Taking a cue from its earlier success, Realme recently launched the Realme 12 Pro series, setting new standards in the mid-range smartphone market. One highlight is the Realme 12 Pro+, boasting a camera design inspired by luxury watches and a groundbreaking periscope telephoto camera. On the other hand, the Realme 12 Pro, with its powerful telephoto camera providing up to 2x optical zoom, shares the same design language.
Let’s dive into a detailed review of the Realme 12 Pro.
What’s inside the Realme 12 Pro 5G box?
- Realme 12 Pro phone
- 67W SuperVOOC charger
- USB-A to USB-C cable
- TPU case
- SIM ejector tool
- Safety Guide
- Quick Guide
Realme 12 Pro 5G: Design and Display The Realme 12 Pro’s design is striking, especially the Submarine Blue variant. While the Navigator Beige edition takes a more conservative approach, I personally prefer the blue variant. Its luxury watch-inspired design, stain-resistant vegan leather finish, and sleek accents enhance its appeal. However, the rear texture tends to attract dirt, though it’s easy to clean.
The phone’s front features a curved-edge display and a leathery finish on the back for better grip. It’s also IP65-rated for dust and water resistance, ensuring durability. With a thickness of 8.75mm and weighing 190 grams, it strikes a balance between substance and manageability.
The Realme 12 Pro boasts a 6.7-inch AMOLED panel with FHD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and 10-bit color depth. It introduces the ProXDR feature for enhanced HDR photo details and the O1 Video Colour Boost engine for richer viewing experiences. Users can customize their display with Vivid, Natural, and Cinematic color profiles. The device is protected by 0.5mm tempered high-strengthened glass and supports Widevine L1 for HD streaming.
Performance and Software The Realme 12 Pro features the 4nm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chip, offering smooth performance for daily tasks and casual gaming. It’s paired with LPDDR4x RAM and UFS 3.1 storage, with up to 16 GB of virtual RAM. The device charges quickly with a 67W fast charger and runs on Android 14 with Realme UI 5, promising OS upgrades and security patches for three years.
Realme UI 5 introduces features like File Dock, Flash Capsule, Smart Image Matting, and Phone Link. The OS delivers a smooth experience with no noticeable hiccups.
Photography and Other Features The Realme 12 Pro features a 50-megapixel primary camera with OIS support, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 32-megapixel telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom. It offers various photography modes, including Pro mode, Panorama, and Night mode, as well as special filters.
In daylight, the Realme 12 Pro excels in photography, especially with its impressive 2x shots. The telephoto camera captures excellent portrait selfies with background blur. The device also offers decent regular and portrait shots with the selfie camera, though quality may vary in low light.
Conclusion and Pricing While the Realme 12 Pro may not seem like a significant upgrade from its predecessor, its telephoto camera sets it apart in its price segment. Priced at Rs 25,999 ($315) for the 8GB + 128GB variant and Rs 26,999 ($325) for the 8GB + 256GB variant, it competes with the Poco X6 Pro and the Redmi Note 13 Pro. However, its versatile photography capabilities give it an edge over its rivals.