{"id":43340,"date":"2021-05-22T09:24:45","date_gmt":"2021-05-22T01:24:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.upgrademag.com\/web\/?p=43340"},"modified":"2021-05-25T18:27:13","modified_gmt":"2021-05-25T10:27:13","slug":"infinix-hot-10-play-playing-between-entry-level-and-midrange-with-some-oomph","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.upgrademag.com\/web\/2021\/05\/22\/infinix-hot-10-play-playing-between-entry-level-and-midrange-with-some-oomph\/","title":{"rendered":"Infinix Hot 10 Play: Playing between entry-level and midrange with some oomph"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The smartphone market is experiencing an overhaul, thanks to the emergence of newer (and, say, comparatively \u201csmaller\u201d brands – e.g. realme). The blending of somewhat better-than-expected specs with no-need-to-lose-a-limb price is what keeps these brands must-consider; and in this context, definitely trying to carve a name is Infinix.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

No, this company isn\u2019t entirely \u201cnew\u201d, as it was founded in 2013 as a brand of Transsion Holdings; but yes, it isn\u2019t as big as the likes of Apple, Samsung, Huawei\u2026 or even realme. At least for now. But it\u2019s been making waves in Africa, India, etc<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now\u2026 checking entry-level\/midrange smartphone Hot 10 Play provides glimpses on why Infinix is making (lots of) noise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIRST IMPRESSIONS\/FIRST LOOK<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I received the 64GB + 4GB review unit, though OOTB (out of the box), that\u2019s not what you\u2019d notice first. Instead, it\u2019s the – for me – over-emphasis on the non-removable 6,000mAh battery (supposedly allowing it to last up to 13.8 hours of gaming). The latter – i.e. gaming – is what\u2019s emphasized here, since (aside from the name) the to-peel sticker at the front of the unit state \u201cPower Marathon Non-stop Playing\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That it has 6.82-inch HD+ screen bodes well for Hot 10 Play, even if – after removing all the wrappings – it is admittedly not classy looking. You get a glass front (kudos), but it has a plastic back and plastic frame, as if stressing that – HELLO! – this is an under-P5,000 phone, what\u2019re you expecting?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Onscreen, at the middle on top, is a 8-megapixel (drop notch) selfie camera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the right side of the phone, you have the power button, and Vol +\/Vol – buttons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the left side, you have the SIM and SD card tray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

At the bottom, you have the headphone jack, mic, and\u2026 the charging port (Micro USB; surprising since it never occurred to me there are companies still using this).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flipping the phone over, at the top left portion, you have the electric stove-looking (Damn Apple for \u201cpopularizing\u201d this horrible look!) cam panel. This one has two cams + the flash\/light (13-megapixel + AI lens rear cameras, LED flash).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And right in the upper middle of the back of the phone, you have the fingerprint reader (even if this does have Face Unlock capability).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An earlier Google tablet measured 7\u201d, and at the time of release, it looked huge. But times have changed indeed, since Hot 10 Play measures 6.82\u201d screen (total dimensions: 171.82 x 77.96 x 8.9mm) doesn\u2019t feel that big, just at par with what\u2019s out in the market these days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, turning the phone on was a breeze – e.g. the review unit was new, and setting up was\u2026 fast. You just had to answer \u201cbasics\u201d – e.g. location, set up of fingerprint\/face to be recognized (or skip this entirely), and so on. Incidentally, I am still bummed by the fingerprint sensor being placed at the back; and this is even if the actual reading was basically not memorable (it more than suffices).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The smartphone has 720 x 1640 pixels resolution; meaning, this isn\u2019t ultra-crisp, but\u2026 it wasn\u2019t pixelated either. I think when judging this unit, you will always be reminded by the asking price; and yes, for approx. P5,000, the specs are more than enough indeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UNDER THE HOOD<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hot 10 Play is powered by the MediaTek Helio G35 chipset (worth stressing since it differs from the regular Hot 10 that has Helio G70); and runs on the Android 10 + XOS 7 operating system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OOTB, I didn\u2019t like the \u201clook\u201d of the screen; it reminded me of realme C2 since – when I reviewed that unit – it (also) looked\u2026 childish (e.g. thicker widgets). But the same look can be changed via available (and downloadable) themes, so that\u2019s a plus (and I’m just nitpicking).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

