Infinix, the sub-brand of Transsion Holdings has launched the successor to its previous phone, the HOT S3. This new phone has been named HOT S3X. While the name of the smartphone sounds a bit weird, the phone actually stands out from the crowd with its battery life and selfie camera. When compared to the predecessor from Infinix, the new HOT S3X comes with a bigger screen, dual rear camera setup and AI enhancements as well. It is a Flipkart exclusive device which debuts in three colours of Ice blue, sandstone black, and tradewinds grey. The Infinix HOT S3X bears a price tag of Rs 9,999 and makes its place in the budget-oriented smartphone category taking on the likes of Xiaomi Redmi Y2 and Realme 2. Read ahead to know more about what the Infinix HOT S3X offers across various verticals.
Infinix HOT S3X Review: Design and Display
Contrary to the other budget offerings in the market right now, the Infinix HOT S3X comes with a polycarbonate casing which lends it a glossy finish and it does not feel cheap at all. Instead, the glossy texture of the phone contributes to the premium feel of the device. Further, the phone features a notch on top with a screen which stretches edge to edge leaving minimum bezels on the side except for the bottom chin. Also, we get to see the 3.5mm headphone jack on the top edge, the power button and volume rockers on the right side, the speaker grille and the micro USB port on the bottom edge whereas there is a dual-SIM card slot on the left side of the phone.
The HOT S3X features a 6.2-inch display with a 19:9 aspect ratio which renders an HD+ (720 x 1500 pixels) resolution. Given the high screen real estate and the small resolution, there is a little pixelation on the device. Overall, the screen produces good vibrant colours which are visible under direct sunlight proving to be a decent enough display in this price range.
Infinix HOT S3X Review: Performance
The Infinix S3X packs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 SoC under the hood and is paired with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. On the software front, it boots the Android 8.1 Oreo-based custom ROM XOS 3.3 Lite user interface from Infinix. Given its standard specifications, however, we can bet on the phone to perform day to day tasks at maximum. There is also some lag on the device when it is put through some intensive multitasking. Gaming performance is not up to the mark thanks to the less powerful chipset.
The Infinix HOT S3X does come with a 4000mAh battery making it a good performer in battery life. The battery life on this handset is one of the biggest assets because companies are shaving off bigger batteries are going after thinner form factor. Despite sporting a huge battery, the Hot S3X feels light when taken into hands which could be due to the plastic body. The phone lacks fast charging support which is expected in this price range.
Infinix HOT S3X Review: Camera
The Infinix HOT S3X flaunts a dual rear camera setup which comprises of a 13MP primary shooter and a 2MP secondary shooter. On the front, we get to see a 16MP selfie snapper which clicks decent enough pictures. There is also a software-based beauty mode on the phone backed by AI which removes blemishes. Since there is a secondary depth sensor on this device, the phone is also able to click good portrait mode shots. The only caveat is that the phone gets left behind in picture quality when it comes to low lighting conditions. Selfies captured on this smartphone came out really well with the great amount of details, but there's an issue as the photos get oversaturated on the edges. We have noticed this quite often and the beauty mode didn't resolve this either.
Infinix HOT S3X Review: Verdict
With a price tag of Rs 9,999, the Infinix HOT S3X packs some noteworthy features such as the 4000mAh battery, gorgeous design and capable selfie camera. And yes, it has a notched display. But it lacks a powerful processor such as the Snapdragon 625 or Snapdragon 450 we get on the Redmi Y2 and Realme 2. The Realme 2 offers better day-to-day performance and battery life than the HOT S3X, and on the other hand, the Redmi Y2 beats this phone in almost every aspect- cameras, display quality and software.
Still considering the price point of this phone, if you have to buy a device with a good battery life in this price range, then you should definitely add the Infinix HOT S3X on your consideration list.
