Infinix Hot 30i (X669) Price, Review And Specifications.

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Infinix Hot 30i (X669) Quick Specs:

6.56" HD+ (1612×720) IPS-LCD Drop-notched 90hz Display.

269ppi, 20.15:9 Aspect Ratio.

Unisoc T606 Chipset.

Android 12 OS, XOS 10.6.

Dual-lens (13MP+AI) Rear Camera.

Single-lens (8MP) Front Camera.

4GB of RAM (Plus up to 4GB Virtual RAM).

128GB Internal Storage.

Face Unlock.

Fingerprint reader (Side-mounted).

USB Type-C Port:

4G (LTE) Network.

5000mAh Battery (18W Charging).

Starting Price:

95,000 Naira, GH₵ 1,195, KSh 14,999, UGX 500,000.

Except for few upgrades and slight modifications, Infinix Hot 30i (X669) retain the looks and some of the features of the previous Infinix Hot 20i (X665). In other words, the phone has the same size, form factor and a drop-notch display as the earlier model. The latest phone also has the same camera set-up, Android version, amount of RAM and battery capacity.

Yet, as i mentioned, the latest phone comes with a few upgrades. And these include a slightly better CPU, twice storage space, fast charging, USB Type-C port and a side-mounted fingerprint reader. The display of the Hot 30i also support high screen refresh rate.

Also because Infinix Hot 30i sports a few cosmetics modifications, it looks more appealing and prettier than its predecessor.

By the way, Infinix Hot 30i is the most affordable variant of the recently unveiled Infinix Hot 30 series. This is followed by the Infinix Hot 30 Play (x6835b), and the standard variant Infinix Hot 30 (x6831).

Basically, Infinix Hot 30i shares looks with its two siblings. But unlike the two phones that feature Infinty-O (hole-punch) displays, Hot 30i sports a drop-notched display. It also has a slightly smaller screen size, compared to the other two. Infinix Hot 30i is also equipped with a slightly less powerful CPU and a lower megapixel cameras.

Meanwhile, like most of the recent budget phones, especially the ones within this price range, Infinix Hot 30i wear a premium and classy looks. It sports flat edges, flat back cover and glossy finish. And it's these modifications that make the phone to look more appealing than its predecessor; which has curved back cover.

In addition to those ones, the rear camera bump (which housed the fingerprint reader and cameras) on the earlier phone has also been replaced with a pair of neatly arranged circular camera module.

Despite the fact that the phone also features the usual 6.6-inch 720p drop-notched display like its predecessor and most of others in this segment, the screen looks more vivid and attractive.

Even, unlike the one on the earlier model, the screen on the latest phone support 90hz or high screen refresh rate.

Concerning its cameras, the phone has the usual set-up. In other words, and like its predecessor and most of others in this segment, Infinix Hot 30i has a 13-megapixel dual rear camera and an 8-megapixel front-facing camera. And despite the fact that the photos taken with this phone's rear camera are clear, sharp and have bright colours, colours representation and level of details are what you normally get at this price point.

Although selfies from the Hot 30i are also clear and sharp, they are slightly on the warm side, compared to the ones taken with its predecessor. Unfortunately, the warm tint slightly affect the overall colour representation and skin tone of the selfies. Personally, i prefer the selfies from the earlier model, despite that selfies from both of the phones have the same level of clarity and sharpness.

Under the hood, Infinix Hot 30i is powered by the Unisoc T606 octa-core CPU; a little upgrade from the Helio G25 that's inside Hot 20i. The earlier phone 64GB internal storage space has also been upgraded to 128GB. Still, like the standard variant of the Hot 20i, Hot 30i comes with 4GB of RAM.

It should be noted that the latest phone doesn't have 2GB RAM variant like the Hot 20i.

Although Infinix Hot 30i is running on the Android 12 OS like its predecessor, as a result of its slightly better CPU, the phone performs slightly better than the earlier model, especially when it comes multitasking and gaming.

Also like its predecessor, the performance of the Hot 30i can still be boosted through MemFusion. The feature that allows you to increase the 4GB of RAM of the phone up to 8GB.

Generally, for a phone at this price point, the performance and processing speed of the Hot 30i is satisfactory. Using it for regular tasks such as internet browsing and multitasking, the phone moves quickly and it is responsive. Even, at medium graphics settings, gaming experience is also pleasant on this phone, though to an extent.

Furthermore, as i mentioned earlier, the microUSB port and rear-mounted fingerprint on the earlier phone have also been replaced with USB Type-C port and side-mounted fingerprint reader on the Hot 30i.

Also compared to the earlier phone 10W standard charging, Infinix Hot 30i support 18W quick charging. Nonetheless, the phone still has 5000mAh battery capacity like its predecessor and many others.

Price And Design Colours:

Currently, the price of the Infinix Hot 30i is around 95,000 Naira. And it's available in three different colour options of Mirror Black, Glacier Blue, and Diamond White.

VERDICT: 

For a phone at this price point, the selling points of the Infinix Hot 30i are its sleek design, attractive 90hz display, decent performance and 18W quick charging. Unfortunately, camera is not among the strong features of this phone.

Another contender in this category is the Tecno Spark 10C. Spark 10C has the same looks and features as the Hot 30i, however, the display of the Infinix phone looks more vibrant than that of the Tecno phone, despite that both of them have the same screen attributes. On the other hand, Tecno Spark 10C is fitted with a slightly higher (16-megapixel) rear camera. Which makes the photos from the Tecno phone to looks slightly better than the ones from the Hot 30i. Nonetheless the differences in their photo qualities are not that glaring.

If you want a phone with a better camera, similar nice looking display and decent processing power, you should check out Samsung Galaxy A04. Unfortunately, this Samsung phone doesn't have the looks and all the encompassing features of the Infinix Hot 30i and Tecno Spark 10C.

