Infinix Hot 9 Play is the latest budget device from the smartphone company and follows on the launch of last year’s Infinix Hot 8.
The Infinix Hot 9 line comes in two versions the regular Hot 9 and the Hot 9 Play which is the subject of our quick hands-on review.
Now Read: Infinix Hot 9 Play Review: Budget Standout
Before we begin, here’s what you get in the box:
- The phone itself
- A screen protector
- A pair of earphones
- A 10W power brick
- A micro-USB charging cable
- A clear plastic back cover
- A sim ejector tool
- A user manual
- A customer service card
Design
The Infinix Hot 9 Play features a sleek frame with a plastic and glossy back that will sure attract fingerprints. The back hosts the AI-powered dual-camera setup that includes a 13MP main camera and a secondary macro lens together with a LED flash.
The fingerprint sensor is right next to the camera bump.
The Infinix Hot 9 Play features a huge display at 6.82″ with a resolution of 720 by 1640 pixels. At the top bezel is the earpiece grill that also functions as the phone’s speaker. Right below is the 8MP selfie camera.
That large display comes in handy when browsing the web or just binge-watching your videos or streaming tv shows.
At the side is the volume rocker buttons and a power button with the left side hosting the slot for dual Sim cards and an external MicroSD.
At the bottom, you get the headphone jack and the micro-USB port next to the microphone.
It’s worth noting that the phone is quite hefty thanks to its size and the huge 6000mAh battery.
Software and Performance
The Infinix Hot 9 Play features 2GB of RAM, 32GB of onboard storage powered by a relatively newer and faster chip – the MediaTek Helio A25. Running the show is Android 10(Go Edition) and XOS 6.1.
The Infinix Hot 9 Play has held its own for the few days I’ve been using it. Regular tasks are handled well – switching between social media apps with no hassle.
Playing light games such as those that come pre-bundled with the phone and Ninja Arashi was a breeze. I was surprised Aspahlt 8 really played too apart from the few but occasional lags during gameplay.
Infinix bumped up the chip in this phone and though it’s a minor improvement – it goes a long way in improving the phone’s performance.
Expect bloatware thanks to XOS but you can choose to delete them or disable the apps. There are also unnecessary notifications and ads too.
The fingerprint sensor is relatively fast in addition to the face unlock, PIN and pattern for unlocking the phone.
Stay tuned for our full review.
Cameras
The Infinix Hot 9 Play comes with three camera – an 8MP selfie and 13MP and a macro lens with modes such as beauty, bokeh, AR shot, Portrait mode, panorama, HDR to fiddle with.
You’ll notice some of the shots lack vibrancy and colour saturation but overall look decent enough.
Here are some samples | Click on the photos to expand.
Selfies and Portraits
Regular shots with their Bokeh shots
Here are more regular shots
Battery Life
The Infinix Hot 9 Play comes with a 6000mAh battery, a huge upgrade from the 5000mAh battery that the Infinix Hot 8 had.
It has served me well for the past few days I’ve had the phone.
Wait for the full review for my conclusive verdict.
Pricing and Availability
The Infinix Hot 9 Play is available on XPark for Ksh 13,299, Jumia for Ksh 13,499 and in Infinix’s official retail stores.
Quick Thoughts
Infinix really didn’t come to play with this phone, they brought the necessary upgrades to it making worth considering. The Infinix has piqued my interest so watch out for our full review to see how it measures up and if the Infinix Hot 9 Play is worth your money as we thoroughly assess its parameters including overall performance, battery life and camera quality.
