The budget smartphone segment in India is fiercely competitive, but every once in a while, a device arrives that genuinely shakes things up. The Infinix Hot 60i 5G, launched in August 2025, is one such phone. Designed for students, commuters, and first-time 5G users, it focuses on endurance, durability, and smooth everyday performance rather than flashy gimmicks. With a massive battery, reliable MediaTek chipset, and aggressive pricing, the Hot 60i 5G aims to deliver solid value under Rs 10,000.
Launch Strategy and Aggressive Pricing
Infinix officially unveiled the Hot 60i 5G on August 16, 2025, with availability across Flipkart and offline retail stores shortly after. The phone launched in a single configuration featuring 4GB RAM and 128GB internal storage, priced at Rs 9,999. Limited-time bank offers and festive discounts pushed the effective price closer to Rs 8,999 during the initial sales window.
This pricing placed the device directly against popular budget rivals such as the Redmi 14C and Realme C-series models. Infinix highlighted durability certifications, long-term performance assurances, and bundled accessories to strengthen its appeal. Color options like Shadow Blue, Sleek Black, Monsoon Green, and Plum Red added a youthful touch that resonated with younger buyers.
Built to Handle Everyday Rough Use
The Infinix Hot 60i 5G is clearly designed with Indian usage conditions in mind. Measuring 167.4 x 77.7 x 8.1mm and weighing around 199 grams, the phone feels sturdy without being overly bulky. Its IP64 rating offers protection against dust and water splashes, making it suitable for monsoon weather and daily outdoor use.
The matte-finished rear panel resists fingerprints and minor scratches, while the reinforced frame helps the phone survive accidental drops. A side-mounted fingerprint scanner ensures quick and reliable unlocking. Infinix has also included a dedicated microSD card slot, allowing storage expansion up to 2TB, a feature that is becoming increasingly rare in this price category.
Large Display Designed for Smooth Scrolling
The Hot 60i 5G features a 6.75-inch IPS LCD display with HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. While the resolution isn’t Full HD, the high refresh rate makes scrolling, app navigation, and casual gaming feel noticeably smoother than typical entry-level smartphones. The screen reaches up to 670 nits in high brightness mode, ensuring decent outdoor visibility.
With a screen-to-body ratio exceeding 90 percent, the display feels immersive for video streaming and social media use. A 240Hz touch sampling rate improves responsiveness during games like PUBG Mobile or Free Fire, giving budget gamers a smoother experience than expected at this price.
MediaTek Dimensity Performance for Daily Gaming
Powering the Infinix Hot 60i 5G is the MediaTek Dimensity 6400 chipset built on a 6nm process. The processor features two performance-focused Cortex-A76 cores and multiple efficiency cores, delivering balanced performance for everyday tasks. Paired with Mali-G57 graphics, the phone handles light to moderate gaming without frequent frame drops.
The device runs Android 15 with Infinix’s XOS 15.1 skin, which feels responsive and customizable. While 4GB RAM may seem modest, software optimization and background management keep the experience smooth for routine multitasking. Expandable storage ensures users don’t feel constrained when storing apps, videos, and photos.
Camera Performance Focused on Practical Use
The camera setup on the Hot 60i 5G is simple but effective. The 50MP primary rear camera captures sharp and well-balanced photos in daylight conditions, producing natural colors suitable for everyday photography. HDR support helps manage highlights and shadows, while the dual-LED flash improves low-light shots to a usable level.
An auxiliary lens assists with depth effects for portrait photos. On the front, a 5MP selfie camera handles video calls and casual selfies adequately, recording videos at 1080p. While the camera system won’t replace premium devices, it performs reliably for social media and daily moments.
Battery Life That Truly Stands Out
Battery endurance is the biggest strength of the Infinix Hot 60i 5G. The phone packs a massive 6000mAh battery, which easily delivers one and a half to two days of usage on a single charge. Even with heavy screen time, users can expect around 10 hours of active usage, making it ideal for long commutes and extended gaming sessions.
Charging is handled by an 18W wired charger, which fills the battery in under two hours. While not the fastest charging solution, it’s reasonable given the battery size and price point. The phone also supports reverse wired charging, allowing users to power accessories like earbuds in emergencies. A bypass charging feature helps reduce heat and battery wear during plugged-in gaming.
Connectivity and Useful Extras
The Hot 60i 5G supports both standalone and non-standalone 5G networks, ensuring compatibility with major Indian carriers such as Jio and Airtel. Additional connectivity options include dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.4, GPS, NFC for contactless payments, and an IR blaster for controlling home appliances.
Stereo speakers deliver loud and clear audio, complemented by a 3.5mm headphone jack for wired listening. Features like FM radio, gesture controls, and app cloning add practical value for everyday users.
User Feedback and Minor Limitations
User feedback has been largely positive, with buyers praising the phone’s battery life, durability, and smooth performance. Many appreciate the long standby time and solid build quality. However, some users note that the HD+ display lacks sharpness compared to Full HD panels, and the selfie camera could benefit from better image processing.
Despite these limitations, the phone delivers excellent value for its price and outperforms several competitors in battery endurance tests.
Final Verdict
The Infinix Hot 60i 5G proves that a budget smartphone doesn’t need flashy specs to be practical and reliable. With its massive battery, smooth display, dependable performance, and rugged build, it caters perfectly to students, first-time 5G users, and anyone who values endurance over excess features. As pricing stabilizes in 2026, the Hot 60i 5G stands out as one of the most sensible and long-lasting choices in the sub-Rs 10,000 segment.
