Infinix Smart 8 Plus launched in January 2024 as a budget-friendly smartphone with noteworthy features, such as a large battery, vibrant display, and respectable camera system, making it a top pick for anyone seeking value in an entry-level phone. Let’s dive into the details and see if the Smart 8 Plus lives up to expectations.
key features of the Infinix Smart 8 Plus:
- Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
- 6.6-inch IPS LCD display, 90Hz refresh rate, 500 nits peak brightness
- Android 13 (Go edition) with XOS 13
- Mediatek Helio G36 chipset, Octa-core CPU
- 50 MP main camera with autofocus and 0.08 MP auxiliary lens
- 8 MP front camera
- 6000 mAh battery with 18W wired charging and reverse wired charging
- Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
- 64GB or 128GB internal storage with 4GB RAM
- USB Type-C 2.0, OTG support
- FM Radio and GPS
- Available in Galaxy White, Shiny Gold, and Timber Black colors
Design and Build Quality
The Infinix Smart 8 Plus has a slim, contemporary design with dimensions of 163.7 x 75.7 x 9 mm and weighs 204 grams, making it fairly lightweight for its size and packed battery. It features a glass front with a plastic back and frame, which helps maintain a solid feel without adding too much weight. The device supports dual Nano-SIM cards with dual stand-by, allowing easy switching between networks. Available in three colors—Galaxy White, Shiny Gold, and Timber Black—the Smart 8 Plus has a sleek design that feels surprisingly premium in hand despite its budget-friendly price.
Display: Bright and Smooth
Infinix equipped the Smart 8 Plus with a 6.6-inch IPS LCD display that operates at a 90Hz refresh rate and offers 500 nits peak brightness. With a resolution of 720 x 1612 pixels, the display achieves a 20:9 aspect ratio and ~267 ppi density. While not Full HD, the screen offers decent sharpness for everyday tasks and video viewing. The 90Hz refresh rate is a standout feature at this price point, providing smoother scrolling and improved responsiveness for gaming and general use.
The IPS LCD panel ensures decent color accuracy and viewing angles, although it may struggle slightly in bright outdoor lighting due to the lower resolution. Still, it’s a strong display for the price range, with good color reproduction and enough brightness for most environments.
Performance: Powered by MediaTek Helio G36
Under the hood, the Infinix Smart 8 Plus is powered by the MediaTek Helio G36 chipset, a 12nm processor built for efficient multitasking and light gaming. The octa-core CPU (4×2.2 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4×1.6 GHz Cortex-A53) and PowerVR GE8320 GPU work together to provide smooth performance for most apps and tasks. While this is not a high-powered gaming phone, it handles daily tasks, social media browsing, and casual gaming fairly well.
It runs on Android 13 (Go edition) with XOS 13, offering a streamlined Android experience that is optimized for budget devices. Go edition helps conserve memory and reduces app bloat, allowing the 4GB of RAM to perform more efficiently. The Smart 8 Plus is available in two storage options: 64GB and 128GB, both with 4GB of RAM, and supports microSDXC cards for expandable storage, giving users the flexibility to store more photos, videos, and apps.
Camera: A Versatile 50MP Main Camera
The Infinix Smart 8 Plus boasts a 50MP main camera with an f/1.9 aperture, allowing it to capture good detail and color in daylight conditions. The camera’s secondary 0.08 MP auxiliary lens aids in depth perception and enhances portrait shots. The Ring-LED flash and HDR mode improve low-light performance, although users may notice some noise in dimmer settings.
For video, the main camera supports 1080p recording at 30fps, which is sufficient for casual video recording and social media sharing. The front-facing camera is an 8MP sensor with an f/2.0 aperture, which captures respectable selfies with decent sharpness and color. It also supports video recording, making it suitable for video calls and vlogging. While this is not a high-performance camera, it offers a balanced experience, especially in good lighting conditions.
