Realme has consistently been a frontrunner in the mid-range smartphone market, establishing a reputation for delivering high-quality devices over the years. The unveiling of the Realme 12 Pro+ certainly left a lasting impression. It introduced a smartphone that not only boasted the sleek aesthetics typically associated with mid-range devices but also packed impressive performance and hardware capabilities.
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The standout feature, however, lies in its innovative camera setup, which sets new standards in this price bracket. Additionally, the competitive pricing further solidifies the Realme 12 Pro+’s position as a top contender in the mid-range segment. Nevertheless, it’s essential to acknowledge the significant evolution that the mid-range market has undergone in recent times.
In today’s smartphone landscape, we witness an array of cutting-edge features becoming increasingly commonplace. These include staggering 200-megapixel camera setups, robust IP68 ratings ensuring protection against dust and water, and lightning-fast charging capabilities reaching up to 120W. However, amidst this technological marvel, it’s surprising to find certain smartphones within this segment that tout such specifications but fail to deliver in execution or maintain consistency in camera performance.
Consequently, recommending these devices becomes a challenging task. Furthermore, prospective buyers may encounter premium smartphones offering comparable value propositions, yet benefiting from recent price reductions. An example of this is the remarkable Pixel 7a from Google, further complicating the decision-making process for consumers.
Sporting an elegant design and equipped with a top-notch telephoto camera, the Realme 12 Pro+ undeniably appears to be a significant step up from its predecessor. However, the burning question remains: can it truly stand tall amidst fierce competition? After putting the Realme 12 Pro+ through its paces over the past few weeks, I’m here to share my thoughts on its performance and whether it lives up to the hype.
Realme 12 Pro+ : Price in India
The Realme 12 Pro+ comes in a variety of stylish finishes, including Submarine Blue, Explorer Red, and Navigator Beige. Plus, there are three different configurations to suit your needs. You can opt for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage version priced at Rs. 29,999, the 8GB RAM + 256GB storage version at Rs. 31,999, or go all out with the top-tier model featuring 12GB RAM + 256GB storage for Rs. 33,999. For our review, we got our hands on the 12GB + 256GB model in Submarine Blue. Considering the slight variance in prices between the models, I’d suggest splurging a bit for the ultimate experience and going for the top-end variant.
Realme 12 Pro+ : Design
While the Realme 12 Pro+ might not be revolutionizing the industry or unveiling a completely fresh design concept like its predecessor, the Realme 11 Pro+, it does sport some subtle design tweaks that, in my view, elevate its aesthetic appeal.
I’m really digging the watch-inspired design trend that seems to be catching on with BBK umbrella brands lately. It’s all about those little details, like the classy golden fluted bezel encircling the circular rear camera module. Pair that with the split rear panel decked out in vegan leather, and you’ve got yourself a smartphone that exudes luxury and a timeless vibe, reminiscent of high-end timepieces or premium handbags. Plus, don’t be surprised if the weight feels a tad heavier than expected at 196 grams; it’s likely due to those metal embellishments and the robust camera module.
Say goodbye to the tacky stitches of the Realme 11 Pro+ because they’re nowhere to be found on the Realme 12 Pro+. However, I have mixed feelings about the golden insert with a diamond pattern that stretches across the back, aiming to mimic the look of a metal watch strap.
Whether you’re a fan or not, one thing’s for sure: the overall design of this smartphone leaves a lasting impression. The vegan-leather back not only adds a touch of sophistication but also provides a firm grip. During my review period, I put the device through its paces on various surfaces – from stone and rocks to wooden tables – and it remained in pristine condition, standing in stark contrast to Apple’s Finewoven cases.
And it’s not just about looks – the Realme 12 Pro+ flaunts a sleek design that’s backed by an official IP65 rating for dust and water resistance. While it can handle splashes of water, it doesn’t quite match up to the Redmi Note 13 Pro+, which boasts a superior IP68 rating, capable of surviving submersion.
The camera ring sports a soft, champagne gold finish that seamlessly blends into the plastic frame. Despite being non-metallic, the craftsmanship is top-notch, with no sharp edges or visible cutouts. I appreciate how Realme opted for a matte finish on the flattened top and bottom edges of the frame, while keeping the sides polished for enhanced grip. Adding to its allure is the 6.7-inch curved-edge display with slim bezels, contributing to the device’s premium aesthetics and tactile feel.
Realme 12 Pro+ : Specifications and software
Inside the Realme 12 Pro+ beats the heart of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 SoC, crafted with the latest 4nm fabrication process and boasting a maximum clockspeed of 2.4GHz. While this processor matches the power efficiency of premium smartphone SoCs, it falls short of the blistering speed seen in top-tier devices priced under Rs. 50,000. Connectivity options abound, including Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, a Type-C port, and a SIM card tray accommodating two nano SIM cards. Moreover, the phone supports various 5G bands (n1/3/5/8/28B/40/41/77/78) and offers dual 5G-standby for seamless connectivity. Fueling all these features is a robust 5,000mAh battery, conveniently rechargeable using the included 67W charger.
It’s great to see that Realme is providing the latest Android 14 right out of the box for its 12 Pro+ model. Realme UI 5.0 comes packed with some fresh features inspired by Oppo’s ColorOS, and one of the standout additions is Flash Capsule. Interestingly, OnePlus’ OxygenOS calls it Fluid Cloud, while Oppo devices refer to it as Aqua Dynamics. Despite the different names, they all serve the same purpose, delivering notifications in a stylish and dynamic manner reminiscent of Dynamic Island.
