Infinix Hot 40i (X6528) Price, Review And Specifications.

Infinix Hot 40i (X6528) Quick Specs.

Display: 6.56" HD+ (1612×720) Infinity-O IPS-LCD 90Hz Display.

Software: Android 13 (Go Edition) OS.

CPU: Unisoc T606.

RAM: 4GB/8GB (Plus up to 8GB of Virtual RAM).

Storage: 128GB/256GB (Expandable to 1TB).

Rear Camera: Dual-lens (50MP+AI).

Front Camera: Single-lens (32MP).

Security: Face Unlock, Side-mounted fingerprint reader.

Port: USB Type-C.

Network: 4G.

Battery: 5,000mAh.

Fast Charging: 18W.

Starting Price:

₦170,000, GH₵ 1,315, KSh 12,799, UGX 447,000.

Infinix Hot 40i (X6528)is the most affordable model of the recently unveiled Infinix Hot 40 (X6836) series. There's also standard Infinix Hot 40 and the better equipped Infinix Hot 40 Pro.

Though all the three models wear identical sleek looks, but while the Hot 40 and Hot 40 Pro have rectangular shape camera bumps, Hot 40i has a square shaped rear camera bump. The affordable variant also comes in a slightly smaller size.

Also, while the other two feature 1080p displays, Hot 40i has a 720p display. And it's is also fitted with a less powerful CPU and has a single speaker. The base model also features a lower fast charging rate.

Nonetheless, the rest of the Hot 40i features are like those of its two siblings, especially the standard Infinix 40. For instance, Infinix Hot 40i has the same amount of RAM, storage capacity and camera set-up as the standard Hot 40. 

Meanwhile, Infinix Hot 40i maintain the size and sleek looks of the earlier Infinix Hot 30i. It also features the same 6.6-inch display. However, the camera bump on the latest phone looks more premium and its back cover is plain and has glossy finish. The tear-drop notch on the earlier phone's display has also been replaced with a camera cut-out. As a result of these cosmetics changes, Infinix Hot 40i looks classier and better than its predecessor.

Yet, in spite of its more premium looks, Infinix Hot 40i still packs most of the features of the earlier phone. In short, the only two things that distinguish Infinix Hot 40i from the Hot 30i are its upgraded cameras and recent software. In details, the respective 8-megapixel front-facing camera and 13-megapixel dual back camera on the earlier model have been upgraded to a 32-megapixel front camera and a 50-megapixel dual rear camera on the Hot 40i. Also while the earlier phone came with Android 12 OS, The latest phone comes with Android 13 OS.

Except for those two, other features of the Hot 40i are exactly as those of the Hot 30i. In other words, and besides having the same 6.6-inch 90hz 720p display, Infinix Hot 40i also maintain the earlier phone's Unisoc T606 CPU, 4GB of RAM, 128GB inbuilt storage, 5,000mAh battery and 18W fast charging. But the latest phone is available in higher RAM and higher storage configurations.

Other features of the earlier phone that are still present on the Hot 40i are side mounted fingerprint reader, USB Type-C port and OTG. Though some variants of the latest phones comes with NFC. The availability of this feature depends on your region.

Although Infinix Hot 40i might have looked better and offers higher megapixel camera than the Hot 30i, a few budget phones in this segment wear exact looks and they also have almost the same specs. For instance, the slightly cheaper Itel P55 features the same design and has almost the same features as the Hot 40i. In fact the only difference between the P55 and Hot 40i is that the former has lower megapixel front camera. Also, except for it's slightly better CPU and stereo speakers, the more expensive Tecno Spark 20 shares the rest of its features, including design, with Hot 40i.

Price And Design Colours:

Infinix Hot 40i is available in different colour options of Starlit Black, Palm Blue, Horizon Gold, and Starfall Green. And the phone current price is around 170,000 naira.

Improved Sleek Design:

Despite that Infinix Hot 40i is an entry-level budget phone, it comes in the body of a mid-range or more expensive phone.

Basically, the phone design is common among most of the recent budget phones. In details, Infinix Hot 40i has flat edges, flat back cover and a premium looking square shaped camera bump.

