Initial Verdict: Despite having practically the same hardware as the Note 11S, Infinix sets the benchmark for price-to-specs ratio yet again with the Infinix Note 12 in the Philippines, offering both an AMOLED display and 256GB storage for under Php 12k.
Pros
- Large AMOLED display
- 256GB storage for under Php 10k
Cons
- 60hz refresh rate on the display
- No ultra-wide-angle camera
Infinix Note 12 Philippines specs
- MediaTek Helio G96 processor
- 8GB LPDDR4X RAM
- 128GB/256GB UFS 2.2 internal storage, expandable via microSD
- 6.7-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display
- 50-megapixel f/1.8 main camera with PDAF, 2-megapixel depth sensor, AI camera
- 16-megapixel selfie camera
- LTE, 4G
- WiFi, Bluetooth, side-mounted fingerprint scanner
- Stereo speakers
- 33w charging
- 5000mAh battery
- Android 12, XOS 10.6
A good six months after the Note 11S has arrived in the Philippines, Infinix brings over the Note 12 to our shores. Bearing practically the same price as its predecessor, the Note 12 aims to offer even better value for money with more internal storage and a shift to an AMOLED panel.
Unboxing and Packaging contents
The Infinix Note 12 gets a while box with all of the branding decked in either green or grey. The front of the box highlights three things: the AMOLED display, the RAM/Storage variant, and the Helio G96 processor beating inside it. The processor is a big deal, as some Note 12 variants sold in other countries use a less powerful Helio G88 processor.
Inside the box, you have documentation, a 33w charger, USB-C cable, jelly case, and the phone itself.
Design
Infinix stepped up with the design on the Infinix Note 12, showcasing a wavy pattern on the polycarbonate panel on the back panel. The finish is textured, so you don’t need to worry about fingerprint smudges. It also maintains its premium looks with its flat frame edges that remind you of the latest iPhones and some higher-end Android phones.
You get a loudspeaker, USB-C port, and headphone jack at the bottom, volume controls and power button/fingerprint scanner on the right side, and a SIM card tray on the left side. Despite its size, the Note 12 is slim at 7.8mm, and it’s impressive that Infinix managed to still pack a 5000mAh battery inside its slender body.
Display
While you do lose out on the high refresh rate display of the Note 11S, the Note 12 makes up for it by using a Full HD+ AMOLED panel. This makes the Note 12 one of the few under-Php 10k phones to use an AMOLED panel, which is a good tradeoff for a lack of a high refresh rate option.
The Note 12’s AMOLED does deliver vivid colors, though the panel is not as bright as those used in more expensive phones. Do note that it does not support Widevine L1, so you are limited to watching Netflix videos in SD resolution.
Like its predecessor, you still get stereo speakers on the Infinix Note 12, and they are decent enough for a budget phone. While they do get loud, we advise against cranking up the volume too much, as the highs can get distorted at higher volume levels.
Cameras
The camera setup on the Note 12 is practically the same as the Note 11S: you get a 50-megapixel main camera, a 2-megapixel depth sensor, and an AI camera. We wished Infinix dropped the AI camera and depth sensor for something more useful like an ultra-wide-angle camera.
We explained in our review of the Note 11S that it does fall short in terms of color accuracy. We do hope that Infinix has fixed the camera software on the Note 12 despite having the same hardware.
Like the Note 11S, you can shoot up to 1440P video on the Note 12.
Internals
The internals remains unchanged with the Note 12, though this time Infinix offers a beefy 256GB storage option. Aside from the AMOLED panel, you’d be hard-pressed to find any under Php 10k phone to have that much internal storage to boot.
The Helio G96 used on the Note 12 may be quite dated, but we prefer this processor over the Snapdragon 680, as several of our tests prove that the Helio G96 performs way better especially when it comes to gaming.
The Note 12 comes with the latest version of XOS, which is based on Android 12. You do get a considerable amount of bloatware with it, along with features like virtual RAM expansion.
You still get a 5000mAh battery with support for 33w wired charging on the Note 12, and we think that it should be the standard for under Php 10k phones these days.
Wrap up and initial conclusions
While it shares most of the hardware used on the Note 11S, the shift to an AMOLED display and having as much as 256GB internal storage–all for under Php 10k–makes the Infinix Note 12 an interesting budget phone in the Philippines.
Infinix Note 12 Price Philippines
The Infinix Note 12 is priced at Php 8,999 for the 128GB variant and Php 9,999 for the 256GB variant and will be available at Infinix stores nationwide and via Shopee.
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