TECH/REVIEW | Fast to first with the Infinix NOTE 50 Pro

This year, Infinix partnered up with Call of Duty: Mobile for the much-awaited NOTE 50 series. Built for nonstop CODM action, this lineup aims to go beyond what’s expected of gaming phones and provide their users with a gadget that helps them keep their heads in the game.

I was recently allowed to get my hands on the Infinix NOTE 50 Pro, the only metal gaming phone with 90W+30W fast charging and 144Hz refresh rate for only under 12k. Inspired by CODM’s Ghost, the NOTE 50 Pro embodies fast to first with its top-tier performance and exclusive CODM design.

Build

The Infinix NOTE 50 Pro comes in four colors: Titanium Grey, Enchanted Purple, Racing Edition, and Shadow Black. It is the only phone in its class with an ArmorAlloyTM metal frame and feels conveniently lightweight at 198g.

At the back, the phone sports a glossy finish reminiscent of steel and metal. It is not prone to fingerprints so you don’t have to worry about cleaning it every time. With a minimalist design, the phone looks elegant and easily blends with your style anytime.

Tougher than plastic, yet lighter than stainless steel, the ArmorAlloyTM material ensures durability at its finest. It provides an ultra-resilient build for the phone, withstanding impact, corrosion, and humid conditions.

The brand also says this metal frame adds 50 percent more motherboard impact resistance, which means a lot for the phone’s structural integrity. A ShockAbsorb architecture was also integrated, so you know it’s protected from all corners—just in case the gameplay gets intense.

Bio-Active Halo AI Lighting

Within the camera set-up, you’ll notice a smaller rectangular box just below the cameras. This is the bio-active halo AI light, a new feature that turns your Infinix NOTE 50 Pro into your mobile health manager.

But how does this work? Simply access the pull-down menu, open the My Health App, or activate Folax, and place your finger on top of the sensor to start the blood oxygen and heart rate monitoring process.

I had reservations about this feature until I realized my parents could benefit from it. It’s quite a niche if you think about it, but monitoring tiny changes in your system and spotting early patterns could help in the long run.

But it doesn’t stop there, this bio-active halo light could also be a marker for notifications, timers, recordings, and charging. This accessibility adds another layer of convenience to users of the NOTE 50 Pro.

Display

I don’t have rules when I play games, but the display needs to be on point. Fortunately, the Infinix NOTE 50 Pro doesn’t disappoint. It boasts a 6.78-inch 144Hz AMOLED display that offers a fast and vivid viewing experience.

As my everyday phone, the NOTE 50 Pro offers a smooth and vibrant display, perfect for my daily doomscrolling and work. It provides an immersive viewing experience for streaming shows and music videos, especially with its nice contrast and colors.

For gaming, this display feels wide in the best way possible. You’ll cover many areas regardless if you’re playing shooting games, MOBA games, or open-world RPG games.

It even has a peak brightness of 1300 nits, so you can use the phone outside with no trouble seeing what’s on the screen. The brand also added a wet and greasy touch feature, so you’ll have no trouble using the screen even when your hands get wet and greasy from munching on snacks or just plain water.

Furthermore, given that you’ll inevitably game with this phone, the brand made sure that its display is easy on your eyes. It comes with high-frequency PWM dimming and a German Rhein low-blue light certification to ensure your eyes won’t strain.

Battery and Charging

Have you ever played CODM, and just when you’re about to get that ace, your phone dies right before you kill the last enemy? Yeah, no need to worry about running out of power with the NOTE 50 Pro. Packed with a large and durable 5200mAh battery, you’ll last longer regardless if you’re gaming or working.

It comes with 90W fast charging as well as all-around fast charge 3.0 that delivers the most optimal modes to ease you out of worrying about battery. Specifically, it has three charging modes: Smart (1-100 percent in 44 minutes), Hyper (33 minutes), and Low Temp. You have the freedom to pick and choose from these modes depending on what your situation calls for.

Moreover, the NOTE 50 Pro even has 30W wireless charging that tops up your phone in 1 hour and 43 minutes, which is the fastest among its class. It also has 10W wired reverse charging and 7.5W wireless reverse charging capabilities, conveniently turning your phone into a power bank if needed.

Performance and Gaming

But if we want to be fast to first, we have to look at the NOTE 50 Pro’s performance. Fortunately, the MediaTek Helio G100 Ultimate powers the NOTE 50 Pro. A powerhouse in the midrange chipset lineup, this provides a smooth everyday experience and a fast gaming performance.

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The NOTE 50 Pro also comes with up to 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM + 12GB of extended RAM, which explains how well it performs. You’ll have no trouble using it for work and multitasking, given its capable specs.

This chipset utilizes the phone’s 144Hz display to deliver smooth graphics and a lag-free experience. The phone runs MOBA, and shooting games like it’s nothing. Naturally, I tried playing CODM and had no issues running the game even at the highest setting available.

Additionally, it also comes with the latest One-Tap Infinix AI. Just long-press on the power button to activate Folax, your intelligent virtual assistant, and ask away. Easily summarize webpages and transcribe meetings with just one tap.

Of course, the NOTE 50 Pro can also remove photobombers with AI Erase and create AI wallpapers from different prompts and descriptions you choose.

Camera

The NOTE 50 Pro sports a 50MP OIS rear camera with an 8MP flicker sensor. It is pretty much what you’d expect for phones within this price point. It captures high detail, especially when taking photos in great lighting conditions.

The 2x lossless zoom also didn’t disappoint when we tested it. It helped a lot, especially in keeping portrait photos looking fresh and vibrant. I also liked how the photos looked natural and true-to-life instead of oversaturated, which phones within this price point typically go for.

Meanwhile, if you like to travel and capture big moments, it has a 112° ultra-wide angle lens that does the job for you. From cityscapes to the annual group hang, the NOTE 50 Pro’s camera will do the trick night or day.

Overall Thoughts

A great addition to Infinix’s midrange lineup, the NOTE 50 Pro delivers visuals as well as performance. In terms of gaming, I have no other words to describe it but fast to first. The brand thought about everything when designing this phone, from its metal frame down to the Helio G100 Ultimate processor.

It’s got a great display, a durable and long-lasting battery, decent cameras, and a bunch of features that add to the overall user experience. I mean, it’s a phone, a power bank, and an oximeter in one!

The NOTE 50 Pro launches with other variants from the NOTE 50 series: the NOTE 50 and the NOTE 50 Pro+ 5G.

Priced at Php 11,999 for the NOTE 50 Pro (12+256GB), Php 8,999 for the NOTE 50 (8+256GB), and Php 17,999 for the NOTE 50 Pro+ 5G (12+256GB), you can now grab the Infinix NOTE 50 series today.

I’ll be available on Shopee from April 24 to April 30 with an exclusive early bird Shopee price of Php 9,999 for the NOTE 50 Pro (12+256GB), Php 7,699 for the NOTE 50 (8+256GB), and Php 15,999 for the NOTE 50 Pro+ 5G (12+256GB).

Moreover, get your hands on a FREE 1-year VIU premium subscription with every purchase of the brand new Infinix NOTE 50 series from any official Infinix eCommerce store. This offer runs only until supplies last, so don’t waste time and be among the first to get it.