realme 12+ 5G Full Review
realme Philippines has just launched its latest smartphones: the realme 12 Pro+ 5G and realme 12+ 5G. The launch took place during an exclusive on-ground event which was also live-streamed on realme's official Facebook and YouTube pages. These new devices are equipped with flagship-level smartphone cameras, have luxurious designs, and offer powerful performance.
In this review, we will be discussing the realme 12+ 5G smartphone. It boasts a 50MP Sony LYT600 OIS camera, a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a MediaTek Dimensity 7050 5G processor, and a 5,000mAh battery with 67W SUPERVOOC Charge. Our goal in this review is to provide you with a thorough analysis of all the features and capabilities of this smartphone to help you decide if it's the right choice.
Design and Walk Around
As part of its tradition of showcasing exceptional design on its smartphones, the realme 12+ 5G incorporates design elements from the luxury watch industry, creating a new language for smartphone design.
The phone was co-designed with Ollivier Savéo, an international luxury watch design expert who has worked with various Swiss watch brands. He infused refined elements from his craft into the device's overall design, including a classic Polished Sunburst Dial, Golden Fluted Bezel, and a 3D Jubilee Bracelet that evokes the look and feel of a custom premium watch.
The back of the phone has a Premium Vegan Leather finish that provides a silk-like texture, is dirt-resistant, and has a high-end feel. The realme 12+ 5G is available in two colors - Pioneer Green and Navigator Beige.
In addition to its design, the device is also extremely thin at 7.87mm having a width of 7.4mm for easy handling and weighs only 190 grams despite a 5,000mAh battery capacity.
The realme 12+ 5G boasts a 6.67-inch FHD+ (2400 x 1080) AMOLED E4 display on its front, featuring a 120Hz Refresh Rate and a 240Hz Touch Sampling Rate. The display has very narrow bezels at 92.65% Screen-to-Body ratio.
To make the display more durable, it uses 0.68mm Secondary Tempered High Strength Glass. The display has a centered hole-punch 16MP camera on the top and a thin and discreetly etched earpiece above it.
On the back, there's a large protruding camera module that houses the triple-camera setup along with a single LED flash. The three cameras are the 50MP main, 8MP wide-angle, and 2MP macro.
The right side features the standard volume rocker and power buttons, while the top has the 3.5mm audio jack, the secondary noise-canceling microphone, and a speaker grille.
At the bottom, you'll find the USB Type-C charging port, downward-firing speaker, primary microphone, and hybrid SIM tray. The hybrid SIM tray can be used to hold either a second SIM card or a microSD card for expandable storage.
Display and Multimedia
The realme 12+ 5G smartphone comes with a large 6.67-inch AMOLED E4 screen that supports Full HD+ (2412 x 1080) resolution.
The screen has a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut and reaches up to 2,000 Nits of Brightness under direct sunlight, which is impressive. It also supports up to 4,096 levels of brightness for ease of use no matter how dim or dark the surrounding area is for eye protection.
In addition, the display supports Rainwater Smart Touch, a feature that intelligently detects the presence of liquids like water or rainwater on the display, or even wet hands, then improves touch input accuracy for it.
Moreover, the realme 12+ 5G comes with a "Sunlight Display" technology that automatically adjusts dynamic contrast to improve viewing under direct sunlight, save power, and enhance picture quality.
While the stereo speakers on the realme 12+ 5G produce average sound and can get loud, the sound at maximum volume may become distorted. It is recommended to use headphones or an external speaker via Bluetooth for better audio quality.
Camera
Rear Cameras
As for the camera, the realme 12+ 5G boasts a triple-camera set-up that promises outstanding photography performance. The primary camera is a 50MP Sony LYT600 sensor. Alongside that, there's an 8MP F2.2 112° wide-angle lens and a 2MP macro lens.
