Infinix Smart 8 Review - Everything You Need to Know
This is the Infinix Smart 8, the successor to the Infinix Smart 7 released earlier this year. The Smart 8 has some new features and a fair price of 80,000 naira for the base model with 3GB RAM and 64GB storage space. The price goes up to 100K for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage model. Around that same price point, we have a couple of other devices that might be good options. This review will uncover everything you need about the Infinix Smart 8, starting with the box's content.
Our review of Infinix Smart 8
Positives
- Loud Speaker
- Good Build Quality
- Excellent Battery Life
Negatives
- Poor Camera
- Poor Software Optimization
Infinix Smart 8 Unboxing
The device is the first thing you'll see upon opening the box. The package includes a 10-watt charger, a USB C cable, an earpiece, a SIM ejector tool, and a plastic protective case. However, the arrangement of the contents in the box is not optimal. Despite being an entry-level phone, it should be better.
Infinix Smart 8 Design & Build Quality
The Infinix Smart 8 has a matte plastic finish at the back and shines when light hits it. I have the shiny gold colorway, and I prefer it over the Timber black and Crystal Green. It has a plastic frame, and on the right side, we have the side-mounted fingerprint scanner just below the volume keys. The Infinix Smart 7 has a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, and it’s nice to have a fast and responsive side-mounted fingerprint scanner. It has a flat back and rounded edges, making it comfortable to hold in hand. There are two cameras at the back and a quad flashlight beside the camera that is bright. There is also a flashlight up front for selfie in dark place. It charges through a USB C port; you also get a headphone port and speaker grille at the bottom. The speaker is teeny and lacks bass, but compared to other phones within its price, you won’t see the difference in sound quality. The design of the phones isn’t something new if you have paid attention to what Infinix has been doing in the budget section for a while. Others might be tired of the design, but I feel they are trying to give their phones an identity, sticking to a particular design like Samsung and Apple. The phone is well-built, and I didn't experience creaking while using it.
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Display Aspect of the Infinix Smart 8
Another noticeable difference between the Infinix Smart 8 and Smart 7 is the punch hole cut out on the Smart 8. They even added a magic port that mimics the dynamic island on the iPhone 15. It informs you when certain notifications are on the phone using cool animations. We have a 6.6-inch IPS LCD with a 90Hz refresh rate and a 720p resolution. The display is okay for the price, and you will enjoy streaming content and playing games on YouTube with it. Specific YouTube videos will only play at 720p, while some can be stretched up to 1080. Regardless, it is visible enough, and you will see the display under direct sunlight, but it has to be at max brightness. You can set the refresh rate to 60Hz or 90Hz in the display settings or leave it on auto brightness. I set mine to 90Hz, but most of the time, it’s around 60Hz until I use an app that forces it to go up. There is also ultra-touch in the settings, and you can set it too fast for a better experience while scrolling and swiping. Overall, the display is not the best, but you can’t be choosy with what you get when considering the price.
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Software & Performance
The Unisoc T606 powers the Phone, a chipset found on some phones within its price range. In terms of performance, it’s close to the MediaTek Helio G85, but if I were to choose, I would go for the Helio G85. The chipset can handle basic tasks like calling, scrolling through the internet, and texting just fine. You can even play casual games on the phone like Subway Surfer and Candy Crush, and there won’t be issues. You can play games like PUBG and Asphalt 9, but it won’t be a smooth experience. My unit here has 4GB RAM that can be expanded to 8 using memory fusion and up to 128GB storage space. You can also expand the storage space using an SD card. It isn’t the best multitasking but can retain many apps in the background. Just know that If you have over three running simultaneously, they will most likely restart when you return to them. The phone is running on Android 13 based on XOS 13.0, and you will notice the improved user experience when paired with older Infinix phones. There are new features like the magic ring, which mimics the iPhone's dynamic island. The software is quite okay for its price, and there is some bloatware, as usual, but you can remove some of them.
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Infinix Smart 8 Camera Review & Test
There are two cameras at the back, a 13MP primary camera, and when you hold the phone while taking pictures, you will get some good results. Most pictures are detailed and colorful, but in sunny conditions, HDR is missing. You shouldn’t get this phone solely because of the cameras, especially considering the price. There is a second depth lens at the back of the phone, but the primary camera does more of the job. There is an 8MP selfie camera at the front with a flash, and it also does okay in good lighting conditions. Here are some more pictures and videos from the phone.
Battery Life
It has a 5000mAh battery, one of the phone's strengths. It can last an entire day on a single charge, and even when you turn on the 90Hz refresh rate, the battery life will still be impressive. A 10-watt charger inside the phone's box charges the phone from zero to a hundred in over two hours, which is slow by today’s standard. Battery won’t be an issue on the Infinix Smart 8.
Rounding Up
The big question is, should you buy the Infinix Smart 8? Yes, but you need to understand that it's not a performance monster but a decent device that will handle primary tasks well. The battery life is impressive, and the phone can handle casual gaming. If you have any inquiries about the phone, feel free to ask in the comment section.