Infinix Note 12i: The Best Smartphone Under Rs 10,000, But Theres A Small Catch
I have been looking for cheap smartphones for years. While the tech industry as a whole is booming, I feel the budget phone segment is on the decline. If you're looking for a smartphone in the sub-Rs 10,000 segment, it's pretty hard to find a phone that delivers on all fronts. However, the Inifnix Note 12i cracks the code and is the best budget phone you can buy right now. It is also one of the few phones in its price segment that has an AMOLED display.
Infinix Note 12i Specifications : 6.7 inch AMOLED | MediaTek Helio G85 | 4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage 50MP + 2MP + QVGA + 8MP front camera | 5000mAh + 10W charging XOS V12 based on Android 12
Design and display
Like other budget phones, the Infinix Note 12i has a plastic back with a matte finish and a camera island that shines in direct sunlight. While the plastic back has a good grip, the reflective part of the back panel is a fingerprint magnet. However, the overall design of the phone is quite sturdy and I never felt like I was going to drop the phone during my use. My only gripe with the design is that the teardrop notch on the front is quite large and looks dated on a 2023 phone.
On the right side of the phone is the power button, which acts as a fingerprint reader. Unlike other budget phones that often don't register fingerprints, it's accurate most of the time.
On the front, you get a 6.7-inch AMOLED display, which is really impressive considering the price of the phone. Color accuracy is really good and white looks whiter than yellowish, something I noticed when switching from LCD to AMOLED and really annoyed me. I watched a few movies and blacks are on par with what you'd expect from an AMOLED display. The screen is visible when viewed in direct sunlight, even in dark mode. The only downside is that the display has a 60Hz refresh rate, which is fairly reasonable for the price, but if you're coming from a phone with a higher refresh rate, it might be off.
Performance and UI
In recent years, budget phones have been less powerful than flagship devices. At first I was skeptical about the performance of the phone, but the MediaTek Helio G85 chipset performed very well. From checking WhatsApp messages to listening to YouTube music in the background, using Chrome and playing light games like Clash of Clans, I didn't face any issues or crashes while using it. I think the Infinix Note 12i is one of the few budget phones to achieve this feat.
I tried running Call of Duty Mobile on low graphics and the phone wouldn't let me. The game ran consistently at 60fps and didn't stutter during my hour-long gaming session. Infinix has struck a good balance between temperature and performance. If you can temper your expectations and don't mind lower graphics for gaming, the Infinix Note 12i is a good choice.
Infinix Note 12i comes with XOS V12 which is based on Android 12 and has a lot of firmware. While most apps can be easily uninstalled with one click, some apps such as AHA Games, Xclone, and Smart Scanner cannot be uninstalled. On the other hand, Infinix XOS 12 looks stylish and has a theme engine, game mode, video assistant, kid mode, multiple windows, smart dashboard and more. offers a number of features such as
As for the battery life, the Infinix Note 12i has a 5000 mAh battery that lasts almost a day or two depending on the usage. It comes with a 33W PD charger and since Infinix doesn't use any special technology, you can use a third-party charger to charge the phone. In case you're wondering, it takes about 90 minutes to fully charge the phone from 0-100%.
camera and audio
First let's talk about the sound. Infinix once again exceeded my expectations with stereo speaker setup and DTS Sound support, which is not unheard of at such a price. Both speakers are really good for listening to music, watching movies or playing games, and DTS improves the sound quality even more. Go to the Sound section of the Settings app and you'll find the option to choose from four DTS modes. I tried them all and was amazed that they made a huge difference in the sound quality.
The Infinix Note 12i sports a 50MP primary rear camera that is supported by a 2MP macro sensor and a QVGA depth sensor. Images come out detailed and color accuracy is spot on. I even tried shooting in scenarios where most mid-range smartphones often fail to impress, but the Note 12i managed to take decent photos in any lighting conditions. Night shots often lack detail, but noise levels are manageable and the photos are good for social media use. Considering the phone's price, the 50MP main sensor is one of the best cameras I've used in the price segment. However, there isn't much to say about the macro and depth cameras, and I think they're just there to fill out the spec sheet.
For selfie lovers, the phone comes with an 8MP sensor with dual front flash. The selfie camera is another highlight of the phone. You can take really good selfies in low light conditions thanks to the unique dual front flash that provides natural light instead of overexposing photos. Another thing that surprised me is that the phone can record 2K video at 30fps, which is missing even on phones costing twice as much. Even the 8-megapixel front-facing camera can record 2K videos.
Infinix Note 12i. Should you buy it?
If you're on a budget and looking for a smartphone that delivers on almost all fronts, the Infinix Note 12i is the way to go. From the camera to the display, the phone managed to impress me and is easily one of the best phones under Rs 10,000 if you don't mind bloatware that can be removed or disabled. However, there are a few other options like the Motorola G31 that packs the same hardware and offers a near-standard Android experience and punchy design.
