If I lost there for a moment, here’s a bit of a backstory. The Android One project was started in 2014 with the sole purpose of shipping pure, unadulterated and unmodified Android devices. The hardware and software stringent standards followed are those laid down by the mighty Google. The reasoning behind this is to provide a consistent user experience across the board. The Infinix Hot 2 became the first Android One smartphone in Africa at the time. The Infinix Note 5 promises a nitrous boost in performance and overall system optimisation. What’s more, there’s barely any bloatware to speak of, other than a few essential Google apps we just can’t do without. We found this very intriguing, given the time and effort Infinix put into developing their XOS custom skin alongside other X-apps such as X-Hide, X-Theme, X-Club and others. So we did some poking around and we have to admit, it’s an interesting device from the get-go. Have a look at our hands-on first impressions of the Infinix Note 5 and what we think about it.
Infinix Note 5 Unboxing
The first thing that catches your eye with the Infinix Note 5 is the ‘Android One’ label on the device box. There’s perhaps no better anointing than a validation from none other than Android itself. In one fell swoop, Infinix gets street credibility and a chip on its shoulder, which is no mean feat. For this reason, congratulations are in order for a job well done. Before we even open the box, we get to know a thing or two about the device within from the information kindly printed outside:
32GB ROM and 3GB RAM (another variant has 64GB ROM and 4GB RAM) 18:9 aspect ratio on a 6 inch Full HD Infinity Display 12MP Rear Camera and a 16MP Front Camera for Low-light Selfies A 4500mAh battery for 3-Day battery life An Octa-Core CPU with 2.0 GHz clock rate X-Charge Free one-time upgrade to the latest Android version
What’s in the box
Phone Power adapter Micro-USB cable User Guide Warranty Card Earphones Screen Protector Pin
Infinix Note 5 Hands-on First Impressions
At first blush, the Infinix Note 5 unboxing brings to mind the flagship Samsung Galaxy ensemble in look and feel. But no, it does also look like a quintessential Infinix handset as any we have ever held and reviewed. The device is slick and ergonomic in all the ways its predecessors, the Note 4 and Note 3 were not. You have the round edges, an 18:9 aspect ratio and a 2.5D screen to thank for that. We were struck by how much screen Infinix managed to fit into the frame to render the Note 5 almost bezel-less. By our rough estimations, you get about 90% screen to body ratio. We know this has become the norm with newer releases, but the thing is, we just can’t yet enough of it. The rounded edges add to the premium finish and they are just as gorgeous. From what we saw, split screen works wonderfully, as does watching movies, playing games and overall phone usage.
Let’s move onto other areas on the device. As expected, the placement of the individual features is pretty much a textbook affair. The fingerprint is centred at the upper extremes at the back. As for the camera and LED flash, they call the top right corner home. On the right edge, you will find the SIM and SD card rack, volume and power buttons. Topside, you will find a well-positioned earpiece straddling the front camera and a flash to the other side. And LED indicator resides there somewhere too but is only visible when you get a notification message. The bottom of the devices houses the speaker, Micro-USB slot, microphone and 3.5 Audio jack. Like we said, pretty much textbook.
The back of the device sports a gorgeous glossy polycarbonate sheen which Infinix calls Metal print. Marketing buzzwords aside, the Note 5 gives off some serious premium vibes. I wouldn’t be surprised if anybody mistook this for a Galaxy Note. And yeah, it’s that good-looking. The Infinix blood is strong. We will have a more in-depth look at all the Infinix Note 5 has to offer in later posts. From the little we have seen, the front and rear cameras look promising and there’s talk they use AI to do some fancy stuff. For this and more, stay tuned. Let’s leave you with the specifications and where you can buy the Note 5.
Infinix Note 5 Specs
Announced: 2018, July Available: 2018, July Model: Infinix X604 Colors: Blush Gold/Bordeaux Red/Sandstone Black/Sapphire Blue SIM: Dual SIM (Nano-SIM) OS: Android One™ 8.1.0 Oreo (64-bit) Network: GSM, WCDMA, GPRS, EDGE, HSPA, 4G LTE Dimensions: 158 x 75 x 7.4 mm Weight: g Display: 6.0″ FHD+ 1080 x 2160px 18:9 Infinity Display @480dpi CPU: MediaTek Helio P23 (MT6763) Octa-Core 2.0 GHz, 64bit, ARM Cortex-A53 Mali-G71 MP2 700MHz Processor Memory: 32/64GB ROM, 3/4GB RAM, dedicated microSD slot, upgradeable to 128 GB Camera: 12MP (4032 x 3024) AF Dual LED rear flash, 16MP (4608 x 3456) FF Front Camera with Dual LED Flash Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot, Bluetooth v4.1, OTG, WiFi Direct. Sensors: Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Orientation, Ambient Light, Proximity, Compass, Fingerprint Battery: Non-Removable Li-ion 4500 mAh battery
Infinix Note 5 Price & Where to Buy
So now for the offer you can’t refuse. The Infinix Note 5 retails at only UGX 769,000 (About $200) at Infinix-branded stores and other smartphone dealerships countrywide. Online stores such as Jumia and Kilimall might offer a good deal if you know where to look. From what we heard, comedian and socialite Martha Kay already got her own Note 5 and she’s gushing at how good the camera is.
