Infinix Hot 50i Review: A Budget-Friendly Powerhouse

The Infinix Hot series has been a popular choice in the budget smartphone segment, offering competitive features at an affordable price. The latest addition, the Infinix Hot 50i, continues this tradition with a combination of style, performance, and affordability that makes it an appealing option for budget-conscious consumers. In this review, we'll delve into the details of the Infinix Hot 50i, exploring its design, performance, battery life, camera capabilities, and overall value for money.

Design and Build Quality

Infinix has always focused on providing stylish designs even in their budget offerings, and the Hot 50i is no exception. The device boasts a sleek and modern aesthetic with a glossy plastic back that gives it a premium look despite its affordable price tag. The back panel features a unique textured finish, which adds a touch of sophistication while improving grip.

Available in several attractive colors, the Hot 50i is designed to appeal to a wide range of users. It has a slim profile, and the lightweight body makes it comfortable to hold for extended periods, a plus for users who enjoy mobile gaming or binge-watching. The rear camera module, though prominent, is well integrated into the design, and the overall feel of the phone belies its budget price.

However, the plastic body may not be as durable as higher-end materials like metal or glass. This is a common trade-off in budget devices, and users might want to invest in a protective case to prevent scratches and damage from accidental drops.

Display

The Infinix Hot 50i sports a 6.6-inch IPS LCD display with HD+ resolution (720 x 1612 pixels). While this resolution might seem modest compared to higher-end devices, it’s quite common in this price segment. The display delivers decent color reproduction, and the viewing angles are sufficient for most day-to-day activities like browsing, watching videos, and gaming.

One of the key highlights of the Hot 50i's display is its brightness levels. The screen can get bright enough to remain visible outdoors, which is an impressive feature for a budget phone. However, the lack of Full HD resolution means that content might not appear as sharp as it would on more expensive devices. Nonetheless, for casual users who don’t need a super high-resolution screen, the display on the Hot 50i is more than adequate.

Performance

Under the hood, the Infinix Hot 50i is powered by a Unisoc SC9863A1 processor, paired with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. While the Unisoc chipset is not the most powerful on the market, it performs admirably for a phone in this price range. The octa-core processor is capable of handling everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and video streaming with relative ease. However, users should not expect flagship-level performance, especially when it comes to heavy gaming or multitasking.

Casual games like Candy Crush, Subway Surfers, and even moderately demanding titles like PUBG Mobile can run smoothly on lower settings, but the phone may struggle with more graphically intensive games like Call of Duty: Mobile. In terms of multitasking, the 4GB of RAM allows for smooth switching between apps, though heavy multitaskers may notice some occasional slowdowns when too many apps are running in the background.

The inclusion of 128GB of storage is a significant advantage at this price point, providing ample space for apps, photos, videos, and other files. Additionally, the Hot 50i supports expandable storage via a microSD card, giving users the flexibility to add more storage as needed.

Software and User Interface

The Infinix Hot 50i runs on XOS 7.6, which is Infinix’s custom skin based on Android 11. XOS is known for its feature-rich interface, offering a variety of customization options and utilities. While some users may find the UI a bit overwhelming due to the number of pre-installed apps (bloatware), others will appreciate the added functionalities such as smart gestures, customizable themes, and security features like the App Lock and Private Space.

One downside to XOS is that the abundance of bloatware can occasionally slow down the system. However, most of the pre-installed apps can be uninstalled or disabled, which can help improve performance. Another minor drawback is the lack of an update to the latest version of Android, as some competing phones in this price range offer Android 12 or at least promise future updates.

Despite these minor shortcomings, XOS is generally user-friendly, and the UI offers smooth navigation with intuitive gestures. The inclusion of features like Game Mode, which optimizes performance for gaming, is a nice touch for those who enjoy mobile gaming.

Camera Quality

The Infinix Hot 50i is equipped with a dual-camera setup on the rear, consisting of a 13MP primary sensor and an AI lens. While this setup may seem basic compared to the multi-lens configurations found on more expensive devices, it performs reasonably well for a phone in this price bracket.

