In a market fielded with smartphones, Infinix has discovered a ‘sweet spot’ with its GT and Snapdragon Zero series that features phones that are priced competitively, yet offer high end specs. The Infinix Zero 40 5G is quite different from the rest of the Infinix Zero series which is very popular for featuring the best looking camera implementation and sleek design. I’ve been using the Zero 40 5G as my daily driver for two weeks now, and it was long and rocky. This review intends to analyze in detail if the Zero 40 5G is meeting Nigerian consumer’s expectation.
Infinix Zero 40 5G Specifications
Before diving into the user experience, let’s examine the technical specifications that power the Infinix Zero 40 5G:
- Display: 6.3D-curved AMOLED, 1080×2400 FHD+ 144Hz refresh rate, 78 inches, 1300 nits peak brightness, 78 inches, Corning Gorilla Glass protection
- Processor: Announced with MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Ultimate 5G chipset and Arm Mali-G610 GPU
- Memory: LPDDR5X RAM 12GB, UFS 3.1 Storage 256GB
- Software & UI: XOS 14 on Android 14 with 3 years of security patch updates
- Rear Camera:
- Main: Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS), 108 MP
- Ultra-Wide: Field of view (FOV) 120 deg, 50 MP
- Depth Sensor: 2 MP
- Video Recording: 4K at 30FPS
- Front Camera:
- Resolution: 50 MP
- Video Recording: 4K at 60FPS
- Battery: 5000 mAh
- Charging:
- Wired Fast Charging: 45W
- Wireless Fast Charging: 20W
- Colors: Blossom Glow, Violet Garden, Misty Aqua
- Special Features: GoPro Mode
- Price in Nigeria (Expected): Approximately ₦176,000 and ₦195,000 (16GB RAM / 512GB Storage)
Elegant Design
Sleek and Premium Build
The Infinix Zero 40 5G is a dual tone design that is quite sophisticated. The device is available in striking colours such as Violet Garden, Blossom Glow and Misty Aqua and sports a glass rear panel, with the circle camera module blending seamlessly into its surface. This goes a long way to making the phone look as appealing as possible while also making sure it stands out in any setting, whether you’re in the crowd of a busy Lagos market or quiet the aBuja café.
Ergonomic Feel
The Zero 40 5G measures 164.3 x 74.8 x 7.9 mm and weighs 195 grams, giving it just the right amount of build quality and slightly comfortable handling. The curved middle frame paired with the sleek, frameless display edges make this phone easier to hold in hand and lessens fatigue on your hands over long usage. A wireless charging magnet is also included in the back cover for users who prefer a wireless charging solution, and there’s some convenience included here as well.
Stunning Display
Immersive AMOLED Experience
The visual treat that is the Zero 40 5G’s 6.78 inch AMOLED display is downright a treat to consume media in. This is a refresh rate of 144Hz, which surpasses the standard 120Hz you’ll find a lot of midrange phones with, and means smoother transitions, and more responsive interactions. For Nigerian users that wish to stream high definition content or play fast paced games, this display would be a seamless experience.
High Protection, High Brightness
The Zero 40 5G maintains a clear and bright display with a peak brightness of 1300 nits even under the harsh Nigerian sun. This is the perfect feature for users who tend to be outside most of the time. Being one that are so active, the active lifestyles many Nigerians are known for means their screen will come between their hands and a scratch or an accidental drop, and the Corning Gorilla Glass protection adds durability to help prevent that from occurring.
Enhanced Audio
Tucked behind the spectacular display are the twin stereo speakers tuned by JBL. The audio output is decent, but not exceeding high end flagship models. However, while inadequate for audiophiles, it is perfectly fine for everyday use, such as checking out music, watching videos, or a video call. Although it is there, the haptic feedback would ease more if you’re able to give it a little more ‘tactile’ feel.
Powerful Performance
Robust Hardware
Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Ultimate 5G chipset based on a 4nm architecture, the processor is an octa core processor at its heart. Bringing the power of this chipset with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB UFS 3.1 storage, this device not only handles multitasking, but gaming and even demanding applications with ease. The Zero 40 5G will either get you from one app to the next, streaming content without any interruption, or managing work-related tasks without any hiccups, all on a smooth, responsive performance.
