Infinix Zero 30 5G Review: 5 Reasons to Buy, 2 to Skip!

PROS

• Premium Design
• Curved Display
• Impressive Camera
• Loud Stereo Speakers
• 68W Fast Charging

CONS

• Bloatware
• Lesser Software Updates

Infinix, a subsidiary of the Chinese tech giant Transsion Holdings, has been making strides in the global smartphone market, expanding its reach far beyond its traditional strongholds in Africa and South Asia. Among its product lineup, the Infinix Zero series, particularly the Zero 30 5G, stands out as a game-changer.

Verdict: The Infinix Zero 30 5G

The Infinix Zero 30 5G is a well-designed mid-range smartphone with several notable strengths, making it a compelling choice for budget-conscious consumers in 2023. The standout features include its impressive display, stereo speakers, 4k 60fps selfie videos, and robust battery life with fast charging support. Its software, while heavily customized, offers extensive customization options. However, it's essential to consider potential software updates and future support, as Infinix devices may not receive as frequent updates as some other brands.

5 Reasons to Buy:

• Aesthetic and Premium Design: With its flagship-worthy design and premium materials, the Zero 30 5G stands out in the mid-range segment.
• Curved Display: The curved display not only looks stunning but also enhances the overall user experience.
• Camera: The ability to shoot 4K 60fps videos on the front camera, coupled with a front flash, makes it an excellent choice for content creators and vloggers.
• Speedy Charging: The 68W charging support outperforms many competitors, ensuring your device is ready to go in no time.
• Stereo Speakers with DTS: Delivers a rich audio experience with stereo speakers and the added bonus of DTS audio support.

2 Reasons to Skip:

• Software Updates: The device offers only one year of OS updates and two security patches, which falls short compared to some competitors.
• Bloatware: The presence of pre-installed apps may not be appreciated by users who prefer a cleaner software experience.

Design: Aesthetic and Premium

The Infinix Zero 30 5G is a sight to behold. Its modern design features a strikingly curved display that gives off a flagship vibe. While the slightly thicker top and bottom bezels hint at its mid-range category, the overall aesthetics exude sophistication. The use of Gorilla Glass 5 on both the front and back adds durability to the device. The glossy finish on the back panel, complemented by accent color rings around the camera setup, creates an eye-catching design. With color options like "Golden Hour," "Rome Green," and "Fantasy Purple," it caters to a youthful audience.

Unboxing the device reveals a well-packaged experience with a sturdy cardboard box that offers excellent protection during shipping. Infinix is generous with included accessories, providing a 68W charger and a non-standard USB Type-A to Type-C cable, optimizing fast charging capabilities. Additionally, a transparent TPU case is included in the package.

Build Quality and Controls: Sturdy and Well-Made

The Infinix Zero 30 5G boasts an IP53 rating for limited ingress protection, coupled with the durable Gorilla Glass 5. This ensures a robust build with minimal flex and hollowness. The device's controls are well-placed, with the volume rocker and power button on the right side, while the left side remains clean. The top of the device houses a secondary noise-canceling microphone and a speaker grille, while the bottom features another speaker, a primary microphone hole, a dual nano-SIM card tray, and the USB Type-C port.

Security is catered to with an accurate and responsive in-display fingerprint reader, adding convenience to the user experience. The punch hole for the selfie camera is unobtrusive, and above the display, you'll find an earpiece, light and proximity sensors, and even a selfie flash module, though it lacks a notification LED

Speakers and Audio Quality: Stereo Sound and Customization

The inclusion of stereo speakers-one bottom-firing and one top-firing-enhances audio quality, delivering a "GOOD margin" loudness score as compared to any mono speaker on the shelf. Moreover, DTS audio support ensures clean and crisp sound with minimal distortion in highs and mids. Offering four sound presets and a manual equalizer, the Zero 30 5G goes the extra mile in audio customization, a rarity in budget-friendly devices.

Camera

The camera setup on the Infinix Zero 30 5G is the real show stopper! At the front, it boasts a '50MP AF Vlog Camera,' a feature that's not commonly found, even in flagship smartphones.

Here's the kicker: both the primary and selfie cameras can record 4K videos at 60fps, a rare treat in this market segment, making it an appealing choice for content creators and vloggers looking to up their game.

When it comes to video quality, the primary camera impresses, delivering sharp 4K footage with abundant detail and rich colors. Noise is kept to a minimum, and the dynamic range is quite decent. Even the ultrawide camera manages to hold its own, providing vibrant colors with minimal noise, considering its smaller sensor.

Infinix puts a spotlight on the selfie camera, and for good reason. With features like PDAF and 4K recording at 60fps, it's a solid choice for vloggers. There's just a minor hiccup with automatic skin smoothing at 30fps, but we're hopeful that Infinix will fine-tune this in future updates.

In well-lit environments, the front camera excels, capturing videos with impressive detail and decent colors. However, when the lighting takes a nosedive, you might notice a touch of graininess, despite the camera's high resolution and frame rate.

Additionally, the camera app offers real-time video effects, such as LUTs, frames, and even artificial effects like simulated rainfall, giving you extra creative juice. Just keep in mind that applying these effects limits your video resolution to Full HD.

The Infinix Zero 30 offers Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) for all its cameras. It does a decent job but comes with a noticeable frame crop, so expect a slight compromise in framing. Nonetheless, considering its price range, the camera performance of the Infinix Zero 30 5G is praiseworthy, making it a compelling option for those who prioritize photography and videography without breaking the bank.

Battery Life and Charging Speed: A Balanced Offering

Equipped with a 5,000 mAh battery and the efficient Dimensity 8020 chipset, the Infinix Zero 30 achieves commendable battery life. It excels in standby and video playback but may fall slightly short in talk time and web browsing. On average, the phone comfortably lasts a day and a quarter with medium usage.

Charging is a standout feature, thanks to the support for Infinix's proprietary 68W fast charging technology. Offering various output ratings, including 5V@2A, fixed [email protected], and variable [email protected], the device can be fully charged in a remarkably short time.

XOS 13 and Software: A Customized Experience

The Infinix Zero 30 runs on Infinix's custom XOS 13 skin, layered atop Android 13. While the user interface is heavily customized, it delivers a smooth and stutter-free user experience. However, the phone comes with a handful of pre-installed apps, which may not be to everyone's liking. On the plus side, XOS 13 offers extensive customization options, allowing users to personalize their device with themes, always-on display settings, and home screen customization.

Performance: A Competent Performer

Under the hood, the Infinix Zero 30 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8020 chipset, built on a 6nm TSMC N6 process node. Although it shares some similarities with the Dimensity 1100, it offers robust overall performance, outperforming several competitors in benchmark tests. The phone's GPU, the Mali-G77 MC9, impressively handles graphics-intensive tasks, delivering smooth gaming experiences and responsive daily performance. However, it's worth noting that under prolonged stress, the device may experience thermal throttling, but this doesn't significantly impact day-to-day use.

Conclusion: Infinix Zero 30 5G

Overall, the Infinix Zero 30 5G is a strong contender in the mid-range smartphone market, offering 5G connectivity, an attractive design, impressive display, loud stereo speakers, the ability to shoot 4K 60fps selfie videos, and a solid battery life with speedy charging support that make it an appealing choice for budget-conscious consumers in 2023.