Infinix SMART 9 HD Review: A Simple Budget Phone for Basic Needs

This Infinix SMART 9 HD Review looks at a budget phone that costs ₹6,699 in India. The phone was announced in November 2024 and released in December 2024. It has a 6.7-inch screen with 90Hz refresh rate, a 5000mAh battery, and basic protection against dust and water. The phone targets people buying their first smartphone or those who need a backup device.

The Infinix SMART 9 HD runs on Android 14 Go Edition with XOS 14. It uses the MediaTek Helio G50 processor and comes with 3GB RAM and 64GB storage.

Release Date: December 2024
Current Price: ₹6,699 (starting price)
Best For: First-time buyers, students, basic daily use
Main Feature: 90Hz smooth display at low price
Overall Score: 6.8/10 – Good Budget Option
Quick Summary: The Infinix SMART 9 HD gives you a smooth 90Hz display and long 5000mAh battery at a very low price. But it has a basic processor and charges very slowly.

The Infinix SMART 9 HD measures 165.7 x 77.1 x 8.4 mm. According to the specifications, it weighs 188 grams. The phone has a glass front with plastic back and plastic frame. This keeps the cost low while making the phone strong enough for daily use.

Based on the technical specifications, the phone has IP54 certification. This means it can handle water splashes and keeps out most dust. This protection is rare in phones under ₹7,000. The IP54 rating makes the phone safer to use in dusty areas or light rain.

The phone comes in four colors: Metallic Black, Neo Titanium, Mint Green, and Coral Gold. The specifications show it’s 8.4mm thin despite having a large 5000mAh battery inside. The plastic back doesn’t show fingerprints as much as glass.

According to the specifications, the fingerprint sensor sits on the side, built into the power button. The phone has both USB Type-C port and 3.5mm headphone jack. The technical specifications confirm tempered glass protects the screen (not Gorilla Glass).

The build uses budget-friendly materials. The plastic back is lighter than glass and doesn’t break as easily if dropped. The phone size fits well in most pockets even with the large 6.7-inch screen.

The Infinix SMART 9 HD Review shows the display as the best feature for this price. The specifications confirm a 6.7-inch IPS LCD screen with 720 x 1600 pixel resolution (HD+ quality). The main advantage is the 90Hz refresh rate, which makes scrolling smoother than standard 60Hz screens.

According to the specifications, the screen reaches 500 nits peak brightness. This brightness level helps you see the screen outdoors in sunlight. The technical specifications show this brightness beats most phones under ₹7,000.

The IPS LCD technology provides good viewing angles. The specifications show the screen uses a teardrop notch (also called punch-hole) for the front camera. The screen has basic tempered glass protection, not branded protection like Gorilla Glass.

The 90Hz refresh rate is the display’s biggest strength. Based on the specifications, this makes the phone feel faster when scrolling through apps and websites. The 720 x 1600 resolution gives you about 262 pixels per inch. This creates sharp enough text for reading and browsing.

The specifications don’t mention HDR support or wide color coverage. The display works well for watching YouTube, scrolling Instagram, and reading messages. The 20:9 screen shape is good for holding in one hand while scrolling.

This Infinix SMART 9 HD Review needs to explain what to expect from the processor. The phone uses the MediaTek Helio G50 chipset. According to the specifications, this is an octa-core processor with cores running at different speeds. The main cores run at 2.2 GHz.

The specifications show the GPU is Mali-G57 MC1 (some sources mention PowerVR GE8320). This handles basic graphics tasks. The phone comes with 3GB LPDDR4X RAM. The specifications mention virtual RAM that can add 3GB more, bringing total to 6GB.

For storage, the specifications confirm 64GB eMMC 5.1 internal memory. You can add up to 1TB more with a microSD card. The phone runs Android 14 Go Edition with XOS 14 interface. Go Edition is Google’s light version of Android made for phones with less RAM.

Based on the technical specifications, the phone handles these tasks well:

• WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram – works smoothly
• YouTube videos – plays without problems
• Basic photography – camera app works fine
• Light games like Candy Crush – runs okay

The specifications show limitations for:

• Heavy games like PUBG or Call of Duty – will lag
• Many apps open at once – phone slows down
• Video editing – too slow for this

The Helio G50 is an entry-level chip. According to performance estimates, it scores around 170,000-180,000 on AnTuTu benchmarks. This is enough for basic smartphone use but not for gaming or heavy multitasking.

Rear Cameras

The Infinix SMART 9 HD specifications show a dual rear camera setup. The main camera is 13MP with f/1.9 aperture. According to the specifications, there’s also an AI lens (0.8MP) that helps with portrait mode.