PERFORMANCE<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are some annoying (for me) \u201cdramas\u201d – e.g. swiping the screen from the edge of the right of the phone will give you a menu (separate from the dropdown menu) containing shortcuts to FB, Messenger, IG, selfie cam, Hi Translate, screenshot, lock screen, scan and screen recording. These, again for me, felt redundant\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking at the actual performance becomes\u2026 tricky, mainly due to inconsistent performance depending on what’s required of the unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To start: How\u2019s the cam?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first thing you\u2019d notice is the lag when you\u2019re shooting – i.e. there\u2019s that elongated clicking sound before the shot is taken. I took pics of a Siamese fighting fish, and by the time some of the shots were taken, the fish had already moved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The actual photos are\u2026 grainy. The colors were okay in parts (and “kupas<\/em>” or faded in most parts), but consistency was also an issue particularly since it had a harder time capturing moving subjects (as noted above<\/span>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interestingly, you can zoom 4x. Meaning, you\u2019d just make already-grainy photos grainier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The front cam sufficed when making video calls; but shots made using the same also provided grainy images (and saturated colors).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least this one tries, eh? The front camera supports a 3D Face Beauty mode, and the back cams have portrait mode and a wide selfie mode, among others. Note that this one doesn\u2019t have macro and depth sensor, but the cam similarly supports Full HD video recording, slo-mo recording, and is programmed to automatically recognize up to nine different outdoor scenarios with the help of Auto Scene detection (e.g. it kept identifying the fish I was shooting as \u201cFood\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

N.B.: The camera at the back warms, too, after multiple shots\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
UNEDITED PHOTOS TAKEN USING THE CAMERAS OF INFINIX HOT 10 PLAY<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
USING THE ZOOM ENSURES THE GRAININESS IS AMPLIFIED; WHILE THE COLOR… JUST SPLATTERS, IF NOT FADES<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Now: How\u2019s the gaming?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are some games already-installed with Hot 10 Play – e.g. \u201cModern Combat: Rebel Guns\u201d. These, obviously, served as good studies for the phone\u2019s pro-playing claim, and here are some observations re this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Games opened fast, which was a plus.<\/li>
  2. Details were\u2026 surprisingly good (again, this is a less-than-P5,000 unit!).<\/li>
  3. No lags experienced.<\/li>
  4. Heating was noticeable within a few minutes of playing (it wasn\u2019t uncomfortable; but that it\u2019s there was\u2026 not comfortable).<\/li>
  5. Prolonged gaming is possible; just bear with the heating.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    As for the sound, don’t expect much. Even when playing games, there’s this “lata<\/em>” (tin can) quality emitting from the unit, so that what you hear is “sabog<\/em>” (dissipated).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    IN THE END\u2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Hot 10 Play – available in Morandi Green, Aegean Blue, Obsidian Black and 7\u00b0 Purple (basically, green, blue, black and purple) – sells for PhP4,990 (on May 28 – Super Brand Day – it will be priced at P4,590). And this is worth stressing because other phones priced the same way can\u2019t compete with this unit – e.g. thanks to its 6000 mAh battery, WITH standby time THAT could extend to 55 days; the 64GB + 4GB\u2019s not that bad (considering this is an entry-level\/midrange smartphone); the 77.96 x 171.82 x 8.9mm dimensions that make the unit better-than-okay for watching flicks or playing games; dual SIM capability; expandable (up to 512GB) memory; and so on\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Yeah, the cams were underwhelming (and that\u2019s saying a lot).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Yes, there\u2019s that heating when the unit works \u201charder\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Yes, there\u2019s that plasticky look\/feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But for less than PhP5,000, who are we to complain, no?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Checking entry-level\/midrange smartphone Hot 10 Play to understand why Infinix is making (lots of) noise.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":43341,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,24],"tags":[7256,1384,5052,3745,4866,201,326],"class_list":["post-43340","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-phones","category-reviews","tag-infinix","tag-mobile-phone","tag-mobile-phones","tag-phone","tag-smart-phone","tag-smartphone","tag-smartphones"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.upgrademag.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43340","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.upgrademag.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.upgrademag.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.upgrademag.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.upgrademag.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43340"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.upgrademag.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43340\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.upgrademag.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43341"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.upgrademag.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43340"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.upgrademag.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43340"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.upgrademag.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43340"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}