However, unlike those of other phones, the flat frame of the Infinix Hot 40i has glossy finish. Which is the first thing that gives Hot 40i a more premium looks than the competitions. Because, at a glance, the glossy frame gives one an impression that the phone chassis is metallic. But as usual, the frame is plastic, and the glossy coating is prone to scratches.

Nonetheless, the glossy frame complement the phone's rear camera bump; which resembles that of an iPhone. The bump also looks prominent against the plain and semi-glossy finish back cover of the Hot 40i. The third (and the last) thing that complements the appealing looks of the 40i is the selfie camera cut-out. Which can also be transformed to Magic Ring. More on that later.

The rest of the Hot 40i visible attributes, especially the arrangements of ports and buttons, are exactly like those of other budget phones. On the right edge of the phone are volume keys and power button; which also doubles as a fingerprint reader. While the phone's 4G dual nano-SIM plus MicroSD card slot (and tray) is located on the left edge.

There's nothing on the top edge of the Infinix Hot 40i. Because the phone's 3.5mm audio jack, microphone, USB Type-C port and the single speaker, are placed on the bottom edge.

Upgraded Camera, So Clearer Shots:

Due to its higher megapixel sensors, both the selfies and shots from the Hot 40i rear camera are clearer and more detailed than the ones taken with the earlier Hot 30i.

Also when i compared the shots taken with the Hot 40i to those of the standard Hot 40 and Tecno Spark 20, the clarity and level of detail remain the same. Because the duo has the same camera set-up as the Hot 40i.

And generally speaking, photos taken with the rear camera of the Hot 40i look impressive, for a phone at this price point. Photos are bright, detailed and have good contrast. Dynamic range also look okay.

The only area where the photos slightly falls shot of the ones taken with standard Hot 40 and Spark 20 is in colour representation.

Despite that the shots from this phone have exact nice colour representation (vivid and pleasant) as the ones taken with the two more expensive phones, the shots have a tinge of warm tone. Though unless you have the privilege of comparing the shots to the ones taken with the Spark 20 and Hot 40, you'll hardly notice this.

The situation is the same with the selfies taken with the Hot 40i. Despite that the selfies also have the same colour representation and as clear and detailed as the ones taken with the two phones, skin tone are slightly affected by the same warm tinge. Though, and again, it's just a little bit.

Since Infinix Hot 40i has the camera set-up as the other two phones, i think the tiny difference in their camera output is as a result of the fact that the 40i is fitted with a slightly different (or a little less capable) CPU.

In defense of that, Infinix Hot 40i can only shoot videos up to 1080p at 30fps (frame per second), while the standard Hot 40 and Spark 20 can go up to 2K at 30fps.

Same Screen Attributes:

In spite of its hole-punch camera, Infinix Hot 40i has the same 6.6-inch size as its predecessor. The screen also features the same 720p (1612x720) resolution and support the same 90hz refresh rate (for smoother gaming, page scrolling and swiping).

The display also maintain the respectable level of clarity and nice colour reproduction of the earlier one. Even, unlike those of other budget phones like the Spark 20, the white balance of Hot 40i display has minimal bluish tinge.

However, apart from the fact the screen is a little less sharper than the 1080p ones on its sibling, it is also appear a little less vibrant than ones on them. In other words, the sharpness and peak brightness of the Hot 40i display fall slightly below those of the Hot 40 and Hot 40 Pro. Nonetheless, the screen is still noticeable clear and bright enough for most lighting conditions. Though the screen can be said to be manageable under direct sunlight.

And if you'd prefer another phone, at this price point, that features a slightly more vibrant display (and better colour reproduction), you might want to consider Samsung Galaxy A05. Also, the display of Itel P55 has nice colour reproduction too. And to an extent, the Itel screen is viewable under direct sunlight. But it's not as vibrant or as vivid as that of the A05.

By the way, unlike that of its predecessor, the screen of Hot 40i can be customized to look like those of the recent iPhones through what Infinix calls Magic Ring. By toggle On the Magic Ring in the phone's display settings, the circular front-facing camera spot will be transformed to a cylindrical or pill-shape cut-out; which looks like the Dynamic Island on the recent iPhones. Afterwards, some of your notifications will start to show inside the Magic Ring.

