itel S23 vs Infinix Hot 30, Which One is Better?

In the second quarter of 2023, the itel S23 and Infinix Hot 30 smartphones gained popularity. This can be attributed to their affordable prices without compromising on quality.

Therefore, it is not surprising that users are rapidly adopting these smartphone offerings from Transsion Holdings. The market is always on the lookout for phones with cutting-edge specifications and features that are affordable.

The itel S23 is less expensive than the Infinix Hot 30 when comparing the two devices' prices.

Now, the question is: which smartphone, itel S23 or the Infinix Hot 30, is more worthwhile? Both devices offer different characteristics to meet a variety of requirements.

Therefore, it is essential to examine the comparison between the itel S23 and Infinix Hot 30 that the Carisinyal team has compiled. Let's explore their specifications and features in detail!

Comparison: itel S23 vs Infinix Hot 30

If you're torn between the itel S23 and the Infinix Hot 30, the Carisinyal team have got you covered. To help you make an informed decision before making a purchase, let's delve into the key comparison points below.

1. Design: Waterdrop vs. Punch Hole

The design of the itel S23 and Infinix Hot 30 is one of their main selling points, exceeding the standards of their respective price ranges with a luxurious look.

The rear body design of the itel S23, for example, changes color when exposed to sunlight. Its circular camera module gives it a unique touch.

The absence of a rear fingerprint sensor gives the back of the phone a sleeker and more pleasing appearance. The fingerprint sensor has been placed on the exterior of the itel S23 for both practical and aesthetic reasons.

The rear display has a luxurious, glossy appearance similar to that of glass. In addition, the frame's flat design ensures a secure grip.

Moving to the front, the itel S23 features a waterdrop-style notch, which is still popular among budget-friendly smartphones despite the emergence of punch hole designs on some entry-level models.

Let's now devote our attention to the Infinix Hot 30, one of the most powerful rivals to the itel S23. This phone's design is more dynamic, featuring a texture of diagonal geometric lines with variable angles. In contrast to the itel S23's single camera module, Infinix's camera configuration consists of three small spheres.

The two cameras are placed within a large circle on the left side, while a smaller circle on the right houses the LED flash. Similar to the itel S23, the Infinix Hot 30 also lacks a rear fingerprint sensor to maintain a modern appearance. Instead, a sensor is discreetly integrated into the edge of the body, blending seamlessly with the power button to offer a convenient unlocking feature.

What sets the Infinix Hot 30 apart is its front design, which incorporates a punch-hole camera. This camera design is highly uncommon for a budget-friendly phone. Not only does it provide a superior screen-to-body ratio, but the Infinix Hot 30 also gives the impression of a phone with a higher price.

Winner:  Equal

Reason: Both designs are appealing, depending on your personal tastes. The itel S23 differentiates itself with its circular rear camera and color-changing body, while the Infinix Hot 30 prevails with its front camera design featuring a punch-hole.

2. 6.8-inch Full HD+ vs. 6.8-inch HD+ IPS Display

Not only does the itel S23 feature a waterdrop notch, but its screen size of 6.6 inches falls short as well. In contrast, the Infinix Hot 30's screen measures 6.78 inches. Although the size difference may seem insignificant, it is noteworthy.

However, what's interesting is that the itel S23 also has a lower resolution of 720 x 1612 pixels, while the Infinix Hot 30 offers a resolution of 1080 x 2460 pixels. Additionally, the itel S23 has a pixel density of 269 ppi, whereas the Infinix Hot 30 achieves a higher density of 395 ppi.

This means that the Infinix Hot 30 not only provides a more immersive screen display but also delivers better sharpness. Furthermore, the Infinix Hot 30 incorporates a punch-hole camera, adding to its visual appeal.

Both smartphones have a refresh rate of 90 Hz, which is quite impressive for their price range. This allows for a more seamless interface transition than the standard 60 Hz.

Again, the itel S23 falls short in terms of brightness. The utmost brightness setting reaches only 350 nits. The itel S23 lacks an ambient light sensor, preventing automatic adjustments to the display's brightness. In contrast, the Infinix Hot 30 boasts a maximum brightness of 600 nits and an average brightness of 500 nits. In addition, the Infinix Hot 30 is equipped with a light sensor.

The itel S23 only supports Widevine L3 certification for content consumption, whereas the Infinix Hot 30 has Widevine L1 certification. This indicates that the Infinix Hot 30 can display HD resolution content on platforms such as Netflix, while the itel S23 cannot.

