Ever since the dual-cameras have made their way to the smartphones, many manufacturers are marketing their handsets with the dual-camera feature. Infinix, a Hongkong based company decides to make a good deal out of it by introducing Infinix Zero 5 with dual-camera and 2X optical zoom at a mid-range price.
There are numerous smartphones out there with the dual-camera feature, but the one which could give Infinix a run for its money is Honor 9i. The phone by Huawei sub-brand sports four cameras and shares a number of similarities with Infinix’s Zero 5.
Let’s stack the two against one another to help you decide which one is a better buy.
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Infinix Zero 5 vs Xiaomi Mi A1 Specification
| Model | Infinix Zero 5 | Honor 9i |
| Display | 6-inch FHD LTPS LCD display | 5.9-inch Full HD+ full vision display |
| Processor | 2.6 GHz octa-core Helio P25 | Octa-Core Kirin 659 processor |
| RAM | 6GB LPDDR4X | 4GB LPDDR3 |
| Internal Storage | 64GB/128GB with dedicated microSD Card support | 64GB, expandable up to 256GB |
| Software | Android 7.1 Nougat based XOS | Android 7.0 (Nougat) with EMUI 5.1 |
| Rear Camera | 12MP, f/2.0 aperture +13MP, f/2.6 aperture, 2X optical zoom, dual LED flash | 16MP + 2MP sensor with dual-tone LED, CMOS sensor, PDAF, and digital zoom |
| Front Camera | 16MP sensor with selfie flash | 13MP+2MP soft LED flash |
| Battery | 4350mAh, fast charging | 3340mAh battery |
| Others | 4G VoLTE, Fingerprint sensor, GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, 3.5mm audio jack | 4G VoLTE support, hybrid dual-sim, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, a 3.5mm audio jack |
| Dimensions and Weight | 166.4 x 82.4 x 7.95mm; Weight: 197g | 156.2 × 75.2 × 7.5mm; Weight: 164g |
| Price | 17,999 INR/ 19,999 INR | Rs. 17,999 |
Design and Display
The Infinix Zero 5 and Honor 9i both have a metal unibody design with a large display up front, rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, and a dual-camera setup at the back. Both smartphones look very premium, and their availability in multiple hues is an added bonus.
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However, the picture changes when you compare both the smartphones from the front. Face up, Infinix Zero 5 comes with a big 16:9 6-inch Full HD (1920×1080 pixels) LTPS display, placed in between those broad bezels. On the other hand, the Honor 9i flaunts a relatively-easy-to-manage 18:9 5.9-inch Full HD (1920×1080 pixels) full vision display with minimal bezels.
Particularly, for this reason, we are a little bit inclined towards the Honor 9i. The design of the phone is more compact than the Zero 5, and you will have an easier time maneuvering it with one hand.
However, if you want a true 6-inch screen real-estate and thick bezels are not much of an issue, Infinix Zero 5 won’t be a bad investment.
Performance and Software
On the software and hardware front, the Infinix Zero 5 comes running on XOS based Android Nougat 7.1.1 and is powered by 2.6GHz MediaTek’s Helio P25 octa-core coupled with 6GB LPDDR4X RAM and 64GB/128GB expandable storage.
In comparison, the Honor 9i runs on EMUI 5.1 based Android 7.0 Nougat and rocks on 2.3GHz octa-core Kirin 659 chipset paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, which is expandable up to 256GB via microSD card.
The real world performance of both the processors is optimal for everyday use, they are capable enough to handle almost everything you throw at them. However, the Zero 5 clearly has more muscle.
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Since the phones are heavily optimised with their custom skin running on top of Android, the experience on both the phones will be far from stock-Android. They both have some nifty features that could make the interaction friendlier and fascinating, depending on your personal taste, of course.
Camera and Battery
It is the dual-rear cameras that make this comparison worthy. In Infinix Zero 5 we have 12MP wide-angle lens and 13MP telephoto lens with dual-LED flash whereas the Honor 9i sports a duo of 16MP and 2MP cameras with dual-tone LED, CMOS sensor, PDAF, portrait shots and digital zoom.
Though both smartphones will give you quality images yet it is the extra sensor on Infinix Zero 5 that seems to hold an edge here. Its 13MP telephoto lens, unlike 2MP depth sensor on Honor 9i, enables 2X optical zoom. Zero 5 is only the second smartphone in India under Rs 20K to brandish optical Zoom (the first one being Mi A1).
For selfies, the Infinix Zero 5 flaunts a 16MP sensor with selfie flash that will give you excellent selfies even in low-light whereas its competitor, Honor 9i, sports 13 MP sensor paired with a 2MP sensor, the second sensor is to add the bokeh effect (blur background) on the images.
As for the battery, the Infinix Zero 5 takes a massive lead over Honor 9i, largely thanks to 4350mAh battery with fast charging support (Honor 9i has a relatively smaller one, 3340mAh).
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Verdict
Both the Infinx Zero 5 and Honor 9i have enough firepower, under their hood, to assist you at every step. They both integrate features that make them a decent choice for a high-spec smartphone at a mid-range price.
Who should buy Infinix Zero 5- Anyone who needs an extra large display primarily for watching videos, and is tempted by the dual camera concept. Also, the Infinix Zero 5 has more raw performance power of the two and poses with a better spec sheet.
Who should buy Honor 9i- The Honor 9i is better looking and easier to manage. It should also be a better option for anyone who doesn’t want to miss out on a minimal bezel 18:9 screen.
