Midrange phones have always been competitive in countries like the Philippines. Due to price limitations, brands face the challenges to come up with the right combination of specs and features that will appeal to the majority of the market. Infinix cracked the code and continued to gain market share over the past few years, and they aim to keep growing with new releases like the Infinix NOTE 40 5G.
On paper, the device seems to have the right display and audio for entertainment, a processor for day-to-day tasks and gaming, a large battery that should last for a long time, good camera hardware, and more. But how do these components perform in real-world use? Let’s find out in our Infinix NOTE 40 5G review.
Infinix NOTE 40 5G Specs
- Android 14, XOS 14
- Dual SIM, Dual standby
- 6.78-inch FHD+ AMOLED curved display, 2436 x 1080 pixel resolution, ~393ppi
- 60Hz/90Hz/120Hz refresh rate, 1300-nits peak brightness
- 240Hz touch sampling, 2160Hz PWM dimming
- 2.2GHz MediaTek Dimensity 7020 octa-core processor
- IMG BXM8256 GPU
- 12GB RAM
- 512GB UFS 2.2 internal storage
- 32-megapixel front camera, dual-LED flash
- 108-megapixel (f/1.8, PDAF) + 2-megapixel + 2-megapixel rear cameras, quad-LED flash
- Active Halo design
- IP53 dust and splash resistant
- JBL-tuned stereo speakers
- No headphone jack
- Under-display fingerprint scanner, Face unlock
- HSPA+, 4G LTE, 5G
- WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
- Bluetooth
- GPS, A-GPS
- NFC, IR blaster, FM radio
- USB-C
- Dimensions: 165.51 x 75.93 x 7.91mm
- Weight: 185g
- Colors: Titan Gold, Obsidian Black
- 5,000mAh non-removable battery, 33W wired, 20W MagKit wireless charging
Design and Build Quality
The design of the Infinix NOTE 40 Pro 5G is similar to its other siblings, even the more expensive NOTE 40 Pro+. It’s available in two colors: Obsidian Black and the one we have here, the Titan Gold. This colorway shows hues of yellow, light blue, and light green as it reacts to light. It looks clean and elegant, but this kind of paint job honestly feels overused and starting to become boring.

However, the texture of the rear panel is nice. It has a matte surface, which stays clean from fingerprint smudges and also hides lint and dirt easily, so you don’t have to wipe and clean it every time.
On the top, there’s a large camera island with a design distinct from the series. About 70% of the surface has a brushed metal look, which is also fingerprint-resistant. Unfortunately, the area for the two main cameras is different as their shiny surface is prone to smudges.

The NOTE 40 also comes with Active Halo Design, as Infinix calls it. It projects unique and smooth RGB light that activates when you’re charging, receiving notifications, and more. It sits in the middle of the ring-style flash.

The frame of the device is made out of shiny metal. Since this is where your fingers will usually sit, expect it to be bombarded with smudges and fingerprint marks, especially if you have oily hands. The flat frame also provides good grip, but I do prefer the smoothness of phones with curved sides.

Build quality is good. It doesn’t feel like it would break in half even if you try to. It also has an IP53 rating for dust and splash protection. However, I noticed a little bending when I applied a little bit of pressure in the USB-C area, which feels like an issue with the adhesive. Nothing too concerning though, as majority of the frame and body are pretty solid.

In addition the case it comes with is made of hard plastic and snaps easily on the device to provide a secure, all-around protection. While I do commend Infinix for providing a custom case with magnets built-in, it could have been better if the top and bottom are also protected. I really liked it compared to the usual jelly cases included in most smartphones. Sadly, after several weeks of use, it already showed some scratches. I tried wiping it off but it looks like the marks are already permanent.

Up front, there’s a large 6.78-inch AMOLED screen. It has noticeably thin bezels for an impressive 93.60% screen-to-body ratio. Plus, the punch-hole for the selfie camera adds to the cleaner look.

On the top, there’s a speaker grill, IR blaster, secondary microphone, and the “Sound by JBL” logo that boasts one of the device’s highlight features.

The left side has the SIM tray, which can house two nano SIMs and a microSD card, back to back.

Right side has the volume controls and the lock/power button. The keys are flat and sit flush with the frame. They are not the most satisfying buttons to press, but they are tactile and clicky enough.

Finally, the USB-C port, primary loudspeaker, and the microphone are located at the bottom.
Overall, it’s probably safe to say that the Infinix NOTE 40 5G doesn’t have the most interesting design in the midrange market right now. Don’t get me wrong — it’s stylish and elegant — but it’s also safe and boring. The good thing about is it has one of the best build qualities, as the frame and body are quite sturdy.
Display and Audio Quality
The Infinix NOTE 40 5G has a pretty long display specs list for a midrange phone. What we have here is a 6.78-inch FHD+ AMOLED display, with a 2436 x 1080 resolution, ~393ppi.
It also has a 120Hz refresh rate for smoothness, 1500Hz touch sampling for extra responsiveness in competitive games, 1300-nits of peak brightness, 10-bit color, and 10,000,000:1 contrast ratio.

