Infinix Inbook Y4 Max review: can it go up against the Tecno Megabook T1?

Infinix has made a solid name for itself in the laptop market by catering to both budget-conscious buyers and those seeking high performance. Their latest offering, the Infinix Inbook Y4 Max, reinforces this reputation with a compelling mix of affordability and power.

Aiming for the highly competitive price range of Rs 30,000 to 40,000, the Inbook Y4 Max is set to attract a lot of attention. This price bracket is often considered the backbone of the laptop market due to its high demand and supply.

With established brands like Lenovo, Acer, HP, and Dell dominating this space, Infinix has the challenge to create something that truly stands out. The Inbook Y4 Max seems poised to do just that, offering a worthwhile mixture of features and value that’s hard to ignore.

In this review, let’s dive into the design, performance, and overall value of the Inbook Y4 Max to determine if it lives up to the expectations set by its predecessors and stands out in a crowded market.

This device was originally reviewed by Florence George, and this article is based on his evaluation. 
Here’s a video review of the laptop: 

Design and Display

The Infinix Inbook Y4 Max boasts a sleek aluminium alloy chassis that ensures robust build quality with minimal flex, giving it a premium feel often found in higher-priced models. 

The laptop features a 16-inch display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, providing ample screen real estate for both work and entertainment.

The display offers a resolution of 1,920 x 12,00, a peak brightness of 300 nits, and 83 percent sRGB colour reproduction. While it may not be the most colour-accurate panel, its resolution and brightness levels are adequate for tasks ranging from casual browsing to content creation.

However, the display hinge only allows the screen to open up to 180 degrees, which can be limiting in some scenarios. Despite this, the overall design strikes a balance between aesthetics and functionality, making it an impressive choice in its price range.

Keyboard, Trackpad & I/O

One of the striking things about the Infinix Y4 Max is the spacious keyboard layout that gives one room to type for long without discomfort. 

Added to its user-friendliness is the inclusion of a convenient row of function keys for toggling features like the flash and also the availability of keyboard backlighting which can be adjusted to 2 levels. The keys have decent travel on par with what one can expect in this price range.

The trackpad is well-sized at 7.06 inches and is made using an AG-Glass material allowing responsive and smooth navigation experience.  As for connectivity, the laptop provides a comprehensive range of ports:

• A charging and data Type-C port
• 2X USB Type-A 3.0 Ports
• An audio combo jack
• An additional Type-C port (not for charging)
• A microSD card slot

One notable feature missing is the ability to charge the laptop via both Type-C ports, which would have been a welcome addition for added convenience. You also do not get a fingerprint sensor for authentication purposes. However, the dual front flash with the webcam up top is a nice addition to have. 

Performance

Under the hood, the Infinix Inbook Y4 Max is powered by the latest Intel Core processors, available in three variants:

• Intel Core i3 13th Gen – Rs 37,990
• Intel Core i5 13th Gen – Rs 43,990
• Intel Core i7 13th Gen – Rs 52,990

Each variant of the Y4 Max maintains a slim profile at 80mm and weighs approximately 1.78kg, making it both portable and lightweight. We have received the Intel i3 1315U 13th-gen variant and the laptop delivers impressive performance across the board, particularly given its price range. 

The laptop includes a dedicated Turbo mode button beside the power button, allowing users to toggle between Economy mode (15W for the CPU) and Overboost mode (18W for the CPU), providing flexibility depending on the task at hand.

When compared to the Tecno MegaBook T1 with an Intel i7 (11th-gen) chipset, the Inbook Y4 Max holds its own. In GTA 5 at 1080p with normal presets, the Y4 Max achieves 69fps, slightly outperforming the MegaBook T1’s 65fps.

Thermal performance is also commendable, with the Infinix maintaining 60 degrees Celsius, compared to the Tecno machine’s sub-70-degree temperatures.

In benchmark tests, including Cinebench R24, R23, 3D Mark, PCMark, and Geekbench 6, the Y4 Max generally performs slightly better than the Tecno MegaBook T1, though the margin is not significant.

Overall, whether multitasking, streaming, or running heavy applications, the Inbook Y4 Max performs admirably without noticeable lag or slowdown, making it a reliable choice for various user needs.

Battery

The Infinix Y4 Max comes loaded with a 70Wh battery that keeps up for over 9 hours in our PC Mark video playback tests. Thus, it’s reliable for those users seeking long battery life for work or entertainment durations.

The laptop is also provided with a 65W charger although we think that the size of the brick is not quite as ergonomical as some of Infinix laptop’s previous chargers.

Even so, the laptop’s extended lifetime can likely be useful for students and professionals who are constantly moving around and who need a device that can handle their fast pace.

Verdict

The Infinix INBook Y4Max (2024) is powered by an Intel i3 1315U processor and comes equipped with a non-upgradable 16GB of RAM, making it a robust choice for those seeking a value-for-money laptop in the sub-Rs. 40,000 range.

However, while the display offers a 16:10 aspect ratio and decent resolution, it may not be the best choice for those looking to binge-watch their favourite shows. The colour accuracy and brightness levels are suitable for everyday tasks and casual media consumption, but they fall short of providing a truly immersive viewing experience for more demanding visual content.

The webcam itself offers full HD quality, but the lack of a physical shutter might be a privacy concern for some users. Despite these, the Infinix Y4 Max remains a strong contender in its price segment.

If you decide to purchase this model, you can be confident that you are getting a device that offers a solid balance of performance, design, and battery life. 

Editor’s Rating: 7 / 10

Pros

• Aluminium chassis
• Good and consistent performance
• 16:10 display in this range
• Satisfactory battery backup

Cons

• Base lifts up while opening the laptop
• Lack of fingerprint scanner
• Not the best colour-accurate display in this segment
• No physical privacy shutter