Infinix Hot 40i Review - Best Phone Under $120?
The Hot 40i marks the debut of Infinix's Hot 40 series, with additional phones expected to follow. Boasting an enhanced 32MP selfie camera and a powerful 50MP main camera, this phone offers impressive photography capabilities. With configurations offering up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, it comes at a budget-friendly price, starting at approximately 105,000 naira for the base model. This places it in direct competition with previously reviewed models like the Spark 20 and Redmi 13C. In this review, we'll cover all the essential details about the Infinix Hot 40i to help you determine if it's a suitable choice for you.
Our review of Infiinix Hot 40i
Positives
- Great Battery Life
- Decent 50MP main camera
- Reasonable Price to Performance Ratio
Negatives
- The Mediatek Helio G85 Would have been better
Infinix Hot 40i Unboxing
If you buy the Infinix Hot 40i, you will get a charger in the box. Infinix is generous enough to give you one. Some brands out there no longer add chargers at this price point. You will get an earpiece, which is an excellent addition. You also get a silicone TPU case that fits the phone nicely. An Xpark leaflet, a sim ejector tool, and a USB-C charging cable.
See Also - Tecno Spark 20 Review
Design & Build Quality
The Infinix Hot 40i has a plastic build, and I have the palm blue color, which is simply the best color. I love how it shines, depending on how light reflects on it. The phone has a matte finish that gives it a grip. It has a plastic frame, but fingerprint stains are visible because of its color. However, if you are slapping a case on the phone, that won't be a problem. There are two cameras at the back of the phone and a quad flashlight. The back is flat, with slightly curved edges. A mono speaker at the bottom can reach 200% volume; Infinix is calling the extra 100% volume infinity volume. The phone also supports DTS processing. At 200% volume, it only gets louder. I wish there were some balance and bass to the overall sound. A headphone port is at the bottom, a USB-C charging port, and a call microphone. The sim card tray is by the left and it supports dual 4G sim cards there should be an Infinix Hot 40 5G according to rumors. Design and build quality are more of the same, and I know some of you are getting bored of it. I understand that it's more of giving their phones an identity. Let me know which phone you want this compared to in the comment section.
See Also - Infinix Smart 8 Review
Display Review Infinix Hot 40i
The display is 6.6 inch, with a 90Hz refresh rate, and 720p resolution. It has a punch hole cutout, which is a lovely addition, and it also has the magic ring feature that uses some cool animations to display some level of information like face unlock, background calls, and charging animation. It's a step in the right direction, but I think what will be more fun is adding more functionality to the magic ring, like using it for the next songs or pick calls. It has a noticeable chin and the bezels around the display are noticeable it doesn't affect usability, however. The display is quite bright and outdoors you shouldn't have many problems with visibility. The high refresh rate is also noticeable in most aspects of the display. If you don't like it you can always set the phone back to 60Hz in the settings. Streaming content on the display is lovely and because of the size gaming is also fun. It is responsive to touch and I didn't find any problems with the display of the phone. It is on par with other devices within its price category.
Software Aspect
The Infinix Hot 40i runs on Android 13, and XOS 13 is the user interface. You get access to customize the device how you want in the settings. There are some features on the phone like video assistant, which hides notifications while you are watching videos to keep distractions away. Using Xclone in the special functions tab in settings you can clone social media apps and have two accounts. If you swipe right on the display, you will get the control center while to the left is your notification shade. You get gesture navigation and everything common with the XOS interface. The phone comes with some apps and most of them can be removed. There isn't a guarantee for Android 14, but on a personal note, I want to see what Android 14 will bring to Infinix. Customization runs deep in XOS 13, from the home screen to notification badges. You also get some important Google apps on the phone.
Performance Aspect
The phone is powered by the Unisoc T606 processor and that is an area where the Spark 20 might be better. Let me know in the comment if you want me to compare both phones. My unit has 4GB RAM and thanks to memory fusion it can be expanded to 8GB RAM. The storage space is 128GB but you can extend it using a memory card. Performance is okay for the price and it can even play some demanding games at minimal settings. Apps open up swiftly and it even retains some in the background. While testing the phone, I didn't experience any delays while opening apps and games. As long as you stick to casual stuff you won't have any problems, and for the price, it is quite okay.
Infinix Hot 40i Camera Review & Test
There are two cameras at the back: a 50MP primary lens and a second AI lens. Upfront, we have a 32MP selfie camera with a flashlight, another central selling point. The pictures are okay especially if you use the 50MP option in the camera app the pictures are a bit more detailed and colorful. You also get an option to select 32MP in the settings, and the shots are better. There are some filters in the camera app, and portrait mode is also impressive. There is super night mode and it makes a significant difference in the night. You only have to hold your phone steady when using the super night mode. Here are more pictures from the phone. You can only record 1080p videos with the front and back cameras.
Battery Life & Charging Speed
You get a 5000mAh battery, and as usual, it is impressive. The battery life is impressive, and it can last an entire day on a single charge. You also get 18 watts of fast charging support, and it takes around 2 hours to charge the phone from zero to a hundred. Battery won't be an issue on the device.
Conclusion
Finally, the Infinix Hot 40i is a decent phone, but recommending it becomes a bit challenging due to its similar features to Tecno Spark 20. The key factor influencing this decision is the processor. While the Hot 40i's processor is not inherently bad, the MediaTek Helio G85 in the Tecno Spark 20 is slightly superior. Despite this, I find the Hot 40i to be a commendable device, particularly with its impressive camera and overall user experience. If you can overlook the processor discrepancy, it stands as a reliable and solid device.