Infinix Zero 40 5G Review: It's got some appeal!

Infinix’s GT series of smartphones have proved to be the best price-to-performance phones in the market. While in case you do not know, this Chinese brand also has Zero Series which is more into cosmetics and cameras. I have had this Infinix Zero 40 5G for the past two weeks as my daily driver and I have to say, this guy does pack some punch. And here's my Infinix Zero 40 5G review. Before heading forward, let's take a quick look at the specs.

Infinix Zero 40 5G Specifications

• Display: 6.78 inches, 3D-curved AMOLED, 144Hz, FHD+ (1080×2400), 1300 nits (peak), Corning Gorilla Glass Protection
• Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Ultimate 5G chipset, Arm Mali-G610
• Memory: 12GB LPDDR5X RAM, 256GB Storage
• Software & UI: Android 14, 3 years of security patch updates
• Rear Camera:
  • Main: 108 MP with OIS
  • Ultra-Wide: 50 MP, 120-degree field of view
  • Video Recording: 4K at 30FPS
• Front Camera:
  • Resolution: 50 MP
  • Video Recording: 4K at 60FPS
• Battery: 5000 mAh
  • Wired Fast Charging: 45W
  • Wireless Fast Charging: 20W
• Colors: Violet Garden, Blossom Glow, Misty Aqua colors
• Special Features: GoPro Mode
• Price in Nepal (Expected): NPR 55,999 (12/256GB)

Infinix Zero 40 5G Review:

Elegant Design

• Design: Dual-tone design with curved panels and slim frames
• Dimensions: 164.3 x 74.8 x 7.9 mm
• Weight: 195 grams

The most appealing part of the Infinix Zero 40 5G is its design, of course. This thing is elegant to look at from every angle. The rear panel is made up of glass and it blends really well with the circular camera module on this Violent Garden shade. What's more admirable is the hands-on feel here. We have a curved middle frame frame here alongside a curved display upfront and it's way easier to hold than a phone with boxy flat frames. And Infinix has provided a back cover with a wireless charging magnet.

Display

• 6.78” AMOLED panel, 144Hz refresh rate, 1300 nits High peak brightness
• FHD+ (1080 x 2400)

Flipping to the front, the 6.78-inch AMOLED panel is equally beautiful with curved sides and no accidental touches, by the way! It's got a fast 144Hz refresh rate, yeah, even faster than the typical 120Hz, we get in other midrange phones. And the 144Hz works pretty well across the system while some third-party apps get capped at 120Hz. But it's not an issue, by any means. If you care about battery though, you should go for the auto-refresh rate settings. Be it for day-to-day reels and TikTok scrolling, this panel is delightful with punchy colors and vibrancy. Also, it is complemented by a pair of dual stereo speakers, tuned by JBL! And the output is decent, not that great, I would say. Also, pair that with weaker haptics. Infinix should have gone for stronger haptics here.

Performance

• OS & UI: Android 14 with XOS14 on top
• Chipset: Octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Ultimate (4nm)

Running the show on the core is the Dimensity 8200 "Ultimate" SoC. Which is actually a powerful chip thanks to its tri-cluster architecture. You get one Cortex A78 core at 3.1GHz, three Cortex A78 cores at 3.0GHz, and four Cortex A55 cores at 2.0GHz. And in real-world usage, this chip is snappy and fast with no hiccups at all. Be it normal social media usage or some gaming, it can handle the job well with its 12GB of RAM. Likewise, the internal storage is also a fast UFS 3.1 storage.

What about gaming?

So, let's get to the gaming front, shall we? Okay, I tried everyone's favorite PUBG on this guy but let me be the bearer of the sad news. Guess what, despite having a 144Hz panel, you don't get 90 or 120fps on PUBG here. So, you are capped at 60 frames but at up to HDR graphics. And talking of the score, it makes it easy with a 59.3 fps average fps with not much heating. The same goes for Mobile Legends Bang Bang, with a 59fps median score. And Geshin Impact on Medium + 60fps also ran at 59fps median and 50fps at 99% percentile. But the temperature went pretty hot at almost 45 degrees.

How's the XOS 14?

• OS and UI: Android 14 with XOS 14 on top

One thing that still lacks a bit of the charm is the software side. It is superbly feature-rich with all of the fancy customizations and some extra features. But the UI elements still lack charm, at least for me. Otherwise, as aforementioned, the customizations and extra features are more than enough for an Android fan.

Camera

As the Zero Series particularly emphasizes the camera aspects, let's talk about it. This guy has a main 108MP sensor with OIS, a 50MP ultrawide, and a 2MP depth sensing unit. Upfront, there is a 50MP selfie unit.

Daylight

The 108MP primary camera clicks decent-looking images in the daylight. However, it tends to brighten up the entire scene which goes into its favor in some images and doesn't in others. But when it comes to close-ups, the colors look nice and warm.

Ultrawide

Talking of the ultrawide images, they are great. This 50MP res camera does click nice images with some amount of detail. The colors are eye-pleasing with contrasty looks.

Portraits

Coming to the portraits, the 1X portraits are nice and clear while the 2X ones are in-sensor zoomed with a bit fewer details and more contrasty outputs in some conditions.

Lowlight

The low-light images are just on the average side, I would say. Turning on the low-light mode can make it a bit better but I have seen better low-light takers in this price range, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 and Realme Narzo 70 Pro.

Selfies

When it comes to selfies, the 50MP snapper clicks decent images, nothing exceptional.  Overall a 3.8/5 rating on selfies!

Videography

This guy lets you shoot 4K 30fps from three cameras: Main, Ultrawide, and Selfie. A one of the kind in the segment! By default, the stabilization option is turned off, so, you have to tap on it and activate the EIS to enjoy some stabilization. By default settings, expect some jitters. Talking of the actual quality, the details are not that exceptional but let's say it ticks the decent mark. Other than that, there are some fun vlog modes to play with, as well as a dedicated GoPro Mode that can provide live previews and some camera controls for your GoPro Hero cameras.

Battery and Charging

Fueling the Infinix Zero 40 5G is a 5000mAh battery backed up by a 45W charger. And Infinix ships a compatible one right inside the box. What's more interesting here is that you get three modes— low-temp, smart, and hyper, which chronologically increase the charging speed. So, you can just set your desired mode as per your requirements. And it also supports wireless charging, up to 20 watts! The company is not generous enough to provide a magnetic coil on this one, so, I had to borrow a wireless pad from the much cheaper Infinix Note 40 and it works, unsurprisingly! Talking of the battery life, this guy can last you a day easily with moderate usage such as social media, a couple of matches of PUBG, phone calls, and some photography. Or if you are a light user, expect a day and a half battery life but at an auto-refresh rate setting. If you go on to stick with the 144Hz refresh rate-only mode, the battery life will be depleted for obvious reasons. And yeah, one more thing— there is bypass charging mode which comes in pretty handy while gaming. It directly provides power to the phone's motherboard instead of charging the phone and gaining more heat.

Infinix Zero 40 5G Review: Conclusion

Okay wrapping things up, the Infinix Zero 40 5G is a good overall package if you consider the price. I mean, the design is premium, the display is great with a 144Hz refresh rate and the camera is super decent if not the best! Also, XOS is feature-rich, although, I would like it a bit more refined on the UI elements side. And the other thing is, that it can work on optimizing the main camera as this phone has a capable sensor and chipset alike!

Infinix Zero 40 5G Review: Pros and Cons

Pros

• Good value for money
• Smooth 144Hz OLED display
• Powerful performance
• Elegant Design

Cons

• Tends to heat while intensive gaming
• UI elements can be more refined
• Average haptics