Infinix Zero 8 Review: A Bold Mid-Range Contender with Room for Improvement

The Infinix Zero 8 arrives with ambitious specs like a 90Hz display, a flagship-grade Sony IMX686 camera sensor, and a bold geometric design, positioning itself as a competitive mid-range option. However, practical use reveals several shortcomings that prevent it from standing out in a crowded market.

Design-wise, the Zero 8 makes a strong impression with its two-tone diamond pattern, available in silver, green, or black variants. The large diamond-shaped camera module creates a noticeable wobble on flat surfaces, and the plastic construction feels somewhat cheap despite the glossy finish. At 205 grams and measuring 6.64 inches, the phone is sizable and may feel bulky for users with smaller hands.

The 6.85-inch IPS LCD panel boasts a 90Hz refresh rate and FHD+ resolution, offering smooth scrolling and gaming. However, the display struggles with color accuracy, contrast, and vibrancy when compared to AMOLED screens from competitors like the Redmi Note 9 Pro Max. The pill-shaped camera cutout and significant bottom chin also detract from the overall viewing experience.

Under the hood, the MediaTek Helio G90T processor delivers solid performance for everyday tasks and gaming, with PUBG and Call of Duty Mobile running smoothly. The 8GB RAM and 128GB storage configuration handles multitasking well, though the custom XOS skin feels cluttered with bloatware apps that cannot be uninstalled. Gaming performance is respectable but the phone tends to heat up, despite featuring liquid cooling technology.

The camera department disappoints, despite the impressive 64MP Sony IMX686 primary sensor. Photos appear soft with low detail and desaturated colors, while wide-angle and night-time shots suffer from grain and lack of contrast. Selfies from the 48MP front camera show decent sharpness but lack HDR optimization and strong edge detection. Video recording reaches up to 4K/30fps but lacks stabilization, with colors appearing flat.

Security features include a side-mounted fingerprint sensor that doubles as the power button, alongside face unlock. However, Infinix's software update track record leaves much to be desired, with our review unit still on October's security patch as of January 2021.

Battery life benefits from a sizable 4500mAh cell, though screen-on time averages only about 4.5 hours with the 90Hz mode enabled. The included 33W fast charger can fully replenish the battery in roughly 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Audio comes through a single bottom-firing speaker that sounds flat and lacks richness, though the included DTS Sound app offers some equalizer adjustments to improve the experience.

While the Infinix Zero 8 presents a compelling combination of design and hardware features for the mid-range segment, its flaws in display quality, camera performance, software optimization, and audio prevent it from fully delivering on its promise. The phone shows promise as Infinix's first gaming-focused mid-range device, but needs refinement in key areas to compete effectively.