Infinix Note 50s vs iQOO Z10x vs Realme P3: Which 5G phone offers best value under ₹20,000?

The sub- ₹20,000 market in India has recently been lit on fire with some exciting new launches. Last month, Realme P3 became one of most exciting new phones on the block but soon afterwards we have a couple of more enticing launches this month in the form of Infinix Note 50s and iQOO Z10x. In case you are confused about which phone is a better choice around the ₹15,000 – ₹20,000 price bracket, let’s take deep dive in the comparison.

Display:

Infinix and Realme have a definite edge in the display deparment with their 6.78 inch and 6.67 inch AMOLED display respectively, compared to the IPS LCD panel on the iQOO Z10x. AMOLED displays offer more vibrant colours, deeper blacks, and better contrast over an IPS panel.

Moreover, the addition of AMOLED panel also means that the Realme P3 and Infinix Note 50s come with an in-display fingerprint sensor compared to the side mouted sensor on the iQOO Z10x.

Software and battery:

If you want a clean ad-free software experience, XOS on the Infinix Note 50s is the only bet for you in this segment. Realme P3’s realme UI 6 is definitely a bit more refined and feature rich but it is also cluttered with ads and bloatwares, as is Funtouch OS on the iQOO Z10x.

In terms of battery, iQOO Z10x is the clear winner with its 6,500mAh battery the highest in the segment so far. The Realme P3 is a close second with 6,000mAh setup and the Inifnix is last with 5,500mAh battery.

Do note that a larger battery size may not necessarily translate into a better battery life given how big a part software optimization plays. That being said, it is still a good sign that budget phones are coming with such big batteries while the flagships are stuck with standard 5,000mAh setup.

Camera:

A little caveat here, the camera performance of any device cannot be judged based on the resolution of the camera and a lot of factors are involved in deciding how the actual image would turn out. So it is advisable to look out for real world camera samples from all three devices before making the buying choice or just watch out for our review of Infinix Note 50x and iQOO Z10x dropping in a few days.

As for on paper comparison, Infinix seems to leading the way with its higher resolution back camera with the Sony IMX682 sensor compared to the 50MP setup on both the Realme and iQOO. Meanwhile, Realme has the better resolution for the selfie camera,, followed closely by Infinix.

Processor and storage:

Infinix Note 50s and iQOO Z10x essentially come with the same processor if you put aside the Ultimate branding put up for marketting purposes by MediaTek. Realme, on the other hand, comes with the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 SoC which has a very slight edge compared to the MediaTek offering.

In terms of storage and RAM, I would say its a tie between all three phones with Infinix Note 50s coming with LPDDR5x RAM and UFS 2.2 storage while the Realme and iQOO coming with LPDDR4x RAM and UFS 3.1 storage type. One thing to note here is that Infinix offers a higher RAM (8GB) even on its base variant.

Other features:

In terms of durability and water resistance, Infinix Note 50s and iQOO Z10x feature similar protection with a MIL-STD-810H military-grade certification and IP64 rating. However, Realme P3 comes with a better IP68 and IP69 rating, meaning that the phone can actually be submerged under water for up to 30 minutes.

One area where Infinix holds an edge is that it is significantly ligher and thinner than both the phones in this lineup which could be a major factor for some users.

Which phone is right for you?

If you are on a tight budget of under ₹15,000, iQOO Z10x is probably the best phones you can buy with a big 6,500mAh battery and fast UFS 3.1 storage. However, if you can extend that budget to about ₹16,000, Infinix Note 50s is one of the complete phones you can get your hands on with a good enough battery, fast RAM, AMOLED display, clean and ad free user experience and a reliable processor. 

So, who should buy the Realme P3 then? The Realme offering is good for only those users who cannot live without an IP68/IP69 water resistance, or if you get it with a discount of around ₹15,000.