Hong Kong-based mobile maker Infinix has just launched its latest phone in SMART series, The Infinix SMART 2. This new release wrestles with other low range contemporaries in the market like Xiaomi Redmi 5A, Moto C Plus, and Samsung Galaxy On5 for floor space.
A 5.45-inch HD+ Full view display (18:9) with a fairly good 83% screen to body ratio, 8MP front camera, dual tone LED flashlight for both front and rear camera, and Infinix’s proprietary XOS chameleon 3.0 skin could be a few selling points for this economical phone.
Since this is an entry grade device, it would be unfair to rest many expectations on this smartphone, given its low price. But will it be good enough for most basic of users? Here’s what we think about Infinix SMART 2 after spending a couple of days with the device.
Infinix SMART 2 Review: Specifications
| Model | Infinix SMART 2 |
| Display | 5.45 inch HD+ Full view display (720×1440 pixels) with 18:9 aspect ratio
IPS LCD panel, 2.5D glass protection, 500 NITS brightness, a warm tone eye care mode |
| Processor | 1.5GHz Quad-Core processor |
| RAM | 2GB/3GB |
| Internal Storage | 16GB/32GB, expandable up to 128GB (microSD) |
| Software | Android 8.1 Oreo |
| Primary Camera | 13MP, f2.0, PDAF, dual tone LED flash |
| Secondary Camera | 8MP, dual tone LED flash, Bokeh mode |
| Battery | 3050mAh (typical) / 3000mAh (minimum) battery |
| Others | Dual SIM with dual Volte, WiFi, Bluetooth, micro USB, GPS/ A-GPS, 3.5mm audio jack |
| Price | Rs. 6999 for 2GB + 16GB variant, Rs 7999 (Expected) for 3GB + 32GB variant. |
| Sensors on board | Accelerometer, ambient light sensor, proximity sensor |
What’s in the box:
- Infinix SMART 2 handset
- 5 Volt Charger
- A MicroUSB cable
- Warranty card
- Instruction pamphlet
Infinix SMART 2 Design and Display
Infinix SMART 2 is available in four different hues of Bordeaux Red, City Blue, Sandstone Black, and Serene Gold. The device is fairly light with a plastic casing and matte finish rear panel. With not much to flaunt off on its exterior, the Infinix SMART 2 features a 5.45-inch screen (720×1440 pixels) with 18:9 aspect ratio. This screen size can be considered decent for a low budget phone.
The navigation keys are present on the screen. The volume rocker and power button are all present on the right edge of the device, whereas the USB port and a standard 3.5 mm audio jack are aligned along the lower edge of the phone.
On the rear facade lies a removable cover which on detaching reveals a fixed battery unit, two SIM slot, a single rear camera, an LED flashlight stacked right below the camera, and a speaker outlet at the bottom-left corner of the panel.
The phone lacks a fingerprint sensor, which would leave users to opt for either the usual pin-pattern lock coupled with a smart unlock feature or XOS family’s inbuilt ‘Face Unlock’ feature, which works fine in brightly lit ambience.
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Infinix SMART 2 Performance and Software
- quad-core MediaTek MT6739 SoC
- 2GB/3GB RAM with 16GB/32GB internal storage (expandable upto 128GB)
- Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box
When it comes to performance, this phone brings together some very run-of-the-mill features like its quad-core MediaTek MT6739 SoC coupled with 2GB/3GB RAM with 16GB/32GB internal storage (expandable up to 128GB) that can be easily spotted on any low cost phone these days.
The phone also heats up real quick and running something as simple as a 720p video for 30 minutes can make the device warm. We didn’t encounter any heating with light usage.
Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box OS on this phone is quite an uncommon feature for devices in its range.
Talking about the software additions, the phone comes loaded with Infinix limited XOS Chameleon v3.3.0 skin, that has ample features to offer. Some popular XOS features include all-around security via its limited SIM identification feature, XHide that hides the sensitive data like pictures and records on request, and Freezer that freezes the activity of 5 common background apps on the device.
The dual SIM slot comes with 4G Volte configuration for both, which facilitates high speed and uninterrupted services.
Infinix SMART 2 Camera and Battery
Its 8MP front-facing snapper and a 13MP rear-facing camera are aspects you won’t usually find in other budget phones, even from big players like Samsung and Oppo. Also, the presence of a dual tone LED flash on the rear and single tone LED flashlight on the front make the Infinix SMART 2 all the more likeable.
However, camera specs don’t mean much when it comes to camera quality, especially so in the affordable price segment. On taking a closer look at the outputs of the front camera, the picture quality comes out clear, though, on zooming, these images feel grainy. Similar results can be observed for the rear camera, where images crack when viewed on a bigger screen. We didn’t go into this review expecting much in terms of camera quality, so we weren’t particularly disappointed.
An Irreplaceable 3000 mAH Li-polymer battery unit fuels the Infinix SMART 2, which is a justified number for such pocket-friendly phones. Infinix claims 21days of standby time, 21hrs 4G Talk Time & 81hrs music playback time on a single charge. In practical usage, we are getting about one day back up with moderate usage. It’s still too early to give our final verdict, though.
Infinix SMART 2 Quick Review
In closing, we would like to say that Infinix SMART 2 is a basic phone for basic users. A number of compromises have been made to accommodate the low price tag, but if you are looking for a phone with basic smartphone privileges without spending too much, you may still consider it as an option.
Pros
- Good camera quality
- Dual SIM Dual Volte
- Android 8.1 Oreo
Cons
- Feeble performance
- No fingerprint Sensor
- Heats up quickly
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Infinix Smart 2 is a good mid-range phone with good specs. Mediatek processor also looks promising.