Pros
- Massive 6.7-inch AMOLED display
- Up to 7GB RAM
- Cinematic Dual Speakers
Cons
- Not water or dust resistant
- No 5G connectivity
Budget smartphones have advanced significantly, and they now include features that were previously only seen on mid-range and flagship models. The Infinix Note 12i, which has a great spec-to-price value and is laden with green flags, is the ideal example. The standard for smartphones under 10K in the nation is set by this device.
The Infinix Note 12i is the entry-level device in the Note 12 series. The smartphone displays its worth in the Note 12 series despite being the smallest of the siblings. Is this the ideal smartphone for daily use? How about gaming? Can you play games on the Note 12i on a shoestring budget? Let’s find out in this review.
Also Read | Infinix Zero 5G Long Term Review: Premium Design With Long Lasting Battery
What’s Inside The Box?
- Infinix Note 12i handset
- USB A to USB type C cable
- 33 Watt Flash Charger
- SIM Ejector tool
- Some paperwork
Design
The Infinix Note 12i is an attractive-looking slim and lightweight device. Our unit is painted in the stunning Force Black shade which is sure to catch people’s eyes. It has a matte-like finish at the bottom which makes it less slippery and more comfortable to use with one hand. The glossy top half has a camera island on the left. The camera module looks like this is a premium smartphone. The front sports a selfie punch-hole cutout.
A type-C charging port, a microphone, and a headphone jack are all located at the bottom. The volume rocker and side-mounted fingerprint scanner are located on the right side of the phone, making it easier to unlock.
The dual nano-sim card slot and extendable storage are located on the left side. Plenty of sound is produced by the earpiece and the speaker on the bottom. The speakers are more than adequate for watching movies as well as listening to music on the side. This phone has a nice chassis and represents a huge improvement in the overall quality and feel of the phone.
Also Read | Infinix Zero 5G 2023 Vs Tecno Phantom X2 Vs Realme 10 Pro: Top Trending Affordable 5G Phones Comparison
Display
This is a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution with 1000 nits peak brightness. The display is easily visible under the sunlight. It gets bright enough outdoors and delivers smooth performance when scrolling within apps or moving around the user interface.
Watching videos on this smartphone will get you a good viewing experience. The reason is that this is an AMOLED display. This has a dynamic refresh rate of 90Hz making this phone a budget gaming device I would consider. You get a clear display for some serious gaming to happen.
Also Read | Best Super AMOLED Display Smartphones Under Rs. 25,000 In India
Performance
The Infinix Note 12i is powered by the MediaTek Helio G85 octa-core processor. This is an entry-level gaming processor. If you want to play games on this handset, you can. I tried Call of Duty in low and medium quality and the gameplay was pretty smooth. So, if you are a gaming user and your budget is low, you can go for it.
The handset I am using is packed with 4GB RAM and 128GB of onboard storage. Both can be expanded: there is a slot for expandable storage using a microSD card, and you can add 3GB of virtual RAM.
As far as the UI is concerned, some might say that the UI needs improvement. This is a phone that is targeting specific category users (looking for under 10k phones), these users are really not interested in the UI, they usually adapt the UI. The Hi Ui is good. The Infinix Note 12i runs on Android 12 out of the box. It offers features such as revamped new widgets, direct share, scrolling screenshots, improved privacy indicators, smarter auto-rotate, redesigned power menu, redesigned lock screen, and more. It also has the ability to exchange Wi-Fi credentials with nearby friends.
The smartphone absolutely flew through every app I threw at it. This is one of the faster phones in its pricing category. The device felt fluid and fast with no lag. The performance was smooth across the board including running demanding games like Ninja Arashi 3, Asphalt 9: Legends, and Call of Duty Mobile. Overall, the performance is great for the device and it won’t struggle with daily usage.
Also Read | Best Smartphones Powered By MediaTek Helio G Series Chipsets Under Rs. 15,000
Camera
The Infinix Note 12i has a 50MP main camera with an additional 2MP depth sensor and QVGA camera. We have an 8MP selfie camera in the cutout.
In the photography department, the phone shoots solid photos and videos. It will hand in good-to-great-looking results most of the time even in low light. You should not expect white colors in completely dark environments.
It handles selfies reasonably well too. Selfie looks great and night shorts are also pretty good for the price. Also, you can shoot videos in 2K max resolution and can use various film effects. You will be impressed by the results. The camera is good for making short videos. Overall, the camera setup is quite good for a phone in this price range.
Also Read | Love Capturing Moments? Check Out The Best Camera Phones Under Rs. 15,000
Battery
The 5,000mAh battery in the Infinix Note 12i supports 33W fast charging. You’ll have enough juice left over to use for the entire day. The battery can last for up to two days, and the charger that comes with the device charges it completely in 90 minutes. You’ll have enough juice left over to use for email, web surfing, and content consumption all day long. Even with minimal use, I was able to push two full days. Not much more can be expected from a smartphone for under 10K price range.
Final Verdict
So, the Infinix Note 12i is one of the best smartphones you can go for under the 10K price segment. You can get the device for Rs. 8,999 with offers. The offers are for a limited period, after that the price will be Rs. 9,999, which is still really good.
The smartphone would make for a fine purchase. The unique thing you are getting for the price is dual speakers. Also, it has a big screen with a high refresh rate, up to 7GB of RAM, and an incredible camera setup, making it one of the best-performance smartphones under 10K in the country.
Also Read | Infinix Smart 6 Review: Long Lasting Battery With Decent Looks
