realme 12 Pro and realme 12 Pro Plus review: balanced mid-range models

Only relatively recently, in September 2023, ITC.ua talked about a new mid-range smartphone realme 11 Pro Plus. And at the beginning of the year, the Chinese manufacturer introduced its next versions, realme 12 Pro and realme 12 Pro Plus, and at the end of March they officially appeared in Ukraine. Of course, we have already tested both novelties, which are very similar in appearance but have differences inside, spent some time with them, played with them, and were able to make our own impressions of their use.

Specifications of the realme 12 Pro and realme 12 Pro Plus

	realme 12 Pro	realme 12 Pro Plus
Screen	6.7″, 2412×1080 (20:9), 394 ppi, AMOLED, 120 Hz, 950 nits	6.7″, 2412×1080 (20:9), 394 ppi, AMOLED, 120 Hz, 950 nits
Processor	Snapdragon 6 Gen 1, 2.2 GHz	Snapdragon 7s Gen 2, 2.4 GHz
Graphics chip	Adreno 710	Adreno 710
Memory	8/256 GB, 12/256 GB, 12/512 GB LPDDR4X+UFS 2.2	8/256 GB, 12/512 GB LPDDR4X+UFS 3.1
Main camera	50 MP + 32 MP + 8 MP, 2x optical zoom + stabilization	50 MP + 64 MP + 8 MP, 3x optical zoom + stabilization
Front camera	16 MP, 1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS	32 MP, 1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS
Interfaces	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax), Bluetooth 5.2, GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax), Bluetooth 5.2, GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS
Battery	5000 mAh, 67 W	5000 mAh, 67 W
Protection	YES, IP65	YES, IP65
OS	Android 14, Realme UI 5.0	Android 14, Realme UI 5.0
Dimensions	161.47×74.02×8.75 mm	161.5x74x8.8 mm
Weight	190 grams	196 grams

Packaging and equipment

realme 12 Pro and realme 12 Pro Plus are sold in standard yellow boxes with black lettering.

Inside we see the phones themselves, documentation, a USB-C cable, a 67W power supply, and a transparent silicone case.

Design and ergonomics

realme 12 Pro and realme 12 Pro Plus — are very similar to their predecessors. The smartphones have a luxurious design: eco-leather back covers with rounded edges, a giant round module with cameras and a stylized metal bezel protruding above the body. And also the realme inscription.

The screens on the front panel are even more rounded at the edges (waterfall screens) and have thin bezels.

The dimensions of the phones are almost the same (161.47×74.02×8.75 mm for the younger version and 161.5×74×8.8 mm for the older one), as is the weight (190 grams versus 196).

The placement of the elements is also the same: on the left side we see the screen lock button and volume buttons. On the top panel there is a speaker and a microphone, on the left side there is nothing, and on the bottom we see a second microphone and another speaker, a USB-C port, and a SIM card slot.

The eco-leather texture, rounded corners, and waterfall screen prevent the realme 12 Pro and realme 12 Pro Plus from slipping in the palm of your hand, so the smartphones fit securely in your hand. They don’t even think about falling out, no matter what you do. But it’s worth considering a bundled case or any case because the protruding camera and the rounded edges of the front and back are very vulnerable to drops and bumps.

Waterfall screens are also a pure tasteful thing, but there are still trends for them. Especially in the mid-range segment, as flagships are gradually coming back with flat edges and sides. Some people like this, and some don’t, so see for yourself.

Of course, this is not the flagship level, but it’s very close, especially since everything is very much at the level of the mid-range segment. And although the new models of competitors, for example, the Redmi Note 13 and Redmi Note 13 Pro, actually have a higher brightness (1000 and 1800 nits maximum, respectively), in practice this is not visible at all. That is, both smartphones have bright screens without any complaints or differences. Moreover, the colors of the realme 12 Pro and realme 12 Pro Plus look more saturated.

The refresh rate of the screen can be 60 Hz, 120 Hz, or automatically determined. The latter option is the best in terms of battery life and interface speed.

In both cases, the optical fingerprint scanner works superfast and almost never glitches. Sometimes it responds to wet fingers, and sometimes not. I found its location on the display to be convenient, but this may not be the case for someone else because this parameter is individual.

Sound and vibration response

realme 12 Pro and realme 12 Pro Plus have two full-fledged speakers, not just one speaker and an auxiliary earpiece. This is sometimes not found in real Chinese flagships, for example, inXiaomi 14but it is here. The phones also received two microphones, which are needed to record stereo sound on video and noise cancellation during a call.

However, it’s worth noting that the top speaker is still quieter than the bottom one, so in general it’s about the same as if it were one full-fledged speaker and one earpiece. But the sound is still loud and powerful, and it is also quite voluminous and clear. There is no buzzing even at maximum volume, and there is even something like bass, but of course, it is not enough, as with any speakers in smartphones.

The realme 12 Pro and realme 12 Pro Plus support Dolby Atmos technology with various profiles for detailed customization. There is also the standard proprietary O-HAPTICS tactile response technology, which is pleasant, but without any striking features.

Smartphones support the popular SBC, AAC, and Qualcomm AptX HD audio codecs, so if the headphones are adequate, they will sound the same.

Realme 12 Pro and realme 12 Pro Plus cameras

Although the giant camera modules of the realme 12 Pro and realme 12 Pro Plus look the same, there is a difference in sensors.

The main camera of the realme 12 Pro is a 50-megapixel Sony IMX882 with optical stabilization. The second module is 8 megapixels with a viewing angle of 112 degrees, and the third is a 32-megapixel telephoto module also with optical stabilization and four times digital zoom.

In good light, all three modules take bright, detailed photos that you wouldn’t be ashamed to post on social media. At night, everything is also more or less good, especially for this price category.

