Infinix Note 12 VIP has a 6.7-inch AMOLED display and 120Hz refresh rate. There is a MediaTek Helio G96 chipset on the inside, along with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB internal storage. It has a 16-megapixel selfie camera, and the rear camera is led by a 108-megapixel lens. From the specifications, you already know that this is a mid-range Android smartphone.
The Note 12 VIP has a flat design, with a centred punch hole at the top of the 6.7 inches display. The frame and the back panel are made of plastic, and it is of good quality. Flip the phone over, and you will see a raised island for the rear camera. While the camera lenses are located on the left side, the island itself is spread evenly across the width of the phone. It is a distinctive design, and it has a practical benefit, too – the phone sits firmly and does not wobble when you place it on its back.
The rear panel of the phone is made of plastic, though it almost feels ceramic, and is not slippery, unlike when glass is used. Also, it does not attract fingerprint smudges at all. It is a beautiful and practical back design.
The volume keys and power button are on the right edge, and the power button doubles as a fingerprint reader. I like the side-mounted fingerprint scanner. Your finger is on the Power button many times, and it just feels natural that the unlocking of the screen happens there.
Infinix Note 12 VIP review: The new XOS v10
If there is one surprise that the Note 12 VIP delivers, it is the fact that XOS is now different. Very different. XOS 10 now looks exactly like HiOS v8. It appears that the management at Transsion Holdings decided that it was in the best interest of everybody to unify the software experience. It bears XOS and HiOS on Infinix and TECNO smartphones, but it is now the same software, just with different labels. And it is a good thing, because I like HiOS v8. Having experienced it in the Camon 18 Premier, my judgement was that it is the best version of HiOS yet. The icons are better, and it generally looks more matured. And that is how I feel about XOS 10, too. Also like, HiOS v8, it still has all the traditional bloatware – the same as in TECNO smartphones. Exactly the same. And why not? It is the same software. There are scores of pre-installed apps. Some can be deleted; some cannot be. One good thing about the new custom software is that all the pesky notifications can be disabled easily now, as XOS v10 has a notification menu that lets you easily toggle off notifications for apps. XOS has never been better. I cannot say that too much. This is perhaps the first implementation of XOS that I really, really, really, love. It makes for a much better experience. Of course, I can’t wait for Android 13, which has a new feature that requires apps to obtain the user’s consent before throwing up any notifications at all.
Infinix Note 12 VIP review: Audio and Display/Video
The speakers on the Note 12 VIP are loud and produce boxy audio. It is nothing terrible, but we have seen better sounding speakers on mid-range smartphones in this class. As for video, the screen is sharp and has good clarity. In addition, 120Hz refresh rate makes video consumption and gaming in selected apps and titles a more pleasant experience.
6.7 inches diagonally. 120Hz refresh rate. AMOLED. The display is bright and clear and sharp. It is a delight to use. If you are not a fan of the high refresh rate, for any reason, there is an option in the phone settings to switch to regular 60Hz. I did notice that the Adaptive brightness control keeps the screen brightness quite low, no matter how many times we adjusted it up. Being adaptive, hopefully, it will learn our preferred brightness setting over time.
Infinix Note 12 VIP review: Cameras
Infinix Note 12 VIP has a 16-megapixel selfie camera. At the back, it has a 108-megapixel main snapper, a 13-megapixel ultrawide snapper, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. We took both for a spin. The rear 108-megapixel camera takes sharp, clear, and bright photos in everyday lighting conditions, indoors, and outdoors. The Super Night Photo Mode does a good job squeezing light out of darkness, too. The selfie camera is okay, but certainly does not impress. Below are sample photos taken with the two cameras, for your viewing pleasure.
Infinix Note 12 VIP review: sample photos
Infinix Note 12 VIP review: Performance
The Helio G96 chipset is a decent performer and lived up to expectations here. Coupled with 8 GB of RAM and 3 GB extended RAM, we experienced no issues with the phone in use. Apps opened and switched without pauses. There is 256 GB of internal storage for your videos and photos and other files. If you somehow use up all of that space and need more, there is a microSD slot available, so you can add a memory card for extra storage.
Infinix Note 12 VIP review: Battery Charging And Performance
If we are being honest, the 120W fast charging is the headlining feature of this smartphone. How fast does it go? Infinix says it charges from empty to 100% in 17 minutes. We drained the battery till the phone powered off by itself, and then plugged it in and while running a stop watch. After 5 minutes, the battery was at 35%. When the watch clocked 10 minutes, we had 57% charge. And at 15 minutes, we had 76%. When we hit 17 minutes, the battery was at only 84%, not 100%. It didn’t hit 100% charge until we had clocked 22 minutes and 17 seconds. Here is the 120W charging test video: So, Infinix’s claim is a little off, but charging a phone from zero to 100% in 22 minutes is an impressive feat, all the same. But after charging up the phone, how does the battery hold up? Excellently. We got solid battery life out of the Note 12 VIP. Even with 120Hz refresh rate active, we got a full day of use out of it, consistently.
Infinix Note 12 VIP review: Last Words
What is our conclusion about the Note 12 VIP? This is a solid performing phone that includes the convenience of being able to charge up in one-third of an hour. Even if all you have is 5 minutes to top up the battery, before dashing out, you’d get at least 35% battery charge in that short period. That is fantastic. Everyone needs to experience the convenience of 120W fast charging, and hopefully, one day, more smartphones will be able to charge this fast. But for now, you have Infinix Note 12 VIP to provide you that convenience. It is available in independent and partner stores around the country for ₦199,000.
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