Battery Life: Built for Endurance
Battery life is where the Infinix Smart 8 Plus truly shines. With a massive 6000 mAh non-removable battery, this phone easily provides up to two days of usage on a single charge. Coupled with the efficiency of the MediaTek G36 chipset and the optimized Android Go edition, users can expect long standby and screen-on times, making it ideal for heavy users who don’t want to worry about recharging frequently.
The phone supports 18W wired charging, which is relatively fast considering the battery size. There’s also reverse wired charging, allowing the Smart 8 Plus to serve as a power bank for other devices, which can be very useful in emergencies.
Connectivity and Additional Features
In terms of connectivity, the Smart 8 Plus supports GSM, HSPA, and LTE, ensuring reliable network performance. It has Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac with dual-band support, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, and FM radio, catering to users with diverse needs. The inclusion of a USB Type-C 2.0 port with OTG support is a plus at this price point, making data transfers and device connections easier.
For security, the phone includes a side-mounted fingerprint sensor that is quick and reliable, alongside accelerometer, proximity, and compass sensors. Unfortunately, NFC is not available, which may disappoint users who rely on NFC for contactless payments.
Price and Availability
Available since February 2024, the Infinix Smart 8 Plus is priced around 95 Dollars or about N150,000, making it a very affordable option with a lot to offer. It’s readily available through Infinix’s usual retail channels and online stores, catering to budget-conscious consumers who still want a feature-packed phone.
Note: Normal Infinix Smart 8 is selling from N118,000 in Nigeria
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- 90Hz refresh rate provides smoother visuals.
- Powerful 50MP main camera with Ring-LED flash.
- Large 6000 mAh battery with reverse charging.
- Affordable price for its features.
- Expandable storage and dedicated microSD slot.
Cons:
- Display resolution limited to 720p.
- Mediocre low-light camera performance.
- No NFC support.
Full Specifications
Here is the tabled specification for the Infinix Smart 8 Plus based on the details you provided:
Category | Specification |
---|---|
Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
Launch | Announced: 2024, January 30 Status: Available. Released 2024, February |
Body | Dimensions: 163.7 x 75.7 x 9 mm (6.44 x 2.98 x 0.35 in) Weight: 204 g (7.20 oz) Build: Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
Display | Type: IPS LCD, 90Hz, 500 nits (peak) Size: 6.6 inches, 104.6 cm² (~84.4% screen-to-body ratio) Resolution: 720 x 1612 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~267 ppi density) |
Platform | OS: Android 13 (Go edition), XOS 13 Chipset: Mediatek Helio G36 (12 nm) CPU: Octa-core (4×2.2 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4×1.6 GHz Cortex-A53) GPU: PowerVR GE8320 |
Memory | Card slot: microSDXC (dedicated slot) Internal: 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
Main Camera | Single: 50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), AF 0.08 MP, (auxiliary lens) Features: Ring-LED flash, HDR, panorama Video: 1080p@30fps |
Selfie Camera | Single: 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) Video: Yes |
Sound | Loudspeaker: Yes 3.5mm Jack: Yes |
Comms | WLAN: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band Bluetooth: 5.0, A2DP, LE Positioning: GPS NFC: No Radio: FM radio USB: USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
Features | Sensors: Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass |
Battery | Type: 6000 mAh, non-removable Charging: 18W wired, Reverse wired |
Misc | Colors: Galaxy White, Shiny Gold, Timber Black Models: X6526 Price: About 100 EUR, 96 USD, 150,000 NGN |
The Infinix Smart 8 Plus is an impressive entry-level smartphone with strong battery life, a capable 50MP camera, and a responsive display featuring a 90Hz refresh rate. With a price tag around 100 EUR, it’s one of the more affordable phones in its class, making it an appealing option for budget-conscious users looking for value without sacrificing essential features. Although it may not handle demanding applications or high-end games, it shines in day-to-day use, casual browsing, and multimedia consumption.
In summary, the Infinix Smart 8 Plus is a solid, well-rounded device that delivers on the essentials while offering some nice extras like reverse charging and a high-capacity battery. It’s ideal for students, young professionals, and anyone who needs a reliable smartphone at an affordable price.