Infinix has silently introduced to the Kenyan market the HOT 12i. It’s a follow up to the Infinix HOT 11 Series. We expect more devices in the HOT 12 series to be announced later on.
The company hasn’t really pushed the new series online – as they did with previous launches. However, that doesn’t mean the new phone isn’t exciting. At least on paper it is.
Prices:
There are two variants; a 2GB RAM model and a 3GB RAM model. The prices are as follows:
- KES 13,499 for 2GB RAM model
- KES 14,499 for 3GB RAM model
You can pick the phone up either in Nebula Black or Mist Blue colour options.
RAM Expansion:
A new tech nowadays with phone is something called RAM Expansion. It uses the in-built storage to create virtual RAM which can help your phone perform a little faster, and have more apps stay open to enhance switching and give you a smoother experiences.
This feature is available on the Infinix HOT 12i, a phone I feel actually needs it.
For many people nowadays, anything less than 4GB of RAM won’t push your tasks as smoothly as you would want. In fact, I nowadays recommend at least 6GB of RAM – something we’ve agreed on with my fellows on the 24Bit Podcast.
The 2/3GB RAM options on the HOT 12i won’t cut it for many users. However, Infinix will allow customers extend their RAM by up to 4GB from on-board storage, giving users up to 7GB of RAM while using their devices.
Processor:
The device is powered by the Helio G88 Processor. This is the same processor that powered the HOT 11S launched last year. It is built on a 12nm process and though quite aged by now, can still deliver respectable user experience. This is especially since the phone is part of the Android Go program and runs the Android 11 Go experience.
Display:
The phone features a 6.6 inch HD+ display. It can attain 480 nits of peak brightness. Infinix promises you’ll be able to use it even under bright sunlight conditions. The main issue with the display is the fact that it’s not a Full HD panel.
Cameras:
Unlike the HOT 11s which brought a 50MP main camera, here the main camera is 13MP. There’s no mention yet on what the extra lenses do. But as always, expect them to be extra additions of no particular need. At the front, there’s an 8MP camera with the usual LED flash.
Battery:
Also, unlike the HOT 11s which had a 6000mAh battery, the new Infinix HOT 12i has a 5000mAh battery. Infinix is promising 13hrs of gaming and 62hrs of standby time. There’s no mention, however, of fast charging. We would expect at least 18W fast charging, but as it seems it’ll be a 10W charger in the box.
It’s also not clear what USB port is used. Type-C would be great. But since there’s no mention on their Kenyan website e-commerce site, it seems the device uses a Micro-USB port.
Competition:
The phone competes with devices like the Redmi 9C, the Redmi 9T, and the all new Redmi 10 Series – all from Xiaomi – which are better offers in terms of price, specs, software and updates.
It also competes with Samsung’s A02 which also feels like a better offering.
Infinix HOT 12i Specifications:
| PRICE | KES 13,499 |
| Display | 6.6 inch HD Display |
| Rear Camera | 13MP main camera |
| Front Camera | 8MP |
| Chipset | MediaTek Helio G88 |
| GPU | _ |
| RAM | 2/3 GB RAM |
| Storage | 64GB Storage |
| Operating System | Android 11 Go XOS 7.6 |
| Battery | 5000 mAh, non-removable |
| Network | 2G, 3G, 4G |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 02.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, LE microUSB 2.0 with OTG FM Radio 3.5mm audio jack |
| Colour options | _ |
| Others | Rear Fingerprint Scanner DTS audio |