Realme 12 Pro+ : Performance
While the Realme 12 Pro+ may come with some pre-installed apps and duplicates, its software performance won’t keep you up at night. During my testing with the 12GB RAM variant, I didn’t encounter any lag or stuttering issues. Switching between apps and recalling recently used ones was a breeze, with minimal instances of app restarts.
The display is impressively bright, boasting a global brightness of 800 nits, making it easily readable even under harsh sunlight. By default, it delivers vibrant colors in the Vivid color mode, though you might prefer the more subdued and true-to-life colors of the Natural color mode. The full-HD+ resolution ensures sharp image and text rendering.
Despite being labeled as “ProXDR” for viewing Ultra HDR photos, the Realme 12 Pro+ lacks Dolby Vision or HDR10+ support for streaming apps. Nonetheless, streaming content still looks crisp thanks to Widevine L1 certification, ensuring full-HD playback on Netflix. The 120Hz refresh rate, while dynamic with the Auto-select setting, only adjusts between 30, 60, 90, and 120Hz based on the displayed application, providing moderate battery savings.
In terms of gaming, the Realme 12 Pro+ offers a decent experience overall. It handles casual games effortlessly but struggles a bit with heavier titles. Surprisingly, despite packing 12GB of RAM, games like Call of Duty: Mobile didn’t offer settings beyond High graphics and Max Frame rate, capping gameplay at 60fps. Additionally, I noticed some lag with the 240Hz touch sampling rate while playing FPS games. However, the phone’s large VC cooling system does a commendable job of keeping temperatures in check during both camera usage and intense gaming sessions.
As for benchmarks, the Realme 12 Pro+ achieved a respectable score of 6,43,951 in AnTuTu and posted scores of 929 and 2,792 in Geekbench’s single and multi-core tests, respectively. While these scores are competitive, Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 13 Pro+ outperformed it with a higher AnTuTu score of 7,21,512 and Geekbench scores of 1,122 (single-core) and 2,598 (multi-core). Graphics performance also falls short compared to the Redmi Note 13 Pro+, which may explain the limitations in graphics and framerate options for most games on the Realme 12 Pro+.
Realme 12Pro+ : Battery and Charging
Battery life on the Realme 12 Pro+ is quite impressive, easily lasting a day and a half on a single charge even with an hour of gaming and half an hour of camera usage, in addition to regular social media and office app usage. In our standard video loop battery test, the phone lasted a solid 26 hours and 46 minutes, which is remarkable for a mid-range device that prioritizes design – but it’s something we’ve come to expect from Realme at this price point.
Charging is also a breeze with the included 67W charger. It juices up the battery to 72 percent in just 30 minutes and completes a full charge in exactly 1 hour. So, no need to stress about running out of battery when you’re on the go!
Realme 12 Pro+ : Cameras
The Realme 12 Pro+ boasts a versatile camera setup, comprising three rear-facing cameras. It features a Sony IMX890 50-megapixel primary camera with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), an Omni Vision OV64B 64-megapixel periscope telephoto camera, and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera. For selfies, there’s a 32-megapixel camera, although it lacks autofocus.
When it comes to photography, the primary camera excels in capturing images with natural color tones and impressive dynamic range, ensuring plenty of details in both highlights and shadows. Images turn out sharp and detailed, allowing for close examination without losing resolution when cropping. In low-light conditions, the OIS system proves its worth by preserving excellent detail and sharpness. The camera’s ability to capture fine details from a distance speaks volumes about its hardware and software optimization.
However, the images at 2X magnification, which are essentially cropped output from the primary camera, tend to appear washed out. Fortunately, this isn’t a major issue thanks to the outstanding 3X optical camera, which not only delivers excellent results but also offers the flexibility to focus on nearby objects.
The ultra-wide camera on the Realme 12 Pro+ falls short when compared to the primary and telephoto cameras in terms of detail and dynamic range. While it captures decent images, they lack the same level of detail found in photos taken with the primary and telephoto lenses. The dynamic range is acceptable, providing decent shadow detail, but the colors tend to look washed out compared to the other cameras. In low-light conditions, images taken with the ultra-wide camera appear soft and generally unusable.
Unfortunately, the phone doesn’t offer a dedicated macro camera or mode. However, the 3X telephoto camera, with its 6X, in-sensor lossless zoom, allows for capturing juicy and crisp close-ups. Even in low light, close-up shots turn out remarkably well, with plenty of detail and sharpness. Selfies taken in daylight are sharp and exhibit good edge detection when using Portrait mode. However, performance in low light is subpar. Fortunately, the Night mode comes to the rescue, producing images of decent quality.
When shooting videos at 4K 30fps with the Realme 12 Pro+, you might notice some slight shakiness, but overall, the footage retains excellent detail and remains relatively low on noise, even in dimly lit areas illuminated by streetlights. Switching to 1080p resolution at either 30fps or 60fps yields smoother footage with rocksteady frame rates and impressive stabilization, although it may not match the sharpness and detail of 4K recordings. Regardless of the lighting conditions, the stabilization remains reliable, ensuring steady and smooth footage.
