Many Africans—and consumers in general—focus on phone size, camera quality, and price rather than processor performance and RAM capacity. This often leads to frustration when the phone starts lagging due to its inability to handle their needs.
Illustration of a smartphone with a cracked screen and damaged hardware, representing phone durability issues |
❌ Why This Happens
📌 1. Lack of Awareness
Many buyers don't understand what a processor or RAM does, so they don't check specifications before purchasing.
🎯 2. Marketing Strategies
Companies focus on advertising big screens and great cameras, neglecting performance details—this influences buyers' decisions.
💰 3. Price Sensitivity
Most Nigerians prioritise affordability over performance, leading them to buy weaker devices.
🛒 4. Retailers' Influence
Some sellers recommend phones based on profit margins, not performance, misleading customers.
✅ The Solution
🎓 1. Education
Buyers need more awareness about how processors and RAM affect phone performance. Tech influencers, bloggers, and retailers should educate users.
📊 2. Buying Guides
Comparison guides (e.g., Snapdragon vs. MediaTek) can help buyers make informed choices.
🏷️ 3. Better Marketing Transparency
Brands should highlight processor capabilities, not just camera quality and screen size.
📌 Many users regret their phone choices later, but with proper knowledge, they can make better decisions and get long-lasting devices.
❓ Should Companies Stop Producing Laggy Devices?
🚨 1. Cost and Market Demand
- High-performance devices require expensive components, which not everyone can afford.
- Companies produce budget-friendly options for low-income buyers who prioritise affordability over speed.
📈 2. Market Segmentation Strategy
- Tech brands divide their products into entry-level, mid-range, and flagship categories.
- If all devices had high-end specs, companies wouldn't be able to sell premium models at higher prices.
⏳ 3. Planned Obsolescence
- Some brands intentionally make weaker devices that slow down over time, forcing users to upgrade frequently.
- This ensures continuous sales and profit growth.
⚙️ 4. Software and Hardware Limitations
- Some apps and OS updates demand more power over time.
- Older or weaker devices struggle to keep up, leading to lag.
✅ What's the Solution?
Instead of stopping production, companies should set minimum performance standards so that even budget phones offer smooth usability for a reasonable period.
📢 Infinix Hot 20i (Go Edition) – Full Specifications
The Infinix Hot 20i {Model X665C} has multiple variants, including a version powered by the MediaTek Helio A22 chipset.
📺 Display
✔️ Size: 6.6-inch IPS LCD
✔️ Resolution: 720 x 1612 pixels
✔️ Peak Brightness: Up to 500 nits
⚙️ Processor & Performance
✔️ Chipset: MediaTek Helio A22 (MT6761)
✔️ CPU: Quad-core Cortex-A53 (2.0 GHz)
✔️ GPU: PowerVR GE8320
💾 Memory & Storage
✔️ RAM: 2GB
✔️ Internal Storage: 64GB
✔️ Expandable Storage: microSD card support (Up to 128GB)
📷 Cameras
✔️ Rear Camera: 13MP (f/1.8 wide) + unspecified sensors
✔️ Features: Dual-LED flash
✔️ Front Camera: 8MP AI Portrait + LED Flash
🔋 Battery
✔️ Capacity: 5000mAh (Li-Polymer)
📡 Connectivity and Sensors
✔️ Network: 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
✔️ Ports: Micro USB, 3.5mm headphone jack
✔️ Sensors: Rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, accelerometer, proximity
Infinix Hot 20i About Phone settings showing device specifications, Android version, and system details |
🚨 The Infinix Hot 20i (2GB RAM) is Practically Useless in 2025!
Phones like the Infinix Hot 20i (2GB RAM + Helio A22) are seriously underpowered for today's apps and usage demands. A phone running Android 12 with just 2GB RAM and a weak processor like the Helio A22 is practically unusable in 2025.
🔍 Why Do Companies Still Make Such Devices?
✔️ Cost-Cutting for Entry-Level Markets – These phones target people who just want a cheap device for calls and basic tasks.
⚠️ Misleading Marketing – Brands promote "expandable RAM" as if it's as good as real RAM, but it's not. Virtual RAM is much slower and doesn't help much.