Infinix Hot 30i Design:

The first selling point of the Infinix Hot 30i is its design. Because the phone wear a classy and premium looks, in spite of its affordable price.

Though a few others in this category also have similar drop-notched display, flat edges and flat back cover. However, the Hot 30i flat edges and flat back cover look more elegant. These make the phone to look more premium and sleeker than many of them. And because the phone also lack rear-mounted fingerprint reader and camera bump, the entire back of the Hot 30i also look more appealing.

Furthermore, the back cover of the Hot 30i is also adorned with diamond-shape patterns. However, as a result of its glossy or highly reflective finish, Infinix Hot 30i attracts scratches and smudges easily. In fact, the Mirror Black colour variant of the phone is simply a fingerprints magnet. Because as the name suggested, the back cover of this variant looks like a mirror. However, as usual, Infinix Mobility put a TPU case inside the box of the Hot 30i. To conceal and to protect the glossy finish.

The positions of ports and buttons on the Infinix Hot 30i are similar to those of others in this segments. You have the volume keys and power button (which also doubles as a fingerprint reader) on the right edge of the phone, while its 4G Dual Nano-SIM+microSD Card slot is located on the left edge. The phone's microphone, 3.5mm audio jack and mono speaker, are also placed on its bottom edge, alongside USB Type-C port.

Camera: The Usual Set-up.

Camera is not one of the strong features of the Hot 30i. Added to this is the fact that the phone has the usual camera system. Because, the dual rear camera on the Infinix Hot 30i is made up of a 13-megapixel main sensor and an AI sensor (which assist the main camera in delivering clearer shots).

Truly, there are few others in this segment, such as the Samsung Galaxy A04, that are able to capture better looking photos than the Hot 30i, still the shots from the Infinix phone looks good enough, for a phone at this price point.

Photos from the Hot 30i rear camera are bright, clear and sharp, but they're not detailed. Also the shots are slightly on the warm side with a little over-saturated colours.

Also as i said earlier, despite the fact that the 8-megapixel front-facing camera of the Hot 30i was able to take a clear and nice looking selfies, skin tone and the overall colours are slightly affected by the warm tint.

By the way, both the front and rear cameras of the Infinix Hot 30i are capable of shooting 1080p videos at 30fps (frame per second). And there's no Image Stabilization.

Regular 6.56-inch 720p Display, But It's A Nice Looking One:

Apart from the looks, the second selling point of the Hot 30i is the display. Although the 6.56-inch screen of the Hot 30i has a regular IPS-LCD panel, and a 720p resolution of 1612 by 720 pixels (269PPI).

Despite the fact that you can't expect an impressive clarity from a 720p display, especially the one that has a pixel density of 269PPI, yet the screen was able to render a slightly richer and vibrant colours than many at this price point. Even as a result of its good contrast, videos and photos look crisp and punchy on this screen.

Although the screen of the Hot 30i has a peak brightness of about 500nit; which means the screen is not the brightest out there. Yet it also means the screen is bright enough for outdoor usage.

Also, unlike the one on the earlier model, the screen of the Hot 30i supports 90hz screen refresh rate; which brings about smoother page scrolling and swiping.

Same Android OS, But Improved Performance:

Infinix Hot 30i is running on the Android 12 OS with Infinix XOS 10.6 custom UI on top. This phone is also powered by the Unisoc T606 CPU. A 12nm octa-core processor with a maximum clock speed of 1.6GHz. 

Though, a CPU with a maximum speed of 1.6GHz doesn't sound impressive, yet this octa-core CPU delivered a good performance. Because, Infinix Hot 30i was able to multitask quickly and handle day-to-day usage without struggle. Also with its Mali-G57 MP1 GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), Hot 30i was able to play most of the popular games at high graphics settings (but at low frame rate).

You'll be fine with the performance of the Hot 30i as long as you don't rush it or put heavier tasks on it.

Still, in spite of its decent processing speed, the performance of the Hot 30i can still be boosted through MemFusion. The feature that enables you to convert up to 4GB out of the phone's inbuilt storage to virtual RAM. Thereby increasing the default 4GB of RAM of the phone up to 8GB. Also the 128GB inbuilt storage of the Hot 30i can also be expanded, via microSD card, up to 1TB (One Terabyte).

Same Battery But Hot 30i Support Quick Charging:

Though Infinix Hot 30i is fitted with the same 5000mAh battery as the Hot 20i. However, the Helio G25 CPU that's inside the earlier phone is a little more power efficient than the Unisoc T606 that comes with the Hot 30i, despite that both of them are 12nm processors. In other words, the battery of the Hot 20i has tendency to last a little longer than that of the Hot 30i.

However, as a result of its 18W Quick charging, Infinix Hot 30i battery can be fully juiced back in about one hour forty five minutes if it drops to one percent. But it'll take Hot 20i over two hours thirty minutes to do so.

Full Specifications Of the Infinix Hot 30i (X669):

GENERAL

Maker: Infinix Mobility.

Name: Hot 30i (X669).

Year Announced: March, 2023.

Dimensions: 164x75.8x8.4mm

Weight: 191g.   

Colour: Mirror Black, Glacier Blue & Diamond White.

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 MP1.

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

Operating System: Android 12,  XOS 10.6 Skin.

STORAGE

Internal Storage: 128GB.

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; (13MP f/1.8+AI) With LED-Flash.

Front camera: Single-lens, 8MP (f/2.2) Single Front Flash.

VIDEO RECORDING:

Rear Cameras: 720p, 1080p @ 30 fps.

Front Camera: 720p, 1080p, @ 30 fps.

CONNECTIVITY:

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

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).

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