Infinix – Tech Raman

Infinix Note 5 Review – Affordable powerhouse

Lakshmi Rajan — Sat, 25 Aug 2018 00:06:39 +0000

People have different requirements for a Smartphone – some needs a better gaming smartphone, for some camera would be a deal breaker and for many battery should be solid. If you are one of those who give prime importance to the battery, Infinix Note 5 should be something you should look at in the affordable price segment. It comes with a 4500mAh battery and also comes clean with Android One running. For more on this battery powerhouse continue with our Infinix Note 5 review.

Box contents of Infinix Note 5

Out of the box you get:

Note 5
Black soft case
18 watts charger
micro USB cable
Pin
Documents.

Design and build quality of Infinix Note 5

158.25 x 75.25 x 8.65
175 grams

Note 5 has a shiny back with a glass finish, although its plastic build. The sides sweep down and merge with the frame. It does gather fingerprint easily. The phone is available in three colors – black, grey and the blue I have here. It’s a decent look, nothing to gaga about though. The fingerprint sensor is slightly pitted in which makes it inconvenient initially until you get used to the placement. A single camera with quad flash sits at a corner and the back is complete with Infinix, Note, and Android One branding. The phone measures 175 grams and measures 8.65 mm in thickness. Considering it houses a massive 4500mAh battery inside, the extra heft is unavoidable. The right side has the power button, volume buttons and even the SIM tray unlike the common practice of having the SIM tray at the left side, it shouldn’t bother in anyways though. Note 5 accommodates triple sim slots – two for SIMs and one for microSD card for memory expansion. The phone supports 4G SIM on both the slots and also has dual VoLTE feature. At the bottom, you have the audio jack, mic, micro USB port and the speaker.

Display of Infinix Note 5

5.99″ LCD display
2160×1080 pixels
18:9 aspect ratio
2.5D glass
500 nits brightness

The Note 5 has a bright screen, the display is good at this segment, no complaints about it. There is no mention about Corning Gorilla glass so I assume it doesn’t sport it. The display setting has no blue light filter, quiet surprising as I thought it would default feature on Android One program. There is a LED notification light and adaptive brightness setting toggle.

Infinix Note 5 – Android One

Android One makes sure you get a very clean stock Android experience on this phone. There is no bloatware, no unnecessary pre-installed apps you need to worry. Being an Android One smartphone, the phone is committed to next two iterations of the Android versions – the Android Pie and the K. The updates should rollout seamlessly since there are not many extra tweakings on the phone. Feature-wise the phone has flip to mute, 3 finger screenshot and one hand mode. The fingerprint sensor the fastest I have come across but is reliable. There is no app lock. There is no face recognition.

Performance of Infinix Note 5

Under the hood and powering the device is Mediatek Helio P23, the chipset is into 12 months cycle since its launch and can best be an entry-level midrange chipset from Mediatek staples. It works for normal day to day tasks. It also has a fairly good energy optimization into it. The Note 5 works well for daily tasks like attending calls, checking on WhatsApp and social apps like facebook, twitter etc. It also is ideal for video binging and not worry about battery drain. Casual games play very well but struggle against graphics intensive games. I was able to play PUBG mobile but not without lags and frame drops, understandably it runs on low graphics settings by default. The call quality is good, the loudspeaker is fairly loud. Being an Android One device, the phone is quite brisk compared to other phones running on the same chipset.

Battery life of Infinix Note 5

A massive 4500mAh battery must be reassuring for those who need a good battery backup in their phones. With Note 5, you can easily sail past 2 days and stretch it more depends on your usage. The phone comes with an 18 watts charger and the big battery manages to go from 0% to 100% under 150 minutes. Definitely, the battery is the strongest point of the Note 5.