The itel S23 has a maximum touch sampling rate of 180 Hz, which is significantly lower than the Infinix Hot 30's highest rate of 270 Hz. For gaming, the Infinix Hot 30 is a preferred option due to its lower touch latency (anti-delay).

Winner: Infinix Hot 30

Reason: The Infinix Hot 30 has a larger display with a higher resolution and pixel density. It supports Netflix HD content, has a more responsive screen with higher brightness for outdoor usage, and features a punch-hole camera.

3. Unisoc Tiger T606 vs. Helio G88

Itel S23 and Infinix Hot 30 are intended to provide a good price-to-performance ratio. It is understandable that the itel S23's performance may not be as robust as that of the Infinix Hot 30, given its reduced price.

The itel S23 is equipped with the 12 nm fabricated Unisoc Tiger T606 chipset. The Infinix Hot 30, on the other hand, employs the MediaTek Helio G88 SoC. Both chipsets, manufactured using the same process, effectively optimize power efficiency.

The Unisoc T606 and the Helio G88 have several characteristics, including eight cores and the same iteration of microarchitecture. Two Cortex A75 performance cores and six Cortex A55 power-saving cores are present in both chipsets.

However, the Helio G88's clock speed is 2 GHz, while the Unisoc's frequency is only 1.6 GHz. The Unisoc Tiger T606 has a Mali G57 MP1 GPU with a graphics frequency of 650 MHz, and the Helio G88 has a Mali G52 MC2 GPU clocked at 1000 MHz.

According to NanoReview data, The Unisoc Tiger T606 achieves an AnTuTu v9 score of 180,777 points, while the Helio G88 achieves a score of 247,739 points, a difference of approximately 37 percent.

The Unisoc Tiger T606 gets 314 points (single-core) and 1181 points (multi-core) on the Geekbench 5 test. Similar to its higher AnTuTu v9 score, the Helio G88 outperforms on the Geekbench 5, with scores of 367 and 1266.

According to Jagat Review, the itel S23 is capable of operating Genshin Impact at a frame rate between 20 and 30 FPS. TrendGrnd stated, although there may be some stuttering, it remains reasonable and tolerable. Similarly, the Infinix Hot 30 demonstrates comparable game performance, with some slight stuttering but still enjoyable, as seen in gameplay videos on YouTube.

Considering the size of the Unisoc Tiger T606, its game performance in running Genshin Impact is quite impressive.

In terms of storage performance, the itel S23 is comparable to UFS 2.2 and uses the same 128 GB storage capacity as the Infinix Hot 30. However, the itel S23 offers RAM options of 4 GB or 8 GB, while the Infinix Hot 30 only offers 8 GB.

Winner: Infinix Hot 30

Reason: Based on its higher benchmark scores, the Helio G88 chipset in the Infinix Hot 30 is a better choice than the Unisoc Tiger T606. Additionally, the Helio G88 has superior performance in real life. The performance of the Helio G88 on the Infinix Hot 30 lacks shine in this case. It could be due to issues with optimization or bugs.

4. Camera

It appears that high-resolution camera technology has become the standard in the smartphone industry. It's been a while since I last encountered a phone with a standard resolution like 13 MP or 8 MP.

Even budget-friendly smartphones, such as the itel S23 and Infinix Hot 30, now feature a 50 MP main camera, utilizing the 4-in-1 pixel binning or quad Bayer technology, which combines four adjacent pixels into one. This enables the camera to capture more light during each shot, resulting in detailed, bright, and less noisy photos.

The itel S23's 50 MP camera has an aperture of f/1.8, while the Infinix Hot 30's main camera has an aperture of f/1.6. Both smartphones have only a depth sensor camera as a secondary camera, but their resolutions are different: 0.3 MP f/2.4 on the itel S23 and 0.08 MP on the Infinix Hot 30.

The presence of a depth sensor camera is often considered a gimmick or decoration, especially considering its low resolution. The bokeh effect can be achieved through software manipulation using the main camera.

Regarding additional features, both of the main cameras feature autofocus, enabling fast and precise focusing. The itel S23 is equipped with a standard LED Flash, while the Infinix Hot 30 features a Quad LED Flash, making it ideally adapted for low-light photography. Additionally, both phones feature an extraordinary night mode for enhanced low-light performance.

The Infinix Hot 30 has improved video recording capabilities, as its 1440p resolution surpasses the 1080p resolution of the itel S23. However, it is important to note that neither device supports video recording at a frame rate of 60.

HDR mode is supported by both the itel S23 and the Infinix Hot 30 to equalize the illumination between the source and the subject. Moreover, a portrait mode is available for capturing bokeh images with remarkable results, especially considering the reasonable price.