But wait, there’s more. The screen also has a decent color accuracy of JNCD < 1.5, 2160Hz PWM dimming for extra brightness control for night usage, and TUV Rheinland certification for low blue light emission.
Like most midrange and high-end phones today, you can adjust the color modes and color temperature on the Infinix Note 40, albeit the adjustment is not as expansive as the others. It also has four refresh rate modes, but I stayed with the Auto selection that will let the system decide depending on tasks for better efficiency.




You can also alter how sensitive the screen is to detecting your swipe speed and the screen’s motion speed. Meanwhile, the Eye Care settings let you set the screen to have a cool or warm tone, and schedule them before going to bed or whenever you want to.
The display quality is good for the price. Colors are vibrant while still being realistic and the contrast is unsurprisingly deep. Outdoor visibility, even if it’s sunny, is also not an issue.
HD streaming on Netflix is also possible. There’s no Dolby Vision, though, but it’s hard to complain considering the price point.

The JBL-tuned stereo speakers are great. They are not the loudest, but still offer a nice volume when maxed out. It has outstanding clarity, crisp treble, and thumping bass. The stereo separation is also present, which makes watching movies more enjoyable.
Hardware and Performance
The Infinix NOTE 40 5G is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7020 processor — the same chip found on the more expensive Pro+ version. It is attached to a huge vapor chamber for cooling, an IMG BXM8256 GPU, 12GB of RAM, and a massive 512GB of storage.
Infinix NOTE 40 5G Benchmark Scores




It doesn’t provide the snappiest performance in day-to-day tasks, but still smooth for most use cases. It feels responsive enough when I’m flicking through Facebook and Instagram feeds, it takes pictures quickly, and plays Netflix and YouTube videos without a hitch.

The gaming experience is mediocre. Sure, demanding games will run, just expect them to be laggy, even in low graphics settings.
Genshin Impact was playable but not very smooth even under the lowest graphics settings. PUBG Mobile is also fine under the default settings (HD, High), but can get smoother if you dial down the settings a bit.






Call of Duty Mobile ran well under the default settings (Medium, Very High), so I maxed it out (High, Max) and it still did good.
Farlight84 was laggy under default settings (HD, High). I dropped the settings (Balanced, High) and the experience is more bearable, albeit with occasional frame drops in crowded fights. Meanwhile, both Mobile Legends and Asphalt 9 ran seamlessly under the highest settings.
Game | Graphics Settings |
Call of Duty: Mobile | • Graphics Quality: High • Frame Rate: Max |
Farlight84 | • Graphics Quality: Balanced • Frame Rate: High • Resolution: Medium |
PUBG Mobile | • Graphics Quality: HD • Frame Rate: High |
Genshin Impact | • Graphics Quality: Lowest (Default) |
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang | • Graphics Quality: Ultra • Frame Rate: High • HD Mode: On |
Asphalt 9: Legends | • Graphics Quality: High Quality • Frame Rate: 60 • HD Mode: On |
Software and User Interface
The Infinix NOTE 40 5G runs on Android 14-based XOS 14. The best part is, that Infinix promised 2 years of Android upgrades and 3 years of security patches. The design of the UI looks a bit aggressive, which can be intimidating for some. But, I like how better and improved it is compared to previous XOS versions with additional and accessible features.


As you can see, the Control Center looks complete with a lot of buttons from different shortcuts and even quick access to the IR remote controller feature.
On the farthest left of the desktop, there are tiles for the most used apps, a step counter, RAM management, relevant news, local search tab, and more.


Customization features are also abundant. You can pick from different live wallpapers and even Always-On Display designs.
There’s even an AI Wallpaper Generator that lets you create your own wallpaper just by describing it with words.


For security, the in-display fingerprint worked fine, but there are times when I experienced a slight delay. You can also choose from six different fingerprint animations to fit your taste.
I also had no issues with the face unlock, which did a good job even in poorly lit rooms.


Infinix’s Dynamic Island-like feature is also here, and it’s called Dynamic Bar. It shows a special animation around the display notch when you unlock the device, receive calls, voice recording, and when plugging the charger.
Floating Window is also supported, which helps improve multitasking. I personally don’t like floating windows on small screens like smartphones, but it’s good to have for those who have a use case for it.


Smart Panel can be summoned wherever you are within the UI. It gives you instant access to a list of apps that you can customize.
Meanwhile, Smart Hub lets you drag and drop media, files, and more, from select apps so you can easily transfer them to a different app.


The Active Halo Lighting on the back can be heavily customized. You can have it light up or not when you receive calls or notifications, when charging, playing select games, playing music, when the device starts up, and using the voice assistant. You can also customize the light itself with different colors and movements.


