Infinix InBook X1 Slim: Affordable Elegance with Essential Performance for Everyday Users

Not long after the review of Infinix’s debut laptop in India, the InBook X1, we now have the brand’s subsequent model, the InBook X1 Slim. This laptop is positioned as a more budget-friendly option and features several design elements and specifications that attract attention, much like Infinix’s mobile devices. The company is expanding its footprint in the Indian laptop sector, aiming to cater to the value-driven market, similar to its approach with smartphones. If you need a laptop for school, essential tasks, or light home use, continue reading.

The InBook X1 Slim is true to its name, being lightweight and portable

 

Infinix InBook X1 Slim pricing in India

The starting price for the Infinix InBook X1 Slim is Rs. 29,990, with additional discount offers available from certain banks and credit cards. There are a total of five configurations, allowing you to select the ideal combination of CPU, RAM, and storage according to your needs. The base model features a 10^th Gen Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB storage. For an additional Rs. 3,000, you can upgrade to a 512GB SSD. The version I tested comes with a Core i5 CPU, 8GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD, priced at Rs. 39,990. Increasing the RAM to 16GB raises the price to Rs. 44,990. The top-end configuration includes a Core i7 CPU, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD for Rs. 49,990.

This laptop is available through Flipkart and has been launched in four different colors – the subtle Starfall Grey and the more vibrant Noble Red, Cosmic Blue, and Aurora Green.

Although the InBook X1 Slim features a metal lid and base, the majority of the body is made from plastic

 

Infinix InBook X1 design

While this is primarily a budget-friendly laptop, Infinix has incorporated some attractive design elements. The lid and base are constructed from aluminum. Similar to the InBook X1, the top third of the lid showcases a polished brushed finish, whereas the remainder has a sandblasted matte appearance. A small, discreet Infinix logo is situated to one side.

The blue model I tested has a relatively dark interior that didn’t distract during use. The lower section is mainly plastic, as is the screen bezel; however, the overall feel is not cheap. The hinge is sturdily built, preventing any warping of the screen even under pressure. Keyboard flex is minimal, although the trackpad exhibits a somewhat plasticky feel, and the mechanism is stiff and loud. While it lacks a sleek, ultra-modern design with thin bezels, it doesn’t raise serious concerns regarding build quality, especially for a laptop in this price range.

At a weight of 1.24kg and a thickness of 14.8mm, the InBook X1 Slim certainly lives up to its name. It’s light enough for students and professionals alike to carry daily. The package includes a compact 65W USB Type-C charger, which is quite practical.

The keyboard layout is generally standard, offering a comfortable typing experience

 

A notable feature that Infinix is promoting is the “dual star” LED flashlight – two LEDs flanking the webcam situated above the screen. You can activate them using the Win+Space keyboard combination, and we’ll evaluate their impact on webcam performance later. Just be aware that, depending on the screen angle, they could inadvertently shine directly into your eyes.

The power button appears as if it could house a fingerprint sensor, but this unfortunately isn’t the case. The keyboard layout is conventional and user-friendly. The arrow cluster is a bit squished, but having dedicated paging keys in a vertical column on the right side is useful. While I didn’t expect backlit keys at this price point, having that feature is advantageous, with two brightness levels available. The trackpad is relatively large but centered on the laptop body rather than in line with the usual typing position, and its palm rejection isn’t as effective compared to other laptops I’ve experienced. Stereo speakers are located on the bottom, projecting sound sideways.

On the left side, you can find an HDMI 1.4 output, a USB 3.0 Type-A port, and a USB 3.0 Type-C port, which also facilitates charging and video output. On the right side, there’s a security lock slot, another USB Type-A port (unfortunately installed upside-down), a 3.5mm audio jack, a data-only Type-C port, and a microSD card slot.

The standout feature of the InBook X1 Slim is its dual-LED webcam flash

 

 

Infinix InBook X1 Slim specifications

As a budget laptop, certain trade-offs are expected. Notably, Infinix has chosen to utilize Intel’s 10^th Gen ‘Ice Lake’ processors across all models – these are approaching three years old now. While they’re still adequate for basic tasks, you may feel limited after prolonged use.

The model I reviewed features a Core i5-1035G1 processor, which includes four cores and has a nominal TDP rating of 15W. It operates at speeds ranging from 1GHz to 3.6GHz, but the ‘G1’ designation indicates that its Intel UHD graphics capabilities are relatively modest.

The 14-inch screen offers a full-HD 1920×1080 resolution with a matte finish, ideal for productivity tasks. Infinix claims a maximum brightness of 300nits and 100 percent coverage of the sRGB color spectrum. The InBook X1 Slim utilizes LPDDR4X RAM, which means it’s soldered and cannot be upgraded. Infinix also states that they have implemented PCIe 3.0 SSD technology throughout the series.

A 50Wh battery powers the device, which Infinix claims provides “all day” functionality, defined as up to 11 hours of web browsing or 9 hours of video playback. The company also asserts that a complete charge can be achieved in 90 minutes, which we will evaluate shortly.

