Google has started rolling out a new feature called Game Trials , which allows users to test out paid games for a limited time before deciding to purchase them. The feature is now available for select paid games on mobile devices, and the company says it will soon come to Google Play Games on PC as well. When a game offers a trial, its profile page will now display a button labeled “Try.” Once clicked, users will see exactly how much free play time they have before a purchase is required. For example, Google is using the survival horror game Dredge to showcase the feature, offering 60 minutes of free gameplay. After the time runs out, players can either buy the full game or delete it from their device. How to view uninstalled Android apps and restore them How to transfer Android apps offline using Google Play Store In addition to the trial program, Google has announced plans to release more paid indie games over the coming months. Titles such as Moonlight Peaks, Sledding Gam...
Infinix continues to push the boundaries of what budget phones can offer. Their latest offering, the Infinix NOTE Edge, not only impresses in terms of hardware and performance, but also in design.
But not just any boring design. As the name suggests, Infinix’s latest is extra sleek, thin, and light. Something we rarely see on phones under Php15,000.
In our Infinix NOTE Edge review, we’ll find out if it’s really worth the money.
Infinix Note Edge Specs
- Android 16, XOS 16 (3 years of updates, 5 years of security patches)
- Dual SIM, Dual Standby
- 6.78-inch 2.5K AMOLED display, 2644 x 1208 pixel resolution, ~393ppi
- 120Hz refresh rate, 10-bit
- 4500-nit peak brightness
- Corning Gorilla Glass 7i
- 2.4GHz MediaTek Dimensity 7100 octa-core processor
- Mali-G610 MC2 GPU
- 8GB RAM
- 128GB/256GB UFS 2.2 internal storage, non-expandable
- 13-megapixel front camera
- 50-megapixel rear camera, dual-LED flash
- Under-display fingerprint scanner, Face unlock
- JBL-tuned stereo speakers
- Hi-Res Audio, Hi-Res Wireless
- IP65 dust and splash resistant
- HSPA+, 4G LTE, 5G
- WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
- Bluetooth 5.4
- GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS
- NFC, IR blaster, FM radio
- Dimensions: 163.1 x 77.4 x 7.2mm
- Weight: 185g
- Colors: Orange, Stellar Blue, Silk Green, Lunar Titanium, Shadow Black
- 6,500mAh non-removable battery, 45W wired, 10W reverse wired, bypass charging
Design and Build Quality
A big strength of the Infinix NOTE Edge is design, particularly the form. It’s very slim at just 7.2mm. To give you a perspective, the average smartphone thickness is around 8mm.
It’s also fairly light at 185g. Plus, the smooth curves on the front and rear panel, as well as on all four corners, make it very comfortable to use with one hand.
In fact, the sleek form-factor is enough to make it a great daily driver. It’s just a joy to carry around all the time.
But don’t let the slim profile fool you. Apart from the looks, the device is also durable. It’s got an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance and has a Corning Gorilla Glass 7i on the front.
There are a bunch of color options available: Lunar Titanium, Stellar Blue, and Shadow Black. The one we have, called Silk Green, which has a fabric-like texture, giving a shiny yet matte appearance that stays clean from smudges.
We then have a camera plateau-like camera island, reminiscent of the ones found on the iPhone 17 Pro series. This one has a glass-like finish, which, unlike the rear panel, is easily bombarded with dirt and smudges.
This holds the Active Halo Lighting, which lights up in different colors to signify notifications, charging, and more. We also have the main camera and the dual-LED flash.
On the front, we have the 6.78-inch 2.5K AMOLED screen, with a 13-megapixel selfie camera.
The left side is clean, while the right has the volume controls, the lock/power button, and a One-Tap Button that acts like the Action Button on iPhones. It gives you quick access to your chosen app or action.
On top, we have the secondary speaker, microphone, IR blaster, and the Sound by JBL logo.
At the bottom, we have the primary loudspeaker, USB-C port, microphone, and the SIM tray that can house two nano SIMs back-to-back.
The Infinix NOTE Edge is sleek and durable, and that’s what you’d really want for a daily-driver.
Display and Audio
The Infinix NOTE Edge has a 6.78-inch 2.5K AMOLED display, with a 2644 x 1208 pixel resolution, ~393ppi, 120Hz refresh rate, 10-bit color, and whopping 4,500-nit peak brightness.
Infinix kept it straightforward with only two color styles (Original, Bright-Colored). You can also choose between screen refresh rates (Standard, High, Auto). Widevine L1 secures FHD quality in streaming platforms, albeit it’s missing HDR and Dolby Vision, which I guess is too much to ask for the price.
Display quality is great for the price. It has the right sharpness, colors, and smoothness. No problems there.
Now we go to the JBL-tuned stereo speakers. They are good, but far from great. Volume is loud enough, but could be louder, the bass is almost non-existent, but at least the mids and highs are nice and clean.
Hardware and Performance
The Infinix NOTE Edge is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7100 octa-core processor, with Mali-G610 MC2 GPU, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of non-expandable storage.
Infinix NOTE Edge Benchmark Scores
It is very reliable in day-to-day tasks. Apps load fast, web browsing is a breeze, and taking pictures is quick. Both the WiFi and 5G connectivity were also spotless.
Now let’s see how well you can game on this one.
