Initial verdict: Infinix might have a winner with the Zero 5G in the Philippines, thanks to its awesome design along with plenty of chart-topping features. If priced right, the Zero 5G might be the game-changing phone we’re waiting for this 2022.

Pros

• Great processor of choice
• Inclusion of a telephoto camera
• Jaw-dropping price (if true)

 

Cons

• Uninstallable bloatware
• Average IPS display

Infinix Zero 5G Philippines specs

• Dimensity 900 processor
• 8GB LPDDR5 RAM
• 128GB UFS 3.1 internal storage, expandable via MicroSD
• 6.78-inch Full HD+ IPS display, 120hz refresh rate
• 48-megapixel f/1.8 main camera, 13-megapixel telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom, 2-megapixel depth-sensor, LED flash
• 16-megapixel f/2.0 front camera
• 4G, 5G
• WiFi, Bluetooth, side-mounted fingerprint scanner
• 33w charging
• 5000mAh battery
• Android 11, XOS

Infinix is set to disrupt the 5G market in the Philippines with the Zero 5G. It has plenty of things going for it, and if its rumored price is anything to go by, it definitely looks like the phone will be a potential gamechanger.

Unboxing and packaging contents

Being one of its more premium devices, Infinix gave the Zero 5G a different box: one that’s long and has a holographic-like pattern to it. You get the usual branding, with 5G being heavily emphasized on the front and sides of the box.

Inside the box, you get the phone itself, a 33w charging brick, USB-C cable, documentation, and a TPU case.

Design

The Infinix Zero 5G has a very different and unique design compared to the stuff the company has released in the previous months. The phone’s unibody polycarbonate back panel has a clean slope towards where the cameras are, giving it a clean, streamlined look that may remind you of the Find X3 Pro. The only downside to this design is that the back has a very glossy finish that attracts fingerprints like crazy, which means you’ll have to use that TPU if you want to keep the back nice and clean.

 

The left side of the Zero 5G has a SIM card tray, while the power button/fingerprint scanner and volume controls are on the right. At the bottom, you get a loudspeaker, headphone jack, and USB-C port.

Display

Infinix’s Zero phones have huge displays, and the Zero 5G is no exception. Unlike the Zero X Pro, however, you are only getting an IPS panel on the Zero 5G instead of an AMOLED panel.

The IPS panel has a 120hz refresh rate and has an adaptive option that balances between smooth scrolling and long battery life. The colors are not as good as an AMOLED panel, which is pretty much expected for an IPS panel. Regardless of that, the Zero 5G’s large screen estate makes it decent for content consumption.

Even if it has a Full HD+ resolution, the Zero 5G only has Widevine L3, so Netflix content can only be viewed in SD (720p) resolution.

Cameras

Infinix went for a different approach for the Zero 5G’s triple rear camera setup. Instead of the usual main, ultra-wide, and depth sensor setup, the Zero 5G comes with a 13-megapixel telephoto camera instead of an ultra-wide-angle camera.

The main camera and depth sensor are familiar ones at 48-megapixels and 2-megapixels respectively. The telephoto camera has a 2x optical zoom that’s pretty useful if you want to have that extra reach without compromising on image quality.

As for camera features, the Zero 5G can shoot 4K video on the main camera (up to Full HD on the telephoto camera) and has an EIS feature if you intend to shoot at Full HD on the main camera. We will be testing the Zero 5G’s cameras in the next few days to determine the phone’s overall performance.

Internals

Infinix went all in for the Zero 5G’s internals be equipping it with a Dimensity 900 processor, 8GB LPDDR5 RAM, and 128GB UFS 3.1 storage. Given that the pricing of the Zero 5G in other countries does have an under Php 15k price tag when converted, it’s very impressive that it packs a higher-end Dimensity processor.

5G Phones priced at under Php 15k usually use MediaTek’s older Dimensity 700, and the Dimensity 900 is a common processor found on higher-end models–specifically those priced at above Php 20k. Things get even more interesting with its use of LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage.

With the internals found on the Zero 5G, this is the closest we can get to phones undercutting the competition in 2022. The last phone we remember pulling off this feat was the Pocophone F1 back in 2018.

Keeping the lights on is a 5000mAh battery that has support for decently-fast 33w charging. On the software side, you get Android 11-based XOS 10 that has less bloatware than other Infinix phones. We still wished, however, that there’s an option to remove the rest of the bloatware apps found on the phone.

Wrap Up and Initial Verdict

There’s a lot of promise for the Infinix Zero 5G in the Philippines, especially if Infinix gives it an under Php 15k price tag. The display may be average at best, but having a telephoto camera and a Dimensity 900 processor makes the Zero 5G a possible disruptor in the market.

We still do not know the official price of the Zero 5G in the Philipines, but a listing at the brand’s official Shopee store reveals an SRP of Php 11,999 and a promo price of Php 10,999. If that’s true, Infinix disrupts the 5G segment significantly–the Dimensity 900 processor alone makes the Zero 5G an instant winner, as it is an SoC found on mid-range phones priced at above Php 20k.