Karbonn is back? New ZenZ Pro spotted on Geekbench with 4G chipset
Karbonn appears to be making a comeback in India’s smartphone market, with a new budget device spotted on Geekbench. The company was once a familiar name in India’s affordable mobile phone segment but has largely stayed out of the spotlight as newer brands took over the market. Its upcoming Karbonn ZenZ Pro could mark an attempt to return to the segment with an entry-level 4G smartphone.
The Geekbench listing reveals the phone’s processor, RAM and software, giving us an early idea of what Karbonn could offer with its return. Here’s what we know so far.
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Karbonn ZenZ Pro spotted on Geekbench
The Karbonn ZenZ Pro has appeared in multiple listings on Geekbench 7 with a MediaTek MT6769V/CB chipset (corresponds to Helio G70) and Android 16. The processor is a fairly old 4G-only chip which launched back in 2020, which gives us a good idea of where Karbonn could position this phone.
The listing shows 4GB and 6GB RAM variants, with the device scoring around 422 points in single-core and up to 1,525 points in multi-core across the available tests. These aren’t particularly impressive numbers by today’s standards, but the phone doesn’t appear to be targeting users who need high performance in the first place.
Instead, the ZenZ Pro looks like an absolute entry-level device designed for consumers on a strict budget or upgrading from feature phones. It should be able to handle basic tasks such as calls, messaging, browsing and lightweight apps, while the 4G connectivity keeps the hardware simple and affordable.
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Karbonn’s return comes at an interesting time
Karbonn is returning to a very different smartphone market from the one it left. Budget buyers should have access to considerably more capable hardware in the near future, with brands such as Mivi, Fire-boltt, and more also looking to enter the segment with affordable 4G and 5G devices.
Mivi’s upcoming smartphone, for instance, is expected to cost under Rs 15,000 and use a Snapdragon chipset. Karbonn appears to be taking a more basic approach with the ZenZ Pro, which could instead appeal to feature-phone users looking to make the switch to a smartphone or buyers who simply need the essentials.
The biggest factor will be pricing. An old 4G chipset won’t be enough to compete with newer budget phones on specifications alone, so Karbonn will need to keep the ZenZ Pro affordable. If it manages to do that while offering dependable software and after-sales support, its return could still make sense for a specific group of buyers.
