Infinix Hot 8 Lite: High Budget Phone with Impressive Features
The Infinix Hot 8 Lite is a budget-friendly smartphone that punches above its weight. Positioned as an affordable device in the market, it offers a solid balance of performance, design, and features, making it a compelling choice for budget-conscious users looking for great value without breaking the bank. In this review, we’ll explore what the Infinix Hot 8 Lite has to offer and whether it can be considered a high-budget phone option for users.
Unboxing the Infinix Hot 8 Lite
Opening the box of the Infinix Hot 8 Lite reveals a standard yet well-organized package with everything you need to get started:
- Infinix Hot 8 Lite smartphone
- Charger adapter (5V/2A)
- Micro-USB cable
- SIM ejector tool
- Protective case
- Screen protector (pre-installed)
- User manual
The phone comes well-protected with a screen protector already installed, which is a great bonus, and the inclusion of a clear silicone case adds protection from the start. While it may not have all the bells and whistles found in premium phones, it offers a solid unboxing experience.
Design and Build Quality
The Infinix Hot 8 Lite features a sleek, modern design that’s often found in more expensive phones. Here’s what to expect:
- Front: It sports a 6.6-inch display with a waterdrop notch that houses the front-facing camera, providing a high screen-to-body ratio for a more immersive viewing experience. The display is decent for its price range, offering bright, sharp visuals.
- Back: The back of the phone features a plastic finish that mimics the look of glass. It has a dual-camera setup and a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, providing a modern and clean look, though it’s still made of plastic. It’s comfortable to hold, but the finish may attract fingerprints.
- Dimensions: The Infinix Hot 8 Lite measures 165.4 x 76.8 x 8.7 mm and weighs 179g, making it relatively light and slim for a budget device.
- Color options: The phone is available in colors like Shark Grey, Quetzal Cyan, and Cosmic Purple, giving users a range of vibrant options to choose from.
The build quality of the Hot 8 Lite is robust enough for everyday use, although the plastic design does feel a bit more fragile compared to metal or glass. Still, the sleek, modern design makes it look like a premium phone at a fraction of the price.
Display Quality
The Infinix Hot 8 Lite features a 6.6-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels (HD+). While it’s not Full HD, it still offers a decent display for its price range.
- Color Accuracy: The screen offers vibrant and bright colors, and for most content, the visuals are sharp enough. However, it’s worth noting that the screen might not have the same color accuracy or sharpness as higher-end displays.
- Brightness and Viewing Angles: The display is bright enough for indoor use, and while viewing angles are good, direct sunlight may cause some visibility issues.
- Aspect Ratio: With a 20:9 aspect ratio, the phone offers a slightly wider screen, ideal for video watching and browsing.
For users who primarily use their phones for streaming, browsing, and social media, the Hot 8 Lite’s display provides an adequate experience, though it may not blow you away with premium quality.
Performance
At the heart of the Infinix Hot 8 Lite is a MediaTek Helio A22 chipset, paired with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. It’s a budget processor, but it offers sufficient performance for everyday tasks.
- General Usage: For everyday tasks like texting, calling, browsing, and using social media, the Infinix Hot 8 Lite handles it all with ease. Switching between apps and general performance feels smooth enough for its price.
- Gaming: The performance of the Helio A22 chipset isn’t designed for heavy gaming, so you can expect light gaming experiences with titles like Subway Surfers, Candy Crush, and low-demand games. Games with higher graphic requirements like PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty Mobile will likely run on lower settings with occasional lag.
- Storage: With 32GB of internal storage, the phone offers ample space for apps, media, and other files. Additionally, you can expand the storage by up to 256GB using a microSD card, which is a big plus for users who need more space.
Overall, the Infinix Hot 8 Lite offers decent performance for basic smartphone needs. It’s not a powerhouse, but it gets the job done for everyday tasks.
Camera Quality
The camera system on the Infinix Hot 8 Lite is designed for casual photography and offers a dual-camera setup on the back, which is typical for budget smartphones.
Rear Cameras:
- 13 MP primary camera with f/1.8 aperture for better low-light performance.
- QVGA camera for depth-sensing and portrait shots (though the quality may not be exceptional).
The rear camera takes decent photos under good lighting conditions, with good detail and color reproduction. However, in low light, the photos can get grainy and lack sharpness, which is common for budget smartphones. The camera also supports HDR, AI scene detection, and bokeh mode, which helps improve shots in certain situations.
Front Camera:
The Infinix Hot 8 Lite has an 8 MP front-facing camera with AI beautification features for selfies. The camera performs decently for selfies, providing clear and vibrant images in good lighting, but it struggles in low light, producing a bit of noise.
For those looking for a budget-friendly phone with a good selfie camera, the Hot 8 Lite provides a satisfactory experience.
Battery Life
The Infinix Hot 8 Lite comes with a 5000mAh battery, which is a significant advantage in the budget category. With its large battery, the phone provides impressive endurance for extended usage.
- Battery Performance: With light to moderate use, you can expect the phone to last more than a full day on a single charge. For users who browse, stream videos, and engage in social media, the battery should comfortably last through the day.
- Charging: The phone supports 10W charging, which isn’t fast, but it’s standard for budget phones. It will take a couple of hours to fully charge the device.
The 5000mAh battery is a standout feature of the Infinix Hot 8 Lite, and its longevity ensures that users won’t be constantly hunting for a charger during the day.
Software and Features
The Infinix Hot 8 Lite runs on XOS 5.0, which is Infinix’s custom skin based on Android 9.0 Pie. XOS adds a layer of customization and additional features that are not typically found in stock Android devices.
- UI and Experience: XOS brings features like smart panel for quick access to apps, gesture controls, app twin for dual accounts, and battery optimization. However, the interface may feel a bit cluttered for some users, with pre-installed apps that can’t be uninstalled.
- Software Updates: While the phone runs on an older version of Android, XOS does offer some customization and features that enhance the overall user experience.
Final Thoughts: Is the Infinix Hot 8 Lite Worth It?
The Infinix Hot 8 Lite is a solid choice for users on a tight budget who need a phone that performs well in day-to-day tasks. With its impressive 5000mAh battery, decent cameras, and large display, it offers a good all-around package for the price.
Pros:
- 5000mAh battery offers excellent battery life
- 6.6-inch display with good brightness and color reproduction
- Dual-camera setup provides decent photography capabilities
- Expandable storage with microSD support
- AI features in the camera for enhanced shots
Cons:
- Performance struggles with heavy gaming and multitasking
- Plastic build may not feel as premium
- Limited internal storage (32GB), though expandable
Final Verdict: The Infinix Hot 8 Lite is a great option for users who want a budget smartphone that covers all the essentials, from decent performance to good battery life and a solid camera system. It won’t outperform more premium devices, but it’s a high-value option for those seeking a capable device at an affordable price point.