Infinix Note 2 Review

We finally got to spend some time with Infinix Mobility’s latest smartphone offering in the Philippines – the Infinix Note 2. It sports a large 6-inch display, octa-core CPU, 2GB RAM, big 4,000mAh battery, and Android Marshmallow. Priced for less than Php 6k, it’s an affordable device aimed at those who are looking for a smartphone with a large display and battery.

Table of Contents

Design and Construction

One of the first things you’ll notice about the Note 2 is its large footprint. At 6-inches across, the screen size automatically classifies itself as a small tablet or a huge smartphone – which is starting to become more common these days. The HD resolution can still be considered decent at 245ppi.

The display is bordered by a relatively thin bezel to make it look like it has none when the screen is off. Above it are the earpiece, the 5MP front camera, and sensors. The Note 2 uses on-screen buttons so the bottom part is devoid of anything.

To the right are the volume keys and power/lock buttons.

Up top is the headset jack, while down below are the microUSB port and microphone.

Take a look at the back and you’ll see the 13MP PDAF camera with LED flash, the loudspeaker at the bottom right, and the criss-cross finish of the backplate.

Removing the cover will reveal the dual-SIM slots, the dedicated microSD card slot, and the non-removable 4,000mAh battery.

Although it has a large screen, the Note 2 can still be gripped with one hand, but navigation will still require two. It’s far from premium due to its plastic build but the simple yet classy design is something to look forward to.

When it comes to dimensions, it’s a tall device at 159.5mm, and chunky too at 9.3mm, but it can still fit in a jeans pocket. It’s hefty as well at 194g.

Display and Multimedia

Given its 6-inch screen size, the Note 2 is a good device for watching videos and viewing photos. However, the HD resolution which equates to 245ppi may be considered low to some especially now that Full HD is starting to become the standard. On the bright side, the resolution can still be considered decent, plus it has good viewing angles thanks to its IPS panel so it’s not so bad.

The rear-facing speaker, on the other hand, is very audible and loud enough to be heard without having to cup your hand from behind. Quality is okay with crisp trebles but lacking when it comes to bass, which is expected from a smartphone of this class. That said, it’s good for hands-free voice calls and casual music listening.

Camera

The imaging department is handled by the 13MP main shooter. It’s not the typical camera though as it features Phase-Detect autofocus. That said it’s quicker than the conventional cameras found in other smartphones in the price range.

Image quality is good especially in bright conditions – sharp with accurate colors and good contrast. The shutter gets slow though in dim environments so some images come out a bit blurred, but colors are still good. The front camera is decent with wide-angle for group selfies, but not a performer in low-light. See samples below.

As for in camera features, it has Beauty, Professional (Manual), Normal. Night, Panorama, PIP, and Auto. For videos, it can record in Full HD resolution but only in 20fps. Watch the sample below.

OS, UI, and Apps

When it comes to its software, it is running Android 6.0 Marshmallow skinned with the company’s XUI. There’s no app drawer so all apps are available via its home screen pages while the icons are flat with colorful themes.

Preinstalled apps are kept to a minimum and include the usual Google apps and XUI’s own like XTheme, Magic wallpaper, XContacts, XShare, XCloud, and Xclub.

That said, out of the 16GB internal storage, only 5.74GB was used, leaving the user with 10.26GB of usable space. It can be further expanded via microSD up to 64GB with support for USB OTG.

Performance and Benchmarks

Powering the Note 2 is a Mediatek MT6753 64-bit octa-core CPU clocked at 1.3GHz, Mali-T720 GPU, and 2GB RAM. Not exactly one of the most powerful out there but it will suffice for day-to-day tasks such as calls, texts, running social media apps, and web browsing.

Gaming-wise, it’s capable and can run light games without hiccups but stutters a bit when running graphic intensive ones. It felt like that the focus of this smartphone are users that are heavy on social and multimedia. Check out the benchmark scores below.

* AnTuTu – 36,451
* Quadrant Standard – 20,348
* Vellamo – 1,607 (Multicore), 1,009 (Metal), 2,402 (Chrome)
* 3D Mark – 199 (Sling Shot using ES 3.1)

Connectivity and Call Quality

When it comes to connectivity, it has all the basics like WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, and Dual-SIM. Infinix threw in LTE connectivity as well for those who are into fast mobile data which is good considering it has a big battery. Call quality is good and works as advertised as long as you’re in an area with good coverage.

Battery Life

Battery is one of the strengths of the Note 2. At 4,000mAh it was able to last us for almost two days mostly using it for watching videos, taking photos, light calls and texts, and heavy social media browsing.

On PCMark, it was rated at 14 hours and 4 minutes which is great considering its screen size. As for replenishing the battery, it supports Fast Charging using the charger that comes in the package.

Conclusion

The Infinix Note 2 is that type of smartphone that won’t impress in all aspects but can provide specific advantages that will certainly benefit a wide range of users – large display, capable CPU and RAM, LTE connectivity, Android Marshmallow, 4,000mAh battery, and affordable price tag. For Php 5,999, users can enjoy those benefits without breaking the bank.

Infinix Note 2 specs:
6.0-inch HD IPS display, 245ppi
1.3GHz Mediatek MT6753 64-bit octa-core CPU
Mali-T720 GPU
2GB RAM
16GB internal storage
up to 64GB via microSD
13MP PDAF rear camera w/ LED flash
5MP front camera
4G LTE, 3G
Dual-SIM (micro), Dual standby
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot
Bluetooth
GPS, A-GPS
micro USB v2.0
4,000mAh battery w/ Quick Charge
Android 6.0 Marshmallow with XUI
159.5 x 82.5 x 9.3 mm
194g

What we liked:
* Large display
* Large battery
* LTE connectivity
* Android Marshmallow out of the box
* Affordable price tag

What we didn’t like:
* Not suitable for heavy Android gaming