The realme 12+ 5G smartphone boasts a 50MP Portrait camera with Optical Image Stabilization or OIS, powerful Dimensity 7050 processor, 120Hz AMOLED display, and Vegan Leather design.
I have used the device for three weeks and tested its performance, camera quality, multimedia experience, battery life, and more. It successfully fused a classy design with balanced midrange performance. Here’s my full review of the realme 12+ 5G.
realme 12+ 5G REVIEW: Design & Build Quality
Closer look at the Vegan Leather back of the realme 12+ 5G.
The realme 12+ 5G has a Vegan Leather back panel that feels soft and looks classy. There’s a zipper-like “3D Jubilee Bracelet” design running vertically at the middle which gives it distinct character.
It’s designed in collaboration with French designer Ollivier Savéo known for his works in premium luxury Swiss watches and jewelry.
The unit I reviewed is the Pioneer Green color variant. It also comes in Navigator Beige with a more pastel color theme.
Notice the shiny sides of the realme 12+ 5G.
The camera module also has a unique design treatment. It’s circular with a “Sunburst” pattern and metallic ring making it resemble a premium watch. These design choices look good and elevate the aesthetics of the device.
However, I have mixed feelings about the sides. It has a very shiny mirror finish that can look tacky and attracts a lot of fingerprints and smudges.
Nevertheless, it’s a well-built smartphone with no flex nor creaks. realme even says it has drop protection and IP54 dust & splash resistance.
realme 12+ 5G REVIEW: Display Quality and Multimedia Experience
realme 12+ 5G home screen.
Watching videos on the realme 12+ 5G.
The front panel of the realme 12+ 5G is occupied by a large 6.67-inch FHD+ OLED display with narrow bezels and a small punch-hole for the selfie camera.
It’s a bright screen with 2000 nits of peak brightness making it legible even under bright noontime sunlight. It also looks sharp with vivid colors and buttery smooth 120Hz of screen refresh rate.
The device has HDR10+ certification although I was only able to play HDR videos on YouTube, not on Netflix. It still provides a great multimedia experience though. It also has stereo speakers that sound good for a midrange smartphone.
realme claims the touchscreen can still work with wet hands since it has “Rainwater Smart Touch”. I tested this and it does seem to have no problem with some water droplets or wet hands.
realme 12+ 5G REVIEW: Performance, UI and Gaming Experience
Call of Duty Mobile on the realme 12+ 5G.
The realme 12+ 5G is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7050 processor with either 8GB or 12GB of RAM. It also comes with realme UI 5.0 software running on top of Android 14 OS.
It performs smoothly in basic tasks like opening apps, scrolling across social media, and browsing websites. There’s also no hiccups when switching between apps or opening games. I’ve only experienced one or two lags while using the 12GB RAM variant.
In terms of gaming performance, the realme 12+ 5G can run popular games like Call of Duty and Mobile Legends at high graphics quality. I was even able to play ML at Ultra graphics quality with minimal frame drops.
Mobile Legends on the realme 12+ 5G.
It still has its limits though. COD becomes sluggish at maximum graphics quality and Genshin Impact is only smooth at the default settings.
Meanwhile, the user interface looks familiar with some pre-installed apps on the second page of the homescreen.
Special features like Always-On-Display, Simple Mode, and Edge Lighting for notifications are present.
realme 12+ 5G REVIEW: Camera Quality with Sample Pictures
Camera app interface of the realme 12+ 5G.
The realme 12+ 5G is equipped with a 50MP camera with a Sony LYT600 image sensor and optical image stabilization. It’s optimized for portrait shots, low-light photography, and stabilized videos. It might look like there are four rear cameras but the fourth module only serves aesthetic purpose.
It can capture good-looking pictures in well-lit scenes with sharp details, balanced color levels, and decent dynamic range. There are several features under the hood that prevent blurriness even in fast-moving subjects.
realme 12+ 5G
realme 12+ 5G (Portrait mode)
realme 12+ 5G (Portrait mode)
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realme 12+ 5G
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realme 12+ 5G
Portrait mode results in more pleasing images but edge detection is a bit finicky. It also tends to hold back in beauty enhancements and prefers to capture realistic skin tones.
The ultra-wide camera is useful during the day but too grainy at night. Even the main camera exhibits softness in low-light scenes especially if the 2x zoom is used.
Nevertheless, it can capture impressive night shots with the dedicated Night mode.
realme 12+ 5G
Meanwhile, there’s a 16MP selfie camera on the front of the realme 12+ 5G. It’s been several generations of realme’s number series now with the same camera.
It’s capable of producing decent selfies but I think it’s time realme upgrades this aspect of their smartphones. Perhaps an ultra-wide selfie camera or a better image sensor.
When it comes to video recording, the realme 12+ 5G can capture up to 4K videos. Details look sharp in the videos with decent color quality.
However, video stabilization is limited to 1080p@60fps only. I suggest keeping this setting for smoother-looking videos, especially hand-held ones.
realme 12+ 5G REVIEW: Connectivity and Security
SIM card tray of the realme 12+ 5G.
As its name implies, the realme 12+ 5G is a dual-SIM smartphone with 5G connectivity so mobile internet is fast. Signal reception is good too even in areas with 4G coverage only.
There’s also Wi-Fi 6 support, NFC, and built-in “Link to Windows” feature.
I’m quite happy to see the phone’s 3.5mm audio jack since there are still a lot of people who prefer non-USB type-C wired headphones.
For security, there’s an under-display fingerprint scanner that quickly unlocks the phone. It also doubles as a heart rate monitor although it’s currently found under “realme Lab” features.
realme 12+ 5G REVIEW: Battery Life and Charging Time
Fast charging of the realme 12+ 5G.
A large 5,000mAh battery powers the realme 12+ 5G and it can usually last more than a day on a single charge. I’m usually left with around 30% battery life at night.
When playing games continuously, the device can last around 7 to 8 hours.
Recharging to 100% battery capacity takes 1 hour and 10 minutes using the bundled 67W SUPERVOOC fast charger.
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realme 12+ 5G REVIEW: CONCLUSION
realme 12+ 5G with box
I highly recommend the realme 12+ 5G for its classy Vegan Leather back design, capable cameras especially in well-lit scenes, enough performance for a smooth experience, and long-lasting battery.
Of course, some people will want a better overall package and that’s for the realme 12+ Pro 5G. Meanwhile, the only major disadvantage with the realme 12+ 5G is the less than stellar low-light photography performance.
The realme 12+ 5G has an official price of ₱17,999 for the 8GB RAM variant and ₱19,999 for the 12GB variant. It is now available in realme stores, kiosks, authorized retailers, and official realme online stores.
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