Infinix Mobile has made quite a name for itself in the Philippines, having established a connection with consumers through strong marketing campaigns centered around the mobile-gaming space.

(Update, September 23: The INFINIX NOTE 12 PRO 5G’S price for the Philippine market has been revealed!)

However, given its previous releases of capable yet affordable smartphone models on the market, 5G connectivity hasn’t been a strong suit for most of Infinix’s local offerings. Which brings us to the INFINIX NOTE 12 PRO 5G, the company’s latest 5G-enabled phone and one that will be available nationwide soon.

If you’re not familiar, 5G is the latest mobile generation of mobile communications, promising faster downloads and uploads, higher bandwidth, and more stable connections compared with 4G. It’s said to be about 10 times faster than the previous cellular-wireless standard. That’s a huge improvement considering how good the latter can be in areas with excellent coverage. You’ll need a 5G-compatible device to connect to a 5G network, but a 5G phone or tablet will also work on 4G networks.

Locally, the NOTE 12 PRO 5G should go on sale beginning September 26, with an exclusive promotion on Lazada from September 27 to September 29 that will see the 5G handset retail at a limited discounted price. But before that, check out our unboxing photos and first impressions of the newest Note model.

Unlike the brand’s more affordable smartphones, the INFINIX NOTE 12 PRO 5G ships in a semi-minimalist white box with bold lettering and emphasis on one of its main highlights: a dual-5G (sub-6Hz) modem that delivers super-fast data on supported networks.

The chipset here is a midrange MediaTek Dimensity 810, which uses TSMC’s 6nm fabrication process to ensure snappy and efficient performance. It features two fast Cortex-A76 cores alongside six power-efficient Cortex-A55 cores and is paired with dual-core Mali-G57 graphics. The storage is 128GB, while the physical RAM maxes out at 8GB, expandable up to 13GB with virtual memory from the internal storage.

We haven’t finished putting our unit through its paces yet, but based on our initial test and our experience with devices powered by the same SoC, the Infinix Note 12 Pro 5G could provide a decent gaming experience at medium settings and an excellent overall power efficiency. The phone’s sizable 5,000mAh battery should help its case.

If you’re familiar with older Infinix models, then you basically know what you’re in for here. You’ll find a clear protective case inside the box, plus a 33-watt fast charger that maximizes the Note 12 Pro 5G’s potential. Tucked in the packaging are the following:

• InNFINIOX NOTE 12 PRO 5G unit
• 33W fast charger
• USB-C cable
• Clear case
• Eject tool
• XClub voucher
• Quick start guide
• Warranty information

What you’ll find in the box

As for the unit itself, the INFINIX NOTE 12 PRO 5G has a plastic frame in a unibody build with large rectangular camera module on the back and a waterdrop display up front. The rear panel comes with a lightly textured pattern to improve grip and minimize fingerprints and smudges, but the design on the black variant we have isn’t for everyone. It’s certainly for us, though.

The body weighs in at around 185 grams, which makes it comfortable to hold, and it’s nice that we can use the smartphone one-handed without too much trouble. We also found the frame to be solid and sturdy.

Moving to the front, you’ll find a notch design housing an AMOLED screen, which is an unfortunate sight considering the phone’s mid-tier positioning. Given the segment it will be competing in, you probably hope to see punch-hole display regardless of the type of screen the device has.

The AMOLED panel is FHD+ and runs at 60Hz. It also ships with Widevine L1 certification for streaming HD content from Netflix and Amazon Prime, making it a good choice for those who stream their TV shows and movies on their handset.

Besides the 5G chipset, the other key attraction here, of course, is the rear-facing camera. The INFINIX NOTE 12 PRO 5G flaunts a 108-megapixel sensor with an f/1.75 aperture lens on the back assisted by dedicated portrait and macro sensors, each offering two megapixels. Elsewhere, the sharp selfie camera packs 16 megapixels. The default camera app comes with multiple modes, including Super Night mode, Panorama, Portrait, and Slo-mo footage for more versatile shooting despite the absence of an ultrawide camera.

The local price of the 8GB/128GB variant should be announced on September 23. We expect it to be on the competitive side, considering the company’s current pricing strategy in the Philippines. That’s it for our unboxing and initial impressions of the INFINIX NOTE 12 PRO 5G. Be sure to check back here for our full review!

INFINIX NOTE 12 PRO 5G specs

• 6.7-inch AMOLED display, FHD+ resolution
• 6nm MediaTek Dimensity 810 processor with 5G
• Mali-G57 MP2 GPU
• 8GB RAM
• 128GB storage
• Triple 108-megapixel main, 2-megapixel, AI rear cameras
• 16-megapixel front camera
• Side fingerprint reader
• 5,000mAh battery with 33-watt USB-C charging
• X0S 10.6 based on Android 12
• Color options: Force Black, Snowfall White

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