As Infinix continues to expand its boundaries with new innovations and interesting partnerships, the Infinix Note 30 VIP came into my life a few weeks ago and has been quite a pleasure to use. It is made in partnership with BMW design works to communicate speed and encourage people to go beyond their boundaries. Right from the box the device looks unique in its characteristic red trim around the sides and around the cameras.
Here are my thoughts about it based on my user experience.
What’s in the box?
First off, the packaging is quite eye-catching, pitch black with BMW colours of blue white and red. This is in line with Infinix partnership with BMW Designworks to create this device. In the box you’ll find the phone, a custom protective back cover, literature and warranty, a charging brick, USB cable and a wired earpiece.
In an exciting development, Infinix has also included a wireless charging tray. This is quite a win for users since they get value for their money.
Design
The back cover which I really love features a leather texture which not only makes it unique but also gives it great grip. It makes it completely smudge proof, so the phone is always neat. There is quite a bit going on at the back with the multi textured cover, camera housing with 4 cameras, Infinix branding and the mix of black and red. But Infinix has designed it so brilliantly that it doesn’t look or feel cluttered at all. If anything, it gives the phone a unique premium look which is always a conversation starter.
My absolute favourite feature is that when a notification comes in, it lights up the BMW colours through the leather casing in a beautiful pattern I’ve never seen before. See video above for a visual of this.
On the left side of the phone is only the SIM tray while the power button and volume rockers are on the right. At the top we have the mic and loudspeakers while at the bottom there is the 3.5mm jack slot, mic, and other loudspeakers to complete an impressive surround sound. The phone is kitted with JBL sound, a trusted and household name for quality sound over decades.
Performance
The Infinix Note 30 VIP ships out with Android 13 as well as Infinix’s OS, XOS13. These are upto date, ensuring data safety, quicker app launches, smooth scrolling with no lags or freezes, great optimization of all the features in the phone and overall good user experience.
One of the most important parts of any phone when it comes to performance is the processor and for this, Infinix Note 30 VIP runs on the Mediatek Dimensity 8050. Alongside a powerful Operating System and equally powerful storage and RAM, this device is quite a winner in terms of performance. Internal storage comes in at 256GB and RAM is 21GB.
Battery
The battery on the Infinix Note 30 VIP is an impressive 5000mAh. I have been using phones with this battery size for a bit now and I’ve found that they are able to carry me through a day of full use. I’m speaking as a heavy user who uses her phone for work, photography, videography, movies and series, and a game here and there. I also work from WiFi quite a bit and so I tend to tether my phone a lot. All this takes a toll on the battery and yet I’m covered on most days without needing a recharge. I do however need to charge every day and that’s fine.
Along with a good battery, the phone is equipped with a 68W wired charger which will charge 0-80% in just half an hour, and a 50W wireless which will do 0-50% in half an hour. The combination of a good battery, fast charging speeds and an inbuilt battery system for power saving options means that users will almost never be in battery trouble with the Note 30 VIP.
Cameras
The Infinix Note 30 VIP has a whopping 108MP camera supported by a 2MP depth and 2MP wide angle. It also features powerful AI and is quite clearly among the best in its class and price range. Selfie lovers, which is almost everyone these days, have an 32MP camera at the front, and this comes with AI settings to take the best photos of yourself.
A quick look at the some features in summary:
- Display: 6.67 inches AMOLED, 1080*2400 Pixels Resolution
- Platform: Android 13
- Memory: 256GB ROM, 21GB RAM
- Main Camera: 108 MP Wide + 2MP Depth
- Selfie Camera:32MP
- USB: Type-C
- Battery: 5000 mAh
- Security: In screen fingerprint, PIN, Password and facial recognition.
- Sound: JBL
The one feature that stands out is the BMW racing elements that characterize the phone, and that were developed in partnership with BMW design works. This is a powerful combination of automotive and mobility, with which Infinix and BMW are giving users speed and functionality in this device.
“The NOTE 30 VIP Racing Edition is a true flagship smartphone combining legendary design with top specifications. Through this collaboration with Designworks, we have pushed the boundaries of product design once again and integrated racing elements that represent speed and passion together with our leading products. With its futuristic look and powerful configuration, the NOTE 30 VIP Racing Edition brings young users personalized product experiences that share our brand spirit and encourage everyone to follow their heart and continually challenge themselves,” Lake Hu, CMO at Infinix.
Verdict
The Infinix Note 30 VIP racing edition ticks a lot of boxes. Looks, performance, battery system and camera among many others that users will continue to discover as they use the more. For a price tag of around Ksh.48,000- give or take, it is certainly a worthy purchase and value for money.