Infinix Hot S3 Review; Awesome selfie phone with great battery life

Since its entrance into the Kenyan market, Infinix has been one of the most popular smartphones due to its balance of affordability and quality. One of the latest phones launched in the market is the Infinix Hot S3. The Hot S3 is part of the ‘HOT series’ that includes the Infinix HOT S and S2. The series is not as affordable as previous Infinix phones but in comparison to what else is in the market with similar specs, it still is a bargain. I got to test drive the Infinix S3 for a few weeks and these are my thoughts on it.

Operating System, Memory and Processor

The S3 runs on Android 8.0 Oreo and Snapdragon processor instead of the less powerful MediaTek processors that have been the norm. 3GB RAM, 32GB of memory and a 1.4GHz octa-core processor means the device runs smoothly and multitasking is not an issue. Though to be honest, it does not run nearly as smooth as similar phones in the market as it does hang if you have too many apps running. For those who need more space, the memory is expandable up to 128GB via microSD.

Build and Design

The phone has a curvy design which fits very well in the hand and comes with a 5.65 inch (720 x 1440 pixels) touchscreen. This is the first phone from Infinix with an 18:9 aspect ratio, which means that there’s more screen to contend with which always a plus. The screen size and resolution are good and ideal for reading and gaming. The colour saturation is excellent and the XOS user interface is seamless, making for a beautiful media viewing experience. The phone also features face ID and fingerprint scanner for additional security. The Infinix S3 is available in sandstone black and brush gold.

Camera

The phone has a 13MP back camera and a 20MP front camera both with a f/2.0 aperture and dual LED flash for low light photography. The idea is that the phone is a selfie camera, so the more powerful camera is at the front, which is a highlight of the phone. The pictures are quite good for the price point and the camera boasts features like autofocus, geo-tagging, face detection, HDR, phase detection and panorama.

 Battery

The phone comes with a 4000mAh Li-Po non-removable battery. The battery life on this phone is amazing. The battery can go a whole day with heavy use without needing to be charged, which is one of the things that Infinix phones excel at.

Price and Availability

The phone is available at Ksh. 18,999 at Safaricom shops and Safaricom dealer outlets.

Warranty and Support

The phone comes with 1 year warranty. Support and service is available via Carlcare service centres.

Conclusion

The phone is quite good and at an affordable price point. It’s a step up for Infinix with great features like the 20MP front camera that consumers can enjoy without breaking the bank.