Infinix Note 50s 5G: In the ever-evolving landscape of smartphone technology, finding devices that blend premium features with affordable pricing has become increasingly challenging.
Enter the Infinix Note 50s 5G, a mid-range marvel released in April 2025 that aims to disrupt conventional expectations by offering flagship-like features at a fraction of the cost.
This comprehensive review explores what makes this device stand out in the crowded smartphone market and whether it deserves your attention as your next daily driver.
Design: Premium Aesthetics Meet Sensory Innovation
The Infinix Note 50s 5G makes an immediate impression with its sleek, sophisticated design that belies its budget-friendly price point.
Measuring just 7.6mm thick for the metallic variants (Titanium Grey and Ruby Red) and 7.65mm for the vegan leather option (Marine Drift Blue), this is among the slimmest devices in its segment. The phone weighs a comfortable 180 grams, making it pleasantly lightweight for daily use despite housing a substantial battery.
What truly sets the Note 50s 5G apart from competitors is its groundbreaking “Energizing Scent-Tech” feature, exclusive to the Marine Drift Blue variant.
This innovative approach utilizes microencapsulation technology to integrate fragrance directly into the vegan leather back panel, creating a multi-sensory experience previously unheard of in smartphone design.
The scent profile features top notes of marine and lemon, middle notes of lily of the valley, and base notes of amber and vetiver, offering a subtle yet distinctive olfactory signature that persists over time.
Beyond this unique sensory element, the phone features a gem-cut camera module that adds visual flair to the rear design. The frame curves smoothly into the back panel, providing excellent ergonomics and a premium in-hand feel that rivals devices costing twice as much.
The attention to detail extends to the “Active Halo Lighting” system surrounding the camera module, which serves both aesthetic and functional purposes by providing visual notifications for calls, messages, and charging status.
Display: Curved Excellence for Immersive Viewing
The Infinix Note 50s 5G boasts a stunning 6.78-inch FHD+ 3D curved AMOLED display, a feature rarely found at this price point. With a resolution of 2436 × 1080 pixels and a smooth 144Hz refresh rate, the screen delivers vibrant visuals and fluid animations that enhance everything from casual browsing to intense gaming sessions.
The 10-bit color depth ensures rich, accurate color reproduction across the DCI-P3 color gamut, while the peak brightness of 1,300 nits guarantees excellent visibility even under direct sunlight.
Protection comes in the form of Corning Gorilla Glass 5, offering decent resistance against scratches and minor drops. The display incorporates 2304Hz PWM dimming technology to reduce eye strain during extended use, particularly in low-light conditions.
The subtle curve along both edges creates an immersive viewing experience, though it occasionally results in unwanted glare and reflections in brightly lit environments.
The centered punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera is discreet enough not to distract during media consumption, and the display’s responsive 1500Hz instantaneous touch sampling rate ensures smooth interaction with on-screen elements.
Whether you’re streaming content, playing games, or simply scrolling through social media, this display punches well above its weight class.
Performance: Smooth Operation for Daily Tasks and Beyond
Under the hood, the Infinix Note 50s 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Ultimate chipset, built on a 4nm process for enhanced efficiency. This octa-core processor is paired with the Mali-G615 MC2 GPU, providing sufficient horsepower for smooth performance across everyday tasks and moderate gaming.
The phone comes with 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM as standard, which can be virtually expanded by an additional 8GB when needed, ensuring smooth multitasking capabilities.
Storage options include 128GB and 256GB variants with UFS 2.2 technology, offering reasonable read/write speeds for the price segment.
While not the absolute fastest in benchmark comparisons, the real-world performance feels responsive and capable, with minimal lag even when juggling between resource-intensive applications.
Gaming performance is surprisingly robust, with the device capable of maintaining 90 FPS in many popular titles with medium to high graphic settings.
Heat management is generally acceptable during regular use, though extended gaming sessions can lead to noticeable warming, particularly when outdoors in sunny conditions.