Seamless Multitasking
Given the less than hospitable environment of Nigeria which includes the fact that if you are a smartphone user, you are constantly hopping from one app to another for social media, banking and communication, the Zero 40 5G’s is a device that consistently delivers despite being in a dynamic environment. The RAM that’s not lacking gives you a clear performance and ensures your apps run smoothly without lag, the rapid storage makes your files open up in seconds and provides quick access to your data as well as quick application loading times.
Gaming Experience
Optimized for Mobile Gaming
Smartphone gaming is not just popular among the young; it is a very big part of the way most people use the phone. PUBG Mobile and Genshin Impact can be played smoothly on the Zero 40 5G. These games come with a high refresh rate display that isn’t capped much above 60 FPS, so it trades in performance and battery consumption. Though it can get up to 45 degrees Celsius in the long run, when using it for a long period of time, the device does a decent job of handling its heat.
The addition of the GoPro Mode integration brings a great add on to the gaming experience because it lets you record fresh, high quality gameplay footage with minimal jitter! One of the huge selling point of this feature is the fact that it is perfect for gamers that love to share games with their followers on social media Nigeria is so popular in.
User Interface: XOS 14
Feature-Rich Customizations
Based on Android 14, the Zero 40 5G runs on XOS 14, a highly customizable UI. The array of features and settings that users there will like personalize the device are many. XOS 14 gives you user friendly experience as it is user-friendly for newbie and technical users alike from theme customization to advanced multitasking options.
Room for Improvement
The software is replete with features, but could use more of a tidy aesthetic for its UI. Folks might consider the interface a little less shiny than other Android skins. Functionality is still there, but it is robust and includes a few tools and a collection of shortcuts that make things more usable.
Advanced Camera System
Comprehensive Camera Setup
The Infinix Zero 40 5G is a camera phenom and an embodiment of the Infinix Zero series focus on photography. The device features a triple-camera setup on the rear:
- 108 MP Main Sensor with OIS: With optical image stabilization it delivers high resolution images that reduce blur in low light conditions.
- 50 MP Ultra-Wide Lens: It has an expansive field of view: 120 degree even for its captures of landscapes and group photos.
- 2 MP Depth Sensor: It helps making a bokeh effect on portrait shots, separating subject from the background.
It sports a 50 MP selfie camera on front to promise high quality selfies and video calls, and the same thing with the selfie front camera.
Daylight Photography
The 108 MP main camera is top notch under optimal lighting conditions, delivering lots of detail and colors. OIS technology guarantees that even handheld shooting will be sharp. The camera is color accurate and constantly bright in sunny cities, like many of Nigeria’s.
Ultra-Wide Shots
Nigeria’s heart warming, vibrant, picturesque and off the beaten track landscapes bright are best captured with the 50 MP ultra wide lens, from streets of Lagos bursting with activity to the sacred lands of the Niger Delta. It provides a wide field of view, which is perfect for taking pictures that are more dynamic and extensive, such as group shots and architectural photography.
Portrait Mode
The device’s depth sensor adds to portrait photography by having clear and focused image of the subject with beautifully blurred background. In comparison, the 2X in sensor zoom between 2X lives on, though losing a little clarity in some cases, but it proves versatile.
Low-Light Performance
The average performance of the Zero 40 5G in low light scenarios isn’t great. With good image quality, the low light mode doesn’t outperform other smartphones with the same price tag as the OnePlus Nord CE 3 or Realme Narzo 70 Pro. A shortcoming that may be noticeable by those Nigerian users who often snap pictures in low light situations might be the lack of that aspect among some competitors.
Selfie Capabilities
At 50 MP, the front facing camera delivers crisp and sharp selfies you’ll want to use for profile pictures, or anything you want to share with the world. In bright light, its good, but the selfie shots don’t always hold up in low light with a respectable, but not exceptional, score of 3.8 out of 5.
Videography
A highlight in its segment is that the Zero 40 5G is the first phone to support 4K recording across all cameras at 30FPS. By default however video stabilization is not enabled, so unless Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) is selected manually there are a few jitters. GoPro Mode is available to add additional creative options for users who want to directly work with GoPro Hero cameras for better video recording—very relevant for vloggers and content creators in Nigeria.
Fast Charging and long lasting battery
Robust Battery Life
The Infinix Zero 40 5G, which has a battery capacity of 5000 mAh will be affording it to easily go a day’s worth of moderate usage. Because for a good number of Nigerian smartphone users, communication, social media, gaming, and photography effectively occupy all resources plugged into their device, this battery capacity comes as a well deserved relief, as they never have to worry about frequent recharging.
