The Telenor Infinity i5 enters the competitive mid-range smartphone market with an intriguing blend of features that aim to deliver premium experiences at an accessible price point. As someone who's tested dozens of devices in this segment, I approached this review with cautious optimism - the specs sheet promises much, but how does it actually perform in daily use?

Design and Build Quality

At first glance, the Infinity i5 makes a strong impression with its sleek, minimalist design. The matte finish polycarbonate back provides excellent grip while resisting fingerprints - a thoughtful touch often overlooked in this price bracket. The device feels surprisingly premium in hand, with well-balanced weight distribution and reassuring heft (183g) that doesn't tire during prolonged use.

The 6.5-inch display dominates the front panel with slim bezels, interrupted only by a discreet waterdrop notch housing the front camera. Telenor has made sensible compromises here - while not quite flagship-level thin, the borders are sufficiently narrow to create an immersive viewing experience. The power button doubles as a fingerprint scanner, achieving near-perfect recognition accuracy in my testing.

Display Performance

Where the Infinity i5 truly shines is its vibrant IPS LCD display. The Full HD+ resolution (2400 x 1080 pixels) renders text and images with impressive clarity, while the 90Hz refresh rate makes scrolling through content noticeably smoother than standard 60Hz panels. Outdoor visibility proved excellent thanks to 500 nits peak brightness - I could comfortably read emails under direct sunlight without straining my eyes.

Color reproduction leans toward the vivid side without appearing oversaturated, making it particularly enjoyable for media consumption. The inclusion of Widevine L1 certification means you can stream HD content from platforms like Netflix without compromise. While OLED purists might miss perfect blacks, the LCD panel here delivers excellent contrast for its class.

Performance and Software

Powered by the MediaTek Helio G85 chipset paired with 6GB RAM, the Infinity i5 handles everyday tasks with aplomb. App launches feel snappy, and I experienced minimal lag when switching between multiple social media apps. The 128GB storage provides ample space for photos and apps, expandable via microSD for media hoarders.

Gaming performance surprised me - titles like Call of Duty Mobile ran smoothly at medium settings, with the Mali-G52 MC2 GPU demonstrating capable thermal management during extended sessions. The device only showed slight warmth after an hour of intensive gameplay, a testament to its efficient cooling solution.

Telenor's near-stock Android implementation deserves praise. The clean interface avoids unnecessary bloatware while adding genuinely useful features like a system-wide dark mode scheduler and granular app permission controls. Regular security updates during my testing period bode well for long-term software support.

Camera Capabilities

The quad-camera array headlined by a 48MP main sensor delivers competent photography in good lighting conditions. Daylight shots exhibit pleasing dynamic range with accurate color science - neither too warm nor overly clinical. The 8MP ultrawide lens maintains decent detail at the edges, though some distortion becomes apparent in architectural shots.

Low-light performance is where compromises emerge. While Night Mode helps brighten shadows, images tend to lose fine detail and exhibit noise in challenging lighting. The 16MP front camera captures flattering selfies with natural skin tones, though beauty processing can feel aggressive at default settings.

Battery Life

Equipped with a 5000mAh battery, the Infinity i5 easily powers through a full day of heavy use. My typical routine involving 4 hours of screen time, navigation, and music streaming consistently left me with 30-40% charge by bedtime. The included 18W charger refills the battery in about 2 hours - not the fastest by today's standards but perfectly adequate.

Final Verdict

The Telenor Infinity i5 represents a compelling package for budget-conscious buyers seeking premium features. While it makes expected compromises in areas like low-light photography, its excellent display, reliable performance, and outstanding battery life make it stand out in the crowded mid-range segment. For users prioritizing core smartphone experiences over flashy gimmicks, this device delivers remarkable value.

Telenor Infinity i5 Full Specifications:

Dimensions: 164.2 x 75.9 x 8.9 mm

Weight: 183g

Display: 6.5" IPS LCD, 2400 x 1080 resolution, 90Hz refresh rate, 500 nits peak brightness

Chipset: MediaTek Helio G85 (12nm)

CPU: Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)

GPU: Mali-G52 MC2

RAM: 6GB LPDDR4X

Storage: 128GB eMMC 5.1 (expandable via microSD up to 512GB)

Rear Cameras: 48MP main (f/1.8), 8MP ultrawide (f/2.2), 2MP macro (f/2.4), 2MP depth (f/2.4)

Front Camera: 16MP (f/2.0)

Battery: 5000mAh, 18W wired charging

OS: Android 12 with Telenor UI

Connectivity: 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, USB-C 2.0

Other Features: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor, 3.5mm headphone jack, IP52 splash resistance

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