Itel is widening its Zeno lineup in India with two new budget phones, and the first concrete date has now arrived. Dedicated Amazon microsites for the Itel Zeno 100 Pro and Zeno 100 Lite have gone live, confirming that the Pro model will launch in India on July 16, 2026, while the Lite is teased only as "coming soon."
This comes roughly four months after the original Zeno 100 launched in India in March 2026, meaning Itel is moving to build out a fuller sub-brand lineup rather than treating it as a one-off device.
Zeno 100 Pro: Design and Confirmed Features
The Pro model breaks away from the standard Zeno 100's squircle camera module, opting instead for a horizontal, edge-to-edge camera island. The microsite labels one of the sensors "AI Camera," alongside what appears to be a secondary lens — though whether this is a functional 2MP sensor or a dummy lens common in this price segment isn't confirmed. An LED flash and what looks like an IR blaster sit alongside the cameras.
Itel is also teasing a "multi-device control" feature described as "point, tap and control," which likely ties into the IR blaster. Separately, the microsite highlights a Bluetooth-based calling system offering roughly 200 metres of range, aimed at helping users stay connected in low-network areas. On durability, the Zeno 100 Pro carries MIL-STD-810H military-grade certification, covering heat and drop resistance, and the brand teases "unstoppable energy," which points toward a sizeable battery without confirming an exact capacity.
Zeno 100 Lite: Design and Confirmed Features
The Lite variant sticks closer to the original Zeno 100's design language, shown here in a similar green colourway with a squircle camera module housing dual lenses, an LED flash, and what appears to be an IR blaster.
On the front, the Lite is confirmed to feature a 6.6-inch HD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate, along with DTS-tuned audio for what Itel describes as "loud, clear and balanced" sound. Images on the microsite also show a USB-C port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The phone is confirmed to pack a 5,000mAh battery, marketed under an "all-day battery" tagline, and carries the same MIL-STD-810H durability rating as the Pro model.
Pricing Still Unknown
Itel is calling the Zeno 100 Lite its "most affordable" phone yet, hinting at pricing below the original Zeno 100's Rs 6,866 starting price. The Pro model, given its name and added features, is expected to be priced somewhat higher, though Itel hasn't confirmed exact pricing for either device.
Techoper's Take
Launching a Pro and Lite variant alongside an already-established Zeno 100 suggests Itel is trying to cover more of the sub-Rs 10,000 segment with distinct pitches rather than a single catch-all device — the Pro leaning on connectivity gimmicks and a redesigned camera module, the Lite leaning purely on affordability. This kind of tiered approach makes sense given how price-sensitive this segment is, especially with component costs rising across the industry this year.
The bigger test will be whether the Pro's IR-based "multi-device control" and Bluetooth calling feature actually resonate with budget buyers, or whether they end up as underused marketing checkboxes, a common outcome for connectivity gimmicks in this price bracket. Pricing will ultimately decide how these phones are received — if the Lite genuinely undercuts the original Zeno 100's Rs 6,866 price point, it could become one of the cheapest phones in Itel's current lineup with military-grade durability, which itself is a rare combination at this price.
