Infinix Note 12i is the latest addition to the Note 12 family, which already includes multiple smartphones, such as the Note 12 Pro 4G, Note 12 Pro 5G, Note 12 5G, Note 12, and Note 12 Turbo. The Note 12i is an entry-level model, that is positioned lower than the Note 12 that costs Rs 11,999 (~$146) in the Indian market.
It should be noted that the Note 12i is the same device that has been available in African markets under the Infinix Note 12i 2022 name since September 2022. This device is different from the Note 12i with an LCD panel that debuted in May 2022 in Africa.
The Note 12i is priced at Rs 9,999 (~$121) in India, and like the other members of the series, it also features an AMOLED display. Hence, it is one of the most affordable phones with an AMOLED screen in the Indian market. Some of its other key features include a large battery with 33W fast charging, a 50-megapixel triple camera unit, and an Helio G85 chipset. I used the device for a couple of weeks, and here is what I think of it.
Infinix Note 12i: What’s in the box?
Here are the contents of the Infinix Note 12i’s retail box
- Infinix Note 12i handset
- Silicone case
- SIM ejector tool
- 33W charger
- USB-C to USB-A cable
- User manual
- Warranty card
- XClub document
Design and Display
| Dimensions | Display | |
| Size – 164.47 x 76.7 x 7.8mm | 6.7-inch AMOLED display | 10000:1 contrast ratio |
| Weight – 188 grams | 1080 x 2400 pixels (FHD+) | Widevine L1 support |
| IPX4 rating | 60Hz refresh rate | Gorilla Glass 3 |
| 180Hz touch sampling rate | ||
| Color variants | Up to 1000 nits of brightness | |
| Force Black | 92% screen-to-body ratio | |
| Metaverse Blue | 100% DCI-P3 wide color gamut |
Some smartphone brands in India are doing an excellent job of providing better build and design for phones priced at around Rs 10,000. The same can be seen on the Note 12i. While it is priced at Rs 9,999, it certainly looks like a phone priced at around Rs 15,000. The Force Black edition that Infinix sent me for review has flat edges, and its polycarbonate rear shell has a glittery yet matte finish. There is a glossy block at the top that houses a protruding camera module on the left. While it appears that the device has four cameras, it actually has three cameras and an LED flash.
The right side of the Note 12i has a volume rocker and a power button, which is integrated with a fingerprint sensor. On the bottom, it has a 3.5mm headphone jack, a microphone, a USB-C port, and a speaker grille. There is a SIM card slot on the left. The top edge of the phone is barren, as it is missing a secondary microphone. The device flaunts a slim profile of 7.8mm.
The Note 12i’s large display has a u-shaped notch and a moderately thick chin. It goes without saying that the AMOLED display is one of the major selling points of the device. In fact, it is the only new phone under Rs 10,000 with an AMOLED screen, which produces deeper blacks and richer colours than an LCD display. All the other phones in this price range have LCD panels.
The 6.72-inch AMOLED display available on Note 12i offers a peak brightness of up to 1,000 nits, according to the brand. The quality of the AMOLED panel does not seem mediocre. The screen is quite bright, and there was no issue using it in bright sunlight.
Even if the phone is used at its highest brightness setting, it does not deplete the battery quickly. The screen supports a 100 percent DCI-P3 color gamut, the company claims. However, I could not find any option to alter the display profile on the Note 12i. However, it offers options like classic, colorful, soft, and realistic options for a better gaming experience in the “enhancement mode” in Settings.
The Note 12i’s screen is shielded by Gorilla Glass 3. Light/Dark mode, adaptive brightness, and eye care mode are among the display-related features available on the device. The top bezel of the phone has an earpiece, which doubles up as a speaker. The impressive display, Widevine L1 support, and dual stereo speakers make the Note 12i a good device for content consumption.