Fast Charging Solutions
It supports 45W wired fast charging so that the user can charge your phone quickly. The 20w wireless charging feature also comes handy although it does require the external wireless pad as the package doesn’t include the magnetic coil. It’s also helpful for those who are casual about clutter, as opposed to the more ‘purist’ approach of placing all the chargers on a specific USB port.
Charging Modes
The Zero 40 5G comes up with 3 charging modes – Low Temp, Smart and Hyper, changing the charging speed according to user preference and safety. And while the bypass charging mode is best used for that same kind of aggressive gaming, it does allot to differentiate itself from other switches by firing power directly to the motherboard, distributing heat only where it has to, and staying fast and strong.
Battery Management
For those who care about battery life, the phone offers auto refresh rate settings that reduce the phone’s refresh rate depending on how you use the phone, to reduce battery life with little impact on performance. The battery will, however, be drained faster if the 144Hz refresh rate is used mechanically with no interval between using games. Users would be able to make use of gaming games for more time by switching to gaming games with lower settings.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Exceptional Value for Money: It is an affordable offer of premium features.
- Smooth 144Hz AMOLED Display: Becomes a source of a vibrant and responsive visual experience.
- Powerful Performance: It manages to handle multitasking and gaming with ease.
- Elegant and Ergonomic Design: It combines aesthetics with a comfortable handle.
- Advanced Camera System: It delivers high quality photos and good shooting options.
Cons
- Heat Generation During Intensive Gaming: Can reach up to 45°C.
- UI Elements Could Be More Refined: The software looks a little bit under polished.
- Average Haptic Feedback: Less satisfying than competitors in feedback strength.
- Low-Light Camera Performance: It falls short against other smartphones in its price class.
Conclusion
This gave rise to the Infinix Zero 40 5G for the Nigerian smartphone market which is a combination of the elegant design, power performance and includes immersive camera features at an affordable price. With its high refreshing rate AMOLED display and powerful battery life it’s a good all around tablet for social media users to mobile gamers. The low-light camera performance and software refinement should be improved, but overall the package represents very good value for money.
Infinix Zero 40 5G is definitely worth a check for Nigerian consumers searching for a stylish, high performance smartphone without having to break the lending bank. It stands as the best bet for people who desire value for money on a smartphone and the power to run premium features in a midrange price bracket.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can 5 Infinix Zero 40 5G Nigeria be used as a gaming phone?
The Infinix Zero 40 5G comes with MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Ultimate chipset and accompanied with 12GB RAM which is enough for a strong gaming performance. It stops at a maximum 60 FPS in games such as PUBG Mobile and Genshin Impact, but in long gameplay sessions it keeps running smoothly with little heating.
2. How does the camera hold under low light conditions?
In low light settings, the Zero 40 5G just does average. The low light mode does help with image quality but it doesn’t sweep past the price band added competitors like the OnePlus Nord CE 3 or the Realme Narzo 70 Pro.
3. The phone supports wireless charging?
Yes 20W wireless charging is support for Infinix Zero 40 5G. But the point is that the user has to buy a separate compatible wireless pad separately.
4. How long is the battery going to last for heavy users?
The 5000mAh battery is enough for a full day without the need to charge on a single charge for users who are heaving users using social media, gaming and photography. Wherever possible, this can even increase battery life further when you use auto refresh rate settings.
5. Does the Infinix Zero 40 5G come in different colors?
Yes, the Zero 40 5G is available in three attractive colors: Users can choose among Violet Garden, Blossom Glow, and Misty Aqua respectively, based on their personal preference.
6. Infinix Zero 40 5G, what edge does it have over other phones in its price range?
The Zero 40 5G brings the best of design, performance and camera features for the money. It’s not quite as sharp as in some competitors’ low light camera performance or haptic feedback, and while it excels in display quality and overall performance, it isn’t quite as sharp as in some competitors.
7. Is the phone updated with regular software?
Of course, the Infinix Zero 40 5G is running Android 14 with XOS 14, and also gets three years of security patch updates to keep the software safe and receive new features.
8. Infinix Zero 40 5G, what else are they selling you?
GoPro Mode, allowing users to record high quality gameplay and hook up to GoPro Hero to become even better at videography. But the device also gives the user choices of different charging modes and advanced camera settings that can be tailored to fit their personal preferences.