Infinix is a popular smartphone brand known for offering high-performance devices at affordable prices. As mobile gaming has exploded in popularity in recent years, many gamers are seeking powerful phones that don’t break the bank. The Infinix Hot 40, released in December 2023, aims to bring flagship-level gaming capabilities to more budget-conscious users.
With its MediaTek Helio G88 processor and XOS optimization tools, Infinix promises smoother and more immersive gameplay experiences even at this low price point. Hitting shelves in early 2024, the Infinix Hot 40 looks to satisfy mobile gamers seeking a fluid and responsive device without the premium price tag. In this review, we will examine all aspects of the Hot 40 experience – from its design and build to performance, cameras, battery life and value.
Table of Contents
Infinix HOT 40 Specifications
| OS: | Android 13, XOS 13.5 |
|---|---|
| Processor: | Mediatek Helio G88 |
| Display: | 6.78″ IPS LCD 90Hz ,1080p |
| Wireless Connections: | 4G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, GPS |
| Memory: | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Connectors: | USB Type-C 2.0 , OTG |
| Cameras: | Rear Camera: 50 MP, f/1.6, (wide), AF 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro) 0.08 MP, (auxiliary lens) Quad-LED flash, HDR, panorama 1440p@30fps, 1080p@30fps Front Camera: 32 MP, f/2.2, (wide) Dual-LED flash 1080p@30fps |
| SIM Card Slots: | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Battery: | 5000 mAh, non-removable 33W wired, 20-75% in 35 min (advertised) Reverse wired |
| Price: | Php 6,099.00 |
The Gaming-Focused Unboxing
The Infinix Hot 40 Free Fire Edition arrives in eye-catching packaging sporting cover art from the beloved battle royale title, Free Fire. Upon opening the vivid sleeve, buyers are greeted with bonuses woven directly into the device. A pre-loaded Free Fire theme overlays custom wallpapers and icons onto the Android interface.
Inside, the main attraction – the phone itself – sits alongside the essential starting essentials. A basic SIM ejection tool allows easy set-up, while documentation offers support. Ensuring continuous gameplay are a speedy 33W charger and USB-C cable. A sleek silicone case engraved with Free Fire’s famous battle cry “Booyah Now” lays waiting to shield the phone. Its included protection complements the user-friendly extras. With everything neatly stored, all that’s left is a standard warranty card. Infinix outfits their special edition with touches that fully immerse owners in the Free Fire universe. The considered additions maintain usability while fueling players’ passion for the game. This unboxing emphasizes functionality and fandom in equal measure.
The Inspired Design
At first glance, the polycarbonate body looks like fancy metal with its sparkly crystalline finish that changes in the light.
Its “starry texture” is absolutely mesmerizing to stare at. The whole back panel has this cool etched pattern mixed with tiny glittering specs. No matter the angle, it always catches your eye.
Plus they offer it in four fantastic color options – Palm Blue, Horizon Gold, Starlit Black, and Starfall Green. I went with the Palm Blue which is a lovely sky blue tone. Really pops without being too bright.
Comfort-wise, the matte texture feels great in the hand without collecting fingerprints or smudges like a glossy phone might. Around the sides you’ll find the volume buttons and embedded fingerprint sensor – all nicely placed within easy reach.
The dual front-firing speakers, 3.5mm headphone jack and triple rear camera array are laid out cleanly too. Even the SIM/MicroSD tray slides in and out smoothly.
The Immersive Sound and Display
The stereo speakers on the Infinix Hot 40 really pack a punch. When cranked all the way up, they get impressively loud without distortion. I was able to clearly hear dialog and effects while streaming shows in a noisy coffee shop.
The sound is also nicely balanced, with highs and lows coming through cleanly. Gunshots and explosions in action movies sounded powerful without being harsh or tinny. Music genres from pop to classical also exhibited good frequency separation.
I’m a huge fan that the 3.5mm jack was included too. It meant I could easily switch between my wired headphones and wireless earbuds as desired. Audio quality was on point no matter what I used.