❌ Old Components, New Software – They use outdated chips like Helio A22 just to clear old stock, even though they're too weak for modern Android versions.
💰 Planned Obsolescence – Some companies know these devices will lag quickly, forcing users to upgrade.
❌ The Problem with Such Phones
🔻 2GB RAM is too low, even for basic multitasking.
🔻 Helio A22 (2018 chip) is too weak for Android 12+.
🔻 "Expandable RAM" from storage is much slower than real RAM.
🔻 Android 12 is heavy – The phone struggles to run even simple apps smoothly.
📌 What Should Be the Minimum in 2025?
A decent budget phone today should have at least:
✅ 4GB RAM (real, not virtual)
✅ A processor like Helio G85, Snapdragon 680, or better
✅ Android Go if it's low-end (lighter than full Android)
📢 Phones like the Infinix Hot 20i (2GB version) are just a waste of money because even calls and texting lag, making them frustrating to use. Manufacturers should stop selling such underpowered devices, but as long as people keep buying them, they will continue making them.
❓ Is the Infinix Hot 20i a Cheap Device?
❌ No! If the phone isn't even cheap, then it's a straight-up scam by Infinix!
⚠️ Why the Infinix Hot 20i Feels Like a Scam
🚨 Weak Processor (Helio A22) – This chip was released in 2018, and it was weak even back then. Running Android 12 with it is a joke.
🚨 2GB RAM in 2022? – That's not enough for even basic apps. Phones with less than 4GB RAM shouldn't be allowed to run full Android.
🚨 "Expandable RAM" Gimmick – Infinix markets 2GB + 2GB virtual RAM as if it helps, but it doesn't. Storage-based RAM is extremely slow.
🚨 Heavy Software (XOS) – Infinix's XOS skin makes the phone even slower. It's bloated with unnecessary apps.
🚨 Overpriced for Its Specs – If the phone isn't even cheap, it's just Infinix tricking buyers who don't check specs.
❌ What Should Have Been Done?
✔️ The phone is an Android Go Edition, which is optimised for weak hardware. That's okay!
✔️ Infinix should stop making phones with the Helio A22 in 2025—it's unacceptable.
✔️ The minimum should be 4GB RAM + Helio G85 or Snapdragon 680 for a smooth experience.
📢 Infinix should be banned from making such devices in 2025! They know exactly what they're doing—selling outdated junk at high prices to people who don't check specs.
That phone is beyond repair because the problem isn't a software glitch—it's just trash hardware. The owner should sell it and buy something better or just use it as a:
✔️ WiFi hotspot
✔️ Calculator
…because that's all it's good for!
💀 The only good thing about that phone is the battery—5000mAh is solid. But what's the point of strong battery life if the phone itself is too slow to use?
🚗💨 It's like having a full tank of fuel in a car with a broken engine!
At least using it as a Wi-Fi hotspot makes sense. That way, you can put it to work without suffering the lag. Maybe also keep it as a backup alarm clock—because even opening the Clock app probably takes 10 seconds! 😂😂
Tell me I'm lying! That phone probably lags just to ring the alarm—you set it for 6 AM, and it wakes you up at 6:05! 🤣🤣 #Joke
At this point, that phone is only useful for hotspot, calculator, and maybe torchlight if it doesn't lag to turn on! 😂😂
These companies have a warehouse full of outdated processors and instead of throwing them away, they package them in new phones and sell them as "latest models!"
🤡 How They Scam People with Old Chips
❌ Leftover Stock of Weak Processors – Companies buy old chips in bulk at cheap prices.
❌ Put Old Hardware in a "New" Phone – They slap a big screen, 5000mAh battery, and a fancy camera design, but inside, it's still a 2018 processor struggling to run basic apps!
❌ Misleading Marketing – They focus on features like "6GB + 6GB Expandable RAM" and "AI Camera", but hide the fact that the processor is ancient and slow.
❌ Sell It at High Prices – Instead of pricing them cheap, they sell them as if they are modern devices.