We were able to play Genshin Impact comfortably under the Lowest preset, but with the fps cranked up to 60.
Those who love shooter games would be glad to know that the NOTE Edge handled PUBG Mobile well under HD graphics with Ultra frames, as well as Call of Duty Mobile at Very High graphics with Max frames, and Farlight84 at Very High graphics with Max frame rate.
As expected, lighter games like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Asphalt Legends Unite had no problems under their respective maxed-out settings.
| Game | Graphics Settings |
| Genshin Impact | • Render Resolution: Lowest • Visual Effects: Low • SFX Quality: Lowest • FPS: 60 |
| PUBG Mobile | • Graphics Quality: HD • Frame Rate: Ultra |
| Call of Duty: Mobile | • Graphics Quality: Very High • Frame Rate: Max |
| Farlight84 | • Graphics Quality: Ultimate • Frame Rate: High |
| Mobile Legends: Bang Bang | • Resolution: HD • Map Quality: Ultra • Frame Rate: Super |
| Asphalt Legends Unite | • Visual Quality: High Quality • Frame Rate: 60 |
Software and User Interface
The Infinix NOTE Edge ships with Android 16-based XOS 16.1. Infinix pledged it will receive three OS upgrades and five years of security patches, which is very commendable for a midrange phone.
Infinix has graced us with a jam-packed yet straightforward interface. Many buttons are easily accessible, the app drawer is well-organized, albeit the home screen is riddled with bloatware that’s annoying to remove one-by-one.
You also get tons of customizability features, from the icons to AOD wallpapers.
Infinix also packed it with a plethora of AI features. Things like AI Call Assistant, AI Writing, and AI Gallery (AI Eraser, Background Separator) are here. We also have Folax AI and Google Gemini as the standard assistant.
You can quickly test the Active Halo Light through a widget on the home screen. You can then customize it through a dedicated section in the settings.
It can light up when you’re playing music, starting a game, charging, or when you receive notifications.
There’s also an extensive setting for the One-Tap button. You can activate it with a long press and remap it for other things like opening a camera, flashlight, launching any app, and more.
Cameras
We get a pretty basic camera setup for the Infinix NOTE Edge. No ultra-wide, no telephoto, not even a macro lens. All we have is a 50-megapixel main shooter with an f/1.8 aperture and a 13-megapixel sensor for selfies.
For videos, you can shoot in 720p at 30fps, 1080p at 30fps/60fps, and 2K at 30fps. AI Video Stabilization is also here, and options between H.265 and H.264 formats.
There’s also a dedicated Vlog mode with presets to choose from, allowing you to make content much easier.
Let’s start judging the daylight shots from the main camera. In this regard, the camera can reliably take good photos. Colors are accurate, sharpness is ample, and dynamic range is surprisingly great.
The 2x shots are also good, for portraits or not, and kind of make up for the lack of a dedicated telephoto lens.
Low-light shots look well, too. They have tons of details, dynamic range continues to be handled well, and colors are as nice as we want them to be.
Selfies from the 13-megapixel selfie camera are equally impressive. We got ample details, even in low-light, skin tones are accurate, and the dynamic range managed to hold up even in extremely bright lighting conditions.
While we’re bummed with the lack of a secondary rear camera, the Infinix NOTE Edge made up for it by making the most of what it has.
Battery and Charging
An impressive feat of the Infinix NOTE Edge is its large 6,500mAh battery, despite having a thin profile. It is paired with 45W wired, 10W reverse wired, and bypass charging. But how good is the battery really?
It has one of the best battery scores in its segment, but we’re expecting more for a device with a 6,500mAh battery. Many of Transsion’s (Infinix, TECNO) devices suffer from poor battery efficiency, and we’re hoping a software fix is on the way.
On the upside, charging speeds are relatively fast. A fast 15-minute charge already gets you from 0 to 15%, with a full charge taking just about an hour. See the full test results below:
- 15mins: 0-22%
- 30mins: 44%
- 45mins: 66%
- 1hr: 86%
- 1hr 13mins: FULL
Verdict
Infinix has nailed it again. While the Infinix NOTE Edge is far from perfect, it ticks all the right boxes for people who are on a budget, but also have expensive tastes.
The NOTE Edge’s sleekness and durable build are already amazing feats for the price.
Pair that with a solid performance, capable display and cameras, and extensive software support, and you have a smartphone that’s a great daily driver for the years to come.
Far from perfect, we do wish it had better battery efficiency, had a secondary rear camera, had less bloatware, and more.
But still, there’s no denying that the Infinix NOTE Edge is almost unbeatable for the price.
Infinix NOTE Edge pricing and availability in the Philippines
The Infinix NOTE Edge has an SRP of Php14,999 and is now available in Shopee, Lazada, TikTok Shop, and Infinix website. During its initial sale, it was sold for Php12,999 with freebies like an Exclusive Infinix Insulated Tumbler and XE26 Earbuds.
Pros
- Extra slim yet durable
- Large, bright display
- Solid performance for the price
- Long software support
- One-Tap button, Active Halo Light
- Capable cameras
Cons
- Bloatware on the home screen
- No HDR, No Dolby Vision
- Stereo speakers could be better
- So-so battery life
- No secondary rear camera
This article, Infinix NOTE Edge Review, was originally published at NoypiGeeks | Philippines Technology News, Reviews and How to's.
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