The primary camera uses a Sony LYT sensor, which are a new line of sensors known for their large sensor sizes that allow a high level of light intake. The sensor size is 1/1.95”, with a 26mm focal length and an F1.88 aperture. The camera also supports Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and has up to 2x In-Sensor.
realme also collaborated with Claudio Miranda, an Oscar-winning cinematographer, to develop three image enhancement filters called "Master Portrait Filters."
The main camera's quality is impressive under bright lighting conditions, displaying good colors, sharpness, and details. However, the dynamic range could use some improvement in some situations. The 2x zoom quality is also decent, with sufficient colors, contrast, and dynamic range.
Under low light, the camera performs well with Night Mode enabled, producing good low-light photos.
Front Selfie Camera
The front camera features a 16MP F2.45 in-display selfie camera. It produces good photos with accurate skin tones, especially in bright conditions. However, the background blurring for portrait selfies isn't perfect but good enough.
Video
With regard to videos, the main camera captures videos up to 4k@30fps, and the front-facing camera can record at 1080p@30fps. There is an electronic image stabilization (EIS) called Ultra Steady.
The recorded video from the main camera produces good colors, contrast, and dynamic range.
realme UI, Apps, and Security
The realme 12+ 5G is equipped with the latest version of realme UI, which is based on Android 14 and is known as realme UI 5.0. This new version comes with an updated design and new features that are designed to enhance security, personalization, and performance. The device comes with the standard realme and Google suite of apps pre-installed, but some bloatware apps may also be included.
In terms of security, the realme 12+ 5G has both an in-display fingerprint scanner and facial recognition for device unlocking. The fingerprint scanner is highly accurate and quick, and can even work in challenging conditions such as low ambient temperatures and dry fingers. However, face unlock may experience some delays in low-light situations.
Moreover, the in-display fingerprint scanner of the realme 12+ 5G has an additional feature that allows it to measure the user's heart rate. This feature can be found in the Realme lab section.
Hardware and Performance
The realme 12+ 5G is equipped with a very capable MediaTek Dimensity 7050 5G processor that is made using a 6nm process. It houses two Cortex-A78 cores which clock at up to 2.6GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores that clock up to 2.0GHz. The processor is also paired with a Mali-G68 MC4 GPU.
In terms of performance, the realme 12+ 5G performs exceptionally well and can handle resource-intensive applications without any hiccups. It also offers a seamless gaming experience and supports a wide range of games, including popular ones such as Asphalt 9: Legends, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and many others.
In addition, the realme 12+ 5G has a feature called Dynamic RAM Expansion technology that allows users to virtually increase their phone's RAM by using the device's internal storage. This feature enables the device to utilize up to 12GB of its internal storage, providing a total of up to 24GB of RAM. However, the 8GB RAM variants have a maximum of 8GB Dynamic RAM Expansion, resulting in a total of 16GB of RAM.
In the Philippines, the realme 12+ 5G comes with 256GB of storage, out of which 230.7GB is available to the user. The device has pre-installed software that consumes 25.3GB of storage space.
Additionally, the realme 12+ 5G comes with an IP54 Dust & Water Resistance rating for added peace of mind in case of accidental splashes and other incidents.
Below are the benchmark scores for the realme 12+ 5G:
- AnTuTu v10.2.1 – 606,711
- AnTuTu Storage Test v10.2.1 – 70,280 (2,078.0 MB/s Seq. Read, 1,886.7 MB/s Seq. Write)
- Geekbench 6.1.0 – 964 (Single-core), 2,398 (Multi-core)
- PCMark – 12,279 (Work 3.0)
- 3DMark – 4,078 (SSE – OpenGL ES 3.1), 3,892 (SSE – Vulkan)
Battery Life, Charging, and Connectivity
The realme 12+ 5G boasts a 5,000mAh battery that can last an entire day with moderate usage without needing to be charged. The device has scored around 17 hours and 20 minutes on the PCMark Work 3.0 Battery Life Test.
With the 67W SUPERVOOC Charge feature, the realme 12+ 5G can charge up to 50% in just 19 minutes, and fully charge in only 48 minutes. The charger provided in the box is also PD-compatible, which means that it can support different wattage and charging technologies.
