Review verdict: Other than being a 4G-only device, there’s a lot to like about the NOTE 50 Pro as it potentially sets a new standard for budget phones. We’re not just talking about that gorgeous metal frame: there’s also the use of flagship-grade features for the display and camera that makes the NOTE 50 Pro an intriguing offering.
Pros
- Best build in its class
- Display is great for a budget phone
- Decent camera performance
Cons
- Could have opted for a 5G-ready processor
Infinix finally made the NOTE 50 series official in the Philippines, and it’s a step up from their predecessors, especially when it comes to build quality. We’ve been using the NOTE 50 Pro for around 2 weeks, and we think that it ticks almost all boxes on what to expect in a budget phone for 2025.
Infinix NOTE 50 Pro Review Philippines: Design
Without any question, the standout feature of the NOTE 50 Pro is its build, as it is the only budget phone we know that has a metal frame. This gives the NOTE 50 Pro a solid build, as we mentioned in our first impressions, and we think it will set the standard for future budget phones when it comes to overall build quality.
While you don’t get a high IP rating or any sort of durability claims, the NOTE 50 Pro has an IP64 rating to make it good enough against accidental splashes or downpours. It keeps the IR blaster on top in case you plan to use the NOTE 50 Pro as a remote, and you need to be mindful of the lack of storage expansion.
As for the RGB lighting on the back, it now surrounds a sensor that measures heart rate and blood oxygen, making it a useful feature if you‘re health conscious and don’t want to use a separate fitness tracker.
Infinix NOTE 50 Pro Review Philippines: Display and Speakers
Infinix switched back to a flat AMOLED display on the NOTE 50 Pro, which is a welcome decision as it complements the metal frame to give it a premium look. It is the same 144hz panel used on the more premium NOTE 50 Pro+, and that’s a great move on Infinix’s part as it makes premium features available even with its more affordable offerings. It’s a great panel overall, as we noticed the colors being more vibrant than the curved AMOLED display used by its predecessor.
The JBL-tuned speakers are just as great, and we love listening to our favorite music with them. They have better audio quality compared to their predecessor, and it is proof that Infinix is stepping up its game even for its budget offerings.
Infinix NOTE 50 Pro Review Philippines: Cameras
Like the display, the NOTE 50 Pro has a flagship-grade main camera with its use of a 50-megapixel ISOCELL GN5 sensor with OIS. Accompanying it is an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera, which we welcome back after it was omitted on the NOTE 40 Pro. We’re more intrigued with the main camera, as it is the same sensor found on higher-end Infinix phones like the ZERO Flip.
We took the NOTE 50 Pro around for a few photos, and while it does well in daylight conditions, we noticed that it tends to have more contrast when we shot in mixed lighting conditions indoors. We suspect that it might be with post-processing, which Infinix can easily tweak through software updates.
As for the main camera’s digital zoom, we noticed that it is crisp and has more detail compared to the 3x digital zoom on previous NOTE phones. Infinix did not disclose what sensor it is using on the main camera, but its 50-megapixel main camera is better than the 108-megapixel sensor used on previous NOTE phones.
As for the 8-megapixel ultrawide, the post processing is consistent with the main camera, which is an improvement from Infinix’s previous approaches to it. Due to chipset limitations, video recording is capped at 2K resolution. However, you can take advantage of the OIS on the main camera for stable handheld footage, which we think is a fair compromise.
Infinix NOTE 50 Pro Review Philippines: Internals and Battery Life
The NOTE 50 Pro is powered by a Helio G100 processor that’s paired with 8GB RAM and 256GB UFS 2.2 storage. While we wished for a 5G variant (the NOTE 40 Pro series did have one), the Helio G100 is a capable chip for its price point. General use of the NOTE 50 Pro was smooth, and it can handle games well.
For the latter, it can flawlessly run Call of Duty: Mobile at medium graphics, making it deserving of being part of the game’s collab with Infinix. As for other titles, we managed to play Genshin Impact comfortably at low graphics.
As for software experience, XOS 15 feels more streamlined with its revamped UI and has less bloatware out of the box. The AI features are helpful, and it’s nice to see things like auto-transcribe and object eraser on more affordable offerings like the NOTE 50 Pro. Infinix promises two Android updates and 3 years of security updates, which we think is just fair for a budget device like the NOTE 50 Pro.
The NOTE 50 Pro gets a slightly bigger 5200mAh battery inside, along with faster charging speeds: 90w wired, and 30w wireless, both of which are the highest you can get on a budget phone. Like we mentioned in our first impressions, we’re generally happy with the NOTE 50 Pro’s battery life: outside the PCMark Battery benchmark score of 13 hours and 47 minutes, we were able to comfortably use the NOTE 50 Pro for the whole day with juice to spare after a work-filled day.
Infinix NOTE 50 Pro Review Philippines: Wrap-up and Conclusions
After using it for two weeks, we think that Infinix did a great job with the NOTE 50 Pro in elevating what budget phones can offer in 2025. The biggest con the NOTE 50 Pro has is the fact that it’s a 4G-only device, but other than that, it’s a solid upgrade from its predecessor across other departments.
Infinix NOTE 50 Pro Review Philippines: Price
The NOTE 50 Pro is priced at Php 11,999.
