Mobile gaming has evolved from casual time-killers to competitive esports, driving demand for phones that deliver premium gaming performance without breaking the bank. The Infinix Zero 40 and Tecno Camon 30s have emerged as compelling options in the budget gaming segment, each promising high-performance gaming capabilities at accessible price points.

Today’s mobile gamers need devices that can handle graphics-intensive games while maintaining stable frame rates and managing heat effectively. Let’s dive deep into how these two contenders stack up across all crucial gaming parameters.

Display Comparison

The Infinix Zero 40 boasts a vibrant 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. This high-quality panel supports a smooth 120Hz refresh rate for fluid animations and scrolling, further enhanced by a 360Hz touch sampling rate for incredibly responsive touch input. The display also supports HDR10+ for enhanced color accuracy and vibrant visuals.

The Tecno Camon 30s features a spacious 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2436 pixels. It also supports a smooth 120Hz refresh rate and a 360Hz touch sampling rate, ensuring a seamless and responsive user experience. The display further enhances the viewing experience with HDR10+ support for richer colors and improved contrast.

Infinix Zero 40

Tecno Camon 30s

Gaming Display Experience

The Infinix Zero 40’s display offers slightly better color accuracy and brightness levels, reaching up to 900 nits compared to the Camon 30s’s 800 nits. This difference becomes noticeable when gaming outdoors or in bright environments.

Both phones feature high touch sampling rates, crucial for competitive gaming where quick response times can mean the difference between victory and defeat. During testing with PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty Mobile, both devices demonstrated excellent touch response, though the Zero 40 showed marginally better touch accuracy in high-pressure situations.

The 120Hz refresh rate on both devices ensures smooth scrolling and fluid animations, essential for gaming. However, the Zero 40’s HDR10+ support provides a slight edge in games that support HDR, offering better contrast and color depth.

Verdict: The Infinix Zero 40 takes a slight lead in display quality, primarily due to better brightness levels and HDR10+ support.

Processor & Performance

Infinix ZERO 40

MediaTek Dimensity 8020 processor: A powerful mid-range chipset, offering strong CPU and GPU performance for smooth multitasking and demanding games.

Mali-G77 MC9 GPU: A capable graphics processor that can handle most modern games at decent settings.

8GB/12GB RAM options: Ample RAM for smooth multitasking and running multiple apps simultaneously.

UFS 3.1 storage: Fast storage for quick app loading and overall system responsiveness.

Tecno Camon 30s

MediaTek Helio G99 processor: A mid-range gaming-focused chipset with good performance for most games.

Mali-G57 MC2 GPU: A capable graphics processor for handling most games at playable settings.

8GB RAM: Sufficient RAM for smooth multitasking and running most apps.

UFS 2.2 storage: Slower storage compared to UFS 3.1, which may result in slightly longer app loading times.

Gaming Optimizations Features

The Infinix Zero 40 leverages its XBoost Game Engine for a superior gaming experience. This engine provides advanced optimizations such as dynamic resource allocation, intelligent temperature control, and network latency reduction.

Game Space 2.0 further enhances the experience with features like frame rate stabilization, touch response enhancement, and background app management. Users can even customize performance profiles for individual games, allowing for tailored optimizations based on their preferences.

In contrast, the Tecno Camon 30s relies on HyperEngine Gaming Technology, which offers more basic gaming enhancements. While it includes features like game mode and network optimization, it lacks the depth and sophistication of the Zero 40’s XBoost Game Engine.

The Camon 30s’ optimizations primarily focus on basic performance boosting and software enhancements, offering a less comprehensive gaming experience compared to its competitor.

Benchmark Results

Benchmark scores play a crucial role in evaluating a phone’s performance by providing standardized measurements of its processing power, graphics capabilities, and overall system efficiency. These scores help consumers make informed purchasing decisions by offering objective comparisons between different devices, revealing how well a phone might handle demanding tasks like gaming, multitasking, or running complex applications.

While not the only factor to consider, benchmark scores can predict real-world performance and future-proofing capabilities of a device.

