Italian design studio Pininfarina has channelled its expertise in sports cars into the design of its first phone, created with Chinese technology brand Infinix.
Debuted this week at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, the Infinix Note 60 Ultra is intended to be a flagship-tier phone, with premium features including a 200-megapixel camera and a “self-healing” battery.
Infinix collaborated on the phone with Pininfarina – the nearly 100-year-old studio best known for its work with carmakers like Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Peugeot and Fiat – and the device is intended to evoke the feel of high-speed automotive design.
Pininfarina worked with Infinix on the design of the Note 60 Ultra phone
According to Infinix, the designers have eliminated the protruding “camera bump” typical of contemporary top-tier phones, aiming to create an aerodynamic look.
The area housing the camera is still slightly raised above the rear panel of the phone, but it is within an edge-to-edge module made from a single sheet of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus that Infinix says “virtually conceals the presence of the camera”.
It also improves the hand feel, makes the phone easier to slide into a pocket and is good for durability, according to the company.
“Much like a supercar sculpted for low-drag, the rear design maintains a smooth, uninterrupted silhouette,” said Infinix.
Car references in the design include a red “tail light”
Other nods to the world of car design come from a pencil-thin rear “tail light” that glows red when the phone is powered on, and a small active matrix display next to the camera that references modern car dashboards.
Similar to the glyphs on some Nothing phones, this lights up to provide message notifications and show various icons.
“We set out to explore what happens when design becomes a guiding force, shaping not only how something looks, but how it exists, hence creating a lifestyle,” said Pininfarina senior vice-president, business unit brand, Fabio Calorio.
“A very iconic result is the world’s first uni-chassis camera module design,” he continued.
“We used a single, rigid sheet of Corning Victus glass to fully enclose the camera system, and sealed it with a continuous floating tail light — a form that feels unified, clean and planar. But at the same time, it precisely houses and protects the most powerful camera and performance system Infinix has ever built.”
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The final direct reference to Italian culture and racing is in the colour options: Torino Black, Monza Red, Amalfi Blue and Roma Silver.
“Each hue draws inspiration from the most iconic scenes and legends of Italy’s motorsport and cultural history, capturing the spirit of speed, lifestyle and emotional beauty,” said Infinix.
The Infinix Note 60 Ultra’s 200-megapixel camera puts it among the highest-resolution smartphone offerings currently available.
It also features stereo speakers by JBL, the sending and receiving of calls and data via satellite, and a high-capacity 7000 milliampere-hour (mAh) silicon-carbon battery – an evolution of the lithium-ion battery infused with silicon for more energy storage.
The phone is designed with aerodynamic principles
This battery includes a proprietary self-healing feature, which means it reverses wear during charge cycles, restoring a small amount of battery health – up to one per cent every 200 charge cycles.
Infinix promises three years of major operating system updates and five years of security patches for the Note 60 Ultra.
Founded in 2013, Infinix is a subsidiary of the Chinese mobile conglomerate Transsion. Its phones are sold primarily in Asia and Africa.
At last year’s MWC, the company demonstrated a concept for a mini tri-fold phone that packs down to the size of a credit card and can be used as a clip-on camera.
Pininfarina’s work now extends beyond cars into industrial design, transportation and architecture, with recently completed projects including the Vitra and Yachthouse skyscrapers in the Brazilian city of Balneário Camboriú.