I’ve been to many smartphone stores over the years, and I can’t say 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 their first global flagship concept store, I was curious to see what the company had planned. I expected an elaborate showroom and some extra things, like eye-catching installations to celebrate the occasion. And while there were some of these, many of the things that actually caught my eye were permanent parts of the store.
There were polished metallic surfaces everywhere, a massive robot arm holding a display, coffee flavor dispensers, and enough gadgets to keep me busy for a while. The whole place was full of energy, and I found myself spending as much time exploring the installations as I was checking the phones.
A tech store that makes your eyes pop overtime
Located in Bali’s Beachwalk Shopping Center, the new Infinix flagship immediately caught my attention with its gorgeous open design. The store sits in the middle of the shopping complex, with a small gravel-like water feature wrapping part of the space and only three steps separating the showroom floor from the surrounding mall.
Despite this openness, when you walk into the store, you almost transport yourself somewhere completely 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 adds even more personality to the surroundings.
It was almost overwhelming at first, but once I grew accustomed to the visual spectacle, I began to appreciate how much Infinix had fit in a relatively compact area.
The centerpiece is an interactive robotic arm that holds a large display. As visitors arrived, the installation periodically raised and lowered the screen, which was fascinating to watch.
Right in the middle you will also find the curved product displays that have made browsing the gadgets more inviting. The overall aesthetic was futuristic and unapologetically bold, with enough detail to reward anyone willing to spend some time looking around.
Coffee, childhood nostalgia, and a bit of sensory overload
Infinix describes its approach as a five-sense experience, bringing sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch to 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, offering visitors the opportunity to grab a drink while exploring the showroom. Of course I had to try it, and the coffee was absolutely lovely. However, how it was served made the experience even more charming.
One wall has 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 will be assigned a corresponding pickup location. When it’s done, you simply go to the designated door and collect your coffee.
It’s an unnecessarily elaborate way to assemble a drink, and I think that’s for the best. The whole 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 that look like miniature brass horns. I tried these after finishing my coffee, exploring the various scents that were part of the sensory experience.
It’s a great way to engage visitors beyond the usual visual spectacle, and I appreciated how naturally these elements complement the rest of the space. The coffee bar also gives the store something that most technology showrooms lack, which is a reason to sit back, slow down and enjoy the surroundings.
Gadgets are still integral to the experience
This is still an Infinix store, and there was a lot 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 spent time with Infinix smartphones before, so seeing its growing lineup was hardly a surprise.
I was already familiar with a number of these, so I turned my attention to the brand’s collection of AIoT products. In addition to the phones, the company also displayed tablets, laptops, wireless headphones, earphones, portable fans and various other accessories scattered across the displays. A charming addition was the Genie Badge, a small, circular, screen-equipped accessory that had a playful design.
The headphones also caught my attention with their unconventional styling and warm RGB lighting, which visually offers something 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 this around was an absolute blessing.
These were the products that made the tactile side of the experience especially worthwhile. I was able to pick up things, examine their designs, and discover accessories that I wouldn’t necessarily have looked for.
The opening also drew impressive crowds. We were among the first in, 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 photos. There was an infectious energy to the whole thing, and I loved seeing people engage in business.
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 place for different people and cultures. With travelers arriving from all over 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 opportunities, including collaborations with artists, musicians, gaming communities and other creative talents.
For years, the company has been primarily associated with affordable smartphones. More recently, we’ve seen it start expanding its device lineup with models like the gaming-focused GT 50 Pro and the Pininfarina-designed NOTE 60 Ultra.
It is 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 Bali design.
Leaving the store, I realized 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 bit too clinical. Many other smartphone stores take a similar restrained approach, focusing almost entirely on products and sales.
There’s nothing wrong with that, but I appreciated how Infinix gave me plenty of reasons to go beyond trying 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 a brand new smartphone or accessory reveal could be in this environment.