Xolo ZX review: Fast fingerprint scanner and face unlock at great price

Xolo ZX
Price: Rs 11,999 (4/64GB) | Rs 13,999 (6/128GB)
Rating: ***

Specifications: 6.22-inch IPS LCD (1520 x 720 pixels), 2GHz MediaTekHelio P22 octa core, 4/6GB RAM, 64/128GB storage (expandable, dedicated micro SD slot, up to 256GB), dual SIM, 13MP f2.2 + 5MP dual rear camera, 16MP front camera, Android 8.1, 3,260mAhbattery, 159 grams


Pros: Stylish design, bright display, fast fingerprint scanner, good day-to-day performance, above average camera

Cons: Expensive compared to competition, glossy finish prone to smudges, HD resolution, not a good gaming experience, low speaker output


Xolo is one of the few domestic brands still surviving in India. The company was missing in action in 2018 but they made a comeback in the entry level segment with the Xolo Era 4X. Now, the company has launched a mid-range device called the ZX.

The ZX has a unibody design with 3D glass finish that shifts colour(blue to black) as the light bounces off it. This is similar to what most other phones (from Xiaomi, Realme) are doing in this price range. We liked the 7.8mm thin body and the shape makes it good to hold despite being all plastic. However, the glossy back surfaces are prone to scratches and smudges - we recommend using it with a case at all times.

Up front is a notch style 6.22-inch IPS display which impresses with wide viewing angles and good brightness levels. However, the resolution of 1520 x 720 pixels is a letdown considering the price - you can get phones with full HD screens at a cheaper price now. Also, the wide notch on the Xolo ZX seems out of place compared to others that have the drop or dot notch.


The phone has an entry-level Helio P22 processor which offers acceptable performance for basic use and casual gaming. The interface works smoothly and even switching between running apps is fast. Another good thing is that you can get 6GB RAM with 128GB storage at a great price. That being said, if you want to do a lot of gaming,this phone is best avoided. PUBG at low graphics settings borders on the unplayable thanks to lag and frame drops. Once again, if you compare this phone with others in terms of processor, it is priced on the high side.

You get a 13MP + 5MP dual rear camera with f2.0 aperture that takes surprisingly good photos. We noticed the photos taken in daylight had vibrant colours with a good amount of detail. The dynamic range isn't as good as the competition but it's not too shabby either. Portrait photos have with good edge detection and an excellent bokeh effect.


When it comes to lowlight, you can some results but with loads of noise. They're ok to keep a memory but nothing that you would want to show off. Redmi Note 7S will do vastly better in low light. On the plus side, there are a variety of modes including time-lapse, panorama, macro, super night mode, portrait mode and child mode. There is also a mode in which you can choose a stylized template to add location + date information on the photo. We liked that you can choose the aperture while shooting portraits and see where you get the best effect before capturing.

Up front is a 16MP shooter which again impressed us by capturing a good amount of detail. However, selfie portraits from the front camera are best avoided.It completely misses the mark when it comes to edge detection of the person as well a convincing bokeh effect.

Talking about software, the Xolo ZX comes with the old Android 8.1 with no clarity on updates. This has been one of the pain points with domestic brands and the trend seems to be continuing on latest devices too. What's more, Xolo preloads a bunch of bloatware apps on the device, slowing it down and taking up storage space.


A few things that impressed us on the Xolo include the fast fingerprint scanner and face unlock, dedicated slot for storage expansion and the excellent battery life with fast charge support. A single charge lasted a full day without any use.

In our opinion, the Xolo ZX is a valiant comeback effort. If this was priced sub-Rs10k, the phone would stand neck-and-neck with existing competition. At the current asking price, it goes up against the likes of Redmi Note 7S, Redmi Note 7 Pro and Realme 3 Pro - all of them offer full HD display, way better processors and superior camera performance.