The specifications confirm 1080p video recording at 30fps. Based on the camera specifications, you get these features: HDR, panorama, night mode, portrait mode, AI beauty, slow motion, and time-lapse. The phone has digital zoom only (no optical zoom).

The 13MP camera takes decent photos in good daylight. According to the specifications, the f/1.9 aperture lets in more light than smaller apertures. The AI lens helps blur backgrounds in portrait photos. The specifications show night mode tries to improve dark photos, but quality remains basic.

Front Camera

The front camera specifications show an 8MP sensor with f/2.0 aperture. A special feature is the LED flash for the front camera. This is uncommon in budget phones. The specifications also mention screen flash as a backup option.

According to the specifications, the front camera records 720p video at 30fps. This quality works fine for video calls on WhatsApp or Google Meet. The camera includes portrait mode, digital zoom, and AI beauty features.

Photo & Video Quality

The specifications indicate camera quality that’s okay for social media. The 13MP rear camera handles outdoor photos in good light. According to the technical specifications, low-light photos will show noise and less detail even with night mode.

The specifications confirm only digital zoom, which makes photos look worse when zoomed in. Portrait mode uses software processing. The 1080p video quality is acceptable for basic recording but has no stabilization.

The Infinix SMART 9 HD Review finds the battery as a strong point. The specifications confirm a 5000mAh battery. According to the technical specifications, this large capacity provides excellent battery life for budget phone users.

Expected battery life based on specifications:

Light Use (calls, messages, some browsing): The 5000mAh capacity should last 2-3 days easily. The Android 14 Go Edition helps save battery power.

Normal Use (social media, browsing, videos): According to the specifications, you should get a full day with 20-30% left. The battery should provide 6-8 hours of screen time.

Heavy Use (games, lots of videos): The 5000mAh battery still gives you a full day. The specifications show the 90Hz display is efficient enough not to drain battery too fast.

The charging specifications show 10W wired charging. This is the phone’s main weakness. According to the technical specifications, 10W charging takes about 3 to 3.5 hours to fully charge the 5000mAh battery. This is much slower than phones with 15W or 18W charging.

The specifications mention reverse charging support. This means you can use your phone to charge other devices or accessories with an OTG cable. According to the specifications, the phone has AI Charge Protection to keep the battery healthy longer.

The specifications don’t include wireless charging. Budget phones don’t usually have this feature. The charging technology focuses on safety rather than speed.

The Infinix SMART 9 HD runs Android 14 Go Edition with XOS 14 interface. According to the specifications, Android 14 Go Edition is Google’s special version for phones with limited RAM. This version uses less memory and storage than regular Android.

The specifications show XOS 14 adds extra features from Infinix. These include Interactive Dynamic Bar, charging animations, charge completion alerts, and Always-On Display. According to the technical specifications, these features let you see information without unlocking the phone.

For security, the specifications show a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and 2D face unlock. The fingerprint sensor is built into the power button for easy access. According to the specifications, 2D face unlock works quickly in good lighting but is less secure than 3D face scanning.

The sensor specifications list accelerometer, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, and compass. These sensors enable auto-brightness, screen-off during calls, and navigation features. The specifications don’t mention gyroscope, which some games and AR apps need.

According to the specifications, special features include Boost Engine for better performance and DTS Audio Processing for improved sound. The technical specifications confirm OTG support for connecting USB drives and accessories.

The specifications mention Android 14 updates but don’t say how long updates will continue. The phone comes with Google Go apps that use less storage space.

The Infinix SMART 9 HD offers 4G LTE only (no 5G). According to the network specifications, the phone supports many 4G bands including Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, and 66. These bands work with all major Indian network providers.

The specifications show a dual nano-SIM hybrid slot. Based on the technical specifications, you choose between using two SIM cards or one SIM plus a microSD card for storage. The official specifications confirm dual VoLTE support for HD voice calls on both SIMs.

For Wi-Fi, the specifications show Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac dual-band support. This is Wi-Fi 5 standard. The Bluetooth specifications indicate version 5.0 for connecting wireless headphones and speakers.

The specifications don’t include NFC. This means no contactless payments like Google Pay tap-to-pay. According to the USB specifications, the phone has USB Type-C 2.0 for charging and data transfer. The specifications confirm GPS and A-GPS for navigation.

Sound Features

The audio specifications highlight dual stereo speakers with DTS enhancement. According to the speaker specifications, dual speakers give louder, clearer sound than single speakers. Most budget phones only have one speaker.

The specifications include a 3.5mm headphone jack for wired headphones. The technical specifications also mention Ultra Volume Mode, FM radio, and even an infrared port (for TV remotes). According to the specifications, the dual speakers are placed so your hands don’t block them when holding the phone sideways.

The specifications confirm mobile hotspot support for sharing internet. The 4G LTE bands ensure good coverage across India.