On the front, the itel S23 features an 8 MP selfie camera with LED Flash, while the Infinix Hot 30 offers an 8 MP selfie camera with the advantage of Dual LED Flash. Both devices support video recording at 1080p resolution and 30 FPS.

Winner: Infinix Hot 30

Reason: The Infinix Hot 30 is equipped with a quad LED Flash on the rear and a dual LED Flash on the front. In addition, it supports a higher main camera recording resolution of 2K (1440p) compared to 1080p on the itel S23.

5. 10 W vs. 33 W Charging

Both the itel S23 and the Infinix Hot 30 feature batteries with a capacity of 5,000 mAh. Considering that the itel S23 has a smaller screen size with lower density and resolution, it is expected to have a longer battery life compared to the Infinix Hot 30.

However, both smartphones are capable of lasting a full day and even up to the second day under normal usage. The notable difference lies in their battery charging capabilities.

The itel S23 offers only 10 W of charging power. According to a source on YouTube called Tdevelops, the phone takes approximately 3–4 hours to reach 100 percent battery charge. This is a relatively long period.

In contrast, a YouTube channel called Valor Reviews revealed that the Infinix Hot 30 can go from 0 to 100 percent battery charge in just 1 hour and 19 minutes.

Winner: Infinix Hot 30

Reason: The Infinix Hot 30 boasts a faster charging duration, taking only 1 hour to reach full charge compared to the itel S23's 3–4 hours.

6. Operating System: Android 12 vs. 13

The itel S23 comes pre-installed with Android 12 and the itel OS 8.6 interface. Interestingly, itel has its own interface instead of sharing it with Infinix, which sets it apart. Initially, we anticipated it would follow a similar approach to realme, which borrowed the interface from OPPO's ColorOS.

The itel S23's software is fairly standard for its price range, with some pre-installed applications that are commonly found on Transsion Holdings' devices. This includes any advertising that may be present.

Alternatively, the Infinix Hot 30 launches with a more recent version of Android, Android 13, as well as the XOS 12.6 user interface. With Android 13, the Infinix Hot 30 offers a variety of enhancements, including Material Design features, improved multitasking capabilities, enhanced performance, and an overall enhanced user experience.

Considering that both phones are part of Transsion Holdings, please note that software updates are not guaranteed for either device, particularly as they belong to the entry-level segment.

Winner: Infinix Hot 30

Reason: Although the difference is not significant, the Infinix Hot 30's use of Android 13 gives it an advantage over the itel S23, which operates on Android 12.

7. Sensors, NFC, and Stereo Speaker

The itel S23 lacks an extensive array of sensors. Similar to the Infinix Hot 30, it features a side-mounted fingerprint sensor but lacks a light sensor. As a result, it is difficult for users to use the phone outdoors during daylight hours because the brightness cannot be automatically adjusted.

The gyro sensors on both smartphones are virtual, indicating that they lack dedicated hardware. Both devices include proximity sensors, accelerometers, and electronic compasses.

The Infinix Hot 30 gains an advantage in terms of additional features, such as NFC and stereo speakers.

Winner: Infinix Hot 30

Reason: The Infinix Hot 30 offers a greater variety of sensors, along with NFC and stereo speakers.

Conclusion

The itel S23 and Infinix Hot 30 are both exceptional choices in the entry-level class, providing features and specifications that surpass those of other budget-friendly phones.

However, each device offers unique features to cater to different target audiences. To ensure a satisfying purchase, it's essential to carefully consider all aspects of the comparison.

Choose the itel S23 if:

• You have a limited budget.
• You fancy phones with color-changing body designs and don't mind the waterdrop notch.
• You seek a superior price-to-performance ratio, enabling you to play Genshin Impact.
• The camera's performance is important to you, especially considering its low release price.
• The Android version is not a primary concern.
• You need a phone suitable for the elderly or children who don't require extensive RAM.

Choose the Infinix Hot 30 if:

• You desire a phone with a unique patterned body design and a punch-hole display.
• A wider, sharper, brighter, and more responsive screen is a priority.
• You require a camera capable of recording in 2K resolution and equipped with Quad LED Flash.
• Features like a light sensor for auto brightness adjustment, NFC, and stereo speakers are essential.
• You prefer the more modern Android 13 version.
• Lightning-fast charging duration is a crucial factor for you.
• You want a phone with a superior chipset choice.

Considering these factors, which phone would you choose? Share your thoughts with us on the comment section below.