The Infinix Hot 50 Pro+ 4G is one of the latest budget-friendly smartphones from Infinix, designed to offer a combination of powerful features and an affordable price tag. Known for its large display, decent performance, and long battery life, the Hot 50 Pro+ 4G has attracted attention in the budget segment. However, like most budget smartphones, the device isn’t without its issues, from software glitches to hardware concerns. In this detailed article, we’ll explore the common problems users have reported with the Hot 50 Pro+ 4G, dive into its performance, and discuss whether it’s a worthy investment for those on a budget.
1. Build Quality: Lightweight but Fragile
Infinix is known for delivering smartphones with great value for money, and the Hot 50 Pro+ 4G follows this trend with a plastic body and lightweight design. However, some users have pointed out that the phone’s build quality might be a concern over time.
a) Plastic Build and Durability Concerns
- Problem: The plastic back and frame of the phone make it feel light and portable, but they also contribute to its fragility.
- Impact: The phone can get scratched easily, and while it's not likely to crack from minor drops, stress on the body may cause unsightly damage, especially with extended usage.
- User Experience:
“The phone is light and easy to carry, but it feels cheap. After a few weeks of use, the back is already scratched up. I’ll need a case to protect it.” – User feedback from an online review.
b) Screen Durability Issues
- Problem: The glass screen has also been criticized for being prone to scratches and fingerprint smudges.
- Impact: While the screen itself offers decent clarity and color reproduction, users report it losing its pristine look over time, especially without a protective cover.
- User Experience:
“I’ve been really careful, but the screen gets smudged easily, and I already see some minor scratches on it.” – Comment from a user on Amazon.
2. Display Problems: A Decent Screen, but Some Drawbacks
The Infinix Hot 50 Pro+ 4G boasts a 6.78-inch IPS LCD display with Full HD+ resolution, making it an attractive choice for media consumption and general use. However, some users have reported issues related to the screen's performance.
a) Display Color Inaccuracy
- Problem: Despite being a Full HD+ display, some users have noted that the screen has color inaccuracies and washed-out colors, especially under bright lighting.
- Cause: This issue is often due to the quality of the display panel used in budget smartphones, which can lack color calibration.
- Impact: The overall visual experience is affected, making it less enjoyable for activities such as gaming and watching videos.
- User Experience:
“The colors look a bit dull and washed out, especially when I’m outside or in bright environments. It’s noticeable when compared to other phones in the same price range.” – Review on a tech forum.
b) Touchscreen Responsiveness Issues
- Problem: The phone's touchscreen is sometimes unresponsive, particularly during fast swipes or when the screen is wet or slightly dirty.
- Cause: This could be a result of inconsistent touch sensitivity or poor calibration of the screen.
- Impact: Users may find it frustrating to perform tasks that require quick actions, such as typing or gaming.
- User Experience:
“Sometimes, the touchscreen just doesn’t register my touches. It gets especially annoying when I’m trying to type or navigate between apps.” – User feedback from a discussion thread.
3. Performance: Adequate for Basic Use but Struggles with Demanding Apps
The Infinix Hot 50 Pro+ 4G is powered by the MediaTek Helio G85 chipset, paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. While this configuration is sufficient for light use, such as browsing the web, checking emails, and social media, it can struggle when handling more demanding tasks.
a) Lag and Slow Performance Under Load
- Problem: Users often experience lag and stuttering when switching between apps, particularly with multiple apps open at once.
- Cause: The Helio G85 chipset, though adequate for basic tasks, lacks the processing power to handle more intensive applications and multitasking efficiently.
- Impact: This leads to a sluggish experience when users try to run multiple apps simultaneously or use more demanding apps like games or media editing tools.
- User Experience:
“The phone is fine for browsing and texting, but it slows down noticeably when I open too many apps. Playing games on it is a hassle.” – Comment from a user on a review website.
b) Overheating During Heavy Use
- Problem: The device has been reported to overheat during extended use, especially when gaming or running heavy applications.
- Impact: Overheating can lead to throttling, which decreases the phone's performance, and may cause discomfort during prolonged use.
- User Experience:
“It gets hot pretty quickly when I’m playing games or watching videos for too long. This doesn’t feel great, and I’ve noticed performance drops too.” – User feedback from a smartphone forum.
