We have become accustomed to gaming phones commanding premium prices, so you can imagine my surprise when the Infinix GT 20 Pro arrived with high-performance gaming at a much more accessible price point.
But does this budget-friendly gaming device deliver where it counts, or is it all hype and little substance? I’ve spent time putting this phone through its paces to find out.
Gaming Aesthetics That Don’t Go Overboard
The Infinix GT 20 Pro embraces its gaming identity without venturing into flashy territory. The phone features what Infinix calls a “Cyber Mecha Design” with a semi-transparent look on the glass back that creates an illusion of depth.
A standout feature is the customizable “Mecha Loop Lighting”—a” semi-circular RGB strip on the back that illuminates for calls, notifications, music playback, and even during gaming sessions.
Available in three color options (Mecha Blue, Orange, and Silver), the phone strikes a nice balance between gaming flair and everyday usability. At 194 grams and 8.15mm thick, it’s comfortably weighty without being cumbersome like some competitors that tip over 200 grams.
The frame is metal, with the power and volume buttons positioned on the right edge. The bottom houses the SIM tray, USB-C port, microphone, and one speaker, while the top features the secondary speaker, IR blaster, and another microphone.
The included case is specifically of higher quality than standard TPU cases, which complements the phone’s design rather than detracting from it.
Thin Bezel Display with Great Response
The GT 20 Pro sports a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution (1080 x 2436 pixels) and a 144Hz refresh rate. What stands out immediately are the exceptionally thin bezels on all four sides, giving the phone a premium look that maximizes screen real estate.
The display supports up to 1,300 nits of peak brightness, making outdoor visibility possible even on sunny days. While it lacks official HDR certification, the phone does offer an HDR Graphics setting in the X-Boost game engine that increases brightness during gameplay.
Color reproduction is natural and vibrant, with two profile options to choose from: Bright Color and Original Color. The 144Hz refresh rate makes everything from scrolling to gaming feel silky smooth, and the 2304Hz PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation) frequency helps reduce eye strain when using the phone at lower brightness levels.
The touchscreen deserves special mention for its impressive responsiveness, which is important during intense gaming sessions where split-second inputs can mean the difference between victory and defeat.
Made for Gaming Performance
All of this is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Ultimate chipset, developed in collaboration between MediaTek and Infinix. This is paired with a Mali-G610 MC6 GPU, Pixelworks X5 Turbo gaming display chip, and either 8GB or 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM.
Storage comes in at 256GB of UFS 3.1, providing enough space for games and media.
In synthetic benchmarks, the phone achieves an AnTuTu score of around 934,460, which puts it ahead of many competitors in the same price range. Day-to-day performance is also very fluid, with apps opening quickly and multitasking handled with ease.
However, gaming performance is where this phone truly shines. Popular titles like PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact, and Shadow Fight 4: Arena can be played at high settings with remarkable frame rates.
One of the most impressive features is the Ultra Frame Rate mode, which uses MEMC (Motion Estimation, Motion Compensation) technology to generate additional frames for supported games, resulting in smoother gameplay without requiring the GPU to work harder.
Gaming-focused features include:
- XArena: A game management center that lets you prioritize performance or battery life
- E-Sports Mode: Blocks notifications while gaming to prevent interruptions
- Bypass Charging: Powers the phone directly without charging the battery, which reduces heat during extended gaming sessions and prolongs battery life
The phone does warm up during extended gaming sessions, but not at alarming levels. For those concerned about heat, Infinix includes a magnetic cooling fan accessory that attaches to the case, though powering it through the phone will drain the battery more quickly.
The GT 20 Pro runs Android 14 with Infinix’s XOS 14 overlay. The interface is relatively clean with minimal bloatware, which is refreshing compared to some competitors. Even better, Infinix has promised two major OS updates and three years of security patches.
Other useful features include Folax Translate, Smart Panel for quick app switching, and the aforementioned Mecha Lighting Loop customization options.
Though it carries the “Sound by JBL” branding, the stereo speakers are not all that. They lack bass and can sound tinny at higher volumes, which diminishes the gaming and media consumption experience. Most users will prefer using headphones to get that immersive gaming experience.
Decent Camera, Nothing Spectacular
Photography clearly wasn’t the primary focus for this gaming-oriented device. The camera array consists of a 108MP main sensor with OIS, accompanied by two largely decorative 2MP sensors for depth and macro shooting. The front houses a 32MP selfie camera.
The primary 108MP camera performs reasonably well in good lighting, capturing detailed images with natural colors rather than over-processed, hyper-saturated tones. The OIS helps with stabilization when shooting 4K video at 30 or 60 FPS.
Low-light performance is acceptable, though not exceptional, with some noise becoming apparent. Portrait mode can also be hit-or-miss, as it sometimes struggles to lock focus or create unnatural background blur.
The absence of an ultrawide lens is noticeable and disappointing, as it would have added versatility to the camera system. The 2MP depth and macro sensors add little value beyond marketing numbers.
Selfies from the 32MP front camera are good in well-lit environments and maintain natural skin tones without excessive processing, though details can soften when zooming in.
Battery Life Suited for a Gaming Phone
The Infinix GT 20 Pro packs a 5,000mAh battery that delivers solid endurance. With heavy usage including gaming, social media, and video consumption, the phone can still have juice left at the end of the day.
The included 45W charger takes about 30 minutes to reach 60% and slightly over an hour to fully charge from empty. While this is decent, it falls short of competitors with 100W chargers.
For a gaming phone where quick top-ups between sessions might be needed, faster charging would have been highly appreciated.
The bypass charging feature is a thoughtful addition for marathon gaming sessions, as it allows power to go directly to the system components while bypassing the battery, reducing heat and preserving battery health.
Verdict: Best Value for a Gaming Phone
At KES 40,000, the Infinix GT 20 Pro offers extraordinary mobile gaming performance, a premium-looking display, and an aesthetically pleasing design. The included accessories, like a quality case, cooling fan, and other gaming peripherals (in some offers), add to the value proposition.
The Infinix GT 20 Pro succeeds in its mission to deliver an affordable gaming phone that doesn’t cut too many corners. It prioritizes performance, display quality, and gaming-specific features while making understandable compromises in camera capabilities and charging speed.
For mobile gaming enthusiasts who can’t justify spending flagship money on a dedicated gaming phone, the GT 20 Pro represents excellent value. It handles demanding games with ease while remaining cool, and its everyday performance is equally impressive.
The few shortcomings are easily forgiven given the price point, making it a compelling option for budget-conscious gamers.