The InBook X1 Slim comes pre-installed with Windows 11 Home and no third-party software. Thankfully, it allows setup without a Microsoft account linkage. I did encounter at least one popup advertisement from Microsoft and shortcuts to Microsoft Store downloads in the Start menu.

The display of the InBook X1 Slim isn’t particularly impressive for videos or gaming, but it suffices for productivity tasks

 

Infinix InBook X1 Slim performance

Despite concerns surrounding its somewhat outdated processor, the InBook X1 Slim has performed admirably in daily applications. It remains responsive during regular operation, even with multiple browser tabs open, which realistically reflects typical usage patterns today. You can easily communicate, utilize productivity software, stream content, and even play light games. The keyboard provides a satisfactory typing experience for extended periods, but the trackpad can sometimes be obstructive, making tapping a more practical option than clicking.

The 14-inch display lacks brightness and vibrancy, noticeable primarily during video playback. However, it’s sufficient for text handling and most routine tasks. Infinix promotes a quad-speaker audio system enhanced by DTS Audio, but I found the sound quality to be lacking. Music came across as flat and shallow, although dialogue was clear.

Intensive tests revealed that heavy performance expectations, especially in content creation or modern gaming, would not be met with this laptop. It achieved scores of 3,621 and 2,847 in the PCMark 10 standard and extended tests, respectively, while Cinebench R20’s single and multi-core results clocked in at 393 and 1,171. These results are reasonable for a laptop at this price point, especially in comparison to the more expensive Mi Notebook 14, which recorded similar scores during its review in 2020.

A particular shortcoming of the InBook X1 Slim was its SSD. Large file transfers from an external SSD were frustratingly sluggish, averaging around 32MBps. CrystalDiskMark reported sequential read and write speeds of 2,377.1MBps and 1,953MBps, respectively, while random read and write speeds recorded at 799.7MBps and 950.4MBps. Interestingly, diagnostics were unable to reveal the manufacturer or model of the SSD used – Infinix describes it as an NVMe PCIe 3.0 unit. Transcoding a 1.3GB AVI file into H.265 using Handbrake took 1 minute and 51 seconds, and compressing a 3.24GB folder of various files with 7zip took 4 minutes and 25 seconds.

The laptop features a range of practical ports, though the upside-down USB port can be inconvenient

 

The graphics capability is serviceable, provided you have tempered expectations. It cannot run even mildly dated games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider effectively, managing only 14fps at 1280×720, even at the lowest graphics settings. 3DMark’s Time Spy and Night Raid scores were 547 and 7,186, respectively. However, lighter games performed adequately. For example, the simple tower-defense game Bloons TD 6 ran smoothly, even while on battery power.

I was able to use the InBook X1 Slim for about 8-9 hours for casual productivity and web browsing on a single charge. While this falls short of the manufacturer’s estimate, it’s still quite satisfactory. It performed decently in the intensive Battery Eater Pro test, running for 2 hours and 54 minutes. Engaging the LED webcam flash and performing graphics-intensive tasks will naturally lead to quicker battery depletion. After a full charge from a dead battery, it reached 45 percent in 30 minutes and hit 78 percent after one hour of charging. While USB Type-C charging is convenient, it is only compatible with the left-side port.

You might be curious if the LED flash is merely a gimmick. Initially, the webcam is lackluster, producing dull and unclear images. The LEDs provided some assistance in dim conditions, but did not result in a significant enhancement in quality. If you aim to appear professional during video calls, you would benefit from not only a decent ring light but also a high-quality USB webcam.

During periods of high demand, the InBook X1 Slim’s cooling fan becomes noticeable, and it can also be heard during ordinary tasks. The left side of the keyboard tended to become slightly warm during gaming sessions.

Webcam samples from the InBook X1 Slim, displayed without (left) and with (right) the LED lights

 

Conclusion

With inflation being a reality these days, every rupee saved becomes crucial. Infinix has successfully addressed the essential requirements for most home users, students, or professionals. The InBook X1 Slim is reasonably priced, and it doesn’t compromise on build quality, missing features, or weak performance. While it does not exceed expectations and might not adapt as well to future demands, the price point is significant for buyers in this market.

The entry-level model priced at Rs. 29,990 (before discounts) aligns well with the needs of the typical user. The non-upgradable 8GB RAM should suffice for most. The mid-tier model I reviewed, priced at Rs. 39,990, also presents a good value proposition. The high-end variant at Rs. 49,999 will attract a more specialized audience. If you require strong processing capabilities without focusing too much on entertainment or aesthetics, it finds an appealing middle ground.

Though I found the webcam LED feature to be ineffective, small details like the backlit keyboard, fast charging capability, dual USB Type-C ports, and anti-glare display all contributed to a pleasant experience with the InBook X1 Slim. For those seeking a more budget-friendly option, the company has recently released the closely related InBook X1 Neo for Rs. 24,990, featuring a less powerful Intel Celeron processor but retaining many similar features.

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