Infinix Note 40 5G: The Budget Phone Redefining Value with Wireless Charging and Impressive Features

When considering a budget or mid-range smartphone to buy online, Infinix might not be the first name that comes to mind. However, the brand has a solid presence in physical stores and offers a range of smartphones in the budget and mid-range sectors. The recently launched Infinix Note 40 5G, which debuted in India late last month, is positioned as an affordable option featuring wireless charging—a first for this price category. It may lack brand prestige, but it provides substantial value for its cost.

Having used the device for around a week, I believe the Infinix Note 40 is worth considering for your list of potential purchases. While it has many strong aspects, it also falls short in a few areas. The phone is available in India in one configuration with 8GB RAM and 256GB of storage, priced at Rs. 19,999.

Infinix Note 40 5G Design: A rectangular block

• Active Halo Lighting
• Weight: 185 grams
• Colors: Titan Gold and Obsidian Black

The Infinix Note 40 features an all-plastic design with a matte finish on the back and a shiny frame that easily picks up fingerprints. On the rear, a rectangular area protrudes from the top right corner, which houses the camera sensors and Active Halo Lighting. This design helps prevent wobbling when the phone is placed flat on its back due to its broad coverage of the upper section.

The glossy plastic frame is a magnet for fingerprints

 

The front showcases a sizable display with narrow bezels and tapered edges. The right side hosts the volume and power buttons, while the left side contains the SIM card tray. A microphone and IR blaster are found at the top, and another microphone, speaker, and USB Type-C port are located at the bottom. Additionally, there’s a flash in the top right corner for nighttime selfies.

The device weighs 185 grams, has a thickness of 7.91mm, and is rated IP53. Overall, the Infinix Note 40 boasts a commendable design for a budget-friendly option. However, I wasn’t particularly fond of the feel of the glossy plastic frame in my hand.

Infinix Note 40 5G Display: Spacious and sufficiently bright

• 6.78-inch LTPS AMOLED screen
• 120Hz refresh rate
• 93.8% screen-to-body ratio

If you appreciate large displays with slender bezels, you’ll likely enjoy the 6.78-inch screen of the Infinix Note 40. The manufacturer has successfully created thin and symmetrical bezels on the top and sides, achieving a screen-to-body ratio of 93.8 percent. Although Gorilla Glass protection isn’t included, tempered glass is provided in the box.

The display features a 120Hz refresh rate and narrow bezels

 

The smartphone uses an LTPS AMOLED display that supports a 120Hz refresh rate, full-HD+ resolution, 1,300 nits of brightness, and a 240Hz touch response rate. It also covers the entire DCI-P3 color gamut and has received TUV Rheinland’s Eye Care certification.

This display performs well in bright indoor conditions and is usable even in direct sunlight. The colors appear vivid, and viewing angles are quite satisfactory. You can choose between two color modes, Original and Bright, with the latter enhancing color saturation. Other features include a High Brightness mode and an Ultra Touch setting designed to enhance touch sensitivity. It’s an excellent panel for enjoying media and gaming.

The fingerprint scanner is generally reliable

 

An in-display fingerprint scanner is located at the bottom, which might be slightly hard to reach. During my experience with the device, the fingerprint sensor performed reliably most of the time, though there were instances where it required multiple attempts to unlock the phone.

Infinix Note 40 5G Software: Mostly streamlined

• Based on Android 14 with XOS
• 2 years of Android OS updates promised
• Minimal bloatware

The Infinix Note 40 operates on Android 14 with XOS right out of the box and contains very few pre-installed apps. While some apps come pre-loaded, there are no advertisements, and you can remove all pre-installed applications. Infinix’s XOS includes features such as a Dynamic Bar for notifications around the hole-punch camera, Floating Windows, MemFusion for virtual RAM expansion, Game Mode with an app called XArena, XClone for allowing dual applications, and a Kids mode.

Android 14 comes pre-installed

 

Additionally, there’s the Folax voice assistant, akin to Google Assistant, enabling you to set reminders, respond to queries, and launch applications. There’s also an AI Gallery app, though I didn’t notice any AI features present.

Infinix has committed to providing 2 years of OS updates and 3 years of security patches, which is reasonable for this price bracket.

The user interface generally runs smoothly; however, I did encounter some lag when browsing websites in Chrome or amidst scrolling through Settings.

