The Infinix Hot 12 Play is a budget Android smartphone that recently became available in Kenya. The smartphone is a successor to the Hot 10 Play, an awesome affordable handset launched the same time last year.
Like its predecessor, the Hot 12 Play holds on to the core highlights synonymous with the Play series, that is; quick and smooth performance (esp. gaming), massive displays, and large batteries.
It is worth noting, however, that the Hot 12 Play comes with some much-needed upgrades that set it apart from the competition. These include a 90Hz refresh rate, which is quickly becoming an essential feature in recent budget devices, extended RAM technology, and Infinix’s proprietary game optimization engines and kits such as Dar-link and XArena.
That said, here’s an in-depth unboxing review of the Hot 12 Play.
Inside the box you will find;
- Infinix Hot 12 Play
- 3-Pin AC Charger
- USB Type C Cable
- SIM Ejector Tool
- A Pair of Earphones
- Hard silicone smartphone cover
- XCLUB XGOLD Voucher
First Impressions
The first thing you will notice just right after unboxing the Infinix Hot 12 Play is the smartphone’s size. This is particularly in regard to the display of the device. After all, it does sport a 6.82-inch display. Few ‘large’ smartphones come with panels this big with the majority capping up at 6.7-6.75 inches.
Now, the size isn’t necessarily a bad thing especially because this is a gaming smartphone. You want better viewing angles and wider points of view during gameplay, definitely a plus for large screens.
Not to mention, a 90Hz refresh rate that not only allows smoother scrolling but also a better gaming experience and faster responses. Overall, the display is bright and vibrant, not straining to the eyes at all. Outdoor visibility is quite good and I like how responsive the Auto brightness is.
Another great but subtle feature about the Hot 12 Play is its centered punch hole notch. This is the first device in the series to come with a punch hole notch and frankly, it looks wonderful, there’s more screen, a higher aspect ratio, and it gives it a more modern and trendier vibe.
One thing about the Infinix Hot 12 Play is that you will enjoy excellent gaming sessions on it because the display alone, guarantees it.
Another feature worth pointing out is the battery. The Hot 12 Play comes equipped with a generous Li-Po 6000mAh battery, quite large from the normal standard (4000mAh) used in most handsets.
The capacity is sufficient enough to last a moderate user up to two days on a single charge. Meanwhile, for the gaming crowd, it should last a solid 24 hours before its next charging time.
Under the hood, we have MediaTek’s Helio G35 chipset. It is a downgrade from the G70 on the Hot 10 Play, although it still gets the job done. Plus, the 2.3Ghz clock rate is an upside, especially playing higher graphics games.
The Hot 12 Play also features Infinix’s extended RAM technology capable of ramping up memory from 4GB to 7GB, greatly improving speed, and performance across various scenarios.
Aside from the downgraded chipset, the Hot 12 Play comes with a 2A charger. This is a slow charger and considering the device comes with such a massive battery, Infinix should have maybe done a better job of equipping the handset with faster-charging tech.
Otherwise, the Hot 12 Play does what it does best, offering an immersive gameplay experience and fast performance all bundled up at an affordable price.
The Infinix Hot 12 Play retails at a suggested price of Ksh. 16,499 and is available online as well as offline. Check out our comprehensive review on the Hot 12 Play to get finer details about the smartphone.
Alfred Gitonga is a passionate tech news writer with a deep interest in smartphones and related technologies. He is a staff writer at Mobitrends.co.ke.
