The Realme 12 Pro Plus is a smartphone that stands out for its striking design and impressive features. Its stylish appearance has often been mistaken for that of a premium smartphone. With a dedicated telephoto lens, which is uncommon in its price range, the Realme 12 Pro Plus sets itself apart from its competitors.
In terms of design, the Realme 12 Pro Plus takes it up a notch compared to its predecessor, the Realme 11 Pro Plus. The phone features a redesigned camera module and maintains the gold trim around the cameras and on the back, giving it a premium look. Additionally, it is rated IP65 for dust and water resistance, adding to its durability.
Weighing in at 196 grams, the Realme 12 Pro Plus is relatively light and comfortable to hold. The volume and power buttons are easily accessible, and the curved edges of the screen give the phone a sleek and thin feel. Speaking of the screen, it is a 6.7-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display that supports a 120Hz refresh rate, offering smooth and vibrant visuals. It also boasts a peak brightness of 950 nits and a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, enhancing the overall viewing experience.
The display of the Realme 12 Pro Plus could be brighter in harsh lighting conditions. However, it compensates with its comfort on the eyes, thanks to its support for 2160Hz PWM dimming. The display is vivid and supports HDR10, along with Hi-Res dual speakers that come with Dolby Atmos support. It is worth noting that Netflix does not support HDR on this particular phone. Another notable feature is ProXDR, which enhances the brightness for an even better viewing experience. Overall, the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus may have a slight edge over the Realme 12 Pro Plus in terms of display quality.
Under the hood, the Realme 12 Pro Plus is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset. In daily use, the phone performs smoothly without any noticeable stutters or lags. However, it is not designed for extensive gaming sessions. The processor is paired with either 8GB or 12GB of LPDD4X RAM and 128GB or 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. The in-display fingerprint scanner is accurate and reliable, ensuring quick and secure access.
The camera setup on the Realme 12 Pro Plus is noteworthy. It features a triple rear camera setup led by a 50MP Sony IMX890 primary camera. Alongside the primary camera, there is a 64MP OV64B periscope telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera. On the front, there is a 32MP selfie shooter. The primary camera captures detailed shots with good dynamic range. The telephoto lens offers excellent zoom capabilities, especially at 3x optical zoom, producing portraits with pleasing bokeh and decent edge detection. The performance of the ultra-wide-angle camera is satisfactory but not exceptional.
The Realme 12 Pro Plus runs on Realme UI 5.0, based on Android 14. The user interface provides a cleaner look compared to previous versions. However, there are still notifications from the App Market and Theme Store, even when not connected to the internet. Realme promises two years of major software updates and three years of security updates for the Realme 12 Pro Plus, ensuring its longevity and keeping it up-to-date until 2027.
When it comes to battery life, the Realme 12 Pro Plus packs a 5,000mAh battery that supports 67W fast charging. The SuperVOOC charger, which is included in the box, can charge the device from 5% to 50% in just 20 minutes, providing a super-fast charging experience. Although the 67W charging capability is a step down from the 100W on the Realme 11 Pro Plus, it allows for the inclusion of the telephoto camera. In terms of battery performance, the Realme 12 Pro Plus can easily last a day with regular use.
The Realme 12 Pro Plus starts at ₹29,999 for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage variant. Comparing it to the competition, the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus offers a better display and performance, along with an IP68 rating, for ₹31,999, which is the same price as the 8GB RAM and 256GB storage variant of the Realme phone. For gaming enthusiasts, the Poco X6 Pro might be a better option. However, if your priority is a stylish smartphone with 3x optical zoom capabilities, the Realme 12 Pro Plus is definitely worth considering.
In conclusion, the Realme 12 Pro Plus impresses with its stylish design, capable camera setup, and smooth performance. While it may face tough competition from brands like Redmi, iQOO, and Poco, it manages to hold its own with its unique features. If you're looking for a smartphone that combines style and functionality, the Realme 12 Pro Plus is certainly worth a closer look.