Infinix Note 40 5G Performance: Acceptable

• MediaTek Dimensity 7020 chipset
• 8GB RAM + 256GB UFS 2.2 storage
• Virtual RAM support

The Note 40 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7020 chipset, which is not particularly a high performer. This chip is paired with 8GB of RAM, which can be virtually expanded by another 8GB through the MemFusion technology. While multitasking is possible, you will notice some delays when quickly launching multiple apps.

I conducted various standard benchmarks, and the results compared to other devices in its class fell slightly short.

Considering its price, the phone performs reasonably well. It didn’t experience significant heating during benchmarking, although I couldn’t perform our usual suite of 3DMark benchmarks as the device lacked support for them.

For gaming, I tested out Call of Duty Mobile, BGMI, and Asphalt 9. In Asphalt 9, the performance was satisfactory at high graphics settings, but BGMI and COD Mobile struggled, not allowing full graphics and resulting in heating issues.

Running games at maximum settings may cause lag

 

The phone is equipped with hybrid dual speakers that are claimed to be tuned by JBL. They produce loud sound but lack bass depth. The audio quality during voice and video calls is decent.

Infinix Note 40 5G Cameras: Functional

• 108-megapixel primary rear camera
• 32-megapixel front camera
• 3X lossless zoom capability

Despite the appearance of a triple rear camera setup, the Infinix Note 40 5G effectively only utilizes one camera. The other dual sensors are not accessible in the camera application and primarily aid in depth sensing for portrait photos. The camera app is user-friendly and presents all modes readily accessible.

The phone features two non-functional cameras

 

The primary rear camera captures good-quality photos in well-lit conditions, providing vibrant colors and acceptable detail. HDR performance and white balance are also commendable. Infinix asserts that the main camera can achieve 3x lossless zoom, and while the photos taken at this zoom level are visually appealing, they lack color accuracy and fine details.

Daytime shots from the 108-megapixel primary rear camera [Tap to expand]

 

In low-light scenarios, the primary camera struggled, with the automatic night mode engaging. Images were often noisy and blurry since only electronic image stabilization is supported. However, Super Night mode yields better results and is recommended for night-time shots. Notably, the 3x zoom feature does not perform well under low light conditions.

Sequentially: Two photos taken at 3x zoom, two low-light shots (one with auto night mode, the other with Super Night mode) [Tap to expand]

 

The 32-megapixel selfie camera captures satisfactory images in well-lit environments, with good detail retention and more accurate colors compared to the rear camera. The front also includes an LED flash for improved low-light selfies.

On the video recording front, the device can shoot up to 2K resolution at 30fps. However, the Ultrasteady stabilization feature is only available at 1080p 30fps. Videos taken in bright conditions are decent regarding detail, but stabilization could be better—resulting in noticeable shakes during movement. Low-light video quality, however, lacks clarity and exhibits noise even at 2K resolution. Although dynamic range is acceptable, improvements to HDR and color accuracy are needed.

Infinix Note 40 5G Battery: Welcome to wireless charging

• 15W wireless charging capability
• Cheetah X1 power management technology
• 5,000mAh battery capacity

The battery performance is satisfactory. In our HD video test, the Note 40 5G endured around 18 hours of playback. Thanks to the provided 33W fast charger, you can power the device from 0 to 100 percent in approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. The proprietary Cheetah X power management chip enables features like bypass charging, wireless reverse charging, and dynamic charge modes. This technology seems effective, as the device remained cool during wired charging.

The MagCharge dock can magnetically attach to the supplied case

 

There’s also the option for 15W wireless charging, which takes roughly three hours to fully charge the device, resulting in the phone feeling warm. The device supports the MagCharge accessory from Infinix and includes a compatible case in the box. With a day and a half of use including web browsing, YouTube, camera usage, and about 45 minutes of gaming, the phone performed reliably.

Infinix Note 40 5G Conclusion

The Infinix Note 40 5G competes against models like the Realme P1 5G (Review), Poco X6 Neo 5G (Review), and the newly released OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite (Review). While none of these alternatives provide wireless charging, the Realme and OnePlus devices offer superior design and slightly better camera capabilities. Meanwhile, the Poco X6 Neo 5G is an affordable option.

If you’re in search of a device under Rs. 20,000 that supports wireless charging and comes equipped with a quality display, satisfactory primary rear camera, and reliable battery life, then the Infinix Note 40 5G is a fantastic option. Its Active Halo lighting further distinguishes it as a unique feature. For those who do not prioritize wireless charging, the Realme P1 presents a stronger choice.