The Infinix Hot 10 is a budget-friendly smartphone launched in 2020, aimed at providing good performance for everyday tasks without breaking the bank. With a 6.78-inch HD+ display, MediaTek Helio G70 processor, and a large 5200mAh battery, the Hot 10 quickly gained popularity in markets where affordability is key. Despite its appeal, users have reported several issues and bugs that detract from the overall experience.
This article will dive into the most common problems faced by Infinix Hot 10 users and evaluate whether it is still a worthy option for budget-conscious buyers today.
1. Performance Issues: Lag and Stuttering
The Infinix Hot 10 is equipped with a MediaTek Helio G70 chipset, which, while decent for a budget phone, can struggle when handling heavy apps or multitasking. Over time, users have reported that the phone experiences slowdowns and lag, especially after a few months of usage.
Key performance issues include:
- Laggy UI, particularly when switching between apps or returning to the home screen.
- Stuttering during gaming, even in titles optimized for low-end devices.
- Slow app loading times, especially for resource-heavy apps like social media or games.
Possible solutions:
- Clearing the cache regularly can help improve performance.
- Use the built-in Game Mode to optimize the phone when playing games.
- Factory reset the phone if lag becomes too persistent, but this is only a temporary fix.
User experience:
"At first, the phone was fast and responsive, but after a few months, it started lagging a lot, especially when I opened multiple apps or tried playing games."
2. Battery Drain and Charging Problems
One of the main selling points of the Infinix Hot 10 is its 5200mAh battery, which promises extended battery life. While the battery capacity is impressive on paper, some users have experienced battery drain issues, and there have been reports of charging problems.
Common battery and charging issues:
- Fast battery drain despite moderate usage, especially with apps running in the background.
- Slow charging speeds, even with the supplied charger.
- Battery percentage jumps (e.g., the phone drops from 30% to 10% suddenly).
Solutions:
- Use the phone’s Battery Saver mode to extend battery life.
- Ensure that apps running in the background are limited to reduce drain.
- Check the charging cable and adapter, as using third-party chargers may worsen the problem.
User complaints:
"The phone's battery life isn't as long as I expected. It drains faster than other phones with a similar battery size, and charging it fully takes a lot of time."
3. Camera Quality and Software Glitches
The Infinix Hot 10 comes with a 16MP quad-camera setup at the back and an 8MP front camera. For a budget phone, the camera quality is decent in good lighting conditions but struggles in low-light scenarios. Additionally, users have reported software bugs related to the camera app.
Common camera issues:
- Low-light performance is poor, with noticeable noise and lack of detail.
- Camera app crashes when switching between photo and video modes.
- Slow focus and shutter lag, which makes capturing moving objects difficult.
Fixes:
- Use a third-party camera app like Open Camera, which may offer better stability and performance.
- Keep the camera software up-to-date to reduce the likelihood of crashes.
- Use the phone’s night mode or enable the flash to improve low-light photos.
User feedback:
"The camera is okay during the day, but at night, the photos are grainy and not very usable. The app also sometimes freezes when I try to take a video."
4. Display Issues: Ghost Touch and Brightness Problems
The 6.78-inch HD+ display of the Infinix Hot 10 offers a large, immersive screen for media consumption, but some users have complained about ghost touch issues, where the screen registers touches that weren't made. Others have mentioned problems with the screen brightness.
Display-related problems include:
- Ghost touches, particularly during charging or after prolonged use.
- Uneven brightness levels, where the screen is either too dim or too bright, even with adaptive brightness enabled.
- Screen responsiveness issues, where certain parts of the screen become less sensitive to touch over time.
Possible solutions:
- Calibrate the touchscreen or use apps like Touchscreen Repair to fix responsiveness issues.
- Turn off adaptive brightness and adjust it manually for better control.
- If ghost touch occurs during charging, switch to a different charger or charge the phone while it’s powered off.
User experience:
"The screen sometimes registers touches that I didn’t make, especially when I’m charging the phone. I also noticed that the brightness can be uneven at times."
5. Software Bugs and Stability Issues
The Infinix Hot 10 runs on XOS 7.0 (based on Android 10), which comes with various features and customizations. However, users have encountered several software bugs that affect the phone's stability.
Reported software bugs include:
- Random reboots or crashes while using certain apps.
- Notification delays or missing notifications, particularly for messaging apps.
- Overheating, especially when using the phone for navigation or while charging.
Potential fixes:
- Keep the software updated with over-the-air (OTA) updates, as Infinix occasionally releases bug fixes.
- If the phone frequently reboots, perform a factory reset after backing up important data.
- Reduce background processes and limit apps running simultaneously to avoid overheating.
User complaints:
"My phone restarts on its own sometimes, and notifications are delayed. I missed a few important messages because the notifications just didn’t come through."
6. Fingerprint Sensor and Face Unlock Issues
The Infinix Hot 10 includes both a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and Face Unlock as security features. However, users have reported issues with the reliability of both.
Common problems:
- Fingerprint sensor becomes unresponsive or slow to unlock the phone.
- Face Unlock struggles in low-light environments or at certain angles.
- Frequent misrecognitions, requiring multiple attempts to unlock the device.
Solutions:
- Re-register fingerprints in the settings for better recognition accuracy.
- Use Face Unlock in well-lit environments, or rely on the fingerprint sensor in dim light.
- Ensure the fingerprint sensor is clean and free of dust for improved performance.
Conclusion: Is the Infinix Hot 10 Worth Buying?
The Infinix Hot 10 offers a lot for its price, including a large display, decent performance for everyday tasks, and a massive battery. However, it’s not without its flaws, with issues ranging from performance slowdowns to display problems and software bugs.
If you're in the market for a budget smartphone and your usage consists mainly of basic tasks like browsing, watching videos, and light gaming, the Infinix Hot 10 can still be a decent option. However, if you are concerned about long-term performance or need a more reliable camera and better stability, you might want to consider alternative budget phones.
Recommended alternatives:
- Xiaomi Redmi 10: Offers a more refined software experience and a better display, with fewer performance issues.
- Realme Narzo 30: Known for its smooth performance and gaming capabilities at a similar price range.
- Samsung Galaxy A12: Provides reliable performance and better software optimization with Samsung’s One UI.
In conclusion, while the Infinix Hot 10 is a reasonable choice for those on a tight budget, its performance issues and software bugs may make it less appealing compared to newer alternatives in the budget smartphone market.