Content
- Video review
- Equipment and design
- Software
- Camera
- Performance and Benchmarks
- findings
While most companies are doing their bestto further distance itself from the Russian market, Transsion sees Russia as an opportunity to maintain its momentum amid crises around the world. Therefore, the company's smartphones continue to appear on the shelves, and very quickly after global announcements and with minimal margins. Today we will study two models from the mid-range Infinix Note line, presented in the spring-summer - Note 12 Pro, which became one of the first smartphones with Helio G99, and Note 12 VIP, which offered incredibly fast charging and good cameras for its price. "Proshka" costs a little more than 15,000 rubles in Russia, for a VIP they ask for up to twenty. Are these good options for the price?
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Specifications | |
|---|---|---|
| Infinix Note 12 Pro | Infinix Note 12 VIP | |
| Network | 2G, 3G, 4G | |
| Firmware | Android 12 with XOS 10.6 | |
| Screen | 6.7", 2400x1080 pixels, 20:9, AMOLED | 6.7", 2400x1080 pixels, 20:9, AMOLED, 120 Hz |
| Chipset | MediaTek Helio G99, 6nm CPU: 2 x A76 x 2.2 GHz + 6 x A55 x 2 GHz GPU: Mali-G57MC2 |
MediaTek Helio G99, 12nm CPU: 2 x A76 x 2.05 GHz + 6 x A55 x 2 GHz GPU: Mali-G57MC2 |
| Ram | 8 GB | |
| ROM | 256 GB | |
| SIM and memory card | Triple tray (2 x nano-SIM + microSD) | |
| Camera | Main: 108 MP, Samsung HP6, 1/1.67", f/1.8 Depth Sensor: 2MP, f/2.4 AI Lens: 0.08MP |
Main: 108 MP, Samsung HP6, 1/1.67", f/1.8 Depth Sensor: 2MP, f/2.4 Wide: 13 MP, Samsung 3L6, 1/3", autofocus, f/2.2 |
| Selfie | 16MP teardrop neckline, Hynix Hi-1631, 1/3", f/2.0 | Center hole, 16 MP, OV16B10, 1/2.76", f/2.0 |
| Battery | 5000 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Charging | USB Type-C, 33W | USB Type-C, 120W |
| Wireless interfaces | Wi-Fi Bluetooth GPS |
|
| NFC | there is | |
| Biometrics | Fingerprint scanner (side) | |
| Sound | Stereo speakers 3.5mm headphone jack |
|
| Water protection | Not declared | |
| Dimensions and weight | 164.4 x 76.5 x 7.8 mm 192 g |
163.5 x 76.7 x 7.9mm 199 g |
Video review
Equipment and design
Both phones come in cardboard boxes withsimilar design, but the VIP model has a much larger package. And this is not connected with a bunch of accessories in the kit - there is a lot of empty space, and the box was made bigger, apparently for solidity. But still, a couple of additional accessories were thrown into the kit: a protective glass on the screen and a set of stickers. But they were deprived of the protective film applied to the screen on the Note 12 Pro already at the factory. Common in the kit are a USB cable, a SIM needle, documentation and a protective case. Charging in the kit is different: 33 W for Pro and 120 W for VIP. Didn't expect 120 watts for that kind of money, right? Yes?
Infinix often draws design inspirationtheir smartphones in unexpected places, and these two models are no exception - the Note 12 Pro clearly resembles the Vivo X80, and the Note 12 VIP is an homage to the iQOO 9. But I don't mind, I like the design of Vivo, and these Infinix look cool too. Another question is that both models are entirely plastic - but at least thanks to the fact that the main part of the rear panel was made matte, that is, non-marking and extremely practical. But you still have to wear Note 12 Pro and VIP in a case: the flat ends cut into your hands with their edges.