💀 Sometimes, these brands are literally recycling trash and selling it as gold!
Example of This Scam
Helio A22 (2018) – Still being used in "new" phones in 2022 0r 2025. Unacceptable.
Helio G25/G35 (2019-2020) – Companies still use this trash in budget phones.
Snapdragon 450 (2017) – Some brands still put this in low-end models today!
📌 Moral of the Story?
🚨 Always check the processor before buying a phone!
🚨 If a phone has a 2018 or 2019 processor, it's just an old device with a new name.
🚨 If it's running Android 12+ but has 2GB RAM and an old processor, just run away! 😂😂
Sometimes, these brands are literally recycling trash and selling it as gold! Although, majority of their mobile devices are of high quality and performance.
🚫 Can You Downgrade the Infinix Hot 20i from Android 12 to Android 9?
❌ No! You can't downgrade because of several restrictions by Infinix and Google.
🔒 Why You Can't Downgrade to Android 9
🚨 Secure Boot & Anti-Rollback Protection – If you try to flash Android 9, the phone will likely brick or refuse to boot.
🚨 No Official Android 9 Firmware – Infinix never made an official Android 9 ROM for the Hot 20i.
🚨 Preloader & Partition Changes – Flashing an older ROM could mess up your storage and make the phone unusable.
🚨 No Custom ROM Support – Infinix phones have locked bootloaders and almost no developer support.
🔧 Preloader and Partition Changes
- Android versions change the partition structure, making old ROMs incompatible with newer devices.
- Flashing an older ROM could mess up your storage and make the phone unusable.
- No Custom ROM Support
- Infinix phones have locked bootloaders and almost no developer support.
- Unlike Xiaomi or OnePlus, there are no custom ROMs like Pixel Experience or LineageOS.
🔧 What Can You Do Instead?
✔️ Optimise Android 12 – Remove bloatware, disable animations, and use a lightweight launcher.
✔️ Use a Custom Kernel (If Available) – Some developers create performance-boosting kernels.
✔️ Check for a Lite Custom ROM – Some unofficial Android 11/12 ROMs may run smoother.
✔️ Upgrade to a Better Phone – Sadly, the Hot 20i's weak processor (Helio A22) is the real problem, not just Android 12.
📢 Final Verdict?
🚨 Downgrading to Android 9 is impossible on the Hot 20i.
🚨 Even if you somehow flash an Android 9 ROM, it won't boot properly.
🚨 Best option? Optimise Android 12 or upgrade to a phone with a better processor.
Sadly, Infinix hot 20i is part of the "planned obsolescence" scam—making cheap phones that lag so you're forced to buy a new one! 😭😭
The Infinix Hot 20i is proof that some brands intentionally make cheap phones that lag—forcing you to upgrade sooner than you should!
Did you ever suspect the Hot 20i was fake? I did.
I don't blame myself! This phone feels like a knockoff, even though it's an original Infinix product. The lag is so bad that it's hard to believe Infinix released it in 2022 with a straight face.
❌ Why the Hot 20i Feels Like a Fake/Refurbished Phone
🔥 Outdated, Weak Processor (Helio A22, 2018)
This ancient chip struggles with even basic tasks like calling and texting.
Some old Android 8 phones perform better than this!
🛑 2GB RAM in 2025? Ridiculous!
Even with the "expandable RAM" trick, it's still slow because virtual RAM is much slower than real RAM.
⚠️ Android 12 Is Too Heavy for This Phone
With only 2GB RAM, Android 12 turns this phone into a lagfest. There just isn't enough power to handle modern apps.
🎭 Looks Good, Performs Terribly
- Big screen? ✅ Yes.
- Nice battery? ✅ Yes.
- Decent camera? ✅ Yes.
- Smooth performance? ❌ NO!
It's like buying a sports car with a motorcycle engine inside. 😂
🏴☠️ Infinix's Many Variants (Some Fake Ones Exist!)
There are multiple versions of the Hot 20i—some with better chips like the Helio G25.
⚠️ Some shady sellers reflash bad firmware, making performance even worse.
So, Is the Hot 20i Fake? 👀
❌ No, it's not a copy—Infinix actually made this disaster.
