I’ve been to plenty of smartphone stores over the years, and I can’t tell any of these experiences apart. Picture neatly arranged tables, rows of smartphones, and the occasional accessory tucked away in a corner. Honestly, this works for most people who show up knowing exactly what they need and just leave.
So, when Infinix invited me to Bali for the grand opening of its first global flagship concept store, I was curious to see what the company had planned. I expected an elaborate showroom and a few extra things, like eye-catching installations to celebrate the occasion. And while there were a few of these, a lot of the things that actually caught my eye were permanent parts of the store.
There were polished metallic surfaces everywhere, a massive robotic arm holding a display, coffee aroma dispensers, and enough gadgets to keep me occupied for a while. The whole place was bustling with energy, and I found myself spending as much time exploring the installations as I did checking out the phones.
A tech store that makes your eyes work overtime
Located inside Bali’s Beachwalk Shopping Center, the new Infinix flagship immediately caught my attention with its wonderfully open design. The store sits in the middle of the shopping complex, with a small moat-like water feature wrapping around part of the space and just three steps separating the showroom floor from the surrounding mall.
Despite that openness, walking into the store almost transports you somewhere entirely different. My eyes were working overtime during those first few minutes. Between the polished silver ceilings, reflective walls, futuristic installations, and metallic sculptures extending from different surfaces, there was an awful lot to take in. The enormous chrome artwork inspired by Bali’s Barong mythology added even more personality to the surroundings.
It was almost overwhelming initially, but once I grew accustomed to the visual spectacle, I began appreciating how much Infinix had managed to fit into a relatively compact area.
The centerpiece is an interactive robotic arm holding a large display. As visitors approached, the installation periodically raised and lowered the screen, which was entertaining to watch.
Right in the middle, you can also find the curved product displays, which made browsing the gadgets more inviting. The overall aesthetic was futuristic and unapologetically bold, with enough details to reward anyone willing to spend a little time looking around.
Coffee, childhood nostalgia, and a little sensory overload
Infinix describes its approach as a five-senses experience, bringing sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch into the retail environment. The visual elements are evident in the design, but my personal favorite was how the company approached taste and smell.
Inside the store is n_x, Infinix’s locally developed coffee brand, which offers visitors an opportunity to grab a drink while exploring the showroom. Naturally, I had to try it, and the coffee was absolutely lovely. However, the way it was served made the experience even more charming.
One wall features several small doors, each marked with a different letter or number and decorated with recognizable anime and cartoon characters. When you place an order, you’re assigned a corresponding pickup spot. Once it’s ready, you simply head over to the designated door and collect your coffee.
It’s an unnecessarily elaborate way of collecting a drink, and I mean that in the best possible way. The entire interaction has a playful, almost nostalgic quality that makes an otherwise ordinary coffee break memorable.
Nearby, Infinix had also arranged a series of aroma dispensers resembling miniature brass horns. I tried these after finishing my coffee, exploring the different scents that formed part of the sensory experience.
It’s a great way of engaging visitors beyond the usual visual spectacle, and I appreciated how naturally these elements complemented the rest of the space. The coffee bar also gives the store something most technology showrooms lack, which is a reason to sit down, slow down, and enjoy the surroundings.
Gadgets are still integral to the experience
This is still an Infinix store, and there was plenty of technology to explore. The company had its latest smartphones on display, including the NOTE 60 Pro, NOTE 60 Ultra, and gaming-focused GT 50 Pro. I’ve spent time with Infinix smartphones before, so seeing its growing lineup was hardly a surprise.
I was already familiar with quite a number of these, so I turned my attention to the brand’s collection of AIoT products. Aside from the phones, the company also showcased tablets, laptops, wireless earbuds, headphones, portable fans, and several other accessories scattered across the displays. One charming addition was the Genie Badge, a small, circular, screen-equipped accessory which had a playful design.
The headphones also caught my attention with their unconventional styling and warm RGB lighting, offering something visually different from the usual monochromatic designs. And then there was the portable handheld fan, which quickly became one of my favorite gadgets in the store. Given Bali’s sweltering heat, having something like that around was an absolute blessing.
These were the products that made the tactile side of the experience especially worthwhile. I could pick things up, examine their designs, and discover accessories I wouldn’t necessarily have gone looking for.
The opening also drew an impressive crowd. We were among the first to enter, but hundreds of people were already waiting to see what Infinix had created. The showroom was packed, with locals, tourists, and media trying out gadgets, exploring installations, and taking photographs. There was an infectious energy to the whole thing, and I enjoyed seeing people engage with the store.
Why Bali? Infinix has a bigger plan
One question I had during the event was why Infinix chose Bali for its first global flagship concept store.
When I spoke with the Infinix team, they described Bali as a meeting point for different people and cultures. With travelers arriving from around the world and local creativity woven into everyday life, the company saw the island as an ideal place to introduce its new retail philosophy.
And after spending time there, I can understand the reasoning. Infinix calls its broader philosophy “Joy Tech,” and the store brings that idea to life through a concept called 1+2+X. The “1” represents the central technology experience, while the “2” refers to the coffee bar and robotic-arm installation. The “X” represents future possibilities, including collaborations with artists, musicians, gaming communities, and other creative talents.
For years, the company has been associated primarily with affordable smartphones. More recently, we’ve seen it start expanding its device lineup with models such as the gaming-focused GT 50 Pro and the Pininfarina-designed NOTE 60 Ultra.
It’s an attempt to build a more recognizable lifestyle brand around technology, giving people reasons to engage with Infinix beyond the specifications or price of its latest smartphone.
The company plans to open five additional flagship stores across Indonesia in 2026, while exploring similar experiential retail concepts for other markets. Future locations are expected to adapt to their local cultures rather than simply reproduce the Bali design.
Leaving the store, I found myself thinking about how much personality can change a retail experience. Apple Stores, for example, have an undeniable elegance, but I’ve always found their minimalist design a little too clinical. Many other smartphone stores take a similarly restrained approach, focusing almost entirely on products and sales.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with that, but I appreciated how Infinix gave me plenty of reasons to stay beyond trying out a new device. If I had one wish, it would be to see Infinix use this space for future product launches. Everything I tried during my visit had already been announced, and I can imagine how much more memorable an entirely new smartphone or accessory reveal could be in this environment.
