Infinix Hot 40 Pro review

Competition

The Infinix Hot 40 Pro is well-equipped for its class and even offers a couple of standout features, such as a 108MP main camera, a big display, fast 33W charging, and a pair of nice-sounding stereo speakers. However, that last bit seems to have trickled down to most budget smartphones.

Availability so far is a bit scarce, and the device can be found mostly in Asian markets for less than $200, which is a category reigned by Xiaomi and Samsung. Two big names in the industry with lots of options around the $200 mark.

Let's start with Samsung. Of all entry-level Samsung phones, we found the Galaxy A14 5G and A24 4G to be the most direct competitors in the sub-$200 category. However, the choice between the three is rather hard to make. While the A24 4G has a nice OLED panel, it doesn't seem to be offering any substantial advantage over the Hot 40 Pro in terms of camera quality, battery life and even performance as it's powered by the same Helio G99 SoC.

Samsung Galaxy A14 5G • Samsung Galaxy A24 4G

The Galaxy A14 5G, on the other hand, has a more powerful chip capable of 5G connectivity but has slower charging, a smaller display, and not necessarily better photography skills. Moreover, the Infinix Hot 40 Pro has 8GB of RAM by default, making it more future-proof.

But in case you are more familiar with Samsung's One UI, we won't judge if you opt for either Samsung based on software preferences alone.

Xiaomi's Redmi Note 12 4G and Note 12 5G are both excellent choices in the sub-$200 as well. And despite having slightly smaller displays, picture quality is superior. Both devices come equipped with the same 6.67-inch 120Hz OLED panel with higher brightness, punchier colors and deeper blacks. When it comes to performance, the Note 12 4G comes out on top, but settles for a less-than-ideal 4GB/64GB base memory configuration, whereas the Redmi Note 12 5G and Hot 40 Pro have 4GB/128GB and 8GB/128GB, respectively. And lastly, Xioami's contenders have a simple IP53 ingress protection, which is more than you could ask for in this price range.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 • Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 4G • Realme C55

The Realme C55 gets an honorable mention as it fits the price criteria and offers mostly the same features as its competitors, but its display caps at 90Hz, doesn't have stereo loudspeakers, and runs on an even slower Helio G88. Still, though, you get faster 33W charging and the same 5,000 mAh battery for less than what the Hot 40 Pro asks.

Verdict

Although Infinix isn't a well-known brand in most parts of the world, it makes bigger manufacturers a run for their money. The Hot 40 Pro stands out with a big display, a potent 108MP camera that makes nice stills day and night, fast charging, reverse wired charging, 8GB of RAM by default, and a set of nice-sounding stereo speakers. Battery life is dependable, especially when it comes to web browsing and calling.

Sure, there are options with far superior OLED screens, but the Hot 40 Pro gets our approval. It's a well-balanced entry-level package with a feature-rich, albeit dated, software on board. It's far from being called a "gaming smartphone", but it would fit well in the pockets of users looking for a cheap, balanced solution.

Pros

• Solid build quality.
• Has one of the largest displays in the price category.
• Fast charging and support for reverse wired charging.
• Good battery life.
• 8GB/128GB base memory configuration and dedicated microSD slot.
• Dependable 108MP main camera during day and night.

Cons

• Some competitors offer OLED panels for the price.
• Launches on older Android 13