On Dec. 8, Infinix unveiled the Infinix Smart 8 HD, an entry-level smartphone that packs a punch. It boasts a large display, a decent processor, and a long-lasting battery, making it a great option for anyone looking for a phone that won’t break the bank.
Infinix Smart 8 HD: Unboxing and First Impressions
The Infinix Smart 8 HD’s retail package includes the phone itself, a charging cable, a power adapter, a protective case, and a SIM card ejector tool.
The Timer Green variant that I received from the brand has a turquoise appeal that reflects a golden shade when viewed from different angles. The phone itself is lightweight and comfortable to hold. Its back panel has a matte timber-textured finish that helps to prevent fingerprints and smudges. The edges of the device are flat, and, on the front, it has an LCD panel with a punch-hole design.
The edges of the Smart 8 HD are flat and have a slightly dark appeal, including the volume rocker, but the power button has a brighter look. The top edge is barren, the left edge has a SIM slot, and the bottom has a 3.5mm audio jack, a microphone, a USB-C port, and a speaker grille. The device has a thickness of 8.5mm and weighs 184 grams.
Display
The Infinix Smart 8 HD’s display is one of its best features. The 6.6″ IPS LCD panel is bright, vibrant, and offers good viewing angles. The resolution of 720 x 1612 pixels is not the highest, but it is still sufficient for most tasks. The screen also supports up to a 90-Hz refresh rate, which is a valuable addition to the device.
There is a noticeable chin, which is expected as sub-Rs 10,000 are unlikely to have very slim bezels. One of the issues I frequently saw on some of the predecessor low-budget phones was that they showed a blue tint on the screen. The display is quite bright for indoor use; however, outside, it’s not the best, and you may need to find a shaded area or adjust the brightness settings for optimal visibility in outdoor conditions. L3 Widevine support on the Smart 8 HD means the smartphone can stream SD content, making it suitable for basic streaming needs.
Performance
The Smart 8 HD is powered by the Unisoc T606 processor, which is paired with 3 GB of RAM. In terms of performance, the phone appears smooth and offers ample 64 GB of UFS 2.2 storage. In addition, there is a microSD card slot for additional storage.
It runs on XOS 13-based Android 13 Go, which brings access to key features such as Memory Fusion (up to 3 GB of virtual RAM) and Magic Ring. As shown in one of the images below, the Magic Ring feature can show notifications for face unlock, background call, charging animation, charge complete reminder, and low battery reminder.
The Smart 8 HD has a 5,000mAh battery that promises a good battery life, and I was able to easily get around 1 to 1.5 days of use out of a single charge. The good thing is that it comes with a USB-C port for charging, not the obsolete microUSB port. The device supports 10W charging. The overall performance of the phone is quite high for an entry-level smartphone.
Camera and Other Features
The Infinix Smart 8 HD has a dual-camera system on the back, consisting of a 13-megapixel main camera, an AI lens, and a quad-LED flash. The camera system can take decent photos in well-lit conditions. The 8-megapixel front camera captures mediocre-quality shots. There is an LED flash available on the front that assists in brighter shots in low light.
The Smart 8 HD’s rear-facing single speaker with DTS Audio processing is best usable at 80 percent volume; at 100 percent, the distortion becomes a bit obvious. For security, the device is equipped with a side-facing fingerprint sensor, which is quite fast and responsive.
Overall Impression
The Infinix Smart 8 HD is a great budget-friendly smartphone that packs a lot of features into a sleek and stylish design. The phone has a large display, a decent processor, a long-lasting battery, and a good user experience thanks to features like Magic Ring. Another good thing about the Smart 8 HD is that despite being priced at around Rs 6,000, it manages to offer some important features like a USB-C and a fingerprint sensor. If you are looking for an entry-level smartphone that costs around Rs 6,000, the Smart 8 HD could be one of the better choices on the market.
Price and availabilty
The infinix Smart 8 HD is priced at Rs 6,299 (~$75) in India via Flipkart, and with the 10 percent Axis Bank card discount, it can be bought for Rs 5,699 (~68).
Disclaimer: All of the opinions in this Infinix Smart 8 HD hands-on post are mine and based on my own experiences. There has been no editorial input from Infinix.
