofocus).
The camera configuration is very tempting considering the Zero X Pro is a 4 million rupiah phone. With provisions like this, consumers will certainly expect Zero X Pro to be able to produce amazing photos or videos. But keep in mind, camera quality is not only a matter of hardware but also software. The ISP of the chipset also has an important role.
During testing, I found the Zero X Pro’s main camera to be very capable of providing good photos in adequate light conditions. The details are okay and the colors tend to be natural. The dynamic range isn’t the best, but it’s not too disappointing.
For shooting in low light conditions or indoors, Zero X Pro can still produce photos with fairly good sharpness, although the colors are a bit inconsistent. It can still be improved again via software updates. As for the selfie camera, unfortunately, its capabilities are not as good as some competing phones.
Then what about the periscope camera? Even though it’s equipped with OIS, I still have trouble getting sharp photos due to unstable hands. I have to make sure the shutter button is pressed smoothly. Because if you shake a little, the result will be blurry. Using a timer function or an assistive device such as a tripod can be a wiser option. Below is an example of a normal photo comparison with 5x optical zoom:
For optical magnification up to 5x, you can expect photos that are worthy of being exhibited on social media. However, if you rely on digital zoom, especially 10x and above, the photos will look blurry even in adequate light conditions. Super Moon mode too. Whether the fault is with me or the phone, I never managed to get a good photo of the moon.
Turning to video, Zero X Pro is capable of recording up to 4K resolution at 30 fps or 1080p at up to 60 fps. Recording with the front camera can be added with a bokeh feature. You can see the results of the video below (sorry there is a loud rumbling sound from the machine around the location):
Standard performance
Infinix relies on the MediaTek Helio G95 chipset to support Zero X Pro’s performance. The chipset is still okay for various needs including gaming, but it’s not the fastest in its price class. It seems that if you use Dimensity, it will be more stable.
This phone adopts the XOS 7.6 operating system based on Android 11. The embedded RAM is 8 GB with 256 GB UFS 2.2 storage. There is no such feature as RAM expansion. But from some of the leaks that I read, there is a possibility that this feature will be released through a software update.
As far as my experience goes, the Zero X Pro’s performance feels smooth and nimble. Various applications can be run quickly without problems. The photo process with night mode doesn’t seem slow either. In essence, for everyday purposes the performance offered is more than adequate.
For gamers, Infinix Zero X Pro is able to run PUBG Mobile with Smooth-Ultra graphics settings smoothly. Mobile Legends is the same. Right-aligned with active HFR mode, I don’t encounter any annoying problems. In fact, I can still play Genshin Impact quite pleasantly, even with the lowest graphics settings.
Battery? 4,500 mAh. Yes, the capacity is still a bit behind but I don’t think it’s something to complain about. On the other hand, I am quite satisfied with the 45W charging capability, which can fully charge the Zero X Pro in about 1 hour.
Effort that deserves appreciation
What Infinix presents through Zero X Pro, in my opinion, deserves appreciation. Presenting a mid-range phone with a 108 MP camera and a periscope lens is certainly not easy. Although in the end, there are still many improvements that Infinix must pursue in order to perfect the already sophisticated hardware.
For those who are interested in having an affordable phone with a long-range zoom lens, the Infinix Zero X Pro is priced at IDR 4,899.000.
Infinix Zero X Pro is suitable for:
- Photo enthusiast: If you like taking pictures using your phone and are looking for a device that doesn’t cost too much, the Zero X Pro could be an option. The main camera is 108 MP and has a telephoto camera with a periscope lens.
- Students/students: The Infinix Zero X Pro is a fairly balanced phone with features. Suitable for studying, working, or playing games.
- Employee: Need a phone with fairly fast charging, smooth performance, and a great design to take to the office? The Infinix Zero X Pro deserves your consideration.
Pros of Infinix Zero X Pro:
- Attractive and unique design
- 120Hz AMOLED screen
- The 108 MP camera is capable of producing good photos in some conditions
- Periscope lens (5x optical zoom) is rare in its price class
- Smooth performance for various needs
- The battery is quite durable
- Fast 45W charging
Disadvantages of Infinix Zero X Pro:
- The ability of the rear camera can be further optimized
- The selfie camera is not as good as its competitors
- Speakers are not stereo
- No NFC
- Still Widevine L3, not L1
- There is no clarity about how tough the glass on the front and back is