And it's especially a shame for the ends, given that the rest of the ergonomics is well thought out.The finger scanners, fast and accurate, are located in the power button at a comfortable height, and you don't have to reach for the volume buttons too much.And in general, the phones are not as big as the previous generations of the Infinix Note (6.7" vs. 6.95" in the Infinix Note 10, for example), which has a nice effect on ergonomics.As for the elements on the ends, I would like to note 3.5 mm audio jacks and USB Type-C ports on the bottom panel, as well as stereo.A one-and-a-half, of course, but not bad, and the VIP has additional holes on the top panel that enhance the stereo effect.The vibration of the Pro is ordinary, while that of the VIP is taptic.
The screens of the Infinix Note 12 Pro and VIP are the same at the very first, most superficial glance: AMOLED, 2400x1080 pixels, 6.7".First of all, only the VIP has an increased refresh rate (120 Hz), while the Pro screen always worksSecondly, the Pro has a good old "drop", but here is theThe VIP has hidden the front camera in the hole.Well, in general, the panel of the Note 12 VIP is much better - brighter, more contrasting, juicier.The Pro has a good screen, but it's still noticeably simpler.
As for the PWM, it is in both models, butIt's hard to say which is worse. For flash, the pulsations are weak at high brightness, but at low brightness they can exceed 100%, while for VIP they fluctuate from 30% to 50% over the entire range. What do you choose, friends? The touch frequency is 180 Hz for Note 12 Pro and 360 Hz for Note 12 VIP, it never changes. The screen frequency of the VIP can be adjusted (60 / 120 / auto), but when the battery charge is below 30%, the screen switches to 60 Hz regardless of the settings (120 Hz is switched back when charging up to 41%).
Software
Both smartphones run on Android 12 with proprietaryfirmware XOS 10.6. The software is absolutely identical up to the 120 Hz mode and other little things tied to the hardware of these smartphones. And one more nuance: our Note 12 Pro has mandatory Russian applications pre-installed, but they are not on the VIP. Maybe the point is that we have demo samples or I somehow configured them differently, but there is such a difference. Honestly, I don't know how to explain. For the rest, see the screenshots:
Cameras
Both smartphones received triple cameras, and the mainThe photomodules of the two devices are the same: 108 MP based on the Samsung HM6 sensor. This is the latest 108MP sensor with tiny 0.64µm pixels; the same is in Realme 9 and Galaxy M53. That is, this is the worst 108-megapixel camera on the market. Oh yes, even in Xiaomi 12T this. Note 12 Pro and VIP also share 2MP depth sensors, but the third camera is different: VIP got a 13MP wide Samsung 3L6 with autofocus (you can shoot macro), and Pro got a 0.08MP AI Lens plug. If you're curious about the history of the 3L6 sensor, it was the main camera on the Samsung Galaxy A20.
Infinix Note 12 Pro
Infinix Note 12 (VIP)
Let's first look at the photo from the main camera.As expected, they are almost the same for two smartphones. Yes, in almost every pair of examples, either the white balance, or the detail, or something else is slightly different, but this is a consequence of the general instability of the algorithms - photos taken in a row on the same phone are also not quite identical. The cameras work well for daytime scenes, there’s nothing to swear at, but don’t even try to shoot at night in auto mode. Immediately switch to night - it will not only add illumination to you, but also expand the dynamic range so that mom does not grieve. The Note 12 Pro has a slightly more accurate night mode, the Note 12 VIP is more aggressive, and different approaches are better in different scenarios. If you want to photograph some object in the dark, the VIP will do better, and night landscapes look more interesting on the Pro. However, the very first update can change everything, since the hardware of the cameras is the same, and only the software differs.
Only the Infinix Note 12 Pro has a Shirik, as I said, and it's... well, that's it.Samsung Galaxy A20, yes.There is no night mode for it, and during the day it shootsIt's even surprising how different the approach to color reproduction Infinix has implemented on neighboring photomodules.However, with its main task, photographing landscapes and architecture, the shire copes well.And he can also do macro, and this is also an interesting scenario.However, in many cases, macro and the main camera turn out well, and there is not much difference between the two cameras.