Camera performance of Infinix Note 5

12MP rear camera
16MP selfie camera

Now to the camera part of the review. There is portrait mode, beauty mode, panorama, manual mode and the selfie camera also gets a bokeh mode. The Google Lens in baked into the camera app. There is LED flash for the selfie camera also. Note 5 supports video up to 1080p, there is no EIS. Coming to the image quality, it’s definitely an above average shooter, of course, there is some better camera Smartphone in this price segment. The images come pretty good, the background blur is acceptable too. The pictures have fairly good detailing, the color reproduction is good too. The edge detection though is poor. The selfies are much better. [gallery columns="4" link="file" ids="14034,14035,14036,14037,14038,14039,14041,14042,14043,14044,14045,14040"]

Verdict:

Infinix Note 5 is a decent phone but what works majorly for the phone is its massive battery life. If you prioritize battery as a primary need in a Smartphone, the Infinix Note 5 would make you happy.]]>

Infinix Hot S3 Review – A budget all-rounder

Lakshmi Rajan — Sat, 31 Mar 2018 23:27:43 +0000

At a price starting at Rs 8,999, the Infinix Hot S3 stirs up the sub-10K segment and provides a good challenge to the unrivaled reign of Redmi Smartphones. Infinix is an online exclusive brand of Transsion Holdings which also own the other brands iTel, Tecno and Spice. The Hot S3 comes in two variants 3GB RAM with 32GB storage at Rs 8,999 and the 4GB RAM variant with 64GB storage at Rs 10,999 in India. Let’s uncover in this Infinix Hot S3 Review if the phone is impressive enough.

Infinix Hot S3 box contents:

https://youtu.be/ae3XGrTeTnk

Hot S3 Smartphone
Soft back case cover
Power adapter 5V 2A
microUSB cable
Screen guard
Pin
Documents

Infinix Hot S3 Design:

The Hot S3 is available in two colors – gold and black and what I got for review is the black model. Though made of plastic, the phone doesn’t look cheap and sports good looks. The matte finish at the rear gives it an impressive finish but is also prone to fingerprint smudges but I can live with it compared to the glossy finishes. The Hot S3 weighs 150 grams and measures 8.4mm in thickness. The back panel has a 13MP rear camera and LED light enclosed in a capsule shell, fingerprint sensor and Infinix branding. The corners are smooth and the rear side edges curved. It’s got ergonomic design offering a good grip over while holding it. The bottom has the mic, microUSB port and the speaker grille. The top houses the audio port. The right side has the power button and the volume rocker. The left side has the SIM tray, it supports dual SIM and there is a dedicated microSD card slot.

Infinix Hot S3 Display

In tune with the hot trend of the season and which is becoming a norm the Hot S3 has a 5.65-inch display with a 18:9 aspect ratio offering a HD 720*1440 resolution. The display is vivid with good saturation levels. If you were comfortable with the compact size of 5-inch display till now, then you should not have any trouble adjusting to the tall 5.65″ screen size. The display settings has the night mode a.k.a blue filter toggle, adaptive brightness, ambient display etc. There is also notification lights in this phone. The display has on-screen navigation buttons. The top of the screen houses the 20MP selfie camera, LED light, sensor and ear piece receiver.

Infinix Hot S3 Software | Features

It’s reassuring to know that out of the box the Hot S3 comes with Android Oreo with their own custom HiOS layered on top of it. So what features the HiOS brings to the device? Let’s find out.

Smart Features of Hot S3:

Double tap to wake
Gesture actions to quickly open an app from the lockscreen
one hand mode which allows the screen to be minimised to 4.7 inch or 4 inch.
three fingerscreen shot with support for long screenshot.
Turn the phone to silence.

There is no app drawer but otherwise the UI is more like stock Android. There is cast option. The phone also supports OTG. The Hot S3 also comes with its own share of bloatware apps preinstalled.There is Inifinix’s own set of apps called XClub, XShare and XTheme. XClub is a forum for Infinix; Xshare is a file sharing app; and XTheme is a theme repository. Plus, there is an additional browser, Phoenix browser, Magic Movie, a social networking app for sharing videos made by Transsion Mobile and a Cleaner app that as the name suggests kills apps in the background to free up RAM; and a Freezer app which hibernates apps that you drag into it.

