You know we have to put it somewhere on the list right?
We bet that many people (including you reading this right now) doesn’t even know that this device is widely available in the Philippines since February 27– but we don’t blame you.
Released to no fanfare and the bare minimum when it comes to marketing, Infinix already knows that this will be a hit because it’s affordable and is an easy option for those who want a budget smartphone.
But as the saying goes: “if you want the best, you got to pay top dollar for it.” That was true five years ago. But not today, as mid-range and entry-level options managed to cram in high-quality features that can match those flagship offerings.
Enough chitchat, and let’s get down to the nitty-gritty with the Infinix Smart 7. If you want to see this phone’s specs, click this link right here: https://unboxdiaries.com/phones/infinix-smart-7/
Quick specs
Processor: MediaTek Helio A22 (Quad-core 4×2.0GHz) / UNISOC SC9863A (India/PH)
RAM/ROM: 3GB/4GB RAM – 64GB ROM
Display: 6.6-inch in 720p IPS LCD 60Hz
Camera: 13 + 0.3MP rear / 5MP front (1080p@30fps, 720p@30fps)
OS: Android 12, XOS 12
Battery: 6,000mAh Li-Po 10W
Colors: Azure Blue, Emerald Green, Night Black
Other features: Side fingerprint scanner, 4G dual Nano-SIM, loudspeaker, 3.5mm headphone jack, wavy back design, plastic back and frame
Let’s start with the design: it’s the standard Infinix style language: vibrant colors with a textured back that can pass as a mid-range one at first glance. Pretty good design choice overall.
Now, the Helio A22 & UNISOC SC9863A chipset is reaching five years old by June of 2023, and to be honest– Infinix should settle for a Unisoc Tiger series that’s also found in most entry-level phones nowadays. The Helio A22/UNISOC SC9863A is too laggy even for basic tasks, so that’s a big bummer.
Even the 4 GB of RAM isn’t sufficient to run most apps with ease since the Helio A22/UNISOC SC9863A is pretty weak. Regarding the 64 GB storage, however, we have no complaints about it, since it is very rare to obtain a phone around this price range with that big of storage.
You better pick the 4 GB RAM version to give it some kick, if there’s any. You can even enable the Extended RAM option to stretch your RAM for 3 GB more.
The Infinix Smart 7’s display on the other hand is acceptable. It’s very large at 6.6 inches, making it perfect for indoor use whether it’s for YouTube or social media usage. It’s only a 720p panel though, so using it outdoors might be annoying because it isn’t bright enough.
As for its camera, the 13 MP (plus the laughable 0.3MP depth sensor) rear camera, with a 5 MP front cam might sound impressive on paper, but the camera quality is just average. But because it’s a budget phone, we have to cut it some slack.
Recording videos isn’t a slouch for the Infinix Smart 7 as it can record 1080p@30fps and 720p@30fps using its rear and front cameras. At least it’s not 480p, we can breathe a sigh of relief now.
We’re not sure if the Infinix Smart 7 can run Android 12 that well, considering the chipset’s raw power isn’t sufficient to run most apps and games that smoothly. WIKO T10 resorted to Android 12 Go, and with this choice packing the whole Android 12 shebang, any updates (which is a rarity among Android devices) to it will cause the Smart 7 to be sluggish.
XOS 12 however is still filled with bloatware and weird glitches, so better suit you if you’re planning to buy this one. That rings true for most budget devices as well. The color choices are all fine, we personally like the Azure Black option, as it looks like a Xiaomi flagship killer device from afar.
As for its battery, a huge 5,000mAh capacity is a welcome addition. However, the power consumption of Helio A22/UNISOC SC9863A with its 12nm and 28nm process (the lower the number, the better) translates to more battery consumed so it’s like a 3,000mAh battery when used. The 10W charger doesn’t help also with its slow speed and microUSB 2.0– come on it’s 2023.
On its upside, the legendary 3.5mm headphone jack is still present– there’s also a side-mounted fingerprint scanner that is always a welcome addition to any entry-level device. You can also insert two SIM slots and a dedicated microSD slot for expandability.
PRICING
For only ₱3,699, you’ll get the base 3+64GB variant. But why settle on that when you can just add ₱300 pesos more and have an additional RAM at your disposal? (₱3,999 4+64GB variant.)
It’s really hard to rank this smartphone because, despite its shortcomings, we have to remind ourselves that this is just a humble entry-level device that has the essentials on board without you settling on a feature phone device (except if you want one).
For now, we will rank the Infinix Smart 7 as SAKTO LANG due to its fairly average specs that are understandable but will leave many users wanting for more such as a little bit more processing power, and a Type-C 2.0 port.
Update: the Philippine release of Infinix Smart 7 swapped the Helio A22 chipset for a UNISOC SC9863A, but in terms of processing power versus the Helio A22, there’s not much difference besides the Unisoc one has an octa-core build to it. So in the end, our critique still applies whether it’s an Helio A22 or UNISOC SC9863A one.