Maximum quality video recording on smartphones –1440p@30fps, the Pro also has 1080p@60fps. 2K by Infinix traditionally pleases with detail, but I would advise Pro owners to shoot at 60 fps - a smooth picture looks very advantageous. Well, or even at 30 fps with EIS, if you shoot handheld on the go and there is enough lighting (VIP also has such a mode). Both smartphones record video with stereo sound, only the Infinix Note 12 Pro has only one microphone, so the left and right tracks are exactly the same. Super stereo is obtained. At the same time, the microphone is good - in terms of sound quality, I liked Pro more than VIP.
Infinix Note 12 Pro
Infinix Note 12 (VIP)
16 MP front cameras (Hi1631 for Pro and OV16B10at VIP) they shoot well. By tradition, they have a flash so that in the dark you don’t burn your eyes with the screen when you take a selfie. Video is 1080p@30fps only.
Performance and tests
The Infinix Note 12 VIP is based on the well-known Helio G96, and the Note 12 Pro has a slightly more powerful and much thinner Helio G99 (6 nm vs 12 nm).As expected, a mid-sized chipset with a modern technological process does not throttle, butThe G96 shows a very depressing picture in the CPU Throttling Test, and this behavior is very atypical for the G96.One could even say that the Note 12 VIP has the worst known implementation of this chipset, but the 3DMark graph is pleasing, so I won't say that.In games, there is no throttling, and the difference in performance between the chips is something like 5%.
Phone performance in games varies.Somewhere the situation resembles a graph in the CPU Throttling Test; for example, in Genshin Impact, the frame rate of the Note 12 Pro is noticeably higher at the start and does not drop over time, while for the VIP, even on the minimum graphics, it can drop to 20 fps. But in SuperTuxKart everything is like in 3DMark: about 30 fps on both smartphones with a slight margin in favor of Note 12 Pro and no performance degradation over time. So for games, the Pro version is better; however, if you want to enjoy 120 fps in something simple like Brawl Stars or Standoff 2, then you still need the VIP version. Let me remind you that the Pro has a 60 Hz screen.
And a little more about iron. About memory. Hers is a wagon.8 GB RAM plus 256 GB internal storage. For a budget for 20-25 thousand rubles - awesome. The Galaxy S22+ has the same number in the database, heh. And here it is also not some top-end modification, but the only one available on our market. And, unlike the Galaxy S22 +, the heroes of today's review support microSD cards. And they have triple trays - you don't have to sacrifice a second SIM card to insert a memory card.
Infinix Note 12 Pro
Infinix Note 12 (VIP)
And now about the batteries.Note 12 Pro received a 5000 mAh battery, and Note 12 VIP received a 4500 mAh dual-cell battery (2 x 2250 mAh). As a result, the Note 12 Pro drains a little slower. For example, in two hours of YouTube, I got -15% on Pro and -17% on VIP. Under load (SuperTuxKart), the effect is enhanced by the energy efficiency of Helio G99: -12% per hour for Pro and -20% for VIP. In general, you can squeeze out up to 10-11 hours of screen from Infinix Note 12 Pro, up to 7-8 hours from VIP. In terms of days of active use, this is about two days. Maybe three, maybe one and a half - depends on your scenarios.
With charging speed, everything is easier, and the difference betweenSmartphones are much more obvious. Infinix Note 12 Pro from its boring 33-W unit charges in 75 minutes, which, of course, is quite fast (53% in half an hour, that is, while you have breakfast and get ready, there is enough charge for a working day), but against the background of Note 12 VIP with 120W charging - very slow. It charges half in 7 minutes and fully charged in 19 minutes, which is absolutely fantastic for a smartphone in this price range.
Conclusions
I have long been accustomed to the fact that mid-range smartphonescategories - it's always a choice on what you save. Usually the options are: either here you have a cool design and camera, but weak hardware, or here's a phone for you that pulls any games, but it has cameras for show. Infinix, on the other hand, came up with a much more unexpected dichotomy: one phone is slightly cheaper and slightly more powerful, while the other has a wide-angle camera, a better screen, and much faster charging. Therefore, it is very difficult to give any universal advice. Choose according to what you think is right for you. At the same time, both phones can definitely be recommended for consideration if the choice is limited to retail stores - there are very few worthy models in the segment of 17-20 thousand rubles, and these two are definitely among them.
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© Oleg Lazarev.