The inclusion of military-grade durability certification (MIL-STD-810H) and IP64 rating for dust and splash resistance adds a layer of practical protection that isn’t commonly found in this price bracket, making the device more resilient for everyday use.
Camera System: Capable Photography with Versatile Features
Photography capabilities on the Infinix Note 50s 5G are handled by a dual-camera system led by a 64MP Sony IMX682 primary sensor with an f/1.8 aperture. This is complemented by a 2MP secondary lens primarily for depth sensing.
While the absence of an ultrawide lens might disappoint some users, the main camera delivers impressive results in good lighting conditions, capturing detailed shots with pleasing color reproduction.
Low-light performance is reasonable thanks to the larger sensor size, though it doesn’t quite match the night photography capabilities of more premium devices.
The camera software includes several AI-enhanced modes including portrait, night mode, and document scanning, along with more creative options like AIGC Portrait that can generate artistic style variations.
Video recording capabilities extend to 4K resolution at 30fps, with electronic image stabilization helping to produce relatively smooth footage. The dual LED flash and unique Active Halo Lighting add versatility to the shooting experience, particularly in challenging lighting conditions.
The front-facing 13MP selfie camera performs admirably for social media-ready self-portraits and video calls, though it struggles somewhat in low-light environments. Overall, while not revolutionary, the camera system is versatile and capable for the price point, particularly for casual photography needs.
Battery Life and Charging: Endurance That Keeps Up With You
The Infinix Note 50s 5G houses a substantial 5,500mAh battery that provides excellent endurance for daily use. Most users can expect to comfortably get through a full day of moderate to heavy usage, with lighter users potentially stretching to two days between charges.
The efficiency of the 4nm processor and thoughtful power management contribute significantly to this impressive battery performance.
Charging comes via the included 45W fast charger, which can replenish the battery from empty to 100% in approximately 60 minutes. The phone also supports bypass charging to reduce heat generation during gaming sessions while plugged in, and offers 10W reverse charging functionality to power accessories or help out friends with depleted devices.
Particularly impressive is the battery health management system, which Infinix claims can maintain good battery condition for up to 2,300 charge cycles—potentially translating to around six years of usage before significant degradation.
This focus on longevity adds considerable value to the device as a long-term investment.
Software: Clean Interface with AI Enhancements
The Infinix Note 50s 5G runs on XOS 15 based on Android 15, offering a relatively clean and intuitive user experience. The interface strikes a reasonable balance between stock Android simplicity and useful additional features without feeling overly cluttered with bloatware.
Infinix promises two years of major OS updates and three years of security patches, ensuring reasonable software longevity.
The software incorporates several AI-driven features that enhance functionality without feeling gimmicky. These include AI Gallery tools like AI Eraser and AI Cut-out for photo editing, AI Note for intelligent text organization, and Folax AI Voice Assistant for hands-free control.
The inclusion of Circle to Search functionality (similar to Google’s implementation) provides convenient contextual information without switching between apps.
Productivity features such as Floating Window, Dynamic Bar, and Split Screen make multitasking more efficient, while Game Mode optimizes system resources for improved gaming performance.
The overall software experience feels polished and responsive, with thoughtful additions that genuinely enhance usability rather than serving as mere marketing points.
Connectivity and Audio: Modern Standards with Minor Compromises
Connectivity options on the Infinix Note 50s 5G are comprehensive, including 5G support across multiple bands (n1/n3/n5/n8/n28B/n38/n40/n41/n77/n78), dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.4, and USB Type-C. Navigation is handled by GPS, GLONASS, and BeiDou, ensuring accurate positioning across various scenarios.
The dual speaker setup with JBL tuning delivers stereo sound, though the output lacks the depth and loudness found in more premium offerings.
At maximum volume, measured at around 78 decibels, it falls somewhat short of the segment average of 82 decibels. While adequate for casual media consumption, audiophiles might find the audio experience somewhat lacking, particularly in bass response.
The inclusion of an IR blaster integrated into the camera module is a nice addition that allows the phone to control various household appliances. However, the absence of a microSD card slot for storage expansion might be a limitation for users with extensive media libraries.