Infinix Hot S3 Fingerprint Sensor Review

Infinix has added few tricks to the fingerprint unlock. Apart from unlocking the phone with the finger, you can also associate an app with a finger to be launched immediately upon unlocking the phone. You can also touch the sensor area to take photo while on camera app, accept incoming call, browse pictures, record an call or dismiss an alarm. Strangely, there is no app lock feature. https://youtu.be/H5FmgrJN254

Infinix Hot S3 Performance

Powering the Infinix is the entry level Snapdragon 430, an octa-core processor clocked at 1.4GHz , with a 3GB/4GB RAM, Adreno 505 Adreno 505,and 32GB/64GB storage. I didnt had any issue using the phone for basic tasks, there was no observable lag in the time I spend with it. Games are playable though there are frame drops considering the entry-level processor, still most games are playable. Heavy games take a bit of time to load. Also you would find the phone heating up a bit on heavy graphic intensive games. Call quality is good, the speaker is manageable too.

Infinix Hot S3 battery life

The Hot S3 has a 4000mAh non-removable battery didn’t disappoint me in the actual use either. The phone can last anywhere between one day and half a day more depending on your use.

Infinix Hot S3 Camera

The camera setup includes a 20-megapixel fixed focus front camera and a 13-megapixel rear camera. Let’s begin with the camera app. Apart from the usual video, auto and beauty mode there is a separate modes section, tapping it shows panorama, night, time lapse and professional mode. The professional mode lets you fiddle around with the ISO, white balance, exposure, shutter speed, and focus. There are quick toggles for HDR and the flash and the selfie camera also has a flash light. The photos taken with Hot S3 contrary to my expectations were surprisingly good enough. The photos not only look good on the vivid display but even when you transfer it to your computer, look good. The details are well captured. The colors pop out a bit more, with the contrast and saturation slightly boosted, nevertheless they look good visually. The images are sharp too. Macros come well also. At times under bright sunlight, there tends to be a bit of over exposure, if you know how to use the pro mode, you could get it right the way you want. Here is an example of the HDR image (right) The selfies come pretty good too. Though a bit more sharper with contrast notched up a bit. There is a bokeh effect too for the selfies, though at times you could see the edges getting blurred but still it is a good addition and something you can experiment with while taking selfies. Overall, the Hot S3 has one of the better camera optics in this price segment.

Infinix Hot S3 Verdict

What works for the Infinix Hot S3 is the impressive display and a pleasing camera performance for this price segment along with a decent battery life. The hardware might not be the powerful workhorse but it can get things done. At Rs 8,999 Infinix Hot S3 should be one of the phone you could consider if you are looking for a mobile at this price point.]]>

Infinix Note 4 and Zero 5 gets price cut on Women's Day – Details

Lakshmi Rajan — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 14:09:29 +0000

Infinix, the online smartphone brand from Transsion India whose other brands include Tecno and iTel have come up with special discounts and additional benefits on their Smartphone to celebrate the women’s day. So if you are planning to surprise the special woman in your life, you could check the offer details. The two phones that goes on sale on with special offers are Infinix Note 4 and Zero 5 and are available on Flipkart. Infinix Note 4 features a 5.7-inch 500 nits Full HD IPS display with 2.5D curved glass, 4300 mAh battery, Octa-core processor with 3GB RAM and 32 GB of internal storage. On the camera front the phone is equipped with a with a 13MP rear and 8MP selfie camera and is available in 3 exciting colors of Ice Blue, Champagne Gold and Milan Black. Infinix Zero 5, features 5.98-inch full HD LTPS JDI display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 on top. It runs the company’s latest XOS 3.0 operating system (OS) based on Android Nougat. A 2.6GHz octa-core Helio P25 processor powers ‘Zero 5’ along with 6GB RAM and 63GB storage. The device is powered by a 4350mAh battery that comes with fast-charging technology. The phone comes with a primary camera with 12MP wide-angle lens and 13MP telephoto lens. There is a 16MP selfie shooter with f/2.0 aperture and flash.

