Infinix Zero Flip: Previously, the market for foldable smartphones was predominantly ruled by the premium brands whose price tags made your baulk.
Comes in the Infinix Zero Flip, a handset that seeks to make the foldable phone experience accessible by upholding basic add-ons. After living with it for nearly two weeks, here’s my full analysis of what Infinix’s ambitious folding debut has to offer.
Design and Build Quality
With the Zero Flip offering it’s own variation of the long popular clamshell fold, when it’s closed, it’s just a smaller square that fits comfortably in your pocket.
It’s a matter of some compromise – measuring 15.1mm when folded (and 7.3mm when unfolded) thick, and weighing 198g, the Flip 3 strikes an even medium between portability and heft.
The hinge felt quite sturdy given its price point, and the phone was able to hold its fold in a variety of angles for hands-free video calls or shooting photos. Infinix says it’s tested for 200,000 folds, which is supposed to be several years of regular use.
The outer shell is of glass and aluminum, lending the device a premium feel, but the finish, while attractive, doesn’ t have the refined touch of pricier competitors. The side fingerprint reader is responsive and placed at an ideal location.
Display Dynamics
The Zero Flip features two displays: a 3.6-inch AMOLED cover screen and a 6.8-inch foldable main display.
Surprisingly, the cover screen has its uses, letting users glance at notifications, take quick selfies, control music and get at some widgets without needing to open the phone.
The primary 6.8-inch LTPO AMOLED display has a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and FHD+ resolution. Colors are bright with solid viewing angles, but peak brightness, at 900 nits, doesn’t stack up to the best foldables for outdoor usage.
When you look at content from an angle you can see the crease along the fold, but it’s mostly lost during day-to-day usage.
Performance Profile
The device is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 9000+ processor and 8GB of RAM, so you have enough power under the hood in order to use it day-to-day without issue.
App opening cool side of the pillow quick and most games play with a framerate you’ll need a strobelight to detect, even if the most demanding won’t load up at the highest graphics settings.
The foldable form factor benefits from a clean interface and useful features from Infinix’s XOS 14 (built on Android 15). It has a Flex Mode feature that is supported with some apps like YouTube, camera and gallery (apps are optimized when mode is half-folded).
Camera Capabilities
The two rear cameras together comprise a 50MP main sensor and a 13MP ultrawide lens. In decent light, you’ll capture fair detail and accurate colors, but dynamic range isn’t nearly as good as you’ll find on more expensive models.
The 32MP front camera ensures crisp and high-resolution selfies, and the main cameras can be used for selfies, with bright results even in low light. There’s video recording up to 4K/30fps with usable stabilization as well.
Battery Life and Charging
The battery is 4,500mAh, less capacious than a typical non-folding smartphone, but you’ve got to make compromises in such a form factor.
It typically can make it through an entire day on a charge with moderate use, but there may be a need for mid-day top-up for heavy users. There’s also a 68W fast charger in the box, charging from zero to full in about 55 minutes.
Cool is the 15W support for wireless charging, which seems like a nice-to-have in this price category.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Well priced for a folding phone
Dynamic and responsive cover display
Durable hinge mechanism to operate freely in Flex Mode
Decent for normal use
Wireless charging support
Decent cameras in good light conditions
Cons:
Battery life falls short of its non-folding counterparts
Some exhibits fold crease in certain conditions
No official water or dust resistance rating
Low light is challenging for the camera system
Software will definitely not come for another (1.5-5 years os, 2-5 security)
Not available in all markets
Infinix Zero Flip: Verdict
The Infinix Zero Flip is a big move towards democratizing foldable tech. It’s not as polished or packed with features as a luxury foldable, but it satisfies the primary premise of the form factor at a fraction of the cost.
The Zero Flip is the perfect introductory model for consumers fascinated by the flexibility and convenience of a folding phone but aren’t quite ready to pay a huge premium.
It’s a masterful balancing of compromises and capabilities, and shows that the innovation popping out of the smartphone world isn’t limited to high-end phones.
