With the Zero X Pro Infinix have created a budget smartphone that is far above average in many areas, but falls flat in a fair few others. But when the word ‘budget’ is flung around that’s always bound to happen.
Getting the Zero X Pro out of the box it’s hard not to be impressed however. Boasting a flat AMOLED display, it feels solid to handle despite its significant size.
The Nebula Black model we were given to test boasts a dotted glass pattern, providing a eye-catching holographic effect. This isn’t as tacky as you might expect, and the unit is also refreshingly free of too many logos and the like.
There’s a volume rocker, power button, a 3.5mm headphone jack (fairly rare on smartphones now), and a USB-C charging port. You can also stick in a microSD card via the phone’s Dual SIM capabilities – a very welcome addition.
So from a purely physical perspective the Zero X Pro ticks every box – where it comes undone somewhat is under the hood. This is not a powerful smartphone, and Infinix using their own XOS operating system doesn’t help. Yes it’s basically Android 11, but with some slightly unnecessary tweaks.
Using the system for your average tasks is never a problem when it comes to lag, but we did notice some overheating whenever we played a graphic-intensive game for any expected period of time.
This isn’t a massive issue, but what is is the battery life – which we found to be lacking straight out of the box. It barely lasts a day under any form of intense use, which is pretty poor all round. One minor saving grace is that the phone powers back up quickly if you’re using a 45W charger.
Then finally there’s the camera. The Zero X Pro has a 108MP wide-angle camera, 8MP ultra-wide lens, and an 8MP periscope telephoto lens. This is an unusually fully featured set-up for a budget smartphone, and the AI mode helps you take some pretty impressive snaps.
Overall the Zero X Pro is neither hero or zero – it’s very much stuck in the middle. The disappointing battery life tempers the unit’s impressive look and solid camera, although the price will certainly be right for some.