itel’s latest entry-level 5G smartphone, the Zeno 5G, recently landed on my desk, and I’ve spent some time exploring what this sub-Rs 10,000 phone brings to the table. Priced at Rs 9,299 (with a Rs 1,000 Amazon coupon), it seems positioned to be a no-fuss, future-ready smartphone. Here’s how my initial hands-on experience has been.
2Specifications and features (Part 1)
Speaking of the display, the 6.67-inch HD+ IPS panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and 240Hz touch sampling rate is surprisingly fluid. Colors aren’t the most punchy, but the high refresh rate really makes everyday use feel smoother than you’d expect at this price.
Under the hood, the Zeno 5G runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset, which is a capable chip powering multiple phones in the Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 or even higher in India. You get 8GB RAM (4GB actual + 4GB virtual) and 128GB UFS 2.2 storage, which is also expandable up to 1TB. To sum up, the phone offers decent performance for its price and casual gaming.
Battery-wise, the 5,000mAh cell is holding up well, and it supports 18W fast charging, though you only get a 10W charger in the box. The phone also includes AI charging protection, which is a nice touch.
