Smartphones & Tablets | May 1, 2024
Realme has returned to the market with the new realme 12 Pro and 12 Pro+, two new smartphones that were announced at CES in Las Vegas. These are finally available in our country and come as part of one of the company’s most beloved product lines.
These phones are the successors to the realme 11 Pro and 11 Pro+ that arrived in the middle of last year and were among the highlights of the mid-range segment. In this new generation, there are some improvements in design, as well as innovations in some of their most important aspects, such as the camera.
Essentially, they follow the same strategy, as the 12 Pro+ model boasts superiority in the camera department and processor, which slightly raises its price. On the other hand, the realme 12 Pro is a device with a more affordable price tag that still offers great features for those who don’t need that extra in terms of camera and power. Nonetheless, they are very closely matched smartphones.
The Chinese company has decided to continue betting on a design that has worked well for them in other devices and has received considerable praise from the public. It should be noted that both devices are practically identical, with only a few small differences between them.
These are two phones available in blue and beige colors. The material covering their back is synthetic leather, which not only feels great in the hand but also prevents the device from slipping while in use. Additionally, they feature some gold-colored detailing lines that add to their aesthetic appeal.
Both the front and back are curved along the sides, making the side edges relatively thin. On the right side, you’ll find the volume and power buttons, while the USB Type-C port and one of the speakers are located at the bottom.
The camera module is circular, housing all four sensors. Here is where one of the differences between these devices lies, as the Pro+ model features a badge referring to its telephoto camera, while the realme 12 Pro boasts about its optical stabilizer.
Similar to the previous generation, both models feature the same panel, which is good news as the results have been satisfactory. It’s an OLED panel, and it flaunts this technology with vibrant colors and energy efficiency when displaying black, which doesn’t drain as much battery as other technologies.
Its size is 6.7 inches diagonally, so it’s not exactly small, but it doesn’t feel excessively large when held in hand either. It has a refresh rate of 120 Hz, providing a smooth user experience. Additionally, it comes with a 0.55mm tempered glass protector already applied to safeguard the screen against impacts.
When it comes to brightness, these phones may not be outstanding, but they also don’t disappoint when used under sunlight, reaching up to 950 nits of brightness. They are a great alternative for gaming or watching multimedia content like movies or series, aided by their dual speakers compatible with Hi-Res audio.
Regarding battery life, it’s worth mentioning that both phones are very similar thanks to having the same 5,000 mAh capacity. The efficiency of each processor is the element that may cause subtle differences, but overall, they perform similarly.
In practical use, I’ve managed to reach the end of the day with both phones still having between 30% and 40% battery remaining with typical usage. This implies that, by utilizing battery-saving mechanisms and moderating usage a bit more, it’s possible to even extend the battery life to two days. The fast charging, with the included charger in the box, is rated at 67W, which can charge them in around 40 minutes.
In this price range, users expect their purchase to be powerful enough to handle various games and processes smoothly, and that’s what they’ll find here. The company has chosen Qualcomm to manufacture the processors for both devices, although there are some differences between them.
Starting with the realme 12 Pro, we find a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor, which is capable of handling various tasks, although not at the speed of high-end processors. There are no issues when it comes to gaming or other tasks, making it a good choice for those looking to step up from cheaper mid-range phones.
In the realme 12 Pro+, there is noticeably more power when downloading content or carrying out heavy tasks. This is thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 processor. In this case, it comes closer to the lower end of the high-end range, providing a slight extra boost in speed that, while not significant, may make the difference less noticeable for people coming from more expensive phones. Both are accompanied by 8 or 12 GB of RAM.
Their customization layer is realme UI 5.0 based on Android 14, the latest version of the operating system. They come with a large number of interesting features, such as app locking. On the other hand, it is true that both devices have several pre-installed third-party applications such as Snapchat, TikTok, Netflix, Temu, or Spotify. They can be uninstalled just like always, but it is true that the fewer pre-installed apps, the better.
The realme 12 Pro has a main camera of 50 MP, a 32 MP telephoto lens, and an 8 MP ultra-wide-angle camera. On the other hand, the realme 12 Pro+ surpasses this with a 64 MP telephoto lens, a 50 MP main camera, and an 8 MP ultra-wide sensor. An evolution in terms of quality compared to its predecessors, although it decreases in resolution.
When it comes to taking photographs, both perform quite well in broad daylight and using portrait mode. However, the realme 12 Pro+ tends to excel when it comes to details. Generally, in both cases, we find good results when the lighting is favorable, with a high level of detail and colors that are usually accurately represented.
There are hardly any differences in the results of the ultra-wide camera between both devices, as everything suggests that it’s the same sensor. However, since the main camera and the telephoto lens are different in both devices, this is where the biggest changes in similar photographs are noticeable. The zoom of the realme 12 Pro Plus is more powerful, allowing for greater magnification and achieving better results in terms of detail. In portrait mode, both devices perform quite well, capable of carrying out fairly precise cropping.
In both cases, the 12 Pro+ model emerges as the clear winner, although not to the detriment of its younger sibling. These are two phones capable of taking very good photos, and although the results are somewhat worse at night, their photography department is more of a positive aspect than a drawback.
Although they are slightly different devices, they are aimed at a similar audience, and there are a couple of aspects that will be decisive in choosing between them. In this case, it’s the photography and power aspects that may sway someone towards one option or the other. Their screens are the same, and the battery performance is also practically identical, allowing them to easily last through the day. You can make the most of their 5,000 mAh batteries by using features like automatic power on/off, battery saving mode, and other settings aimed at extending battery life.
One of the main differences between both phones is their processor. The realme 12 Pro features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1, while the realme 12 Pro+ is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2. The latter is slightly more powerful, and when compared side by side, the difference is noticeable, although it’s true that the gap isn’t very large due to the good performance of both. Opting for the Pro+ model will be a good complement to the camera upgrade it offers over its younger sibling. The realme 12 Pro with 256 GB of storage is available for 399 euros, and the 512 GB version is priced at 449 euros (temporarily reduced to 399 euros as a promotional offer), while the realme 12 Pro+ with 256 GB costs 499 euros, and the 512 GB model is available for 549 euros (temporarily reduced to 499 euros as a promotional offer). In other words, the price of the 512 GB models will be the same as that of the 256 GB models temporarily as part of the launch promotion.
In the photography department is where the interesting part lies. Although the ultrawide photography is practically the same in both, the main sensor and telephoto lens differ, and besides providing more versatility due to its greater zoom, in general, the superior model tends to obtain better results. In conclusion, if you’re looking for better photographic performance between these two phones, the realme 12 Pro+ is the ideal purchase, although the 12 Pro model will also serve for a large part of the users.
Despite this difference, the realme 12 Pro is not far behind in terms of photography, and if you don’t particularly value this aspect highly, buying this model can be a great option to save some money. All while maintaining great virtues of the other version, such as the screen and the battery. It depends on what you want to spend and the value that each person gives to the camera.
