Realme 12 Pro+ : The mid-tier smartphone category has had a promising beginning this year. The latest mid-range devices are receiving enhanced camera systems, improved Qualcomm chipsets, and upgraded displays. The Realme 12 Pro+ is making strides, with the most significant improvement being the camera hardware.
Table of Contents
Introduction and specs
The mid-range smartphone segment is off to a great start this year. The new midrangers seem to be getting new, more potent camera setups, nicer chipsets from Qualcomm, and even better displays. The Realme 12 Pro+ is still catching up, and the biggest upgrade is undoubtedly the camera hardware.
The latest Realme model now boasts a dedicated telephoto camera with a periscope lens offering 3x zoom, a feature rarely found in this price segment. The launch price has been increased by INR 2,000, raising questions about a potential adjustment in the European market.
To integrate the higher-cost 64MP periscope telephoto camera, Realme may have made concessions with the primary camera. The original 200MP shooter has been swapped out for a 50MP one with a slightly reduced sensor size. The third 8MP ultrawide camera remains unchanged.
Realme 12 Pro+ specs at a glance:
- Body: 161.5×74.0x8.8mm, 196g; vegan leather back, glass front, plastic side frame; IP65 dust/water resistant.
- Display: 6.70″ AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM), 950 nits (peak), 1080x2412px resolution, 20.1:9 aspect ratio, 394ppi.
- Chipset: Qualcomm SM7435-AB Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (4 nm): Octa-core (4×2.40 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×1.95 GHz Cortex-A55); Adreno 710.
- Memory: 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM.
- OS/Software: Android 14, Realme UI 5.0.
- Rear camera: Wide (main): 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm, 1/1.56″, 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS; Telephoto: 64 MP, f/2.8, 71mm, 1/2.0″, 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom; Ultra wide angle: 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 112˚, 1/4.0″, 1.12µm.
- Front camera: 32 MP, f/2.4, 22mm (wide).
- Video capture: Rear camera: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS; Front camera: 1080p@30fps.
- Battery: 5000mAh; 67W wired, 1-50% in 19 min (advertised).
- Connectivity: 5G; Dual SIM; Wi-Fi 6; BT 5.2; NFC.
- Misc: Fingerprint reader (under display, optical); stereo speakers.
The newer device now offers a more potent Snapdargon 7s Gen 2 chipset as well based on a more modern 4nm manufacturing process.
No changes to the display have been made, although we weren’t expecting any to begin with. Last year’s curved 120Hz OLED panel is perfectly fine in 2024 as well. Maybe the maximum brightness falls a bit short to competitors’ solutions, but it’s still good enough for comfortable outdoor use.
The device maintains its sleek design, featuring vegan leather and a 5,000 mAh battery. However, it is worth noting that the battery now charges with a 67-watt brick, a decrease from the 100W charging capability of the previous year. Realme seems to have made some compromises to incorporate new features, such as the periscope telephoto camera. To uncover any additional significant changes that may not be immediately apparent from the specifications alone, we delve further into the following pages.
Capture picture-perfect portraits with every snap. Portrait Mode brings a versatile 80mm¹ focal length, allowing you to capture your moments using the same standard focal length used in films.
The Realme 12 Pro+ is unboxed from its standard retail packaging, which includes the typical user manuals, a 67W-rated charger, and a USB-A to USB-C cable for both charging and data transfer.
The design of the Realme 12 Pro+ has undergone subtle changes compared to its predecessor. The circular camera island now resembles the luxurious watch-like design seen in Oppo Find N3 and OnePlus 12. The camera module protrudes noticeably from the device.
Max display brightness test
White test pattern, 75% fill (nits)
Design and ergonomics
Regrettably, the Realme 12 Pro Plus falls short in terms of display features compared to its competitors. Unlike some alternatives that offer Dolby Vision, this handset lacks HDR support, particularly in Netflix. However, you can still enjoy HDR-capable videos on YouTube. Fortunately, the device is equipped with Widevine L1 certification, allowing you to watch Netflix content, albeit without HDR.
Design and ergonomics
Regrettably, the Realme 12 Pro Plus falls short in terms of display features compared to its competitors. Unlike some alternatives that offer Dolby Vision, this handset lacks HDR support, particularly in Netflix. However, you can still enjoy HDR-capable videos on YouTube. Fortunately, the device is equipped with Widevine L1 certification, allowing you to watch Netflix content, albeit without HDR.
Battery life
The device runs on a standard 5,000 mAh battery, just like its predecessor, but the new Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 should, in theory, offer better overall efficiency. And for the most part, the real life tests prove that to be true. The Realme 12 Pro+ has slightly longer battery life with improved talk time and web browsing. However, the Active Use Score is only slightly higher than last year’s Realme 11 Pro because there’s no change in the video playback time and the gaming endurance is more than an hour shorter.
Compared to the competition, the Realme 12 Pro+ pulls ahead in almost every category. The handset scores higher in talk time, browsing and video playback and only falls short in the gaming test. And even there it’s not far behind
All about Latest Features