The realme 12 Pro has a 16-megapixel front camera. Again, for its price, selfies are nice, and in portrait mode, there are no artifacts. There are a variety of beautifiers, but the main thing is not to overdo it.

realme 12 Pro Plus has a more powerful Sony IMX890 main sensor with a resolution of 50 MP and optical stabilization. For a mid-range smartphone, this is a convenient choice. We remind you that by default, the main camera shoots at a resolution of 12.5 MP, and 50 MP is available only in a special mode. However, the latter option is only needed for further editing and more professional use, and the standard mode is enough for social networks. There is also a second ultra-wide-angle 8-megapixel module with a viewing angle of 112 degrees and a third periscopic telephoto module with an optical stabilizer based on a 64-megapixel sensor.

Of course, it is best to shoot with the main and telephoto modules. The latter also produces good zoomed-in photos. And the main module is better to shoot during the day and in any bright light, but in cloudy weather, and even at night, all three modules take more than decent photos. I would also like to note that at night you can shoot both in the standard «Photo» mode and in the «Night» mode. There is a difference, but it is insignificant. Some people like the photos better in the first case, and others in the second.

The older model is equipped with a 32-megapixel selfie camera with a wide viewing angle. The photos are nice and detailed. The bokeh effect is of high quality and without artifacts.

In general, the cameras are the second big plus of the realme 12 Pro and realme 12 Pro Plus, although, of course, the older model has better cameras, but the younger model produces adequate photos for its money. Both models can shoot video in 4K at 30 fps, but this is only the main and telephoto modules. The third and front modules shoot in 1080p.

Let me remind you that last year’s realme 11 Pro Plus model had a 200 megapixel main sensor. In fact, the updated 50-megapixel main module shoots no worse because we all know that the number of pixels is not the main thing. I’ll just note that there was a qualitative rather than quantitative replacement of the modules, which did not affect the quality of the photos, but it didn’t seem to get any better.

Productivity, software, and games

The realme 12 Pro and realme 12 Pro Plus also differ in terms of hardware. realme 12 Pro uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor, while realme 12 Pro Plus has a Snapdragon 7s Gen 2. Both are manufactured using the 4 nm process technology and have Adreno 710 graphics chips.

The younger smartphone has 8/256 GB, 12/256 GB, or 12/512 GB versions of LPDDR4X+UFS 2.2 memory. The older one has 8/256 GB or 12/512 GB of LPDDR4X+UFS 3.1. As you can see, the ROM in the realme 12 Pro Plus is faster. It is also possible to add virtual RAM.

Test results from different benchmarks differ, but are close. Both processors are mighty. Of course, the realme 12 Pro Plus chip produces better results, but it also throttles more.

Tests of the realme 12 Pro:

Tests of realme 12 Pro Plus:

realme 12 Pro and realme 12 Pro Plus run popular and heavy games without any problems. And while the former usually runs at 60 fps, but on medium-high settings, the latter runs at high-maximum settings. Even the demanding Genshin Impact runs at a comfortable 50–60 fps on medium-high graphics.

The smartphones run on Android 14 with the proprietary Realme UI 5.0 shell. The proprietary add-on also has a lot of appearance customization, some useful apps, etc. For me, the main thing is that there are few of them and no ads, and the appearance is a matter of taste. I like it, and some people don’t, but that’s okay. Moreover, there are various themes that can be downloaded from a special application or popular launchers.

Battery life of realme 12 Pro and realme 12 Pro Plus

realme 12 Pro and realme 12 Pro Plus are equipped with 5000 mAh batteries with 67W fast charging support. Note that the realme 11 Pro Plus had 100W charging. There is no wireless or reverse charging.

In PC Mark tests, the realme 12 Pro showed a result of 11 hours 41 minutes, and the realme 12 Pro Plus 11 hours 5 minutes. These are not the best results, but everything is logical because the older model has a more powerful chip, which affected the battery life.

And although the tests showed just normal results, they are actually better. In standard use with the Internet, social networks, YouTube videos, and a few games, both models hold a charge for a day and a half without any problems. In my opinion, with such screens and chips, this is not just a good result, but an excellent one.

The smartphones also charge relatively quickly. In 20 minutes, we have 50% of the charge from 0, and in 48 minutes it’s a full 100%.

User experience

Just like the previous generation, the realme 12 Pro and realme 12 Pro Plus make a good impression. Of course, some users won’t like them because of their special design, but that can be said of any smartphone. However, they will appeal to those who like something with a premium design and a leather-like body. Some people will also not like the waterfall screen, but this is also purely a matter of taste.

The hardware has been updated, so the new models are more powerful than their predecessors, but they have reduced the watts in fast charging. Yes, it still charges the device quickly, and the autonomy remains at a good level, but people will still say that this is a downgrade and they will be right.

The main camera is no longer 200 megapixels, which worked more for marketing, but 50 megapixels, but these are powerful modules from Sony, especially in the older model. The second module has also been significantly improved. Overall, photo quality is still one of the main advantages of these smartphones. As is the bright screen.

In my opinion, the realme 12 Pro and realme 12 Pro Plus have once again managed to take a prominent place in the mid-range segment. These are not its leaders, but they are models that definitely attract attention and are worthy of it.

Price and competitors

Price for realme 12 Pro starts at UAH 13,299. realme 12 Pro Plus is sold at a price of UAH 17,999. As for me, both price tags are adequate, but there are a lot of well-known competitors in this segment.

If you need something for mobile games, there are Poco X6 Pro (our review here). And if you want something similar with good cameras, but in a different design, then there are Redmi Note 13 Pro 4G (our review here) and Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus. You should also pay attention to Motorola Edge 40 5G and Motorola Edge 40 Neo. And let’s not forget about Samsung Galaxy A54.