Infinix Hot 12 Play (X6816) Price, Review And Specifications.

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Infinix Hot 12 Play (x6816) Quick Specs:

6.82" HD+ (1640×720) IPS-LCD Infinity-O Display.

262ppi, 20.5:9 Aspect Ratio.

MediaTek Helio G35 Chipset.

Android 11, XOS 10.0.

Dual-lens (13MP+QVGA) Back Camera.

Single-lens (8MP) Front Camera.

4GB/6GB of RAM (plus up to 3GB extra).

64GB/128GBGB Internal Storage.

Face Unlock.

Fingerprint reader (Rear-Mounted).

USB Type-C Port:

4G (LTE) Network.

6000mAh Battery (No Fast Charging).

Price:

4GB/64GB: 87,000 naira, KSh 15,948, GHc 1,929.

4GB/128GB: 115,000 naira, KSh 18,900, GHc 2,212.



Infinix Hot 12 Play (X6816) is one of the recently unveiled Infinix Hot 12 Series. Others in the latest Series are Infinix Hot 12 Pro, Infinix Hot 12i (x665b), and the standard variant Infinix Hot 12 (x6817). 

As expected, Infinix Hot 12 Pro is the most equipped variant in the series. While the Hot 12i is the least equipped one. Infinix Hot 12i is also the only one that sports a different looks and slightly smaller display.

On the other hand, Infinix Hot 12 Play, which is our focus in this review, can be regarded as the stripped-down variant of the standard Infinix Hot 12. And it attract a little lower price than the Hot 12.

Though, Infinix Hot 12 Play comes in size and shape of the Infinix Hot 12, and it also features the same 6.82-inch Infinity-O display. However, the phone is less prettier than the Hot 12. Mainly because it doesn't have flat edges and flat back cover like the standard phone. 

Infinix Hot 12 Play is also fitted with a less powerful CPU, and it runs on the previous version of Android OS. Features like high screen refresh rate and fast charging, that come with the Hot 12, are also missing on the Hot 12 Play.

Nonetheless, almost all other features of the Hot 12 Play are still like those of the Hot 12. Even, Hot 12 Play is equipped with a much stronger battery than the Hot 12.

Meanwhile, except for the presence of a hole-punch camera, prettier rear camera bump, and USB Type-C port, Infinix Hot 12 Play is still the same phone as the last year's Infinix Hot 11 Play (x688b), both in looks and specs.

Talking about its display for example. Though the screen of the Hot 12 Play comes with a camera cut-out, and it also has a slightly better picture quality, yet the 6.82-inch screen of this phone still features the same 720p resolution, and the same aspect ratio, as the 6.82-inch drop-notched screen of the Hot 11 Play.

The phone also comes with the same 8-megapixel front-facing camera and the same 13-megapixel dual rear camera.

Under the hood also, things remain the same. Because while its more equipped siblings (Hot 12 and Hot 12 Pro) are pre-loaded with Android 12 OS, Infinix Hot 12 Play retain the Android 11 OS of the earlier Hot 11 Play. And it's also powered by the same Helio G35 CPU.

Though, basically, Infinix Hot 12 also comes with 4GB of RAM like the Hot 11 Play, but the latest phone is still available in higher RAM option of 6GB. Apart from that, Infinix Hot 12 Play also comes with MemFusion; the recent RAM expansion feature; which enables you to increase, for example, the 4GB RAM of the phone up to 7GB.

Still the internal storage configuration of the phone remain as that of the Hot 11 Play. Because the base 4GB RAM variant of the phone is also paired with either 64GB or 128GB interna storage.

Apart from the few ones that i mentioned, another thing that distinguished Infinix Hot 12 Play from the Hot 11 Play is the USB Type-C port. However, the latest phone retain the 6000mAh battery of the earlier phone, and it also doesn't support fast charging.

Infinix Hot 12 Play also maintain the rear-mounted fingerprint reader, single speaker and all other visible attributes of its predecessor.

Price And Colour Design:

Infinix Hot 12 Play is available in various colour options of Racing Black, Horizon Blue, Daylight Green, and Champagne Gold.

However, it's only the 4GB RAM option that's available in this region. 

Currently, the price of the 4GB/64GB model of the Hot 12 Play is around 87,000 naira, while the 4GB/128GB model of the phone attracts a more higher price of about 115,000 naira.

Same Design But Infinity-O Display:

Design-wise, the only thing that Infinix Hot 12 Play shares with its sibling i.e., Infinix Hot 12, is the Infinity-O display and USB Type-C port, every other visible attributes of the phone are exactly like those of the previous Infinix Hot 11 (x689f) and Hot 11 Play.

In short, If not for its Infinity-O display, prettier rear camera module, and USB Type-C port, Infinix Hot 12 Play would have looked exactly like the Infinix Hot 11 and Hot 11 Play.

Because the phone maintain the design, form factor (shape and size) and aspect ratio of the earlier phones. Even, the arrangements (and positioning) of ports and buttons on this phone are also similar to those of the two earlier phones.

Therefore, you still have the power button and volume keys on the right edge of the phone, while the dual Nano SIM+SD card slot and tray of the phone are also located on its left edge.

The rest of the ports on this phone, for instance, 3.5mm audio jack, microphone, and speaker, are also concentrated on the bottom edge. But as i said, the microUSB port that came with the earlier phone has been replaced with the USB Type-C port.

