Initial Verdict: The return of the ZERO series with the Infinix ZERO 30 5G offers an interesting 4K60 video recording for both front and rear camera on a mid-range device in the Philippines.
Pros
-Good processor of choice
-4K60 video works as promised
Cons
-Ultra-wide camera has room for improvement
-Main cam is a slight downgrade (vs ZERO ULTRA)
While Infinix is not bringing the GT 10 Pro to the Philippines (at least for now), the brand has decided to bring over the ZERO 30 5G. Marking the return of the ZERO series, the ZERO 30 5G introduces an interesting feature that content creators and vloggers will love.
Infinix ZERO 30 5G First Impressions Philippines: Design
Taking cues from the ZERO ULTRA‘s premium build, Infinix opted for a frosted glass finish for the Sunset Hour colorway. We like the finish for this variant, as it is very resilient to smudges and is resilient to everyday wear and tear, making it easy to flaunt its finish without using the included case. The Rome Green colorway, on the other hand, has a vegan leather finish that is just as premium–though we’re not sure if Infinix will be bringing that variant to the Philippines.
The camera module on the ZERO 30 5G is huge and houses three cameras: a 108-megapixel primary camera with OIS, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, a 2-megapixel depth sensor, and an LED flash. The button and port layout is the same with the ZERO ULTRA, where you get a USB-C port at the bottom, power and volume controls on the right side and a stereo speaker setup on both the top and bottom of the phone.
Infinix ZERO 30 5G First Impressions Philippines: Display
Following the same approach as the ZERO ULTRA, the Zero 30 5G also has a curved AMOLED display. It’s a smidge smaller at 6.78 inches, but offers a higher 144hz refresh rate–which is the maximum refresh rate supported by the Dimensity 8020 processor. You also get the option for a variable refresh rate, which should help with balancing between a fluid user experience and good battery life.
Just like the ZERO ULTRA, Infinix used the best possible display on the ZERO 30 5G, as the blacks are deep and colors are both vibrant and accurate. You get the most out of the display as it supports Widevine L1 on Netflix and can display HDR10 content as well.
You also get an in-display fingerprint scanner and good-sounding stereo speakers as well, further emphasizing that the ZERO 30 5G is a premium offering from Infinix.
Infinix ZERO 30 5G First Impressions Philippines: Cameras
While you don’t get a groundbreaking 200-megapixel camera like the ZERO ULTRA, the ZERO 30 5G comes with a 108-megapixel ISOCELL HM6 main camera with OIS. The ISOCELL HM6 is a popular choice for mid-range phones, and the ZERO 30 5G maximizes its features by being able to shoot 4K video at 60FPS.
You get the same 13-megapixel ultra-wide camera and 2-megapixel AI camera, but the selfie camera has been upgraded to a 50-megapixel ISOCELL JN1–another popular choice for mid-range phones. With the ZERO 30 5G, you can take selfie videos at 4K–and also at 60FPS as well. This makes the ZERO 30 5G a very interesting mid-range phone for vlogging: it is the only offering (as of writing this review) that can shoot 4K60 video for both the front and rear cameras.
On paper, the ZERO 30 5G has a lot of potential as a vlogging powerhouse. We’ve tried the 4K60 video recording in low-light, and the results are decent considering that the ZERO 30 5G is a mid-range device. We will put the ZERO 30 5G to the test and see if it does deliver as promised in the field of content creation.
Infinix ZERO 30 5G First Impressions Philippines: Internals
The ZERO 30 5G gets a big upgrade with its processor of choice–specifically the Dimensity 8020. Also known as the Dimensity 1100, the Dimensity 8020 offers a significant boost in terms of performance over the Dimensity 920 used on the ZERO ULTRA. Beyond the higher CPU clock speeds, the Dimensity 8020’s main advantage is that it has a Mali-G77 GPU, which is significantly better than the Mali-G68 used on the Dimensity 920. The big GPU boost is essential in allowing the ZERO 30 5G to shoot 4K60 video for both its front and rear cameras.
Our review unit comes with 12GB RAM and 256GB UFS 3.1 storage, which is a step up from the 8GB/256GB configuration Infinix usually offers to most of its phones in the Philippines. The ZERO 30 5G comes with Android 13-based XOS 13 out of the box. It has less bloatware than the ZERO ULTRA, though we will have to test it further to see if the overall user experience is better.
While charging speeds are on the tamer side at 68w (which is still fast for mid-range standards), the ZERO 30 5G packs a larger 5000mAh battery inside, which should translate to better battery life. We will also be testing this to see if the larger battery capacity helps, so stay tuned to our full review for our complete findings.
Infinix ZERO 30 5G First Impressions Philippines: Wrap-up and Initial Verdict
As the most premium offering of Infinix for 2023, the ZERO 30 5G shows a lot of potential in the Philippines, especially with the capabilities of its cameras. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a mid-range phone that can shoot 4K video on both front and rear cameras–and in 60FPS no less.
Infinix ZERO 30 5G First Impressions Philippines: Price
Infinix Philippines has yet to disclose the official pricing of the ZERO 30 5G, but they promise that it should not go above Php 15k–which is lower than the suggested global SRP.
