Infinix Note 50S 5G+ Review: Going after the budget-segment crown

In 2025, Infinix isn’t holding back—it’s clearly on a mission to dominate the budget smartphone scene. The Note 50 lineup is their most ambitious yet, and the Note 50S 5G+ fits right in with that agenda.

Straight up, this phone’s left a solid impression on us, considering what features it offers, and that too at a price of just ₹16,000.

Infinix Note 50s Design

The first thing I noticed was just how slim the phone is. We’re talking just 7.6mm thin. Plus, it weighs only 180 grams. For something that costs ₹16K, the build legit feels way more expensive than it should. Side by side with other phones in this range, the Note 50S 5G+ just looks way sleeker.

I’ve got the Titanium Grey version on me, which kinda reminds me of the Note 50X—same clean, safe look. But if you’re all about standing out, the Blue variant is the one to grab. It’s got a vegan leather back that not only looks super premium but also has this subtle fragrance to it. I’m not even kidding—it actually smells good.

Sure, the frame and back are plastic, but the metallic finish tricks your brain into thinking it’s something fancier. Smudges do show up a lot, but thankfully, Infinix includes a matching case in the box, so, no stress.

The camera module is where things get really interesting. Infinix calls it “Gem-Cut.” It’s flashy, no doubt. They’re clearly trying to ditch the whole boring rectangle vibe most phones stick to.

Personally though, I think it’s a bit too much—I would’ve preferred something smaller. But hey, design’s personal. You might totally dig it.
What I do like, though, is the Active Halo Lighting. It lights up for calls, charging, games, and even when using the voice assistant. I mostly found it useful for notifications, but it definitely adds a cool touch.

Durability’s on point too. It’s got IP64 dust and splash protection and even military-grade toughness. And yep, there are JBL-tuned dual stereo speakers. They’re not mega loud, but the bass is tight and doesn’t crack at high volume. There's also an IR blaster on top. Oh, and shoutout to the in-display fingerprint scanner—it’s actually fast.

Infinix Note 50s Display

Alright, let’s get into the screen, because honestly, this display kinda blew me away for what you’re paying. We’re talking a 6.78-inch AMOLED, full 10-bit colour, deep inky blacks, and a buttery smooth 144Hz refresh rate. It’s bright enough to hold up under direct sunlight, and the curved edges? Total flagship vibes.

That said, it’s not flawless. If you’re someone who games a lot like me, those curves can get a little annoying when you’re deep into a match and trying to keep a firm grip. It just makes the edges feel a bit slippery sometimes.

Also, a quick heads-up: that 144Hz refresh rate? It’s kinda playing hide and seek. You’ll only really see it in the settings, phone, and messages app. Everywhere else, it switches back to 120Hz. To be honest though, I couldn’t really tell the difference in the 144Hz mode and when in 120Hz, unless I enabled the option from the developer’s settings. Everything still feels super smooth.

For content, scrolling, and just daily usage? This panel’s a banger. Sharp visuals, punchy colours—it nails the entertainment game without breaking the bank.

Infinix Note 50s Cameras

Alright, camera time. The Note 50S comes with a 64MP Sony sensor paired with a 2MP sensor that’s basically a sidekick. The 64MP main cam is doing all the heavy lifting, and it’s doing it surprisingly well. Photos come out super vibrant, colours pop, and you won’t even need to slap on a filter before throwing them on your social media.

I was also kinda impressed by the 2X zoom—it’s actually usable, even when the lighting isn’t great. I definitely didn’t expect that at this price.
On the front, you’ve got a 13MP selfie camera. It keeps things pretty natural—not too smooth, not too sharp. Just right. And both the front and rear cameras shoot in 4K at 30fps, which is kinda nuts for a budget phone. Stabilisation is decent, and there’s only a little bit of cropping.
Sure, an ultrawide lens would’ve been nice, but for ₹15,999? I can’t really be mad.

Infinix Note 50s Performance and Software

Okay, let’s talk power. The Note 50S 5G+ honestly surprised me with how well it runs. It’s rocking the Dimensity 7300 Ultimate, which sounds super fancy, but it’s basically the same brain as the standard 7300. And that’s not a diss—it still performs like a champ. On Antutu, it’s barely 3.5% behind the Moto Edge 60 Fusion’s 7400 chip, and GeekBench tells the same story.

The real jaw-dropper though, is the fact that you’re getting 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM even on the base 128GB variant. That’s wild. Phones at this price almost never give you that level of RAM. Storage is UFS 2.2—not the fastest out there, but it gets the job done just fine for everyday stuff. The UI is super smooth. App switching feels clean, and I didn’t run into any stutters.

As for gaming, in BGMI, the devices handles HD + Ultra settings easily, but if you want that buttery feel, drop it to Smooth + Extreme—it runs like a dream. Infinix says you can push 90 FPS in some games, and while BGMI doesn’t quite hit that, Call of Duty: Mobile actually gets close.

Software-wise, it’s running Android 15 with XOS 15 on top. There’s some bloatware here and there, but nothing too annoying. What I do like is the extras—stuff like dynamic bars, music gestures, and cool call controls that keep things fun.

We also get a ton of AI features. There’s the usual—AI writing, Circle to Search, image generation—but also some actually handy tools like document assistant, real-time translations, and a Folax AI assistant that’s surprisingly useful for voice commands.

As for updates, you’re covered with 2 years of OS updates and 3 years of security patches. For ₹16K? That’s a steal.

Infinix Note 50s Battery

The Infinix Note50S is packing a a 5500 mAh battery. Now in 2024, it would’ve been a major flex. Now though, we’re seeing phones with 7000 mAh beasts and sometimes even more. Infinix could’ve gone bigger. Still, for something this slim, I gotta give credit where it’s due.

I pushed it pretty hard—gaming, binge-watching, doom-scrolling—and the Note 50S handled it all in one go without begging for a charger. It easily lasted me the full day.

Charging’s no slouch either. It supports 45W fast charging, which gets you juiced up quick, and there’s also bypass charging. That’s a neat trick where the power goes straight to the phone instead of the battery—so it doesn’t get hot when you’re charging mid-game.

All in all, the battery setup hits the mark for this price range. That said, I wouldn’t mind if Infinix bulked things up a bit in the future. Most of us wouldn’t mind a slightly thicker phone if it meant even more screen time without hitting low power panic mode.

Verdict

The Infinix Note 50S is definitely stepping into a ring full of heavy hitters. I mean, you’ve got stuff like the iQOO Z10x showing off with a massive 6500mAh battery and snappier UFS 3.1 storage. But even with all that, the Note 50S holds its own.

What really makes it click for me is how balanced everything feels—fast LPDDR5X RAM, a sharp AMOLED display, no ads clogging the UI, and a main camera that actually pulls through. It’s not trying to overhype one single feature—it’s just consistently solid across the board.

At this price, Infinix is offering way more than I expected. So yeah, while there are phones that may beat it in one or two areas, as an all-rounder? This one’s hard to beat.