Infinix Smart 8HD: Affordable and Loaded with Features

When we talk about smartphones in the Rs 10,000 range, there isn’t much to get excited about, except for the value proposition. The phones tend to be on the weak end, getting almost no software support in the long run, and certainly not representing the best of technology.

However, to be a good smartphone under Rs 10,000, a phone doesn’t need to do any of these things; Instead, it should provide a balanced experience and then try to introduce additions. This is exactly what the Infinix Smart 8HD does.

It’s Infinix’s latest entry-level smartphone, and it’s priced quite aggressively compared to its immediate rivals, but is it enough to warrant a purchase? Read what’s good and what’s not.

Infinix Smart 8HD Review: What’s Good

With a launch price of Rs 5,669 or full price of Rs 6,299 that Infinix is asking for the Smart 8HD, it’s certainly a lot of phone for the price. And one category where it does well is performance. It has an octa-core Unisoc T606 chipset, 3 GB of RAM and 64 GB of UFS 2.2 storage. This makes day-to-day performance quite smooth, especially with the 90Hz refresh rate on offer.

The display is also decent. It comes with an IPS-grade HD+ panel that gets the job done. Yes, it’s not the brightest at 500 nits, but for the price, we’re not complaining. In addition, the bezels surrounding it are quite small compared to the immediate competitors in the price range. This is especially impressive considering the small hole in the front-facing 8-megapixel camera.

Talking about the front camera, the Infinix Smart 8HD is able to deliver what is probably one of its two party gimmicks – the Magic Ring.

Unlike the iPhone’s Dynamic Island, which it tries to emulate, the Magic Ring isn’t functional, but it adds to the fun every time you unlock the device or plug in the charger. This is just what is needed to spice up the experience of these budget devices. But it’s important to note that this doesn’t come at the expense of the basics.

Another neat trick that the phone has is both front and rear blinkers. The front is quite useful, but the quad LED flash on the back tends to wash out images; still, tough increase though.

The camera experience isn’t bad either. The primary 13-megapixel camera does a good job of capturing detailed images during the day and still holds up well after dark. It has a tendency to blow out the highlights, but overall it gives a good picture out of the box. But of course, you have to keep your expectations in check considering the price of the device, because the camera experience also has a big downside, and we’re talking about downsides.

Here are camera samples in different lighting scenarios:

As for biometrics, the fingerprint mounted on the side is quick to open and works accurately with minimal errors. There’s also a face unlock that lets you use the Magic Ring, but it’s not the most secure and doesn’t work in low light.

Infinix Smart 8HD Review: What’s Not So Good

My two big issues are with the camera – both design and usability. First, I understand that adding three large modules to the back makes it look like a Pro iPhone, but in doing so, it does two things wrong: it introduces a secondary “AI camera” and it looks wrong.

I would have preferred a single camera setup without the “AI camera” and quad LED flash. The cost savings could have translated into a better primary camera sensor. But I understand where Infinix is coming from and most buyers might appreciate the “dual camera” which looks like it has three cameras.

Another thing that could have been better is the battery life. Despite a large 5,000mAh battery and internals that don’t consume too much power, the Smart 8HD isn’t a two-day phone. You need to top it up by the end of the day if you use your device all day.

And yes, despite being loud in mono, the speakers can sound muffled at high volumes, and they’re really not that great. But don’t get me wrong, it still allows for a good media consumption experience as long as you keep the volume at around 80-85 percent.

Apart from these and perhaps Infinix’s software update policies, there is very little wrong with the Smart 8HD. The software works well, isn’t too in your face, and generally the phone does everything you want a sub-Rs 10,000 phone to do.

Infinix Smart 8HD Review: Should You Buy?

At Rs 6,299, there is very little we can complain about. The phone looks appealing to the mass market, has a screen large enough to consume content, is fast in everyday use and most importantly, balances party tricks.

Yes, the software situation is not expected to be great and it will only get one major software update, but despite this, in its current form, the Infinix Smart 8HD can be a good value for money.

And more importantly, it presents a package that is sure to appeal to the masses, even if it doesn’t cost a fortune.