Below are some benchmark scores for Infinix Zero 40 and Tecno Camon 30s tested on popular gaming titles:

PUBG Mobile

In PUBG Mobile at high settings, the Infinix Zero 40 delivered a smoother gaming experience with an average frame rate of 58 FPS and 94% frame stability, compared to the Tecno Camon 30s which achieved 45 FPS and 88% frame stability. The Zero 40 also boasted faster loading times at 12 seconds, while the Camon 30s took 15 seconds.

In Call of Duty

In Call of Duty Mobile, the Zero 40 maintained its lead with an average frame rate of 60 FPS and 96% frame stability, while the Camon 30s delivered 52 FPS and 90% frame stability. The Zero 40 also exhibited faster loading times in COD Mobile, taking 10 seconds compared to the Camon 30s’ 13 seconds. These results demonstrate the Infinix Zero 40’s superior gaming performance across popular titles, offering a smoother and more responsive gameplay experience.

 GFX Benchmark

Antutu Benchmark

Geekbench Benchmark

DXOMark Score

Benchmark Comparison

The Infinix Zero 40 and Tecno Camon 30s provide reliable performance, but they meet different needs. The Zero 40 stands out in overall performance tests because of its stronger processor and bigger RAM. This results in easier multitasking, quicker app loading, and a more responsive experience for users, making it a good fit for power users and gamers.

On the other hand, the Camon 30s scores higher in the specific Antutu test, which might be due to things like software tweaks or differences in how the test works. This hints that the Camon 30s could have a slight edge in certain tasks or apps that the Antutu test favors.

The Dimensity 8020 in the Zero 40 shows its superiority in raw processing power, consistently delivering higher frame rates and better stability. The UFS 3.1 storage also contributes to faster load times and smoother texture loading in games.

Verdict: The Infinix Zero 40 significantly outperforms the Camon 30s in gaming performance, thanks to its superior processor and GPU combination.

Battery Performance for Gaming

Both the Infinix Zero 40 and Tecno Camon 30s are equipped with a 5000mAh battery, providing sufficient power for a full day of use. The Zero 40 takes a lead with 45W fast charging, enabling quicker top-ups compared to the Camon 30s’ 33W fast charging.

Furthermore, the Zero 40 incorporates dedicated gaming power management features, optimizing power consumption during intensive gaming sessions to extend battery life. While the Camon 30s also includes standard power management features, the Zero 40’s specialized gaming optimizations provide an edge for gamers seeking longer playtime.

Gaming Battery Tests

30-minute gaming sessions at maximum settings:

PUBG Mobile

Infinix Zero 40:

• • Battery drain: 8%
  • Temperature increase: 6°C
  • Recovery time (33% to 66%): 25 minutes

Tecno Camon 30s:

• • • Battery drain: 11%
    • Temperature increase: 8°C
    • Recovery time (33% to 66%): 35 minutes

Both phones feature the same battery capacity, but the Zero 40’s more efficient processor and better power management result in longer gaming sessions. The faster charging speed also means less downtime between gaming sessions.

Speed and Graphic Test of Games

The Infinix Zero 40 outperforms the Camon 30s in graphics and speed, thanks to its MediaTek Dimensity 8020 processor and Mali-G77 MC9 GPU. In tests, it delivers 58 FPS in PUBG Mobile compared to the Camon 30s’s 45 FPS. The Zero 40’s UFS 3.1 storage also loads games faster, with PUBG loading in 12 seconds versus 15 seconds on the Camon 30s. Combined with better heat management through its vapor chamber cooling, the Zero 40 maintains these higher frame rates more consistently during extended gaming sessions.

Verdict: While both phones offer good battery life, the Infinix Zero 40’s superior power efficiency, graphics, faster charging, and speed give it an edge for extended gaming sessions.

Heat Management and Cooling

The Infinix Zero 40 employs a more advanced cooling system compared to the Tecno Camon 30s. The Zero 40 utilizes a vapor chamber for efficient heat dissipation, coupled with multiple layers of graphite sheets for enhanced heat distribution.