Still, like that of the earlier model, there is nothing on the top edge of the Infinix Hot 12 Play.

Same Camera Set-up As The Earlier Model:

Although the camera set-up on the Hot 12 Play remain as that of the Hot 11 Play, because the phone also features the same 8-megapixel front-facing camera and the same 13-megapixel dual rear camera, the second back camera on the latest phone also has a QVGA sensor (which assists the main camera in taking clearer picture in low-light environments).

Perhaps, due to its recent software or updates, the shots from both the front and rear cameras of the Hot 12 Play look more better than the ones from the Hot 11 Play cameras.

Still, like the earlier model, the video recordings, for the front and rear cameras, of this phone are also capped at 1080p at 30fps (frame per second).

Same 6.82-Inch Display, But A More Attractive Infinity-O Screen:

Also, despite having the same 720p resolution of 1640x720 or the same pixel density (sharpness) of 262ppi, the 6.82-inch Infinity-O display of the Hot 12 Play has better contrast, and colours also look slightly more richer, when you compare it to the 6.82-inch drop-notch display of the Hot 11 Play.

In fact, The picture quality (not sharpness) of the Hot 12 Play display is almost the same with that of the slightly more expensive Infinix Hot 12. And like that of the Hot 12, the brightness level of the Hot 12 Play display is not really on the high side. Therefore, under direct sunlight, Hot 12 Play display won't impress you. But in a normal lighting condition, the brightness level on this screen is good.

Same Android OS, Same CPU, And Same RAM, But Different Custom UI:

Though the processing power of the Hot 12 Play remain as that of the Hot 11 Play, because the phone also features the same MediaTek Helio G35 CPU, and has the same 4GB of RAM. Infinix Hot 12 Play is also running on the Android 11 OS like the Hot 11 Play.

However, Infinix Hot 12 Play comes with a few upgrades. For instance, while the earlier phone was running the Android 11 with Infinix XOS 7.6 custom UI, the latest phone is running the Android OS alongside the latest XOS version 10.0.

One of the distinct features of the new XOS version is its prettier Quick Menu panel. In other words, the Quick Menu panel of the Hot 12 Play is prettier and looks more stylish than that of the Hot 11 Play, despite the fact that both phones are running on the same Android 11 OS.

Also besides having an higher RAM (6GB) option, Infinix Hot 12 Play also features the recent RAM expansion feature called Memfusion.

MemFusion enables you to convert certain amount of your phone internal storage space to Virtual RAM. In other words, and in case of the 4GB RAM variant of the Hot 12 Play, MemFusion enables you to convert up to 3GB of free space (out of the phone's inbuilt storage) to RAM. Thereby, allowing you to increase the 4GB RAM of the phone up to 7GB.

And like those of its predecessor, both the 64GB and 128GB internal storage space of the Hot 12 Play can also be expanded, via microSD card, up to 256GB.

USB Type-C Port, Huge Battery, Still No Fast Charging:

Apart from having an impressive 6000mAh battery like its predecessor, Infinix Hot 12 even features a USB Type-C port; which is better than the microUSB port that came with the earlier phone. But like the earlier phone, Infinix Hot 12 doesn't support fast charging.

In other words, Infinix Hot 12 Play still retain the 10W charging of the Hot 11 Play. Therefore, and with the phone's out-of-the-box 10W charger, it'll take you over three and half hours, to fully charge this phone battery from zero percent.

Full Specifications Of Infinix Hot 12 Play (x6816):

GENERAL

Maker: Infinix Mobility.

Name: Hot 12 Play (x6816).

Year Announced: April, 2022.

Dimensions: 171x78x8.9mm.

Weight: 209g.   

Colour: Daylight Green, Horizon Blue, Racing Black & Champagne Gold.

DISPLAY
Screen Type: IPS-LCD Capacitive Touchscreen.

Size and Resolution: 6.82-inch, HD+, 1640x720 pixels.

Aspect ratio & Pixel Densities: 20.5:9, 262PPI.

Protection N/a.

PORTS:

3.5mm Audio Jack: Yes.

USB Type-C Port: Yes.

MicroUSB port: N/a.

Lightning Connector: No.

Google Assistant Button: No.

PERFORMANCE

Chipsept: MediaTek Helio G35 Octa-core Processor, 2.3GHz.

GPU: IMG PowerVR-GE8320.

RAM: 4GB/6GB (4GB can be increased, up to 7GB).

Operating System: Android 11, XOS 10.0.

STORAGE

Internal Storage: 64GB/128GB.

Micro-SD card slot: Yes, up to 256GB.

SIM AND NETWORK

SIM: Nano, Dual SIM slots.

Network:  GSM, WCDMA, HSPA+, LTE.

CAMERA

Rear camera: Dual-lens; 13MP+QVGA, Dual-Flash.

Front camera: Single-lens, 8MP, Dual Front Flash.

VIDEO RECORDING:

Rear Cameras: 720p, 1080p @ 30 fps.

Front Camera: 720p, 1080p @ 30 fps.

CONNECTIVITY:

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, HotSpots, USB-OTG.

BIOMETRIC, SENSORS & LOCATION: 

Security: Face Unlock, Rear-mounted Fingerprint Reader.

Sensors: Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor, G-sensor, Accelerometer And

Barometer sensor

Others: GPS, Location (Geo, Glonass), Radio.

BATTERY

Battery Capacity: 6000mAh.

Qi Wireless-Charging: N/a.

Fast Charging: No, 10W.

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