Infinix Hot 8 Lite vs. Hot 9 Play: A Detailed Comparison

Looking for an affordable smartphone that doesn't completely break the bank? The Infinix Hot series is known for offering impressive features at budget-friendly prices. Today, we're pitting the Infinix Hot 8 Lite against the newer Infinix Hot 9 Play to see which one comes out on top.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Infinix Hot 9 Play is the clear winner. Its significantly more powerful chipset, improved battery life, and reverse charging capabilities offer a noticeable upgrade over the Hot 8 Lite, making it a better value for the money despite a similar price point.

PHONES
Phone Names	Infinix Hot 8 Lite	Infinix Hot 9 Play

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	-	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA	GSM / HSPA / LTE

Launch
Announced	2019, October. Released 2019, October	2020, April 09. Released 2020, April 09
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Build	Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame	Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions	165 x 76.3 x 8.7 mm (6.50 x 3.00 x 0.34 in)	171.8 x 78 x 8.9 mm (6.76 x 3.07 x 0.35 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	175 g (6.17 oz)	209 g (7.37 oz)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution	720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~266 ppi density)	720 x 1640 pixels (~263 ppi density)
Size	6.6 inches, 105.2 cm2 (~83.5% screen-to-body ratio)	6.82 inches, 110.5 cm2 (~82.4% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 450 nits (typ)	IPS LCD

Platform
CPU	Quad-core 1.3 GHz	Quad-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 - 32/2GBOcta-core (4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) - 32/3GB, 64/3-4GB
Chipset	Mediatek MT6580	Mediatek MT6761 Helio A22 (12 nm) - 32/2GBMediatek MT6762D Helio A25 (12 nm) - 32/3GB, 64/3-4GB
GPU	-	PowerVR GE8300PowerVR GE8320
OS	Android 8.1 Oreo (Go edition)	Android 9.0 Pie (Go edition) - 32/2GBAndroid 9.0 (Pie) - 32/3GB, 64/3-4GB

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	32GB 2GB RAM	32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM
	eMMC 5.1	eMMC 5.1

Main Camera
Dual	8 MP, f/1.8, PDAF Auxiliary lens	13 MP, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm, AF Auxiliary lens
Features	Quad-LED flash, panorama, HDR	Triple-LED flash, panorama, HDR
Single	-	13 MP, AF
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Features	LED flash	-
Single	8 MP	8 MP, (wide)
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes
	Dirac sound	-

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE
NFC	No	No
Positioning	GPS	GPS
Radio	FM radio	FM radio
USB	microUSB 2.0, OTG	microUSB 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	-	10W wired Reverse wired
Stand-by	-	Up to 750 h
Talk time	-	Up to 25 h
Type	5000 mAh, non-removable	6000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Quetzal Cyan, Cosmic Purple, Shark Grey, Midnight Black	Midnight Black, Quetzal Cyan, Violet, Ocean Wave
Models	X650	X680, X680B, X680C
Price	-	About 100 EUR
SAR EU	-	0.35 W/kg (head)

Infinix Hot 8 Lite

Large display
Affordable price
Decent battery life for basic use

Outdated chipset
Slow performance
Limited features
No reverse charging

Infinix Hot 9 Play

Improved performance
Longer battery life
Reverse wired charging
More modern chipset

Still a budget phone (limited features)
Camera quality is average
Display isn't exceptional

Display Comparison

Both phones feature large HD+ displays, typically around 6.5 inches. While the Hot 8 Lite's display is adequate, the Hot 9 Play's slightly improved panel and potentially better color accuracy (though not exceptional) give it a slight edge. Viewing angles and brightness are comparable.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer a multi-lens rear camera setup, typically including a primary sensor, depth sensor, and potentially a macro lens. Image quality is generally acceptable in good lighting conditions for both, but the Hot 9 Play's newer chipset and potentially improved image processing algorithms may result in slightly better photos, especially in low light. Front-facing cameras are similar in quality.

Performance

This is where the Hot 9 Play shines. The Mediatek Helio A22/A25 chipset in the Hot 9 Play is a substantial upgrade over the Hot 8 Lite's MT6580. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive user experience on the Hot 9 Play. Gaming performance will also be noticeably better.

Battery Life

The Hot 9 Play boasts a larger battery capacity (typically 5000mAh) compared to the Hot 8 Lite (typically 4000mAh). This translates to significantly longer battery life on the Hot 9 Play, easily lasting a full day of moderate to heavy use. The Hot 9 Play also includes reverse wired charging, allowing it to charge other devices.

Buying Guide

The Infinix Hot 8 Lite is a decent option for users on an extremely tight budget who prioritize basic functionality and a large display. The Infinix Hot 9 Play is ideal for those seeking better performance, longer battery life, and the added convenience of reverse charging, even if it's still a budget device.