Infinix Hot 50 Pro

The Infinix Hot 50 Pro offers a slim 7.4 mm design, a bright 120Hz AMOLED screen, stereo speakers, NFC, a headphone jack and a dedicated microSD slot. For everyday use and media, that is a strong package for a budget phone.

The compromises are a plastic build that dents in falls, weak video recording, an 8 MP selfie camera, slow 33W charging and only one promised Android upgrade.

Verdict: worth buying for buyers who want looks, a good screen and long battery life at a budget price. Camera-focused buyers should look elsewhere. If the newer Infinix Hot 60 Pro is close in price, it is the better choice thanks to its faster chip, sharper 144Hz screen, 45W charging and longer update promise.

Official specs: a 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with a 1080 x 2436 resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, 2160Hz PWM dimming, 550 nits typical and up to 1800 nits peak brightness.

Real-world use: colours are punchy and blacks are deep, and the screen stays readable outdoors. You can lock it to 120Hz, pick a lower refresh rate to save battery, or let it switch automatically. Widevine L1 is supported, and YouTube plays at up to 1440p. The bezels are slim, but the bottom chin is still noticeable. Always-on display lasts about ten seconds by default and can be adjusted. The haptic feedback is better than usual at this price.

Official specs: the MediaTek Helio G100 (6 nm) with 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage, plus a dedicated microSD slot. The box says 16GB of RAM, but that includes 8GB of virtual memory.

Real-world use: the AnTuTu score is around 430,000, which is in the same class as the older Helio G99. Social media, browsing and video streaming run smoothly, and the chip is power efficient. PUBG Mobile is playable, but only at modest frame rates. The gyroscope is software-based, not a hardware sensor, so gyro aiming in games is less precise. It suits casual gaming, not competitive play.

Official specs: a 50 MP main camera (f/1.6) with a 2 MP depth sensor; the third ring on the back is decorative. The 8 MP selfie camera has its own LED flash. Video goes up to 1440p (2K) at 30fps.

Real-world use:

• Daylight photos: good colours and detail, especially close-ups, with HDR working well.
• Night mode: works well indoors, with good exposure control.
• Weak spots: landscapes can look flat with limited dynamic range, skin tones sometimes shift, and backlit 2x portraits can change colour.
• Video: there is no stabilisation, so footage is shaky and can show colour shifts and exposure problems. This is not a phone for video.
• Selfies: usable in good light, and the front flash helps in the dark.

Official specs: a 5000 mAh battery with 33W wired charging (50% in 27 minutes), plus reverse wired charging and bypass charging. A 33W charger is in the box.

Real-world use: battery life is a strength. Expect about seven to eight hours of screen-on time with normal use, and around five hours with heavy use and gaming. A full charge takes over an hour; reports range from about 1 hour 8 minutes to around 1.5 hours.

The phone runs XOS 14.5 on Android 14, with up to 1 major Android upgrade promised. That is a short update window, so this phone will not stay on the newest Android for long.

XOS 14.5 feels polished and smooth. The Hot series now uses a dialer with auto call recording. AI extras include an AI wallpaper generator and a chat assistant. Other features include NFC, 4G+ support, an always-on display and dual stereo speakers with up to 300% volume boost, though the top speaker is noticeably quieter than the bottom one. The box claims years of smooth performance, but treat that as marketing.