4. Battery Life: Good but Can Be Inconsistent
The 5000mAh battery in the Infinix Hot 50 Pro+ 4G is one of its strongest features, offering a solid performance in terms of battery life. However, the battery’s longevity can vary depending on usage patterns and settings.
a) Inconsistent Battery Drain
- Problem: Some users have reported inconsistent battery drain, with the battery life lasting significantly less than expected in certain scenarios.
- Cause: This could be due to background processes, unsupervised app activities, or poorly optimized software.
- Impact: The phone can sometimes drain faster than anticipated, leading to the need for more frequent charging.
- User Experience:
“On most days, the battery lasts for a full day, but I’ve had days where it drops to 10% in just a few hours, even with minimal use.” – Comment on an online discussion.
b) Slow Charging
- Problem: Despite the large battery, users have found that charging the device can be relatively slow, especially compared to other phones in the same price range.
- Impact: Slow charging is a hassle for users who rely on quick top-ups during the day.
- User Experience:
“It takes almost two hours to fully charge, and that feels pretty slow considering the battery size.” – Review from a customer on an e-commerce website.
5. Camera Performance: Decent, But Far From Impressive
The Infinix Hot 50 Pro+ 4G comes equipped with a 48MP primary camera and a 2MP depth sensor. The camera setup promises good results for daily photography, but it has some limitations when it comes to low-light performance and advanced features.
a) Low-Light Performance Issues
- Problem: The camera struggles to take clear, sharp photos in low-light conditions, often producing blurry or noisy images.
- Cause: The f/1.8 aperture of the primary lens is not wide enough to let in sufficient light, and the image processing isn’t quite as advanced as more expensive phones.
- Impact: Low-light photography is poor, making the camera less suitable for evening or indoor shots.
- User Experience:
“In low light, the photos are often grainy and lack detail. The camera just doesn’t perform as well as I’d like it to.” – User review from a camera comparison site.
b) Over-Saturation in Photos
- Problem: Users have also reported that the camera tends to over-saturate colors, leading to photos that look unnatural.
- Impact: This can be especially noticeable in outdoor shots where vibrant colors are overly enhanced.
- User Experience:
“The colors look too bright and unrealistic, especially when I’m taking landscape photos. It’s not a huge issue, but it’s something to keep in mind.” – Comment from a customer on a photography-focused forum.
6. Software Bugs and Performance Issues
The Infinix Hot 50 Pro+ 4G runs on XOS 10, which is based on Android 11. While the software offers several features and customizations, it comes with its own set of bugs and glitches.
a) App Crashes and Freezing
- Problem: A number of users have reported app crashes, particularly with social media apps and web browsers.
- Impact: These crashes can interrupt the user experience and cause frustration when trying to use essential apps.
- User Experience:
“I’ve had Instagram and Facebook crash multiple times. I have to reopen them every now and then, which is annoying.” – Feedback from an app-focused forum.
b) Slow Software Updates
- Problem: Users have also pointed out that the phone receives slow software updates and security patches.
- Impact: This leaves the device vulnerable to security risks and limits access to new features.
- User Experience:
“The phone is stuck on an older version of Android, and updates take forever to arrive.” – Review from a smartphone community.
Conclusion: Is the Infinix Hot 50 Pro+ 4G Worth Buying?
The Infinix Hot 50 Pro+ 4G provides a solid experience for those looking for a budget-friendly smartphone. Its large display, decent camera, and reliable battery life make it a good option for casual users, but the performance issues, build quality concerns, and camera limitations cannot be overlooked.
Pros:
- Large display with decent clarity.
- Good battery life.
- Affordable price for basic tasks.
- Decent performance for light users.
Cons:
- Build quality feels cheap and prone to damage.
- Overheating and performance issues with heavy apps.
- Camera struggles with low-light performance.
- Slow charging and inconsistent battery drain.
- Software glitches and slow updates.
Better Alternatives:
- Realme Narzo 50A: A solid budget choice with better performance and camera quality.
- Redmi 10: Offers better performance and camera quality for a similar price.
- Samsung Galaxy A32: A reliable option with consistent performance, better software support, and camera results.
Verdict: The Infinix Hot 50 Pro+ 4G is a solid budget device for those on a tight budget, but its flaws may limit its appeal to those who want a more polished and reliable smartphone experience. For users looking for something more balanced, exploring alternatives like the Redmi 10 or Realme Narzo 50A could be a better option.