⭐ Design & Build: 7/10 – Solid build with IP54 water protection
⭐ Display Quality: 7.5/10 – Excellent 90Hz smoothness for the price
⭐ Performance: 6/10 – Good enough for basic tasks only
⭐ Camera System: 6/10 – Basic cameras for casual photos
⭐ Battery Life: 8/10 – Excellent 5000mAh lasts very long
⭐ Value for Money: 7/10 – Good price for what you get

Best For:

Main Purpose: People buying their first smartphone
Also Good For: Students needing a basic phone for classes and internet
Can Work For: Anyone wanting a backup phone with long battery

According to the specifications, the Infinix SMART 9 HD works well for:

• Making calls and sending messages
• Using WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram
• Watching YouTube videos
• Taking basic photos
• Browsing the internet

The 90Hz display makes scrolling feel smoother than other cheap phones. The 5000mAh battery lasts a very long time. The IP54 protection helps keep the phone safe from dust and water splashes.

Not Good For:

Gamers – The Helio G50 chip can’t handle heavy games well
Photo lovers – The cameras are very basic
People opening many apps – Only 3GB RAM slows down with multitasking
Fast charging needs – 10W charging is very slow
5G users – This phone only has 4G

Need 5G connectivity? Explore these 5G alternatives: Redmi 15 5G, Samsung Galaxy A17 5G, or Samsung Galaxy M06 5G.

This Infinix SMART 9 HD Review shows how it compares to other phones costing ₹6,000-₹8,000. According to the specifications, the Infinix SMART 9 HD stands out with its 90Hz display and IP54 protection. Most phones this cheap have 60Hz displays and no water protection.

Other budget phones might have:

• Faster processors but 60Hz displays
• Similar specs but no water protection
• Better cameras but smaller batteries
• Faster charging but fewer features

The Infinix SMART 9 HD specifications show it beats competitors in display smoothness and battery size. The dual stereo speakers with DTS sound are also uncommon at this price.

The main weakness compared to others is the 10W slow charging. Some competitors offer 15W or 18W charging. According to processor comparisons, some budget phones have slightly better chips, but the difference is small for basic use.

The price-to-features ratio looks good. Based on the specifications, the mix of 90Hz screen, 5000mAh battery, IP54 rating, and dual speakers creates good value. The phone works best for people who care more about smooth display and long battery than maximum power.

The Infinix SMART 9 HD Review pricing shows ₹6,699 is very competitive. According to the specifications, you get a 90Hz display, 5000mAh battery, and IP54 protection for less than ₹7,000. Similar features usually cost ₹8,000-₹10,000 in other phones.

The price has stayed stable since launch. Based on the features-to-price ratio, the phone offers good value. The specifications show Infinix kept costs down by using an entry-level processor and slow 10W charging.

Compared to the average budget phone price of ₹10,000-₹12,000, the Infinix SMART 9 HD costs much less. The specifications deliver key features that matter most to budget buyers: smooth display and long battery.

Good Points:

90Hz Display – The screen refreshes 90 times per second. This makes scrolling much smoother than standard 60Hz displays. You’ll notice the difference when using apps and browsing websites.

5000mAh Big Battery – The large battery lasts 1-2 days for normal use. It can even charge other devices through reverse charging. You won’t need to worry about battery dying during the day.

IP54 Water Protection – The phone can handle water splashes and keeps dust out. This protection is very rare in phones under ₹7,000. It makes the phone safer to use in rain or dusty places.

Dual Stereo Speakers – Two speakers with DTS enhancement sound much better than single speakers. The sound is louder and clearer for videos and music.

Good Connectivity – Supports many 4G bands, dual VoLTE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, and has a 3.5mm headphone jack. Everything you need to stay connected.

Android 14 Go – The latest Android version optimized for budget phones runs smoothly even with less RAM.

Bad Points:

Very Slow 10W Charging – Charging the 5000mAh battery takes 3 to 3.5 hours. This is much slower than phones with 15W or 18W charging. You’ll need to wait a long time to fully charge.

Weak Helio G50 Processor – The entry-level chip struggles with heavy apps and games. It can only handle basic tasks well. Opening many apps at once makes the phone slow down.

No 5G – The phone only has 4G network support. As 5G networks spread across India, this phone can’t use them. It might feel outdated sooner.

Basic Cameras – The 13MP main camera and AI lens take okay photos in good light only. Low-light photos look grainy. There’s no optical zoom.

Only HD+ Resolution – The 720 x 1600 screen resolution is lower than Full HD+. Text and images don’t look as sharp as higher resolution displays.

Only 3GB RAM – With just 3GB physical RAM, the phone can’t run many apps at once. Virtual RAM helps a little but doesn’t match real RAM.