InBook Y1 Plus Review: Unveiling Infinix's Budget Laptop Marvel

Infinix, a brand synonymous with budget smartphones, ventured into uncharted territory in December 2021 with the introduction of its InBook X1 laptop series. Departing from its smartphone legacy, Infinix made a bold statement by offering compelling laptops in India at affordable prices. Following this trend, the InBook Y1 Plus was unveiled, promising a blend of functionality and frugality. Priced attractively at Rs 27,990, the Y1 Plus boasts a 15.6-inch FHD display, an Intel Core i3-1005G1 processor, and a robust metal build. After a month of rigorous usage, we present a detailed review of the InBook Y1 Plus.

Infinix INBook Y1 Plus: Design and Build Quality

The Y1 Plus exudes a sense of solidity, weighing in at 1.78kg with a commendable metal chassis. The lid’s top showcases an aesthetically pleasing Infinix branding in a horizontal rugged brush metal pattern, adding a touch of sophistication. Despite being a budget laptop, the Y1 Plus impresses with a sturdy hinge, allowing one-handed lid lifting—a testament to its well-crafted build quality. The backlit LED keys on the keyboard, featuring a two-step backlight, provide an excellent typing experience with a 1.5mm travel distance and optimal responsiveness. The laptop’s overall appearance is subtle and professional, making it an ideal choice for office use or students preferring a minimalist design.

Port Selection and Design

Infinix demonstrates thoughtful design in port selection, offering a USB-C port for charging and data transfer, an additional USB-C port dedicated to data transfer, two USB 3.0 ports, HDMI 1.4, a dedicated SD card slot, and a 3.5mm audio jack. This comprehensive selection aligns well with user needs, showcasing Infinix’s commitment to providing a seamless and functional user experience.

Infinix INBook Y1 Plus: Display and Audio Experience

The Y1 Plus boasts a 15.6-inch Full HD display with a peak brightness of 250 nits. While slightly below today’s standard, the display compensates with vibrant colors, covering 87% of the sRGB color gamut and 60% NTSC color gamut. The thin bezels enhance the visual experience, creating an immersive feel. However, the audio experience, delivered through the dual two-watt stereo speakers, falls short of expectations. While suitable for regular content consumption, it lacks depth, impacting the overall audio immersion, especially during intense scenes.

Infinix INBook Y1 Plus: Hardware and Performance

Powered by the Intel Core i3-1005G1 processor and equipped with 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and up to 256GB of NVMe storage, the Y1 Plus positions itself competitively in the budget segment. The Ice Storm cooling system ensures temperature control during various tasks. Benchmarks indicate reasonable performance, with the Y1 Plus handling daily tasks effortlessly. However, resource-intensive activities like video editing or multiple Chrome tabs open concurrently reveal its limitations. Pre-installed with Windows 11 Home, the laptop ensures essential functionalities, enhancing the overall user experience.

Infinix INBook Y1 Plus: Battery Performance

The Y1 Plus shines in the battery department, featuring a massive 50Wh battery supporting 65W fast charging. Infinix’s claim of up to 10 hours of video playback is validated, with real-world usage delivering around six hours of screen-on time. The convenience of charging up to 75% battery in an hour adds significant value for users with on-the-go lifestyles. The Y1 Plus excels in balancing performance and portability.

Infinix INBook Y1 Plus: Verdict

Priced at Rs 27,990, the Infinix InBook Y1 Plus strategically caters to diverse daily requirements. While not tailored for graphically demanding tasks, it excels in general usage, moderate office work, and web browsing. The verdict underscores the practicality of the Y1 Plus for users seeking functionality without breaking the bank. For those exploring alternatives, the Acer ONE 14, powered by AMD Ryzen 3 3250U, presents a compelling option with its dual cores and four threads, clocked at up to 3.5GHz.

In conclusion, Infinix’s InBook Y1 Plus makes a commendable mark in the budget laptop landscape, offering a balanced blend of affordability, functionality, and design finesse.