itel Zeno 100

p> The itel Zeno 100 launched in India on March 6, 2026, as a budget smartphone targeting the sub-₹10,000 segment, built around durability and everyday practicality rather than premium features. Seven months on, the phone remains on sale but at a noticeably higher price than it debuted at — the base 3GB/64GB variant has climbed from its ₹6,866 launch price to around ₹8,699 as of late August 2026, an increase of roughly 27%. Commenting at launch, itel India CEO Arijeet Talapatra described the Zeno series as "an excellent example of fusion of durability with practical innovation," and the phone's design borrows a squircle camera module reminiscent of the OnePlus 13s, unusual styling at this price point.

Confirmed Features of the itel Zeno 100

• Unisoc T7100 chipset (12nm), octa-core CPU, Mali G57 MP1 GPU
• 6.6-inch HD+ IPS LCD display, 90Hz refresh rate, 480 nits typical brightness, Dynamic Bar
• 8MP rear camera with LED flash, plus a 5MP front camera
• 5,000mAh battery with 10W USB-C charging
• MIL-STD-810H military-grade durability certification
• Side-mounted fingerprint scanner, Face Unlock, IR blaster, 3.5mm headphone jack with DTS sound
• Android 15 Go Edition with the Aivana 2.0 AI assistant
• Available in Silk Green, Pure Black, and Titanium Gold

itel Zeno 100 Price in India: Launch vs Current

Variant	Launch Price (March 2026)	Current Price (as of late August 2026)
3GB + 64GB	₹6,866	₹8,699
4GB + 64GB	Not sold at launch	₹10,999

Note: The itel Zeno 100's price has risen significantly since its March 2026 launch, with the base variant up roughly 27% from ₹6,866 to ₹8,699. Pricing in the ultra-budget segment can fluctuate with component costs and retailer promotions, so readers should check current listings on Amazon and Flipkart for the latest price before purchase. The phone is sold in Silk Green, Pure Black, and Titanium Gold colourways.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
MIL-STD-810H durability certification is rare at this price point	Price has climbed nearly 27% since launch, eroding its original budget appeal
90Hz display refresh rate is a reasonable inclusion for an ultra-budget phone	No 5G connectivity, limiting future-proofing
Retains a 3.5mm headphone jack, IR blaster, and expandable storage up to 2TB	Base storage is capped at 64GB with older eMMC-class memory, not UFS
Side-mounted fingerprint scanner and Face Unlock add useful security options	Camera setup is basic, with no flash-assisted front camera or secondary rear lens
Distinctive squircle camera design stands out at this price	10W charging is slow for a 5,000mAh battery, meaning longer full charge times

itel Zeno 100 vs itel Zeno 20 (Predecessor)

The Zeno 100 succeeds the itel Zeno 20 within itel's own budget lineup, refining the display and adding durability certification while keeping the core hardware largely similar.

Feature	itel Zeno 100	itel Zeno 20 (Predecessor)
Processor	Unisoc T7100 (12nm)	Unisoc T7100 (12nm)
Display	6.6-inch HD+ IPS LCD, 90Hz	6.6-inch HD+ IPS LCD, 90Hz, 1,500 nits peak
Camera	8MP rear + 5MP front	13MP rear + 5MP front
Battery	5,000mAh, 10W wired	5,000mAh, 15W wired
Durability	MIL-STD-810H certified	IP54 splash resistance
Software	Android 15 Go Edition	Android 14 Go Edition
Launch Price	₹6,866 (3GB/64GB)	About €60 (international launch)

Final Verdict

The itel Zeno 100 remains a reasonably well-rounded ultra-budget phone, with military-grade durability and a 90Hz display setting it apart from similarly priced rivals, though the roughly 27% price increase since launch has noticeably dented its original value proposition. It's best suited to buyers who specifically want a tough, no-frills device with a bigger screen, while those shopping right at launch-era pricing may want to compare current listings carefully before deciding.