Infinix Note 5 Review: The Infinix Note 5 was launched in the country close to a month ago. The device has been rated the best Infinix phone compared to its predecessor the Note 4 which was launched last year.
The Infinix Note 5 packs some amazing features like the Android One and Full HD+ infinity display. We already did the unboxing article for you which you can check here. I got a black review unit from Infinix Mobile although I wish I got the blue one because it looks really good. See a photo of the Blue Note 5 below.
I have used the Infinix Note 5 for close to a month now as my primary phone and it’s probably the best Infinix phone in the Note series that I have ever used. It’s actually one of the phones I was really looking forward to when Infinix started sending out teasers about it. First, its an Android One device, and comes with the purest form of Android, the design is also impressive and many other impressive features I will be talking about in this review.
Design and Build
I love the design no doubt about that. The design is completely different from the previous note. The Infinix Note 5 actually shares the same blueprint as the latest Infinix devices in the HOT series; the Infinix HOT 6 and HOT 6 Pro. You get curved and rounded edges which makes the device fit really well in the palm of your hands. I like this type of arrangement.
I love the back surface of the Infinix Note 5. It a sleek smooth imitation-glass polycarbonate back surface that Infinix is calling Metal Print giving you a glossy finish.
At the top side, you have the necessary bezels which house the 16MP front camera, the LED flash, earpiece and other hidden sensors all of which have been horizontally arranged. The physical home button we saw in the previous Note series has also been completely scrapped to give room for the FHD+ infinity display. The excess bezels on the sides have also been removed to accommodate the 6-inch screen with 18.9 aspect ratio.
At the back, you have the 12MP rear camera and dual LED flash which have been encased in a protective rim. I actually like this because it protects the camera from damage. The fingerprint sensor seats at the center. Again, this arrangement is completely different from what we saw on the Note 4. The top and left side don’t feature anything as the volume and power buttons alongside the SIM/SD card slot are on the right side. At the bottom of the device are the speakers, Audio jack slots, Micro-USB as well as the speakers.
Also printed at the bottom back there’s the Infinix Note and Android One branding giving the device a more elegant look.
Performance and Software
As I said earlier, the Infinix Note 5 is actually the best Infinix phone in the Note series that I have used. Why do I say this? Well, its features the best specs in the series Infinix has ever released. A Helio P23 chipset with an Octa-Core 2.0 GHz 64bit, ARM Cortex-A53 Mali-G71 MP2 processor and 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage, I couldn’t ask for more. Should you choose to purchase the device, expect some really good performance, better than you’re used to with other Infinix devices.
In terms of responsiveness, the device loads really fast, the apps are not sluggish. For those who love playing games go buy this device, you will love playing them on the Full HD display. The resolution is pretty good and the colors are also very rich and vibrant. One of the best thing I loved during my entire Infinix Note 5 Review.
The Infinix Note 5 is an Android One device meaning you get the best Android experience in inexpensive and easily affordable smartphone. Basically, you get a device that is in a way certified by Google as the best Android can offer in the given price range. The Infinix Note 5 being part of Android One – and labeled as such on the rear of the phone brings with it a guarantee that it’s a solid and stable version of Android that’s not loaded with other Apps, services, and bloatware. The few resident apps comprise Google Apps like Gmail, Chrom, Google Play Store, Google Photos, Google Maps and a few more. You can still disable these apps as there’s an option for doing that, but you cannot uninstall them. Google’s goal here is to facilitate the spread of Google-controlled Android via compelling products.
One app that will make some of you mad about is the FM Radio, its missing. Overall, the Infinix Note 5’s performance is really good.
Camera
The camera is actually one of the key selling points for this device. The rear camera is 12MP with 1.25um and a large pixel; F2.0. To be honest, I expected the Infinix Note 5 to come with a dual camera set-up. This conversation even came up offline when we were preparing to shoot one episode of our 24Bit podcast. The 12MP camera, however, does an incredible job, the images are clear, detailed and the colors are also amazing. Infinix claims it is a smart AI-powered camera that recognizes your environment and chooses the best possible setting for the quality shot. Check some of the photos we took with the device below. More photos are available on out TechTrendsKE Instagram page, follow and check them out.
The selfie camera, on the other hand, is 16MP and also comes with AI Beauty mode which captures 255 facial points. This only means the image quality is just out of this world. It also features some AI Bokeh effects which gives you some beautiful AI Portraits. Check some of the selfies I took with the camera below:
Infinix Note 5 cameras also support Google Lens – a new way to search what you see and interact with the world around you. With Google Lens, you can take action on text, identify distinct plant and animal breeds, learn more about popular landmarks and discover products similar to the ones that catch your eye – like furniture and apparel. The feature is available right in the Note 5 camera and through the Google Assistant. I never really tried it out during this Infinix Note 5 Review but will definately share more info about in a separate article.
Battery
Infinix never disappoints when it comes to battery and it took no chances with the Infinix Note 5. The device comes with a non-removable 4500mAh battery capacity touted to give you a three-day battery life. It has also been build with 3A Fast Charge which should boost it from 0 to 100% in less than 2 hours.
I love the performance, even on extreme usage, I was able to record an average of 11 hours. During this period, I was either on social media, watching HD videos, playing music and games and was also on 4G throughout. So, yes, the battery is incredible and I will give Infinix a plus for that.
Additional Features
If you expected the Infinix Note 5 to come with Face unlock then you might be a bit disappointed. I have actually not seen any Android One device that supports this feature. The fingerprint sensor is however very fast although it has limited use.
The audio quality is also fair but does not beat what we saw on the Infinix HOT 6.
Infinix Note 5 Review Verdict, Pricing, and Availability
I love the Infinix Note 5. By and large, it’s actually the best device Infinix has ever built. Would I spend Ksh.17,939 on this device? Yes! The powerful Helio P23 processor, decent 12MP and 16MP rear and front cameras and good battery than last me for so many hours of moderate use? I would definitely go for it.
A few things to note though, the glossy metal print is very slippery so to be safe just use the silicone cover that Infinix decided to add to the box. I also don’t understand why Infinix decided not to add an FM radio to the device. You, however, have an option of downloading an FM tuner and you will be good to go.
Have anything to add to our Infinix Note 5 Review? Drop us a comment in the comments section below. If you are using this device also share your experiences with us and remember to also subscribe to our newsletter to ensure you don’t miss out on any future announcements from Infinix. Remember the company is also planning to unveil the Infinix HOT S3X, its first ever device with a notch, yes, a notch.
- BUY THE INFINIX NOTE 5 ON JUMIA HERE FOR KSH. 17,939
- BUY THE INFINIX NOTE 5 ON KILIMALL HERE FOR KSh 17,899