The offers:

The Infinix Note 4 gets a special discount of Rs 1000 on its price of Rs 8,999 and can be picked for Rs 7,999. The Infinix Zero 5, gets a Rs 2000 discount and is now available at Rs 15,999. There is additional benefits of 10% discount on both these phones if you use HDFC debit or credit cards.

Smartphone	Special Discount	Festive Price	Additional Benefit
Infinix Note 4 priced at INR 8,999	Special offer discount of Rs. 1000 off	Infinix Note 4 available at just Rs. 7999	10% instant discount on using HDFC debit or credit cards* T&C Apply
Infinix Zero 5 priced at INR 17,999	Special offer discount of Rs. 2000 off	Infinix Zero5 available at just Rs. 15999

Android Oreo update for Infinix Note 4

Infinix also announced the Infinix Note 4 would be getting the Android Oreo OTA update. The update would roll out beginning March 10, 2018 for its existing and new users. Product Specifications:

Description	Infnix Note 4	Infinix Zero 5
Display	5.7’	5.98”
Screen Resolution	FHD IPS, Sharp Display	FHD IPS LTPS
RAM	3 GB	6GB
ROM	32 GB	64GB
Exp Memory	128 GB	128GB
Multi SIM	2 SIM + 1 Memory Card	2 SIM + 1 Memory Card
Processor	Octa Core	2.6 GHz Octa-Core
Rear Camera	13 MP	12MP Wide-Angle + 13MP Telephoto
Front Camera	8MP+Flash	16MP+Flash
Battery	4300 mAh Xchange(18 W)	4350mAh, Type C, 18W
Fingerprint	Yes	Yes

What you think of Infinix? Do share your thoughts on the brand and their Smartphones.]]>

Infinix Hot S3 FAQ : Everything You Need To Know | Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Lakshmi Rajan — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 07:00:46 +0000

Infinix Hot S3 is an affordable Smartphone with a full vision display and 18:3 aspect ration. In India, the price starts at Rs 8,999. In case you plan to buy this Smartphone, here is the Infinix Hot S3 FAQ to clear the doubts about the device you might have. Also watch: INFINIX HOT S3 UNBOXING | HANDS ON WITH CAMERA SAMPLES https://youtu.be/ae3XGrTeTnk

Question: What are the different colors Infinix Hot S3 is available?

Answer: In India currently it is available in Sandstone black & Brush Gold, though there are other colors but not currently available here.

Question: What is the display size and resolution?

Answer: Infinix Hot S3 has a 5.65-inch fullview IPS display with a HD+ resolution of 1440×720 pixels and 18:9 aspect ratio.

Question: What display settings available?

Answer: The display setting has night mode (blue filter) setting, adaptive brightness, pulse notification light setting, ambient display toggle and font size.

Question: Does Infinix Hot S3 support double tap to wake?

Answer: Yes, there is double tap to wake or lock the screen option.

Question: Does Infinix Hot S3 has Blue light filter settings ?

Answer: Yes, there is a night mode which is the blue light filter setting.

Question: What is the price of Infinix Hot S3? Where can I buy?

Answer: Infinix Hot S3 is priced at Rs 8.999 for 3GB /32GB variant and Rs 10,999 for 4GB/64GB variant in India and and will be available on Flipkart.

Question: What size SIM cards Infinix Hot S3 accepts? Can I add a microSD card?

Answer: Hot S3 has a dedicated microSD card slot, so you can add two microSIM and one microSD card for memory expansion.

Question: Does it have Corning Gorilla Glass protection?

Answer: No it does not have a protective layer.

Question: What is the processor used in this smartphone?

Answer: Infinix Hot S3 is powered by a Snapdragon 430 chipset with a 3GB and 4GB RAM option.