Value Proposition: Competitive Pricing with Premium Features
Priced at ₹15,999 ($190/€165) for the 8GB+128GB variant and ₹17,999 ($210/€185) for the 8GB+256GB model, the Infinix Note 50s 5G positions itself aggressively in the mid-range segment.
When compared to competitors like the Realme P3 and Vivo T4x, it carves out a distinctive niche by offering premium features such as the curved AMOLED display, military-grade durability, and innovative design elements that are typically found in more expensive devices.
Comparative Analysis: How It Stacks Against Competitors
| Feature | Infinix Note 50s 5G | Competitor A | Competitor B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.78″ FHD+ Curved AMOLED, 144Hz | 6.67″ FHD+ Flat AMOLED, 120Hz | 6.74″ FHD+ LCD, 120Hz |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Ultimate (4nm) | Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 (4nm) | MediaTek Dimensity 6300 (6nm) |
| RAM/Storage | 8GB+128/256GB, LPDDR5X, UFS 2.2 | 6/8GB+128GB, LPDDR4X, UFS 2.2 | 8GB+128GB, LPDDR4X, UFS 2.1 |
| Camera | 64MP Sony IMX682 + 2MP | 50MP + 8MP Ultrawide + 2MP Macro | 108MP + 2MP Macro + 2MP Depth |
| Battery | 5,500mAh, 45W Fast Charging | 5,000mAh, 33W Fast Charging | 6,000mAh, 18W Charging |
| Unique Features | Curved Display, Scent Technology, Active Halo Lighting | IP68 Rating, Wireless Charging | 120W Fast Charging, Gaming Triggers |
| Software Support | 2 Years OS, 3 Years Security | 2 Years OS, 4 Years Security | 1 Year OS, 2 Years Security |
| Price | $190-$210 | $210-$230 | $170-$190 |
Key Advantages:
Premium Design: The slim profile, curved display, and innovative scent technology create a distinctive aesthetic experience uncommon at this price point.
Display Quality: The 144Hz curved AMOLED display with high brightness and color accuracy delivers an immersive visual experience typically found in more expensive devices.
Military-Grade Durability: MIL-STD-810H certification and IP64 rating provide peace of mind regarding device longevity and resilience.
Balanced Performance: The Dimensity 7300 Ultimate chipset with LPDDR5X RAM offers smooth performance for everyday tasks and moderate gaming.
Battery Longevity: The combination of 5,500mAh capacity, efficient 45W charging, and advanced battery health management ensures excellent long-term endurance.
Room for Improvement:
Limited Storage Expansion: The absence of a microSD card slot restricts options for users who need additional storage beyond the internal capacity.
Audio Performance: The speaker output, while stereo, lacks the volume and depth found in some competing devices in this segment.
Camera Versatility: The omission of an ultrawide lens limits creative flexibility compared to triple-camera setups found in some competitors.
Heat Management: During extended gaming sessions or intensive use, particularly outdoors, the device can experience thermal throttling.
Infinix Note 50s 5G Conclusion: A Compelling Mid-Range Contender
The Infinix Note 50s 5G successfully challenges the conventional boundaries between mid-range and premium smartphones.
By prioritizing standout features like the curved AMOLED display, innovative scent technology, and military-grade durability while maintaining competitive pricing, it creates a compelling value proposition for budget-conscious consumers who refuse to compromise on key aspects of the smartphone experience.
While not perfect—with minor limitations in areas like audio performance and expandable storage—the overall package offers an impressive balance of style, substance, and innovation.
For users seeking a device that feels premium without the premium price tag, the Infinix Note 50s 5G represents one of the most interesting options in the crowded mid-range segment of 2025.
Whether you’re attracted by the unique sensory experience, the immersive curved display, or simply the excellent price-to-performance ratio, the Note 50s 5G demonstrates that meaningful innovation can still occur at affordable price points, making cutting-edge features accessible to a broader audience.
In doing so, Infinix has not just created another budget smartphone, but potentially redefined expectations for what consumers should demand from devices in this competitive price bracket.