Infinix Note 40 Review: A Budget Phone with Wireless Charging

Infinix Note 40 Review: A Budget Phone with Wireless Charging

Infinix continues to push the envelope in the budget smartphone market with its latest release, the Infinix Note 40. Building on the wireless charging feature introduced in the Note 30 series, the Note 40 takes things up a notch by integrating magnets for seamless wireless charging and packing even more accessories into the box. While other smartphone brands are cutting back on accessories, Infinix is delivering a complete package that gives consumers everything they need, and more. But how does it perform in other areas? Let’s dive into the details.

What’s in the Box?

The packaging of the Infinix Note 40 is a welcome surprise. Along with the phone, you get a range of accessories, including a phone case and a wireless charging pad. It’s worth noting that the availability of these extras might vary by region, so it’s always a good idea to double-check before purchasing.

Setting up the wireless charging is simple. Just place the phone in the provided case, connect the included Type-C cable to the charging pad, and plug it into a power source. Thanks to the magnets, the phone snaps into place, and you’re ready to start charging wirelessly. Even better, the Note 40 supports wireless charging without needing the special case, which is a nice touch for those who prefer a more streamlined experience.

Design: A Sleek and Modern Look

Infinix has made significant design improvements in the Note 40 compared to the previous generation. The phone now sports a more squared-off, boxy design, which looks sleek and modern. The Obsidian Black model I tested leans towards a dark blue hue rather than pure black, but it still looks striking. The matte finish on the back helps reduce fingerprints, while the rectangular camera module is glossy—though it’s not something your hands will constantly touch, so it doesn’t detract from the design.

For those who like a little extra flair, Infinix also offers a gold color option, but I prefer the more minimalist look of the Obsidian Black model.

However, the design also comes with a few trade-offs. Gone are the headphone jack and the microSD card slot. While the removal of the headphone jack may not upset many users (since most people are switching to wireless audio), the lack of an SD card slot could be a dealbreaker for those who rely on expandable storage. The Note 40 does come with 256GB of internal storage as standard, which is more than enough for most users, but it’s still something to keep in mind if you’re used to having an SD card slot.

Display: Bigger, Better, and Brighter

The display on the Infinix Note 40 has received a major upgrade. The notch is now a punch-hole cutout, and the screen-to-body ratio has increased from 84.5% on the previous model to 89.9%. The refresh rate has been bumped up from 60Hz to 120Hz, making scrolling and general use much smoother. The peak brightness has also been increased from 600 nits to an impressive 1,300 nits, making it much more usable in bright outdoor conditions.

While the resolution and panel type remain the same as before, the overall experience is much better. The display looks sharp, vibrant, and fluid—easily one of the standout features of the phone. The flat design is also a nice touch, making gestures easier to execute.

Software: Android 14 with Plenty of Customization

The Infinix Note 40 runs on XOS 14 on top of Android 14. While it looks similar to XOS 13, there are some new features worth noting. One of the highlights is lock screen customization, which allows you to change the clock style, font, and color, as well as adjust how notifications appear. You can also modify the shortcuts on the lock screen, adding a bit of personality to your device.

Another notable feature is the AI wallpaper generator, which lets you create unique wallpapers using AI. There are also new styles for live wallpapers, giving users even more ways to personalize their device. Additionally, XOS 14 includes a “color” section where you can choose a specific color scheme for the entire UI, similar to Android’s Material You. This offers more ways to tailor the phone to your personal tastes.

Performance: Solid for Its Price

Under the hood, the Infinix Note 40 is powered by the MediaTek G99 Ultimate chipset, an overclocked version of the G99, which has been optimized for better multitasking and performance. Paired with 8GB of RAM (expandable to 16GB using virtual RAM), the Note 40 handles daily tasks, browsing, and light gaming without breaking a sweat.

Performance is smooth across the board, and multitasking is efficient, with Infinix claiming that you can have up to 18 apps open at once. I didn’t experience any lag or overheating while using the phone, and gaming was smooth, even with some of my favorite titles. The only caveat here is that the Note 40 supports 4G, not 5G, but considering its price point, it’s not a huge dealbreaker.

Cameras: Impressive for the Price

The Infinix Note 40 comes equipped with a 108MP main camera, a 2MP depth sensor, and an AI camera. The main camera performs admirably, capturing detailed and vibrant shots. While the 108MP camera doesn’t take full 108MP shots by default (it uses pixel-binning to create 12MP images), it still manages to capture plenty of detail. If you want to push the camera to its limits, you can switch to the full 108MP mode, but for most people, the default setting will be more than sufficient.

The AI camera works well for scene recognition, and I was impressed with the results across a variety of environments—whether indoors, in low light, or out in bright daylight. The 1080p video quality is also very good, with stabilization and solid performance in well-lit conditions.

Battery: All-Day Life with Fast Charging

The Infinix Note 40 is powered by a 5,000mAh battery, which is a standard size for a device in this category. Under light to moderate use, the phone easily lasts the entire day. Streaming videos, such as YouTube, should get you around 10 hours of screen-on time. The Note 40 doesn’t just impress in terms of battery life; it also offers multiple charging modes.

You get 45W wired charging, which isn’t the fastest, but it’s decent. I was able to charge the phone from 0% to 100% in about 1 hour and 10 minutes. However, there’s a catch—Infinix includes three charging modes: Hypercharge, Smart Charge, and Low Temp Charge. If you want the fastest charge, Hypercharge is the way to go, providing 50% charge in just 20 minutes.

In addition to wired charging, the Note 40 also supports wireless charging, reverse wireless charging, and reverse wired charging, meaning you can charge other devices with your phone. There’s also a Bypass Charging mode that allows the phone to charge directly from the power supply to the motherboard, bypassing the battery to prevent overheating and degradation.