For the storage, the System eats up 19.46GB while the Other only consumed 74MB. With six triple-A games installed and less than 100 photos, it only used 20.52%. There’s also a built-in Storage Cleaner that scans the device for residual junk, ad junk, cache junk, obsolete APKs, so the user can decide to delete them with a press of a button.
Virtual RAM expansion is enabled by default. Called MemFusion, you can borrow 6GB, 9GB, and 12GB of space from the storage for an extra boost. In our test, the difference is unnoticeable.


I’m not a fan of using the term “AI Cam” instead of the standard “Photo” as it will only confuse users who don’t like to use AI in their photos. Still, the camera app is feature-packed while still being easy to use.
By default, the Infinix NOTE 40 5G uses Emoji Keyboard. It’s fine and easy to use, but I still prefer Google Keyboard, which most Android brands use by default and I feel is more complete.
Cameras
The Infinix NOTE 40 5G comes with a sharp 108-megapixel main camera and a 32-megapixel selfie snapper. Sadly, it doesn’t have an ultra-wide lens. Instead, there are two useless 2-megapixel auxiliary sensors.

Shots from the 108-megapixel main camera are good, but nothing to brag about. They appear nice at first look but the app tends to oversaturate the reds in the photo, resulting in an uneven look.
I also noticed a bit of oversharpening in the photos. It definitely made the images look detailed, but quite unnatural when you try zooming or cropping in.








The camera held up pretty well as we reached the night. Details and colors are toned down, dynamic range is handled well, and the depth of field, surprisingly, is still apparent in some scenarios.








Skin tones from the selfie camera are passable. However, for a 32-megapixel sensor, I was expecting better and sharper details. It could have also handled the contrast and dynamic range better.




The Infinix NOTE 40 5G has a decent set of camera hardware, I just wished it processed the photos better.
Battery and Charging
The Infinix NOTE 40 5G comes with a 5,000mAh battery, a similar capacity found on most midrange phones today. It’s paired with 33W wired charging and 20W wireless charging.


The scores it got from our battery tests are below average. In PCMark’s battery loop test, it lasted 13 hours and 30 minutes, versus the average score of 14.6 hours I usually get on this test. It loops synthetic workload until the battery drops to 20%.
In an actual, real-world test, it lasted for about 6 hours of watching 1080p videos and 2 hours and 20 minutes of playing triple-A games. That’s a total of about 8 hours and 30 minutes, which is close to the average score I get of around 9-10 hours.

It may not have the longest battery life in its segment, but it sure has the most interesting charging tech. First, there’s the typical 33W wired charging. In our test, a full charge took only about 1 hour and 12 minutes, with a 15-minute charge already giving 26% of juice.
- 15mins: 0-26%
- 30mins: 47%
- 45mins: 68%
- 1hr: 89%
- 1hr 12mins: FULL

There’s also wireless charging, which is made even better with MagKit. This special tech uses the special case that comes in the box to attach magnetically to the MagPad, Infinix’s own wireless charging puck.
MagKit makes sure that the device can wirelessly charge securely in place. But even without it, the wireless charging feature works fine with other wireless chargers you may already have.

I tested charging wirelessly with the MagKit attached to the included 33W wired charger. The charging speed, unsurprisingly, took about twice as long compared with the standard wired charging. See the full test below:
- 15mins: 0-13%
- 45mins: 36%
- 1hr 15mins: 58%
- 1hr 45mins: 79%
- 2hrs 15mins: 98%
- 2hrs 18mins: FULL
Verdict
The Infinix NOTE 40 5G is a well-equipped device for casual users. The feature-packed display and good-sounding stereo speakers are great for users who spend a lot of time watching content and browsing social media. Performance is also capable enough to handle basic work and school-related tasks.

The fast wired charging and Infinix’s MagKit wireless charging make sure the device can keep up with your always-on-the-go lifestyle. And of course, the 3-year OS support is quite generous for the price and makes it a good investment if you don’t upgrade your phone every year.

Still, if you’re a hardcore user or a gamer, it might be better to look at something like the Infinix GT 20 Pro. Aside from the gaming-centric look, it also better performance for power users.
The Infinix NOTE 40 5G might not excel in any department, but it’s still a good smartphone overall. It has an elegant design, decent performance, good sound quality, and capable cameras — all the features that most users want in an affordable midrange smartphone.
Infinix NOTE 40 5G price and availability in the Philippines
The Infinix NOTE 40 5G has an SRP of Php12,999 and is available in Lazada, Shopee, TikTok Shop, and select physical stores nationwide. When it came out, it had a special introductory offer of Php9,999.
Pros
- Feature-packed display
- Good-sounding stereo speakers
- Decent day-to-day performance
- Fast charging, MagKit wireless support
- 3-year software updates
Cons
- Image processing could be better
- Mediocre gaming performance
- So-so battery life