INFINIX NOTE 11s Review

Infinix, a division of Shenzhen-based Transsion Holdings, has a track record of releasing attractive smartphones in India. However, the smartphone manufacturer is well-known for producing powerful budget-friendly phones in its Note series. Moreover, Infinix has released its newest Infinix Note 11 series to close out the year 2021 in India. Therefore, there are two models in the lineup: the basic Infinix Note 11 and the Infinix Note 11S. Thus, the display, CPU, and RAM/storage specifications of these smartphones differ.

Therefore, the smartphone is capable of competing with the Redmis and Realmes of the globe. However, there are some obvious flaws that keep Infinix from competing. However, after a week of use, here’s a full evaluation of the Infinix Note 11S.

Moreover, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, GPS, USB OTG, USB Type-C, Lightning, FM radio, 3G, and 4G are among the connectivity choices on the Infinix Note 11S. (Thus, with support for Band 40 used by some LTE networks in India). Thus, the phone’s sensors include a compass/magnetometer, a gyroscope, a proximity sensor, and a fingerprint sensor. However, face unlock is supported by the Infinix Note 11S.

Price

Moreover, in India, the Infinix Note 11S begins at Rs. 10,999. On 5th April 2022, the lowest price of the Infinix Note 11S was 10,999 at Flipkart.

Specifications

Design and display

At first appearance, the Infinix Note 11S appears to be a well-made and elegant smartphone. The company has kept things simple by using a single color with a gradient, shimmering finish, and matching side rails. The rear panel’s matte surface makes it smudge-resistant, which is a bonus in my book. The back panel is ergonomically designed with gently curved corners. On the other hand, the Infinix Note 11S is somewhat tall, making it ungainly for one-handed use and necessitating some finger acrobatics to reach the upper corners of the display. And, at 212.5 grammes, the smartphone isn’t exactly light.

Infinix has taken a page from Vivo’s design book as well as gone for an industrial-looking rectangular camera island that juts out dramatically on the rear panel. Infinix has also imitated Vivo’s camera layout, with a big primary camera on top and three other camera cutouts, and an LED flash grouped in a neat 22 grid just below. But, upon closer inspection, the circular band around the cameras is too thick, and one of the camera apertures lacks a lens. While I like the brand’s aesthetic point of view, I couldn’t help but question whether the module might have been made smaller and less invasive than it is now.

Cameras

The camera module on the Infinix Note 11S is fronted by a 50-megapixel main camera, however, the firm has not specified the actual sensor used. A 2-megapixel depth sensor for bokeh photography as well as a 2-megapixel macro lens for close-up photography complement the primary camera. Therefore, the 16-megapixel camera inside the display’s centrally positioned hole handles selfies and video calls.

Thus, the camera interface is quite basic, with the preview, shutter, Google Lens, and camera toggle all arranged at the bottom in that order. Thus, the settings, flash, HDR, 50MP mode, aspect ratio, and live filters are all located at the top. There are short videos, videos, AI Cam, Beauty, Portrait, as well as Super Nights modes on the viewfinder Rolodex. Other modes, such as AR Shot, slow motion, Pro, Panorama, Documents, as well as Time-Lapse, may be accessed by swiping up from the bottom of the viewfinder.

Thus, the MediaTek Helio G96 processor powers the Infinix Note 11S. Therefore, the smartphone is available in two configurations: 6GB RAM + 64GB storage and 8GB RAM + 128GB storage. For the sake of this review, I received the standard 6GB model, and my overall experience with the smartphone was positive. In terms of day-to-day performance, I had no problems with modest usage of social media, instant messaging, as well as YouTube streaming. However, after around 30 minutes of playing BGMI, the smartphone became heated and the gameplay became choppy.

Thus, the operating system is XOS v10.0.0, which is based on Android 11.  It is pre-loaded with bloatware, including system software such as Beez, WeZone, YoParty, Magic Line, Hi Browser, as well as CarlCare, among many more. The operating system itself includes features such as Game Mode, Lightning Multi-video, Social Turbo, Peek Proof, as well as Smart Panel, to mention a few. The whole layout appears to be influenced by iOS 15, down to the similar-looking widgets, folders, quick settings, as well as notification panel. The constant alerts from Hi Browser and BoomPlay, on the other hand, grate my gears, although there is an option to block specific notifications.

Warranty Plan

Verdict

Infinix deserves credit for releasing a compelling budget product that appears to be capable of competing with the competition, at least on paper. Thus, the smartphone looks excellent, operates well, and has a high refresh rate display. I was especially delighted by the handset’s battery backup and charging capabilities. Therefore, the Infinix Note 11S’s weak point is its poorly developed OS and subpar camera performance. However, the Note 11S is an excellent choice for folks who aren’t powered users and don’t rely on phone cameras.

The Note 11S is another effort from Infinix that might improve if the firm improves its software.