Performance, Software And Battery:

As i mentioned earlier, Infinix Hot 40i retain its predecessor's Unisoc T606 CPU, 4GB of RAM and 128GB inbuilt storage.

Yet, the latest phone is available in higher RAM and higher storage options of 8GB/128GB and 8GB/256GB. The phone is also running the latest XOS 13.0 custom UI on top of the Android 13 (Go Edition) OS.

The latest Infinix custom UI packs some new and improved features. And these features include Split Screen, Suggestions, Folax, and the Magic Ring (that i explained above).

Talking about its performance. Because the phone's T606 CPU is a 12nm Octa-Core processor, Hot 40i was able to multitasks quickly and handles day to day tasks, such internet browsing and video streaming, without issue. The phone also played many games without lagging.

But it doesn't have enough power to handle graphics demanding games. Because T606 is still an entry-level chipset. In other words, its performance is limited.

To put it into perspective. Unisoc T606 is the same processor that's inside the slightly cheaper Itel P55 and more cheaper Tecno Pop 8 and Infinix Smart 8. This is why Infinix Hot 40i is running on the Go Edition (light version) of the Android 13 OS like those phones. Nonetheless, Infinix Hot 40i can still play few of the demanding games, but you'll have to reduce graphics settings and frame rates to minimal. To ensure smoothness.

And if you'd preferred another budget phone that packs beefier CPU, i'd say you should go for the Galaxy A05. But, at this price point, it's the base variant of the Galaxy phone you'll settle for. Which is equipped with half of the internal storage space of the Infinix Hot 40i.

Meanwhile, as i stated earlier, and like its predecessor and virtually all other budget phones, Infinix Hot 40i has a 5,000mAh battery and support 18W Fast charging. The phone also comes with an 18W charger in the box. And with this charger, it'll take you about one hour fifty minutes to fully charge Infinix Hot 40i battery from zero percent.

Full Specifications Of the Infinix Hot 40i (X6528):

GENERAL

Maker: Infinix Mobility.

Name: Hot 40i (X6528).

Year Announced: December, 2024.

Dimensions: 163x75.6x8.3mm

Weight: 190g.   

Colour: Starlit Black, Palm Blue, Starfall Green & Horizon Gold.

DISPLAY
Screen Type: IPS-LCD Capacitive Touchscreen.

Size and Resolution: 6.56-inch, HD+, 1612-by-720 pixels, 90Hz (high) Refresh Rate.

Aspect ratio & Pixel Densities: 20.15:9, 269PPI.

Protection N/a.

PORTS:

3.5mm Audio Jack: Yes.

USB Type-C Port: Yes.

MicroUSB port: No.

Lightning Connector: No.

Google Assistant Button: No.

PERFORMANCE

Chipset: Unisoc T606, 12nm Octa-Core Processor, 1.6GHz.

GPU: Mali-G57 MC1.

RAM: 4GB/8GB (up to 8GB Extra through MemFusion).

Operating System: Android 13 (Go Edition) OS,  XOS 13.0 Skin.

STORAGE

Internal Storage: 128GB/256GB.

Micro-SD card slot: Yes, up to 1TB (One Terabyte).

SIM AND NETWORK

SIM: Nano, Dual SIM slots.

Network:  GSM, WCDMA, HSPA+, LTE.

CAMERA

Rear camera: Dual-lens; (50MP f/1.6+AI) With LED-Flash.

Front camera: Single-lens, 32MP (f/2.2) Single Front Flash.

VIDEO RECORDING:

Rear Cameras: 720p, 1080p @ 30 fps.

Front Camera: 720p, 1080p, @ 30 fps.

CONNECTIVITY:

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3, HotSpots, USB-OTG, NFC (depends on region)

BIOMETRIC, SENSORS & LOCATION: 

Security: Face Unlock, Side-mounted fingerprint reader.

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

Barometer sensor.

Others: Location (Geo), Radio.

BATTERY

Battery Capacity: 5,000mAh.

Qi Wireless-Charging: N/a.

Fast Charging: No (18W).