Performance and Software
| MediaTek Helio G85 | 5,000Ah battery |
| 4GB of RAM | 33W charging |
| 64GB of storage | Android 12 OS with XOS 12 |
| 4GB of virtual RAM |
The MediaTek Helio G85 is intended for casual gaming and performs admirably on the Note 12i. While it can run high-end games like Garena Free Fire Max, the experience may not be smooth if it is played at higher graphic settings. Like other Infinix phones, it also features Game Mode. The Helio G85 chip is assisted by 4 GB of LPDDR4x RAM and up to 4 GB of virtual RAM onboard, so the overall experience is smooth on the device. For storage, it has 64 GB of eMMC 5.1 storage.
The XOS 12.0-based Android 12 skin available on the Note 12i has a slew of features not found on other popular Android skins. I compared the Note 12i with the Infinix Hot 20 5G, which I reviewed earlier, and found the company has reduced the number of unneeded preloaded apps on the new Note. At present, there is no official word on the next Android OS upgrade for the device.
The Note 12i’s 5,000 mAh battery can last for up to 2 days on a full charge. The in-box 33W fast charger can fully charge the device in 1 hour and 30 minutes. Here is how the Note 12i performed on benchmarking apps.
Photography and Other Features
| Rear Camera | Other features |
| 50MP Samsung SK5JN1 camera | Side-facing fingerprint scanner |
| 2MP depth camera | Face unlock |
| QVGA AI lens | Dedicated microSD card slot |
| Quad-LED flash | Wi-Fi 802.11ac |
| Bluetooth 5.0 | |
| Front Camera | Dual stereo speakers with DTS |
| 8MP front camera | 3.5mm audio jack |
| Dual-LED flash | |
The back panel of the phone has a 50-megapixel camera with an f/1.6 aperture, which performs well in daylight. It can also shoot decently indoors and at night when there is enough light. The images capture good details in daylight, but they appear soft in low light. A 2-megapixel depth sensor, a QVGA lens, and a quad-LED unit are all present in addition to the primary snapper.
The default camera app uses the AI Cam feature, which is capable of recognizing the subject accurately. It also offers other key features, such as filters, short video mode, time-lapse, and more. While the Super Night mode is present to enhance low-light shots, I felt that the quality of regular and Super Night shots was almost the same when there was sufficient light.
The Note 12i can capture up to Full HD videos at 30fps. The video quality is fine when videos are captured with enough light. Videos with a bokeh effect or in beauty mode can only be shot in 720p quality. The bokeh effect is okay for a low-budget phone. The Note 12i supports 240 fps slow-motion video shooting.
There is a dual-LED flash unit to assist the front-facing 8-megapixel camera. The front camera can capture selfies with blurred backgrounds. The overall quality of the selfie samples is just passable when the lighting is good.
While the haptic feedback of the Note 12i functions fine, there are no options to increase or decrease its strength. While the device supports 4G VoLTE, it does not seem to have 4G+. For biometrics, the Note 12i has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and face unlock, both of which perform fine.
Verdict
I feel that the Infinix Note 12i will receive a good reception in India as it offers a combination of features such as an AMOLED display, a 50-megapixel camera, and 33W fast charging at a very low price. The only thing that is lacking on this device is 5G connectivity. In India, 5G-ready AMOLED display phones start around Rs 15,000 (~$182) for those who are unaware. The only other phones that offer similar features are the Redmi Note 10S and the Moto G31, which debuted in 2021.
The Note 12i is selling for Rs 9,999 (~$121) on Flipkart, but the Jio cashback offer available for buyers brings a cashback of Rs 1,000 (~$12), which further sweetens the deal. As a result, buyers can get it for as low as Rs 8,999 (~$109). Jio SIM owners can take advantage of this offer within 30 days of purchasing the Note 12i. Once the cashback is received, the device will be locked to the Jio network for 30 months.
In other words, once the offer is taken advantage of, users will not be able to use another SIM on the device for data connectivity. Because it is a dual-SIM phone, users will be able to use both a Jio SIM and a SIM from another network even after availing of the Jio Exclusive offer. Readers can read about the terms and conditions of the Jio Exclusive offer by visiting this page.
Disclaimer: All of the opinions in this Infinix Note 12i review are mine and based on my own experiences. There has been no editorial input from Infinix.
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