Infinix Hot 50 Review: A Budget Phone That Goes the Distance.

The Infinix Hot 50 is the latest addition to Infinix’s budget smartphone lineup, and at first glance, it brings impressive specs for its price. With a MediaTek Dimensity 6300 processor, up to 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of internal storage, this phone positions itself as a powerful option for everyday users looking for value without compromising on performance.

But does it live up to the expectations? Let’s take a deeper look into the design, display, camera quality, performance, battery life, and overall user experience to help you decide if this is the right device for you.

Design & Build Quality

The Infinix Hot 50 has a simple yet attractive design that doesn’t scream “budget.” The rear panel has a clean, glossy finish with a dual camera setup housed in a minimalistic camera island. It’s lightweight, easy to handle, and doesn’t feel bulky, which makes it ideal for one-handed use.

A standout feature is the side-mounted fingerprint sensor, which is integrated into the power button. It’s well-positioned and responsive, unlocking the phone quickly without fuss. At the bottom, you’ll find a USB Type-C charging port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a mono speaker grille.

Another welcome addition is the IP54 rating for dust and water resistance. While you shouldn’t take it swimming, the Hot 50 can handle minor splashes and light rain. The screen also supports wet touch functionality, which came in handy when using the device during a light drizzle — a thoughtful addition, especially in unpredictable weather conditions.

Display Quality

The phone features a 6.7-inch LCD display with a resolution of 720 x 1600 (HD+), a 120Hz refresh rate, and peak brightness of 500 nits. For a device in this price range, it’s a decent display setup, offering smooth scrolling and a vibrant viewing experience indoors.

The high refresh rate makes everyday navigation and social media browsing feel fluid, and it’s especially noticeable when switching between apps or scrolling through content-heavy pages. However, visibility outdoors under direct sunlight is a challenge. The screen struggles in bright environments, which might be inconvenient for those constantly on the move.

On the brighter side, the Hot 50 is Widevine L1 certified, allowing you to stream HD content on platforms like Netflix and Prime Video. This is a rarity in the budget segment and adds serious value for entertainment lovers.

Camera Performance

The camera setup includes a 48MP Sony IMX582 primary sensor, a 2MP depth sensor, and an 8MP front-facing camera for selfies. In good lighting, the main camera produces sharp, detailed images with vibrant colours. It tends to lean toward a more saturated look, which many users prefer for social media-ready photos.

That said, the camera does occasionally overexpose brighter areas, which affects white balance and can wash out certain scenes. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s something to be aware of when taking photos in very bright conditions.

Where the Hot 50 really surprised us was in its low-light performance. Night shots come out surprisingly clear for a budget phone, with decent color reproduction and minimal noise. The only drawback is the shutter speed — it can take about 4 seconds to capture a low-light image, so keeping your hands steady is key.

The selfie camera performs adequately with good skin tone representation in daylight. It won’t win awards for detail, but it’s more than enough for video calls, social media snaps, and quick selfies on the go.

Performance & Software Experience

Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 SoC, the Hot 50 handles day-to-day tasks smoothly. Paired with up to 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage (expandable up to 1TB via microSD), this phone easily manages multitasking, casual gaming, and content consumption.

During testing, the phone handled everything from Instagram scrolling and YouTube streaming to light gaming and switching between multiple apps with no noticeable lag. It holds up well even with demanding apps, though extended gaming sessions can cause some warmth near the back.

The software side of things is handled by XOS 14.5, based on Android 14. The interface feels lighter and cleaner than previous Infinix versions, with fewer pre-installed apps and less bloatware. It includes AI features like a wallpaper generator, which works well most of the time but doesn’t always deliver consistent results.

One concern, however, is software support. While Infinix promises two years of security updates, there’s no confirmation on major Android version upgrades, which may limit long-term usability for some users.

Battery Life & Charging

The Infinix Hot 50 is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery, which delivers excellent endurance. In daily usage, we clocked about 9 hours and 46 minutes of screen-on time using the 3C battery manager, which comfortably translates to a full day or more for typical users.

Charging speed is average. While the phone supports 18W fast charging, it ships with a 10W charger in the box. Charging from 20% to full took just over 2 hours in our test, which is on the slower side compared to some competitors.

This could have been a stronger point if Infinix had included the full 18W charger. Still, given the solid battery life, most users will only need to charge once a day.

Final Thoughts: Is the Infinix Hot 50 Worth It?

The Infinix Hot 50 checks many of the right boxes for a budget smartphone: a stylish design, dependable performance, solid battery life, and surprisingly good camera results  especially in low light. While there are areas for improvement, such as brighter outdoor display visibility and faster charging, these are minor trade-offs for the price.

Pros:

• Smooth performance with Dimensity 6300
• 120Hz refresh rate
• Great low-light photography for the price
• Excellent battery life
• Android 14 out of the box

Cons:

Screen could be brighter outdoors

• No guarantee of future Android upgrades
• Ships with only a 10W charger

Available now at Rifugio!

Explore the Infinix Hot 50 in-store or online via rifugionigeria.com and enjoy unbeatable prices, warranty protection, and top-tier customer service.

Because at Rifugio, we don’t just sell gadgets, we help you experience them better.

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