Infinix Note 10 Pro Review: A Big Phone With A Big Battery, But Does It Deliver?
Infinix has set its sights on a new playing field with the Note 10 Pro, introducing a phone with a massive 6.95-inch display that’s sure to grab attention. This isn’t just a big screen; the phone also boasts a 5,000mAh battery and a capable MediaTek Helio G95 processor. Is the Note 10 Pro a winning combination or just another oversized smartphone? Let’s dive into our in-depth review to find out.
Infinix Note 10 Pro Price in India
The Infinix Note 10 Pro, not to be confused with the Redmi Note 10 Pro, is priced at Rs. 16,999 for the sole 8GB RAM, 256GB storage configuration. It comes in three interesting colour options: 7-degree Purple, 93-degree Black, and Nordic Secret.
Infinix Note 10 Pro Design
The Infinix Note 10 Pro stands out with its eye-catching design and has even received an IF Design Award for 2021. As mentioned, the phone’s 6.95-inch display is a true statement piece, making it tall and narrow with a 20.5:9 aspect ratio. While it can be held in one hand, reaching the top of the screen with your thumb may be a stretch.
The Infinix Note 10 Pro’s bezels are kept slim on the sides, though the bottom chin is rather thick. A large camera hole sits prominently at the top center of the screen. This conspicuous hole might act as a distraction for some users.
The earpiece is thin and sits comfortably between the display and the frame. Interestingly, the phone also has a front-facing flash neatly concealed next to the earpiece. Infinix has opted for a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, which is becoming common in the Rs. 15,000 segment. The placement of the fingerprint sensor and volume buttons might be a tad high for some users.
The rear panel of the Infinix Note 10 Pro features a two-step design that harkens back to recent Vivo smartphones. The Nordic Secret finish boasts an iridescent look, with a frosted effect that helps resist smudges.
Infinix has chosen to use plastic for the frame. The side curves while the top and bottom remain flat. The SIM tray resides on the left side, while the 3.5mm headphone jack, loudspeaker, and USB Type-C port are neatly positioned at the bottom. The top of the phone is kept clean. The quad-camera setup is located in the top left corner.
The Note 10 Pro houses a 5,000mAh battery, a capacity that’s definitely commendable. It comes with a 33W charger in the box.
Infinix Note 10 Pro Specifications and Software
Diving into the specifications, we encounter a familiar name: the MediaTek Helio G95 SoC. This processor powers a range of popular smartphones in the Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 20,000 price bracket, including the Poco X3 and the Realme 8. Known for being a powerhouse for gaming, this processor is certainly a welcome inclusion.
Infinix has equipped the Note 10 Pro with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, generous amounts for this price point. However, the lack of a 6GB RAM variant (a common option in international markets) might deter some buyers, as it could have lowered the starting price and made the phone more accessible in the sub-Rs. 15,000 segment.
The phone features a 6.95-inch full-HD+ LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate, delivering smooth scrolling and an enhanced visual experience.
Infinix has also equipped the device with a stereo speaker setup featuring DTS, a rarity for budget smartphones. This is a clever play that capitalizes on the big screen for an immersive entertainment experience.
The Infinix Note 10 Pro comes with dual Nano-SIM slots and a dedicated microSD card slot for storage expansion. While the base storage is ample, the option for further expansion is always appreciated. Additionally, the Note 10 Pro boasts dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5, as well as dual 4G with VoLTE and VoWiFi.
Running XOS 7.6 on top of Android 11, the smartphone was running the March Android security patch at the time of review, which is a bit outdated. The device comes pre-loaded with apps like Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and a few Infinix-specific apps.
Palm Store serves as an alternative to the Google Play Store, while AHA Games provides a library of downloadable games. While these apps offer an alternative, be prepared for occasional promotional notifications. We recommend uninstalling or disabling apps you don’t use to avoid potential spam.
XOS 7.6 comes with some handy features like the Video Assistant. This tool provides on-screen controls, allowing you to easily manage video playback without leaving the app. The “Play in background” feature, which lets you continue playing audio from YouTube videos even with the screen off, is a standout. Other Video Assistant features include blocking notifications and calls, and taking screenshots and recordings.
Thunder Back is another valuable XOS feature that’s activated by double-tapping the power button. This allows you to quickly switch to picture-in-picture mode, making multitasking a breeze.