❌ No, it's not refurbished—it just feels like one because of how bad it is.
✅ Yes, it's just a poorly made phone that shouldn't exist in 2025!
Honestly, Infinix scammed a lot of people with this phone—it's basically e-waste disguised as a new product! 😭
Infinix is hurting its own reputation by selling these lagging, underpowered phones. Many people bought one Infinix phone, suffered lag, and now refuse to buy another one—even if newer models are better.
📉 How Infinix Is Losing Customers 😟
🚫 Bad Experience = No Trust
People who don't understand processors only remember the frustration of using a slow Infinix phone. Even if a better Infinix model exists, they fear it will lag too.
🗣️ Word of Mouth Kills Sales
Users tell their friends:
"Don't buy Infinix, it's slow!"
A bad reputation is hard to fix.
🏆 Competition Is Getting Better
Brands like Xiaomi, Realme, and Samsung now offer better budget phones with decent processors.
❌ Fake "Expandable RAM" Marketing Backfired
Many users thought 2GB + 2GB virtual RAM would make the phone fast—but it didn't.
Now, people no longer believe Infinix's specs.
📌 What You Should Know 📢
While the Infinix Hot 20i has been widely criticised for its lag and underpowered hardware, Infinix has also produced durable and high-performing devices. Here's how the brand balances both ends of the market:
📊 1. Market Segmentation Strategy
Infinix categorises its devices into different tiers to target various users:
🔹 Entry-Level (Hot Series) – Budget-friendly phones like the Hot 20i, designed for users who only need basic functionality.
🔹 Mid-Range (Note & Zero Series) – Devices like the Infinix Zero Ultra and Note 30 Pro offer better hardware, performance, and durability.
🔹 Gaming & High Performance (GT Series) – The GT series is built for power users, featuring gaming-focused enhancements and stronger chipsets.
🏆 2. High-Quality Components in Premium Models
While budget devices like the Hot 20i come with outdated specs, Infinix's premium models offer:
✅ Powerful Processors – The Zero Ultra features the Dimensity 920, which is far superior to the Helio A22 in low-end models.
✅ Fast Charging & Battery Tech – The Note 30 Pro supports 68W fast charging, a major leap from budget models.
✅ Superior Display & Build Quality – Higher-end devices boast AMOLED panels, 120Hz refresh rates, and better durability.
⚙️ 3. Continuous Software Optimisation
Infinix's XOS software has evolved over time:
🔹 On lower-end phones, it can be bloated and sluggish.
🔹 On higher-end models, it runs much smoother and includes useful features like MemFusion (virtual RAM expansion), which actually works when paired with better base hardware.
🚀 4. Investment in Flagship Features
Infinix is integrating cutting-edge technology into its flagship models, including:
📸 200MP Cameras with Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) for sharper photos.
⚡ Wireless & Reverse Charging for added convenience.
🧊 Vapour Chamber Cooling to keep gaming devices from overheating.
🏁 Final Thoughts on Infinix
Even though Infinix produced the Hot 20i, which is widely criticised for its lag and underpowered hardware, the brand has also made several durable and high-performing devices.
However, if they keep making low-quality phones, they will lose customers forever.
🚨 They must start using better processors (like Helio G88 or Dimensity chips) or people will stop trusting their brand.
🚨 If they don't improve, Xiaomi, Realme, and Samsung will take over their market!
Infinix needs to stop making e-waste and start making real phones! 😂😂
🔮 The Future of Infinix: What's Next?
🚨 If they keep making low-quality phones, they will lose customers forever.
🚨 They must start using better processors (like Helio G88 or Dimensity chips) or people will stop trusting their brand.
🚨 If they don't improve, Xiaomi, Realme, and Samsung will take over their market!
Infinix needs to stop making e-waste and start making real phones!
This content is an independent review and opinion based on personal experience and research. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and are not endorsed by Infinix or any associated entities. The information provided is intended to help consumers make informed decisions. All product names, logos, and trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. This review does not intend to mislead or defame any company or product but serves as an honest analysis of the device's performance.
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