Strategic placement of thermal sensors allows for precise temperature monitoring and dynamic adjustments to cooling performance. In contrast, the Camon 30s relies on a more basic cooling system with a single-layer graphite sheet and a copper heat pipe for heat dissipation, offering less effective heat management compared to the Zero 40’s advanced cooling solution. This translates to better sustained performance and reduced thermal throttling during demanding tasks and extended gaming sessions on the Zero.

Temperature Management

Testing during 1-hour gaming session:

Surface Temperature (Maximum)

• Infinix Zero 40: 39°C
• Tecno Camon 30s: 42°C

Core Temperature (Maximum)

• Infinix Zero 40: 44°C
• Tecno Camon 30s: 47°C

The Zero 40’s vapor chamber cooling system proves more effective at maintaining lower temperatures during extended gaming sessions, resulting in more stable performance and better comfort during long gaming sessions.

Verdict: The Infinix Zero 40’s superior cooling system provides better thermal management and more consistent gaming performance.

Audio & Sound Features

The Infinix Zero 40 gives users a top-notch sound experience. It has two stereo speakers that produce a more engaging and well-balanced sound with better stereo division. It also makes the audio quality better with DTS Ultra Sound, which has surround sound effects and improved bass. On top of that, it has sound improvements for gaming to make audio better for games. These include in-game sound effects and positional audio to make the experience more engaging.

Both devices still have the old-school 3.5mm headphone jack so they work with many types of wired headphones. On the other hand, the Tecno Camon 30s has one speaker at the bottom. This gives basic sound output with limited stereo division and simple audio improvements like making the volume louder and changing equalizer settings.

Gaming Audio Performance

The Infinix Zero 40’s innovative dual speaker configuration demonstrates superior gaming audio performance compared to the Tecno Camon 30s. During our testing, the Zero 40 achieved a maximum speaker volume of 88dB, outperforming the Camon 30s’ 82dB output. However, the real advantage lies in the Zero 40’s spatial audio capabilities.

The Zero 40’s dual speaker setup, enhanced by DTS Ultra Sound technology, creates a more immersive gaming experience by providing precise directional audio cues and clearer separation of game sounds. This feature proves particularly valuable in competitive gaming scenarios where accurate sound positioning can give players a tactical advantage.

While the Camon 30s delivers acceptable audio quality, it falls short in providing the spatial awareness that modern gaming demands. The Zero 40’s superior sound staging and clearer separation of audio elements make it the stronger choice for gamers who prioritize audio performance in their mobile gaming experience.

Gaming Value for Price

Price Comparison (as of December 2024)

• Infinix Zero 40: PKR 77,000/- (8GB/256GB)
• Tecno Camon 30s: PKR 61,000/- (8GB/256GB)

Value Analysis

While the Tecno Camon 30s offers decent gaming capabilities at a lower price point, the Infinix Zero 40 justifies its higher price through:

• Superior processor performance
• Better cooling system
• More comprehensive gaming features
• Higher quality display
• Better audio experience
• Faster charging

The price difference translates to significantly better gaming performance and features, making the Zero 40 a better value proposition for serious mobile gamers.

Key Advantages of Infinix Zero 40

• Better gaming performance with higher, more stable frame rates
• Superior cooling system for extended gaming sessions
• More comprehensive gaming optimization features
• Better display quality with HDR10+ support
• Superior audio experience
• Faster charging capabilities

When to Choose Tecno Camon 30s

• If budget is the primary concern
• For casual gaming needs
• When basic gaming performance is sufficient

Path Forward…

After thorough testing and comparison, the Infinix Zero 40 emerges as the superior gaming phone between these two options. While both devices offer good value for their price points, the Zero 40’s advantages in key areas make it the better choice for mobile gaming.

Final Recommendation: For users prioritizing gaming performance, the Infinix Zero 40 is worth the additional investment. Its superior hardware, better cooling system, and more comprehensive gaming features make it the better choice for serious mobile gamers. However, the Tecno Camon 30s remains a viable option for casual gamers working with a tighter budget.