Infinix Note 10 Pro Performance
The Infinix Note 10 Pro delivered consistently smooth and responsive performance during our review period. Apps launched quickly, and multitasking was a breeze, with seamless switching between multiple apps. The fingerprint scanner was also swift, consistently unlocking the phone on the first try.
The phone’s display offers good viewing angles, and the stereo speakers provide impressive audio output. However, the speakers are not perfectly balanced, with the bottom-firing speaker being louder than the earpiece. While the Note 10 Pro can get loud, it does tend to sound a bit tinny at higher volumes.
In benchmark tests, the Note 10 Pro scored 359,128 points in AnTuTu. Geekbench 5’s single-core and multi-core scores were 510 and 1,672, respectively. The phone achieved 17fps and 28fps in GFXBench’s Car Chase and Manhattan 3.1 graphics tests. These scores are notably higher than those recorded for the Poco X3 and Realme 8, which utilize the same processor.
Gameplay tests featuring Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) showed promising results. The phone smoothly ran the game with HD graphics and High frame rate settings, without any lag or stutter. After a 24-minute gaming session, the battery dropped by 8 percent, and the phone felt slightly warm to the touch.
In our HD video loop test, the Note 10 Pro achieved a runtime of 15 hours and 35 minutes with the screen refresh rate set at 90Hz. While this is a respectable result, it falls short of the competition, some of whom have achieved several hours longer in the same test. The 33W charger provided in the box brought the phone to 47 percent in 30 minutes and 83 percent in an hour. It took roughly an hour and a half to fully charge the device.
Infinix Note 10 Pro Cameras
The Note 10 Pro features a quad-camera setup on the rear, consisting of a 64-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera capable of macro shots, a 2-megapixel depth sensor, and a 2-megapixel black-and-white camera. For selfies, the phone has a 16-megapixel front-facing camera. The camera app is straightforward and user-friendly, with AI scene detection that quickly identifies the subject.
Photos taken in daylight with the Infinix Note 10 Pro displayed good details and decent dynamic range. Objects in the distance were clearly recognizable, and text was easily legible. Ultra-wide-angle shots were satisfactory but not as crisp and detailed as those captured with the primary sensor.
Close-up shots excelled, with a natural depth effect for the background and sharp subject detail. Portraits featured effective edge detection, though the level of blur could not be adjusted beforehand. The Note 10 Pro’s use of the ultra-wide-angle camera for macros resulted in sharp images with impressive detail, exceeding the quality of dedicated macro cameras.
Low-light photos were unfortunately average, with the phone struggling to capture darker areas accurately. Super Night mode delivered much brighter output with better detail in the shadows, but came with a considerable capture time of 5-6 seconds.
Selfies taken with the 16-megapixel front camera in daylight turned out well, with the phone successfully capturing portrait selfies and blurring the background. However, low-light selfies suffered, with the Note 10 Pro crushing blacks by increasing contrast in darker areas. The front-facing flash provided helpful assistance in low-light situations.
Video recording tops out at 4K 30fps for both the primary and selfie cameras. Footage recorded in regular video mode lacked stabilisation at both 4K and 1080p resolutions, resulting in shaky footage when recording while moving. Low-light footage, though not too dark, also lacked stabilisation. The Note 10 Pro does feature an Ultra Steady mode for stabilisation, but this mode limits video resolution to 1080p 30fps.
Verdict
After spending a week with the Infinix Note 10 Pro, it’s clear that while its size may not appeal to everyone, its large display is ideal for consuming media. The stereo speakers provide commendable sound output, though they can sound tinny at higher volumes. Performance was never a concern, as the powerful SoC and 8GB of RAM ensure smooth and responsive operation.
Infinix could have made the Note 10 Pro even more attractive by offering a lower-specced variant at a lower price point. The cameras, while decent, are not outstanding, and the lack of video stabilisation might be a significant drawback for some users.
If you’re looking for alternatives, the Poco X3 provides a solid alternative to the Infinix Note 10 Pro. For a device with 5G capabilities, the Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G is another option worth considering. The Infinix Note 10 Pro ultimately offers a unique proposition in the budget segment with its large screen and large battery. If these are your priorities, then this phone could be a good fit but if you are looking for better camera performance, then you might want to consider other options.
