Infinix Note 40 Pro+ Review: Fully Charged Up

Infinix’s widespread presence in international markets has undoubtedly increased attention to the brand, consistently producing affordable Android phones that compete with established companies such as Redmi and Realme. That is not to suggest that Infinix isn’t willing to produce more “premium” devices, as evidenced by the release of the Note 40 Pro+. It looks like a curved metal and glass flagship. However, the Infinix Note 40 Pro Plus is made primarily of plastic.

Infinix advertises an OIS zoom camera, however, a closer inspection reveals that the Infinix Note 40 Pro Plus does not have one. This is a ‘fake it till you make it’s phone. However, the illusion it seeks to create is very persuasive.

However, a few too many of the finishing touches aren’t nearly perfect enough to warrant an unqualified endorsement. The Infinix Note 40 Pro Plus falls below the competition in terms of nighttime photography and raw performance; app loads can be slow.

INFINIX NOTE 40 PRO+ KEY FEATURES

The Infinix Note 40 Pro+ is the company’s affordable big-screen answer for 2024, and it is also the most feature-rich handset in the Note family. One of the handset’s most notable characteristics is its huge 6.78-inch OLED panel with 10-bit color depth and 120Hz refresh rate. The Dimensity 7020 SoC powers all of the pixels and is combined with a huge 12GB/256GB memory configuration.

Another noteworthy feature is the Note 40 Pro+’s charging capabilities. It supports 100W fast charging via chord and up to 20W wireless charging using the company’s MagCharge wireless charging station. But more about that later. However, the photography department keeps things simple, with only one useful camera on the back: 108MP with a wide f/1.8 aperture.

Aside from the features that make the Note 40 Pro+ an excellent affordable alternative for mobile work, the handset also has a unique design and JBL-tuned stereo speakers to compliment the huge screen.

INFINIX NOTE 40 PRO+ UNBOXING

The phone arrives in regular packaging with the typical user manuals, the required 100W charger, and a USB-C to USB-C cable for charging and data transmission. Infinix also includes a curved glass screen protector and a protective cover in the same vegan leather design as the phone itself.

We also received some extras that are not typically included in the regular box. The MagPad wireless charging pad and a power bank that can charge the phone wirelessly or via cable are packaged together in a single box. As the name implies, the charging pad has magnetic capabilities; however, to use it, you must use the accompanying protective shell that clamps onto the phone.

CAMERA

Infinix’s description of the camera on the Infinix Note 40 Pro Plus is potentially misleading. It mentions a “Super Zoom” camera, which does not exist. Only one of the three back cameras is capable of operating remotely.

The Infinix Note 40 Pro Plus features a 108MP primary camera with OIS, a 2MP macro, and a 2MP depth camera. There’s not even an ultra-wide. It consists of one standard camera that also serves as the “Super Zoom” and two pieces of filler fluff.

Infinix employs the Samsung HM6 sensor for the 108MP camera, which is seen in phones priced similarly (and frequently lower), rather than mega-price flagships.

You can tell by the photos, as the Infinix Note 40 Pro Plus is fully capable of capturing beautiful images. When it comes to photographing in low light, the Samsung Galaxy A55, which I previously evaluated, completely outperforms the Infinix.

Whereas Samsung can provide a usable image in near-darkness, the Infinix will deliver a near-black environment despite having an ultra-night mode. It can also struggle to depict reds, which I find to be the most difficult color for these low-end sensors.

There are some pleasant surprises, however. Despite the lack of dedicated hardware, the Infinix Note 40 Pro Plus’s digital zoom feature performs admirably.

The phone prompts you to hold the phone motionless while shooting, implying that it may employ a mechanism akin to Google’s Super Zoom. Here, the OIS (optical image stabilization) motor is utilized to shift the sensor fractionally between multiple exposures. Or that might simply be Infinix taking advantage of the sensor’s full 108MP resolution.

You can also take “normal” 108MP photographs, which are much more detailed than standard 12MP photos up close but have more noise and grain.

Faking a 3x zoom camera is effectively a success. However, the Infinix Note 40 Pro Plus is ultimately not very competitive because of its lack of good secondary cameras.

Additionally, video is extremely restricted. There is no 4K mode. The maximum shooting resolution is 2560 x 1440 pixels, which is limited to 30fps. The 32MP selfie camera is respectable, and it employs pixel binning to preserve some detail integrity in low-light conditions.

DESIGN AND SCREEN

One look at the Note 40 Pro+’s design reveals that Infinix designed the device to look and feel more luxurious than its other Android phones. The “Vintage Green” model has a vegan leather texture on the back and metallic sides. As a fan of matte finishes on smartphones, it looks and feels good in the hand. It also has IP53 certification for splash protection.

On the front, the phone has a 6.78-inch curved AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 1080 x 2436 pixels. It’s relatively bright, with a peak brightness of 1300 nits, and while it’s not the sharpest available, it’s enough for the majority of use cases. Of course, one concern is the curved screen, which may be subjective for some users who would prefer a flat display.

One peculiarity I observed was that my unit’s hole punch software cutout appeared misaligned, regardless of which program was displayed on the screen – while I could generally overlook it, the misalignment did become bothersome at times. Aside from that, the phone feels solidly built and isn’t too hefty for everyday usage.

HOW’S THE PERFORMANCE?

The Note 40 Pro+ features a MediaTek Dimensity 7020 SoC, a 6nm device with 12GB of RAM. For day-to-day use, there’s not much to gripe about, since the phone smoothly handles multitasking, app scrolling, and user interface navigation. It is the phone’s strongest point, and it works well with the majority of apps and games.

Speaking of gaming, customers wishing to run some graphics-intensive games on the phone will have little trouble, as it can handle titles like Genshin Impact adequately, albeit with some stuttering here and there. It does become warm after a time, which is something to consider.

Oddly, some of my favorite games, such as XCOM 2 Collection and a few others, were not available for the device, despite the Dimensity 7020’s ability to run the majority of them.

The Infinix Note 40 Pro+ runs Android 14, which includes XOS, Infinix’s proprietary Android skin. It includes various third-party apps and software, and if you’re used to significantly modified versions of Android like this one, you’ll be right at home because it provides a plethora of customization choices for users. It should be mentioned that the phone is scheduled to receive two years of software upgrades and three years of security fixes.

Buy it if...

• Lightweight and comfy, with a distinctive luxury design.
• Large 6.78-inch OLED display.
• Consistent battery life.
• It has the fastest charging speed in its class and also supports wireless charging.
• By default, the device has 12GB/256GB of memory and an IR blaster on board.

Don't buy it if…

• The camera’s night performance is unimpressive, and video recording is limited to 1440p resolution.
• Stability concerns while video recording.
• The display does not reach the same brightness as the rivals.
• The speakers sound tinny and hollow.
• The chipset is not competitive in its price bracket.

FULL SPECIFICATION