Infinix’s Smart 8 smartphone, announced globally at the start of this month, is already available for purchase in Kenya.
It succeeds the Infinix Smart 7, which was introduced in the country in March this year after an announcement globally the previous month.
The device comes in two variations: one with 4GB RAM and 64GB onboard storage and another double the storage and memory (128GB onboard storage and 8GB RAM).
In addition to fixing the memory pain points that defined its predecessor, as can be seen in the table below, the Infinix Smart 8 features several other significant upgrades over its predecessor. Our most notable one is the replacement of the microUSB port with a USB Type-C one. It’s still 10W charging when you plug in the device but, finally, you can use one cable to charge everything, including your Infinix Smart 8 smartphone as well. That marks the end of the microUSB port on Infinix smartphones, at least as far as we know, no?
Design-wise, the Infinix Smart 8 has a textured back to ensure a comfortable grip.
Also at the back is where one finds the dual cameras with quad flash that are placed on a rectangular module on the top-left corner of the device.
On the front is the usual cutout for the front-facing camera (now a single punch hole, unlike the tear drop on its predecessor) but, as was the case with the latest Infinix smartphone we have reviewed, Infinix is bringing the iPhone-style “Dynamic Island” pop-up to the device, using software to virtually extend the cutout and provide users with added functionality.
Other features and specifications of the device, like the 6.6-inch HD+ display (that Infinix says is readable in the sun) and its 90Hz refresh rate and high brightness level (500 nits), the same 5,000mAh battery unit that we find on its predecessor and others, are as captured in the table below:
| Infinix Smart 7 | Infinix Smart 8 | |
| Dimensions and weight | 163.8 x 75.6 x 8.7 mm, 188g | 8.5 mm thin, other details TBC |
| Display | 6.6-inch HD+ LCD (1612 x 720 pixels) with standard 60Hz refresh rate | Same display panel but with up to 90Hz display refresh rate |
| Camera | Selfie camera: 5MP Main camera: 13MP | Selfie camera: 8MP Main camera: 13MP |
| Processor | Unisoc SC9863A1 | Unisoc T606 |
| Memory | 4GB RAM, 64GB onboard storage | Up to 8GB RAM, up to 128GB onboard storage |
| Operating System | Android 12 with XOS | Android 13 with XOS |
| Battery | 5,000mAh | Same |
| Network | 3G, 4G | Same |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n/ac 2.4 GHz, 5GHz, microUSB | Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n/ac 2.4 GHz, 5GHz, USB Type-C |
| Colour options | Polar Black, Coastal Green, Iceland White, Peacock Blue | Timber Black, Shiny Gold, Crystal Green |
| Others | Fingerprint sensor (at the back) | Fingerprint sensor (side-mounted) |
Infinix also says that the Smart 8 is the first Smart series to ship with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor.
On-device, some DTS processing allows users of the device to crank up the volume all the way to 200%, you know, like the magic that we see when using the VLC media player on desktop computers, something that we have also seen some other device makers start to implement.
The Infinix Smart 8 is running on Android 13 with Infinix’s XOS custom overlay on top.
The device is priced at Kshs 16,000 in the country and comes in Timber Black, Shiny Gold and Crystal Green colour options.
While the Smart 7 had HD and Plus versions (we reviewed the latter), we are yet to know if the same will be made available for the Smart 8 and whether we will see them, should they exist, in Kenya.