Question: What is the internal storage of Infinix Hot S3?

Answer: Infinix Hot S3 comes with a 32GB and 64GB internal storage option. It has a dedicated memory card for storage expansion up to 128GB.

Question: Does Infinix Hot S3 has Gyroscope sensor?

Answer: Yes, it does not have Gyroscope sensor.

Question: Does it support VR?

Answer: Yes, Infinix Hot S3 does support virtual reality (VR) apps.

Question: Is the buttons back lit?

Answer: Infinix Hot S3 has on-screen navigation buttons with an option to hide it when not required.

Question: What USB type does it use?

Answer: It uses microUSB port

Question: Does it have notification light?

Answer: Yes, Infinix Hot S3 has pulse notification light.

Question: What are the camera specifications of Infinix Hot S3 ?

Answer: Infinix Hot S3 a 20-megapixel front camera with 4-in-1 low light selfie camera mode, dual soft LED flash and a 13MP rear camera with PDAF and F/2.0 aperture.

Question: Does the camera has OIS?

Answer: No.

Question: Can we take 4K videos in Infinix Hot S3?

Answer: No, you can take maximum upto 1080p videos.

Question: What are the connectivity options? Does it support VoLTE?

Answer: Yes, Infinix Hot S3 supports VoLTE. Other options include Bluetooth, A-GPS, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/

Question: Does Infinix Hot S3 have FM app?

Answer: Yes

Question: How to take screnshots in Hot S3?

Answer: Infinix Hot S3 has a tri finger screen shot feature apart from the basic power button and volume down together option.

Question: Can we take long screenshot in Hot S3?

Answer: Yes, we can take long screenshot.

Question: Does Infinix Hot S3 support USB OTG?

Answer: Yes, it supports OTG and you can connect the USB drive to it.

Question: What is the battery capacity of Infinix Hot S3?

Answer: Infinix Hot S3 has a 4000mAh battery

Question: Does Infinix Hot S3 support fast charging?

Answer: No, it does not support fast charging. It comes with 5V 2A power adapter.

Question: Does it have power saver modes?

Answer: Yes it has a battery saver mode.

Question: Does Infinix Hot S3 have IR blaster?

Answer: No Hot S3 does not have a IR blaster.

Question: Is Infinix Hot S3 Waterproof?

Answer: No, Hot S3 is not waterproof.

Question: How is the call quality?

Answer: Call quality of Infinix Hot S3 is good.

Question: Does Infinix Hot S3 support one hand UI?

Answer: Yes

Question: Does Infinix Hot S3 has fingerprint scanner?

Answer: Yes, it does have a fingerprint sensor

Question: Does Infinix Hot S3 support App lock?

Answer: No, Hot S3 does not support app lock. You can assign a fingerprint sensor to launch a particular app. The sensor area can also be use to take photo, accept call, browse pictures, record call and dismiss alarm by touching the sensor area.

Question: What OS does Infinix Hot S3 run?

Answer: Infinix Hot S3 runs on Android Oreo with their custom XOS layered on top of it.

Question: Does Infinix Hot S3 support two Whatsapp in the same phone?

Answer: No, it does not support dual apps (App twin) feature.

Question: Does Infinix Hot S3 support call recording?

Answer: Yes, there is a auto record setting which can be turned on during call by touching the finger print sensor area.

Question: Does Infinix Hot S3 have video call feature in dialer?

Answer: No, there is no video call feature in the Hot S3 dialer. Question: Does Infinix Hot S3 support NFC? Answer: No, NFC is not supported.

Question: Does Infinix Hot S3 has split screen feature?

Answer: Yes it supports multi windows.

Question: Does Infinix Hot S3 have Dolby Atmos support?

Answer: No, Hot S3 does not have Dolby Atmos but the audio quality is pretty good.

Question: Does Infinix Hot S3 have heating issue?

Answer: No, heating is within the limits. https://youtu.be/cOkFO-h8NkY]]>