Is the Infinix Note 12i the Best Smartphone Under Rs 10,000?

The Infinix Note 12i has a premium-looking and feeling plastic rear with a matte finish. While the technology sector has grown swiftly, the budget phone segment has declined. If you're searching for a smartphone around Rs 10,000, finding one that delivers on all fronts isn't easy. The Infinix Note 12i, on the other hand, breaks the mould and is, without a doubt, the most excellent affordable phone available right now. It is also one of the few phones in this price range with an AMOLED screen.

Display and design

The Infinix Note 12i, like other low-cost phones, features a matte-finish plastic back and a camera island that sparkles in direct sunlight. While the plastic back is comfortable to hold, the reflective area of the rear panel attracts fingerprints. But, the general design of the phone is relatively strong. The only complaint about the design is that the teardrop notch on the front is rather large and needs to be put in the right place on the phone; it will be released in 2023.

Performance and UI

The power button, which also serves as a fingerprint scanner, is on the phone's right side. It is usually accurate, unlike other low-cost phones, which frequently fail to recognise your fingerprint. You get a 6.7-inch AMOLED screen on the front, which is impressive given the phone's pricing. The colour fidelity is excellent, and white seems more white than yellowish, which I observed while switching from LCD to AMOLED and found quite annoying. Even in dark mode, the screen is viewable in direct sunlight. The main drawback is that the display has a refresh rate of 60Hz, which is acceptable at this price range, but this may be an issue if you come from a phone with a higher refresh rate. The Infinix Note 12i has a matte-finish polycarbonate back and a reflective camera island.

Audio and camera

The Infinix Note 12i has a 50MP primary rear camera supplemented by a 2MP macro sensor and a QVGA depth sensor. The photographs are detailed, and the colour fidelity is excellent. I also attempted taking images in situations where many mid-range smartphones fail to impress, yet Note 12i captured good shots regardless of the illumination. Night photographs frequently lack detail, but the noise level is tolerable, and the images are suitable for social media. Given the phone's pricing, the 50MP primary sensor is one of the most excellent cameras in this price range. Nevertheless, there isn't much to say about the macro and depth cameras, which seem to exist to fill out the spec sheet.

Conclusion

If you're on a budget and want a smartphone that delivers on nearly every front, the Infinix Note 12i is the best smartphone in this range. The phone is impressive in every way, from the camera to the display to the performance, and it is one of the best phones under Rs 10,000, assuming you don't mind the bloatware, which can be deleted or muted. But there are other alternatives, such as the Motorola G31, which has the same hardware but offers a near-stock Android experience with a punch-hole design.