realme raises the bar with its new flagship, the 12 Pro+ 5G. This phone boasts a complete overhaul compared to its predecessors, especially in the camera department. It breaks new ground in its segment with the inclusion of a periscope telephoto lens, offering exceptional zoom capabilities. Despite its competitive price point, the realme 12 Pro+ 5G exudes a premium look and feel. Read on for our in-depth review to discover what this phone can truly do.
Building upon our earlier unboxing and first impressions, let’s delve deeper into the heart of the realme 12 Pro+ 5G: its camera system.
Camera
The realme 12 Pro+ 5G stakes its claim as the camera king in the mid-range, boasting a unique 3x periscope telephoto lens – a first in its price bracket. While the sensor size isn’t massive, it represents a significant leap compared to previous numeric realme models.
However, the ultrawide and selfie cameras remain unchanged from last year’s iteration, and the macro sensor has been removed. While the latter may not be missed by all users, it’s worth noting this shift.
Daylight photos from the main camera impress with sharpness and detail, offering a healthy dose of contrast but leaning slightly towards darker tones. This doesn’t necessarily translate to a “grim” look, but rather a more subdued aesthetic. Shadows do appear a touch underexposed in some instances.
The telephoto lens maintains consistency with the main camera in terms of both color rendition and processing, preserving the same slightly darker character while delivering sharp and detailed results.
While the 8MP ultrawide camera holds its own, it doesn’t break new ground. Image quality is decent, with sharpness and detail exceeding expectations set by other phones in this segment.
The front-facing camera captures a good amount of detail, but overall image quality falls short in other areas.
Video recording
The realme 12 Pro+ 5G can go up to 2160p@30fps with its main camera and 3x telephoto camera, while the ultrawide maxes out at 1080p@30fps. The same goes for the selfie camera.
The realme 12 Pro+ 5G provides Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) on all cameras, ensuring smoother footage at 1080p resolution.
Additionally, users can leverage the dedicated “Ultra Steady” mode for enhanced stabilization, particularly useful for capturing action shots. However, this mode comes with two important limitations: it maxes out at 1080p at 60 frames per second, and it narrows the field of view due to its more aggressive stabilization techniques.
While the main camera’s video footage offers decent sharpness and detail with good highlight and shadow handling, it exhibits a lack of contrast and vibrancy in colors. This might result in videos appearing somewhat flat.
Performance
The realme 12 Pro+ 5G runs the latest Android 14, overlaid with realme UI 5.0. This user interface is nearly identical to Oppo’s ColorOS 14 and OnePlus’ OxygenOS 14, offering a familiar experience across these brands.
Under the hood, the phone utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 processor, built on a 4nm process. While not the most robust option, it delivers a slight performance boost compared to the Dimensity 7050 found in the 11 Pro+ and positions itself between the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 and the more powerful 7+ Gen 2. The processor features an octa-core configuration with a mix of Cortex-A78 and Cortex-A55 cores, and relies on the Adreno 710 GPU, capable of supporting FHD+ resolution displays at up to 144Hz refresh rates.
The realme 12 Pro+ 5G delivers an impressive audio experience, leveraging a dual stereo speaker configuration. These speakers boast Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res certification, resulting in rich, detailed sound that fosters an immersive listening experience. Additionally, the lower speaker provides enhanced bass that adds depth and power to your multimedia content, maintaining overall balance and clarity for a refined audio profile.
Lastly, the realme 12 Pro+ 5G boasts a 5000mAh battery, paired with 67W fast charging technology. This combination offers reliable performance for extended use, catering to mobile users with active lifestyles, from casual gamers and binge-watchers to those who require their phone throughout the day.
Gameplay test
| Game | Refresh Rate | Graphics Quality | Playability |
| Mobile Legends: Bang Bang | High | Ultra | Great |
| Call of Duty: Mobile | Max | Medium | Great |
| Genshin Impact | 60 | Highest | Good |
The realme 12 Pro+ 5G delivers consistent performance for most games, maintaining playable frame rates with the highest graphics quality. However, there are some nuances to consider:
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang: The game runs flawlessly on the phone at max settings, thanks to its low resource requirements.
- Call of Duty: Mobile: While the phone’s processor is powerful, the game itself might limit the refresh rate based on chosen graphics settings. To achieve the highest graphics quality, the refresh rate might be locked to a lower option.
- Genshin Impact: While playable at the highest settings and 60 FPS, newer areas like Fontaine can experience occasional stutters.
Overall, the realme 12 Pro+ 5G is a capable gaming phone, but it’s important to be aware of potential limitations depending on the specific game and settings chosen.
Final Remarks
What we like
- Stand-out luxurious design
- IP65 ingress protection
- The camera set-up is extremely versatile, capable of capturing decent shots everywhere
- Upgraded processor compared to its predecessor
- Comfortable to use, easier to grip
What could be better
- No EiS for 4K video recording
- The charging speed could have been faster
Missed the unboxing and first impressions article? Click the link below:
The realme 12 Series is now available in the Philippines! Prices and variants are as follows:
| realme 12+ 5G 8+256GB | (₱17,999 SRP), *₱14,999 sale price |
| realme 12+ 5G 12+256GB | (₱19,999 SRP), *₱16,999 sale price |
| realme 12 Pro + 5G 12+512GB | (₱25,999 SRP), *₱21,999 sale price |
Spread the cost over 18 months with 0% interest through Home Credit!
Plus, get a free gift with your purchase:
- realme 12 Pro+ 5G: Get a free TechLife 4.5L See-Through Air Fryer (worth ₱2,799).
- realme 12+ 5G: Choose a free TechLife Hair Dryer or TechLife 4L Digital Rice Cooker (worth up to ₱2,399).
Offer valid from March 8th to 17th only!
