Infinix HOT 40i : In the land of budget smartphones, there’s usually a lot of trade-offs. You typically compromise on design, camera quality or performance just to save a few thousand rupees.
But every once in a while, a phone like the Infinix HOT 40i comes along and turns you on your head.
Even though it falls in the ultra-affordable price bracket, it also manages to carry a decent design that is easy on the eyes, decent components, but most of all — some killer features that make other devices a little jealous.
Stylish for the Price
At a first glance, the HOT 40i is not a screen that shouts “Budget”. It actually looks more expensive than it is, rubbed up with a shiny finish on the back and a barely there texture to catch the light.
The dual camera and side-mounted fingerprint sensor are also a nice premium touch.
Nokia 106 with up to 15.7 hours of talk time is available in multiple color choices, including some that are pretty bright and fun, so if you also want to stand our from the rest, grab this phone.
The build may be plastic but it doesn’t feel flimsy and it rests in the hand well. Doing that on a budget device — well, that alone is a win.
Screen: Bigger and Smoother Than I Imagined
At the front, there is a 6.56-inch HD+ IPS LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. Now, that refresh rate is a small surprise at this price, and when you scroll, it feels smoother; animations look more fluid than you’d expect from an entry-level phone.
It’s not a Full HD screen, of course, so sharpness isn’t top-table. But color reproduction is good and its brightness levels are fine for indoor, and light outdoor, usage. Watching videos or scrolling through reels actually looks quite good for the price.
Performance: Formed for Basics (and Then Some)
Under the hood, the Infinix HOT 40i is equipped with Unisoc T606 chipset, up to 8GB of RAM, and 128GB onboard storage. It even allows for 8GB of virtual RAM expansion, which is a good thing when you’re flowing between apps.
For daily use — calls, messaging, social media, light gaming — the phone performs just fine. Just don’t expect it to hum through heavy games or huge apps.
It’s capable of handling lighter games like Subway Surfers or Free Fire, but anything more taxing and you’ll see it struggle.
It’s decent for its class, the performance is respectable, and it doesn’t overheat or stutter on basic tasks.
Camera: It’s More Than the Numbers
Also on its back, the HOT 40i includes 50MP main camera, which sounds like quite of a looker on paper. In good light, it even produces decent results — photos are reasonably sharp, with nice colors.
For an impromptu Sunday barbecue or a Saturday night at karaoke, as long as you’re not planning to print posters or make billboards out of your photos, that’s just fine.
On the front, the camera is 32MP, which is again good for the segment. The selfies are well detailed, and you can adjust or switch off the AI beautification if you don’t like it.
Battery Life: It Lasts All Day, Long
The phone comes with a 5,000mAh battery that can easily stretch to a full day or more with moderate use, thanks to the power-efficient chipset and HD+ screen.
Whether they’re streaming, scrolling or chatting, battery angst is a non-issue.
You also get 18W fast charging, which is not blazing-fast but it is good enough for the price. A quick 30-minute topping off will be enough to take you through a full branch of several hours.
Pros:
Cool design, feels expensive
Smooth scrolling 90Hz refresh rate
32MP Selfie camera 50MP rear camera with Sharp
Decent battery life with 18W fast charging
Up to 512GB of expandable RAM and storage
Combination of fingerprint sensor + face unlock
Cons:
Display is HD + only not Full HD
Unisoc T606 is not best fitted for heavy gaming
Bloatware present in the UI
Camera performance in low light is mediocre
Infinix HOT 40i Final Opinion: Worth It’s Weight In Gold
The Infinix HOT 40i is one of the few budget phones that offers slightly more than one would expect. It’s pretty, zippy enough for most daily tasks, and provides good photos and all-day battery life. Sure, it’s not made for hardcore gaming or photography, but it’s not trying to be.
If you’re looking to purchase a device on the cheap that’s capable of doing everything you need it to do— and then some—the HOT 40i is definitely a device that deserves your attention.