Additionally, the realme 12+ 5G boasts advanced software optimization such as App Quick Freeze, Optimized Standby, Smart Charging, Power Saving Mode, and Super Power Saving Mode, which all contribute to extending the battery life.
In addition to supporting 5G connectivity, the realme 12+ 5G also features Smart 5G Power Saving, which automatically switches between 4G and 5G networks depending on usage, thus conserving battery power.
The realme 12+ 5G also offers standard connectivity features such as WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS, and USB Type-C.
realme 12+ 5G Specifications
6.67-inch FHD+ (2400 x 1080) AMOLED E4 display, 394ppi
0.68mm Secondary Tempered High Strength Glass
120Hz refresh rate, 240Hz touch sampling rate
MediaTek Dimensity 7050 5G processor (6nm)
Mali-G68 MC4 GPU
8GB/12GB RAM with Dynamic RAM Expansion
256GB of internal storage
Up to 2TB Expandability via microSD Card
Triple-rear cameras (50MP Sony LYT600 OIS main + 8MP 112° Wide Angle + 2MP Macro)
16MP F2.45 front camera
Dual-SIM / 5G
WiFi 6 / Bluetooth 5.2
GPS, A-GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS
USB Type-C / Dual stereo speakers / 3.5mm audio jack
Fingerprint scanner (under display)
IP54 Dust & Water Resistance
realme UI 5.0 (Android 14)
5,000mAh Battery with 67W SUPERVOOC Charge
Dimensions: 162.95 x 75.45 x 7.87mm
Weight: 190g
Colors: Pioneer Green & Navigator Beige
What’s inside the box
If you didn't get a chance to see the unboxing of the realme 12+ 5G, let me fill you in. The signature yellow-colored box comes with the phone itself, a USB Type-C to USB-A charging cable, a 67W SUPERVOOC Charger, a SIM card ejector tool, a protective silicone case, a quick start guide, and essential product information, including the warranty card.
Price and Availability
The realme 12+ 5G comes in two storage options: 12GB+256GB and 8GB+256GB, priced at Php19,999 and Php17,999, respectively. It is available for purchase on realme's major e-commerce platforms like Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop from March 7-15. During this time, customers can enjoy significant discounts of up to Php3,000 off for the realme 12+ 5G.
Furthermore, Shopee users can get an exclusive offer on the realme 12+ 5G (12GB+256GB) at a reduced price of up to P3,400 off during Shopee's Super Brand Day sale on March 8.
Moreover, the first 2,000 customers who purchase either storage variant of the realme 12+ 5G on the mentioned e-commerce platforms are entitled to realme Care+. This special aftercare service includes a one-time Free Replacement for Damaged Display redeemable within 6 months after the purchase, covering accidental drops, collision, and extrusion. Also, a 6-Month Extended Repair Warranty is activated after the default warranty period expires, covering non-human damage that naturally comes with using mobile phones but does not include repairs from falling, squeezing, and liquid penetration.
As realme's official installment partner, Home Credit offers up to 18-month installment programs with 0% interest. Credit card users can also avail of up to 18 months of installment payment plan with 0% interest. Offline buyers can catch amazing perks and freebies when purchasing from realme Stores and authorized dealers nationwide. From March 8-17, customers who buy the realme 12+ 5G can choose between a TechLife High-Speed Hair Dryer or TechLife 4L Digital Rice Cooker worth P2,399.00. However, these freebies are available only until stocks last.
Verdict
The realme 12+ 5G is a smartphone that stands out among its competition for its stunning design, AMOLED display, excellent performance, 50MP Sony LYT600 camera, stereo speakers, and long battery life with fast charging.
If you are currently looking for a new smartphone, I highly recommend considering the realme 12+ 5G. But if you have a bigger budget, you might want to take a look at the realme 12 Pro+ 5G. It comes with an even more impressive 3x periscope camera, a Sony IMX890 main camera, and 512GB of storage.
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