The Infinix InBook X1 Slim: A Budget-Friendly Laptop With Surprising Features
Infinix is making a splash in the Indian laptop market, and its latest offering, the InBook X1 Slim, is an intriguing option for those seeking a budget-friendly device without sacrificing too much in terms of features and performance. While the InBook X1 Slim might not be a powerhouse, its slim design, comfortable keyboard, and unique dual-LED webcam flash make it an exciting contender in the crowded value segment. But does it truly deliver on its promises? Let’s dive into an in-depth review to find out.
Infinix InBook X1 Slim: Price and Availability
The Infinix InBook X1 Slim starts at Rs. 29,990 and comes in five variants, each with a distinct combination of CPU, RAM, and storage. The base model features a 10th Gen Core i3 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage, while the top-end configuration boasts a Core i7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD for Rs. 49,990. The review unit I tested boasts a Core i5 CPU, 8GB RAM, and 512GB SSD, priced at Rs. 39,990. It’s available in four attractive colors – Starfall Grey, Noble Red, Cosmic Blue, and Aurora Green – on Flipkart.
Design: A Slim Profile With Subtle Flair
The InBook X1 Slim lives up to its name, boasting a slim, portable design that’s perfect for students and professionals on the move. Measuring just 14.8mm thick and weighing only 1.24kg, it’s incredibly easy to slip into a backpack and carry around.
While primarily constructed from plastic, the lid and bottom are made of aluminum, giving it a premium feel. The top third of the lid features a shiny brushed texture, while the rest has a sandblasted, matte finish, creating a stylish contrast. The small Infinix logo adds a subtle touch of branding.
The keyboard layout is standard and comfortable, with a minimal amount of flex. While the arrow keys are somewhat compressed, dedicated paging keys on the right are a welcome addition. A backlit keyboard is included, offering two brightness levels, which is a fantastic feature at this price point. The trackpad, however, feels a bit plasticky and stiff, and palm rejection isn’t as effective as in other laptops.
Ports and Connections: Well-Equipped for Productivity
The InBook X1 Slim comes well-equipped with ports to suit your everyday needs. On the left side, you’ll find an HDMI 1.4 video output, a USB 3.0 Type-A port, and a USB 3.0 Type-C port that supports charging and video output. The right side features a security lock slot, another USB Type-A port (frustratingly mounted upside-down), a 3.5mm audio socket, a data-only Type-C port, and a microSD card slot.
Features: A Touch of Uniqueness
Beyond the stylish design, the InBook X1 Slim packs in a few interesting features:
Dual-LED Webcam Flash: Infinix proudly showcases its "dual star" LED flashlight flanking the webcam. While the webcam itself is not outstanding, the LEDs provide some improvement in low-light conditions, especially for partially shadowed faces. However, it’s not a replacement for a proper ring light or dedicated webcam.
Backlit Keyboard: The backlit keyboard, with two brightness levels, is a fantastic feature for users who work in low-light environments.
- Fast Charging: Infinix claims a full charge in 90 minutes, and while I didn’t reach that target, the laptop did charge reasonably quickly.
Display: Decent for Productivity, Not for Multimedia
The InBook X1 Slim sports a 14-inch full-HD display with a non-reflective surface, ideal for working with text and documents. Infinix boasts a peak brightness of 300 nits and 100 percent sRGB color gamut coverage. However, the display is not particularly bright or vibrant, and you’ll likely notice this when watching videos or playing games. It’s perfectly suitable for everyday productivity tasks, but multimedia enthusiasts might be disappointed.
Performance: Surprisingly Capable for Everyday Use
The InBook X1 Slim utilizes a 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G1 CPU with four cores and a 15W TDP rating, running at speeds between 1GHz and 3.6GHz. Despite being a slightly dated processor, it delivered solid performance for everyday tasks. Web browsing, communication, productivity applications, and light gaming were all handled with ease.
However, more demanding tasks, such as content creation or playing modern games, were beyond its capabilities. Benchmarks corroborated this observation, with PCMark 10 scores of 3,621 and 2,847, and Cinebench R20 single-core and multi-core scores of 393 and 1,171 respectively. While these numbers are respectable for a laptop in this price range, they highlight the limitations when it comes to intensive tasks.
One area where the InBook X1 Slim fell short was SSD performance, with slow sustained file transfers from an external device. This suggests a potential bottleneck in the system.
Audio: Average Sound Quality
The InBook X1 Slim touts a quad-speaker sound system with DTS Audio enhancement. However, I found the sound quality to be underwhelming. Music lacked depth and fullness, while voices were clear enough but lacked richness. For casual listening, it’s acceptable, but audiophiles will want to invest in external speakers.
Battery Life: Good Endurance, Short of Promises
Infinix claims "all day" battery life, equating to 11 hours of web browsing or 9 hours of video playback. In my testing, the InBook X1 Slim achieved a battery life of 8-9 hours for casual productivity and web browsing, falling short of the optimistic estimates but still commendable. The laptop also displayed good stamina in the Battery Eater Pro test, lasting 2 hours, 54 minutes. It’s important to note that demanding tasks, such as graphics-heavy applications or using the LED webcam flash, will significantly reduce battery life.
Verdict: A Strong Value Proposition with a Few Caveats
The Infinix InBook X1 Slim presents a compelling value proposition for budget-conscious consumers. It delivers a solid performance for everyday tasks, a slim and portable design, and a surprisingly well-equipped port selection. The backlit keyboard, fast charging, and unique dual-LED webcam flash are added bonuses. However, it’s important to acknowledge its shortcomings, such as average audio quality, mediocre display, and relatively weak SSD performance.
If you’re looking for a basic laptop to handle everyday tasks without breaking the bank, the InBook X1 Slim is a good choice. The entry-level Core i3 variant at Rs. 29,990 offers great value for money, while the Core i5 model at Rs. 39,990 provides a solid balance of features and performance. The most expensive Core i7 variant at Rs. 49,999 caters to a niche audience looking for more processing power but might not be a compelling purchase for most.
Ultimately, the InBook X1 Slim strikes a decent balance between affordability and functionality. While it’s not a premium laptop, it’s a solid option for students, professionals, and casual home users who prioritize budget and portability. Just be mindful of its limitations and don’t expect top-tier performance or media experience.
