Infinix Smart 9 HD Review: Great First Buy That's Incredibly Affordable

When it comes to buying a smartphone, preferences vary widely. Some consumers aim for a budget of INR 20,000, others stretch to INR 50,000 and a select few go beyond INR 1 lakh for premium devices. However, we must acknowledge the reality that in India, there are still countless people searching for their very first smartphone or those who find even INR 10,000 a steep expense.

This segment of buyers often turns to the offline market, where affordable options are more accessible. Unfortunately, many end up investing in poorly manufactured devices, particularly from lesser-known Chinese brands and regret their purchase. Brands like I-Kall and I-Cell, for instance, have faced backlash for delivering subpar or even counterfeit products, leaving consumers disillusioned and out of pocket.

Over the years, established brands like Asus and Xiaomi have made attempts to bridge this gap by launching lighter versions of Android smartphones. These devices catered to a more price-conscious audience but the challenge of balancing quality and affordability often left gaps in consumer satisfaction.

Recently, I got my hands on the Infinix Smart 9 HD, a budget Android smartphone aimed squarely at this underserved market. It promises to offer an honest alternative for first-time buyers or those upgrading from basic feature phones. With brands like Infinix entering the space, there is hope that the digital divide can be reduced without compromising on quality or user experience. It’s high time that budget smartphones no longer equate to substandard choices. Instead, they can empower millions with the connectivity and tools they need to succeed.

During its launch offer, the Infinix Smart 9 HD was available for just INR 6,199. Intrigued by its price and features, I decided to test it out. Here’s my experience with the device.

Design: Sleek and practical

I received the mint green variant of the Infinix Smart 9 HD, which amusingly looks more blue in real life, a trend that Apple seems to have popularised.  

The front features a 6.7-inch display with a neat cut-out housing an 8-megapixel selfie camera, accompanied by an LED flash in the top-right corner. On the right side, you’ll find the volume rockers and power button, which conveniently doubles as a fingerprint scanner. The top houses a speaker, while the bottom offers a Type-C port, a microphone, a bottom-firing speaker and the good old 3.5mm headphone jack.  

The left side holds a triple SIM and microSD card slot, ensuring plenty of connectivity options. On the rear, the phone sports a dual-camera setup: a 13-megapixel primary sensor and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. Overall, the design is practical, functional and well-suited for a budget smartphone.

Display: Surprisingly smooth at this price  

The Infinix Smart 9 HD’s 6.7-inch HD display supports a 90 Hz refresh rate, a feature I first experienced on the Realme 6, which cost me INR 15,000 back then. Seeing such a smooth refresh rate at just 35 per cent of that price was pleasantly surprising.  

The display handles 1080p video playback at 60fps on YouTube without stuttering. Users can switch between 60 Hz and 90 Hz refresh rates based on their preferences. While the viewing angles are below average, I can’t complain given its price, it gets the job done.  

A unique addition is the dynamic bar, which activates during face unlock and notifies you of a full or low battery. It’s a small but thoughtful touch that adds to the user experience.

Performance: Solid for everyday use

The device is powered by a MediaTek Helio MT6765 chipset clocked at 2.2GHz, a detail I uncovered using the CPU-X app since Infinix only mentions a “MediaTek Octa-Core chipset”.  

It runs on XOS 14, which is based on Android 14 Go Edition, and comes with 3GB of physical RAM, 3GB of virtual RAM and 64GB of internal storage. For everyday tasks like social media scrolling, video watching and general navigation, it performs well.  

I tested casual games like Traffic Rider, Real Cricket 24 and Bike Racer and the phone handled them smoothly. It’s not a gaming beast, but it holds its ground for lightweight gaming.

Battery: Long-lasting for a budget device  

The Infinix Smart 9 HD packs a 5,000mAh battery with 10W charging support. Charging the device took around 2 hours and 30 minutes while connected to Wi-Fi. 

Thanks to the lightweight Android Go Edition and the 720p display, the device is energy-efficient. During my tests, it lasted nearly two days with moderate use, including calls, casual gaming and watching half a movie. For a budget device, that’s impressive.

Camera quality: Functional

The rear camera setup includes a 13-megapixel primary lens and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. It’s capable of scanning QR codes even in low light, which is handy. The photo quality is acceptable for its price range, comparable to a INR 10,000 5G phone but don’t expect miracles.  

Video recording maxes out at 1080p on the rear camera, but the quality feels closer to 480p on a premium device. The 8-megapixel front camera is decent for video calls and casual streaming, though video quality is a bit messy. The front-facing LED flash is a saviour in low-light conditions, making it usable in darker environments.

Verdict: A handy, affordable device

At INR 6,199 with bank offers, the Infinix Smart 9 HD is a decent budget smartphone that supports 4G networks, acceptable for its price range. 

It’s ideal for those looking for a secondary smartphone for calls, social media and entertainment. Whether you’re gifting it to a watchman, providing it to kids for online study or using it in a shop for online transactions, it delivers more than you’d expect for the price. 

Infinix has created a budget-friendly device that truly stands out in its segment.