The Rs 9,999 Phone That Makes You Question Premium Price Tags: Zeno 200

New Delhi [India], June 28 (ANI): In the midst of all the ultra-premium smartphones, it's difficult to look at entry-level smartphones. After all, we are all getting swayed by the razzmatazz of these top-end smartphones, bringing the top-end specs. But there is one major problem with these ultra-smartphones--the price tag. You need to shell out around Rs 1 lakh to get your hands on these fancy phones, and I don't believe everyone can do that. However, an affordable smartphone is usually marred by low-end build quality and capabilities. It's this idea that gave me the inspiration to explore the smartphone market under Rs 10,000, and I am glad to have found a few phones that looked convincing. However, there are times when the difference between the spec sheet and real-life phone usage is quite stark. So, let me share my experience while using the Zeno 200 by itel and help you decide if this phone makes sense for you or not.
Let's start with the design:
What you get is a sleek 8.3mm slim profile that stands out, with a weight of 185g. Though the back side of this phone reminds me of an UltraPhone that's known for its ecosystem, it looks nice, and I had to re-verify the price of this phone, which is Rs 9,999. I also liked the color variants--the bold Comet Orange, the sleek and minimal Meteor Titanium, and the urban classic Nightly Blue. The hand feel is light and grippy while giving me a sense of confidence holding this phone. You also get a black case of nice quality within the box.

Beyond the design element:
I am surprised again once I move past the looks, where you get an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance along with MIL-STD-810H military-grade durability. This basically means that I don't have to worry about dusty environments and even water splashes or light rain. That's not all; this phone is certified to survive drop impacts, shocks, and extreme temperatures. All this for under Rs 9,999 is virtually unheard of.
Performance and Software:
On the performance and software front, it may not beat all your expectations, but it surely punches above its weight. There's a nice 6.75-inch HD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and it's quite fluid. The touch is responsive even with water, sweat or oil on the screen or your hands. I was really not expecting it to perform so well, but the octa-core processor paired with 4GB of physical RAM, an additional 8GB of extended memory, and 128GB of internal storage proved me wrong. And that's not all, as there's a 48-month fluency promise by itel to make sure you get long-term performance without slowdowns. Good job, itel!
Scrolling, using various apps, playing videos, and other things work seamlessly. The itel Zeno 200 runs on Android 15 GO and has a 5000mAh battery that you charge with a 15W charger that comes with the phone. You also have a decent 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera, giving basic results. Those of you thinking about AI, then yes, it has the Sola AI Assistant as well, which handles smart text summarization, document assistance, automated writing adjustments, and an on-demand AI wallpaper generator with no major jerks.

Additonal features and quirks:
There's this dynamic bar interface around the camera cutout that basically lets you have quick battery and call notifications. I also liked the fact that you get an IR blaster to let you control your TVs and ACs, and one of the best DTS-tuned speaker systems along with Ultralink technology to offer connectivity even when network coverage drops. Last but not least, it also has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and face unlock capabilities working just fine. Phew!
The charging time is quite slow, and it's not a 5G but a 4.5G (also known technically as LTE-Advanced or LTE-A) phone. This means that it is a heavily optimized version of standard 4G. You can think of it as a bridge between 4G and 5G. It's a budget phone, so that's okay, as what it does is get the maximum performance out of the existing 4G infrastructure rather than paying the premium cost for a 5G modem. I find this a good trade-off; I think itel is trying to save on paying a premium for a 5G chip and using that investment to add features like the 120Hz display, IP65 water resistance, and MIL-STD-810H military-grade durability. And I did not find any major flaws with the connectivity during my testing.
In the end:
I think what makes the Zeno 200 feel solid is how it bridges the gap between the spec sheet and real-life usage. I am still looking at this smartphone with those surprising looks, as it amazes me to find such a phone under Rs 10,000. Yes, I did find a few lags while switching between apps and opening or loading apps, and the camera is just okay, but it's not a deal-breaker as the overall experience is quite good. I don't mind calling it a daily workhorse without all those high-end specs and features, and yes, it's one of the best smartphones that you can buy under Rs 10,000.
My rating: 4/5
(Disclaimer: The author is an expert in the fields of consumer technology, lifestyle, and auto. Views shared here are personal.) (ANI)