In well-lit conditions, the 13MP camera can capture decent photos with good color accuracy and adequate detail. The AI enhancements help optimize settings based on the scene, and the results are generally satisfactory for casual photography. However, the camera struggles in low-light conditions, producing noisy images with reduced sharpness. The absence of a dedicated night mode further limits its performance in challenging lighting environments.

The front-facing camera is a modest 8MP shooter, which is sufficient for selfies and video calls. It supports AI beautification, which can smoothen skin tones and enhance facial features, though the results can sometimes look a bit artificial. Overall, the camera performance on the Hot 50i is decent for casual photography but is not suitable for users who prioritize photography in their smartphone experience.

Battery Life

One of the standout features of the Infinix Hot 50i is its impressive battery life. The phone is powered by a large 5000mAh battery, which can easily last a full day of moderate usage. For light users, the battery could even extend into a second day, making it a great choice for those who need a reliable device that won’t require frequent charging.

Infinix claims that the Hot 50i can deliver up to 14 hours of video playback or 54 hours of talk time on a single charge, and our experience aligns with these claims. Even with heavy use, including gaming, streaming, and browsing, the battery held up well throughout the day. The phone supports standard 10W charging, which is relatively slow compared to fast charging technologies available on higher-end devices, but this is an acceptable trade-off given the price.

Connectivity and Additional Features

The Infinix Hot 50i comes with dual SIM support, which is a common feature in budget phones, allowing users to manage two numbers on one device. The phone also supports 4G LTE connectivity, ensuring decent network speeds for browsing and streaming, though it lacks 5G support – a feature still largely absent in this price range.

Other connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is increasingly rare in modern smartphones. The inclusion of the headphone jack is a welcome feature for users who prefer wired audio accessories.

The device also features a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, which is fast and reliable for unlocking the phone. There’s also support for facial recognition, though it’s not as secure as the fingerprint sensor and may not work as well in low light conditions.

Conclusion: Is the Infinix Hot 50i Worth It?

The Infinix Hot 50i offers an excellent value-for-money proposition in the budget smartphone market. Its combination of a stylish design, decent performance, long battery life, and ample storage make it a solid choice for users looking for an affordable yet capable device. While it may not excel in areas like camera performance or raw processing power, it delivers a well-rounded experience that should satisfy the needs of most casual users.

For those who prioritize battery life and want a smartphone that can handle everyday tasks without breaking the bank, the Infinix Hot 50i is a worthy contender. It may not compete with flagship devices in terms of features, but for its price, it offers more than enough to keep budget-conscious users happy.

Spec Details

Launch	Announced	2024, September 23
	Status	Coming soon. Exp. release 2024, October

Body	Dimensions	165.7 x 77.1 x 8.1 mm (6.52 x 3.04 x 0.32 in)
	Weight	184 g (6.49 oz)
	Build	Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame
	SIM	Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
		IP54, dust and splash resistant

Display	Type	IPS LCD, 120Hz, 500 nits (peak)
	Size	6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~84.8% screen-to-body ratio)
	Resolution	720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~262 ppi density)
		Always-on display

Platform	OS	Android 14, XOS 14.5
	Chipset	Mediatek Helio G81
	CPU	Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.7 GHz Cortex-A55)
	GPU	Mali-G52 MC2

Memory	Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
	Internal	128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM

Main Camera	Single	48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), AF Auxiliary lens
	Features	Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
	Video	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera	Single	8 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
	Video	Yes

Sound	Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers
	3.5mm jack	Yes

Comms	WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
	Bluetooth	Yes
	Positioning	GPS
	NFC	No
	Radio	FM radio
	USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG

Features	Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass

Battery	Type	5000 mAh, non-removable
	Charging	18W wired Reverse wired Bypass charging

Misc	Colors	Sleek Black, Sage Green, Titanium Grey
	Models	X6531, X6531B