In August 2025, Itel introduced the Zeno 20, a budget-oriented smartphone that delivers a compelling mix of affordability, durability, and modern features tailored for first-time smartphone users and cost-conscious consumers. Priced starting at ₹5,999 (~$72), the Itel Zeno 20 is designed to offer reliable performance, a sleek design, and practical features without breaking the bank. Let’s dive into what makes this device stand out in the crowded entry-level smartphone market.
Design and Build: Rugged Yet Stylish
The Itel Zeno 20 boasts a sleek, modern design available in three attractive color options: Starlit Black, Space Titanium, and Aurora Blue. Despite its budget price tag, the phone feels premium, thanks to thoughtful design elements like the Dynamic Bar feature, which displays notifications such as call alerts, battery status, and charging updates around the front camera cutout.
One of the standout aspects of the Zeno 20 is its durability. With an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance, it can handle everyday mishaps like accidental spills or light rain. Additionally, Itel includes a drop-resistant case in the box, further enhancing the phone’s ability to withstand drops and bumps. The company also offers one free screen replacement, a generous inclusion for a budget device, ensuring peace of mind for users.
Display: Smooth and Functional
The Zeno 20 features a 6.6-inch HD+ IPS LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate, a rarity in this price segment where most competitors stick to 60Hz screens. This higher refresh rate ensures smoother scrolling and animations, making the phone feel more responsive during everyday tasks like browsing social media or watching videos. The display has a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels, a 20:9 aspect ratio, and 267 ppi, which, while not the sharpest, is adequate for its price range. With 480 nits peak brightness, 1500:1 contrast ratio, and 10-point multitouch, the screen is functional for various lighting conditions and supports an enjoyable viewing experience.
Performance: Optimized for Efficiency
Under the hood, the Itel Zeno 20 is powered by the Unisoc T7100 octa-core processor, a rebranded Unisoc T603 with eight Cortex-A55 cores. While not a powerhouse, it’s optimized for basic tasks like social media, web browsing, and light multitasking, making it suitable for budget users. The phone comes in two configurations:
- 3GB RAM + 64GB storage (with up to 5GB virtual RAM)
- 4GB RAM + 128GB storage (with up to 8GB virtual RAM)
The ability to expand RAM virtually using unused storage is a handy feature for improving multitasking performance. Storage can also be expanded via a dedicated microSD card slot. Running on Android 14 Go Edition, a lightweight operating system designed for budget hardware, the Zeno 20 ensures smooth performance with features like Landscape Mode, Find My Phone, and an Always-On Display for charging mode. Itel also promises a 36-month fluency guarantee, ensuring long-term performance reliability.
Camera: Simple Yet Functional
The Zeno 20 keeps things straightforward with its camera setup. It features a 13MP rear camera with HDR support and an LED flash, capable of capturing decent photos in daylight and acceptable low-light shots with AI-based enhancements for improved clarity and focus. On the front, an 8MP selfie camera housed in a waterdrop notch handles video calls and casual selfies. While the camera system won’t compete with mid-range devices, it’s more than adequate for basic photography needs in this price range.
Battery and Charging: All-Day Power
Battery life is a strong suit of the Itel Zeno 20, thanks to its 5,000mAh battery, which can easily last a full day of heavy use, including gaming, streaming, and social media browsing. The phone supports 15W fast charging via a USB Type-C port, though it ships with a 10W charger in the box. This ensures relatively quick top-ups for a budget device, making it a practical choice for users who need reliable battery performance.
Additional Features: AI and Audio Enhancements
The Zeno 20 comes equipped with Aivana 2.0, Itel’s AI voice assistant that supports Hindi voice commands, making it accessible to a broader audience in India. Users can perform tasks like opening apps, making WhatsApp calls, solving math problems, or generating social media captions using voice input, which is particularly useful for first-time smartphone users or seniors. The phone also features DTS sound enhancements for improved audio quality, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor alongside face unlock for secure and convenient access.
Connectivity and Software
The Zeno 20 supports dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth, and GPS, but lacks 5G connectivity, which is expected at this price point. The Android 14 Go Edition ensures efficient performance on modest hardware, with optimizations that keep the phone running smoothly even with limited resources.
As part of a launch offer, buyers can avail a ₹250 discount on the 3GB variant and a ₹300 discount on the 4GB variant. The phone is exclusively available on Amazon India starting August 25, 2025. In Nepal, the expected starting price is around NPR 10,500.
Who Is It For?
First-time smartphone users transitioning from feature phones, thanks to its intuitive AI assistant and user-friendly features.
Budget-conscious buyers looking for a reliable device for basic tasks like calling, messaging, and social media.
Users in rugged environments who need a durable phone with IP54 protection and a drop-resistant case.
While it faces competition from devices like the POCO C71, Infinix Smart 9 HD, and Lava Shark 5G, the Zeno 20 stands out with its combination of a 90Hz display, AI voice assistant, and robust build at an ultra-affordable price.
Final Thoughts
The Itel Zeno 20 proves that you don’t need to spend a fortune to get a functional, durable, and feature-packed smartphone. With its smooth 90Hz display, long-lasting battery, and thoughtful additions like Aivana 2.0 and IP54 protection, it offers tremendous value for under ₹7,000. While the processor and camera system are basic, they align with the expectations of the entry-level segment. For those seeking an affordable yet capable smartphone, the Itel Zeno 20 is a compelling option that punches above its weight.