As for the screen, the 6.78″ IPS LCD is simply gorgeous. At full HD+ resolution, everything looked ultra-sharp from apps to YouTube videos. And with a peak brightness of 500 nits, it remained totally readable even in direct sunlight.
The 90Hz refresh made navigation buttery smooth. Quickly flicking between home screens or pan/zoom in maps felt incredibly fluid. Games were also optimized well, with no stutters or dropped frames noticed.
Color reproduction is pinned-down too – reds and greens especially popped without being over-saturated. The punch hole cut-out blended in nicely as well.
So, whether listening to music, commuting or watching movies before bed, this display and audio combo impressed me at every turn.
The Fluid Performance
The Infinix Hot 40 held up surprisingly well during gameplay. When testing out my favorite titles like SpongeBob Krusty Cook-Off and Mobile Legends, everything ran smoothly with no lag or stuttering observed.
Load times into matches were impressively fast. In-game movements felt instantaneous and responsive. Visuals like character models and special effects looked sharp even on higher graphics settings. XBoost’s gaming optimizations helped significantly as well. Features like touch response tuning made for precise inputs. Overlays like the tactical panel were handy too. Juggling other tasks while gaming was no problem either. Performance didn’t seem to decrease even when switching between apps.
For the price, this phone provides very capable mobile gaming performance. Casual players will enjoy extended sessions without any slowdowns or compromise. Overall responsiveness is excellent for the games tested.
The Capable Camera
The quad camera system on the Infinix Hot 40 is certainly capable. At the forefront is a large 50MP main sensor for capturing good amounts of detail. I found the standard photo setting to produce clear shots with accurate colors in various lighting conditions. Portrait mode effectively blurred the background as expected.
Beauty mode did seem a bit more pixelated as you noted. The skin smoothing isn’t fully optimized at this resolution it seems.
But where this phone really shone was with its Super Night mode. In low-light situations, it pulled in significantly more light than standard photos. Pictures had noticeably richer contrast and preserved more image details that would otherwise be lost.
Nighttime shots of landscapes or objects came out looking nearly as good as daytime. It made taking photos indoors or at night much more feasible.
Overall the camera array, while not the most advanced, is suitable for casual photographers. With strong low-light performance, the Infinix Hot 40 can capture memories respectably for its price point.
The Intense Battery Life
The Infinix Hot 40 packs a sizable 5000mAh battery – quite large for a phone of its size. In my testing, that capacity translated to long endurance.
Light to moderate usage saw me reaching bedtime with 30-40% still remaining consistently. Even frequent gaming and camera use only brought it down to the 20-30% range by late afternoon.
Utilizing its 33W fast charging, it only took around an hour and a half to go from empty to full. As advertised, in just 35 minutes I was able to boost from 20-75%, ideal for extended gaming sessions.
The large cell combined with potent charging specs makes power anxieties a rare thing. Casual users will easily get through full days, and gamers won’t be tethered long when refueling, as advertised by the 20-75% charge in 35 minutes.
The Verdict
The Infinix Hot 40 offers strong value for the price, delivering capable performance across the board. Its MediaTek chipset and 8GB RAM ensure smooth operation for everyday tasks and truly excels in mobile gaming:
Games like Mobile Legends and SpongeBob Krusty Cook-Off ran fantastically, with nary a hint of lag even at higher graphics quality. Thanks to the swift 90Hz display and powerful internals, gameplay was a consistently smooth and seamless experience. The XBoost gaming optimizations further enhanced touch response and overall play.
The triple camera system is also capable, particularly in low light thanks to Night mode. While not the most advanced, photos come out well-exposed and detailed for social sharing.
Battery life is a clear strength too, with the 5000mAh capacity providing all-day endurance. Fast charging tops up the phone rapidly to continue power-hungry activities.
Considering the affordable price of around Php 6,099, the Hot 40 hits many of the basics that users demand. It is now available on Lazada, Shopee, and Tiktok Shop.
