Finally, they have launched it again, although they are releasing the 12 series in the era of the 13 series. However, we thank them for bringing this numbered series back to the market. Finally, the Realme 12 is officially here. Yes, it has some good aspects, but there are also some drawbacks that will be discussed today. We need to see if it is worth the price.
The phone has been launched in a single variant: 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage. The design of the phone is not bad at all; in fact, I personally like this color as it looks somewhat premium. The back panel is made of a plastic frosted material, which looks like a zipper. The camera module is quite large, taking up a lot of space; it could easily provide a landing space for a helicopter! It features a secondary mic, a headphone jack, a Type-C port, and dual speakers. The fingerprint scanner is located under the display, which I didn’t find problematic; it is well-placed and works quickly and accurately, with slight animation delays.
The device has an IP54 rating. Currently, there is a lot of emphasis on IP ratings. This device weighs about 187 grams. However, for those who use two SIMs and a memory card, there is unfortunate news: it has a hybrid SIM slot, which means you can use either a memory card and one SIM or two SIMs.
Design
Overall, the design of the phone is quite good, but the camera module seems a bit large. The display size is 6.67 inches, featuring a Full HD+ resolution AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. Its brightness is impressive, with peak brightness reaching 2000 nits and a PPI of 395. There is a small punch-hole cutout in the center at the top of the display, and I have no complaints about the display quality. Its viewing angles, color reproduction, and visibility in sunlight are all excellent. However, I would advise using a screen protector as I found very little information about display protection online. Given the expected price range, they have succeeded in this regard.Camera
Now, regarding the camera, it has a 50MP primary camera and a 2MP secondary sensor. The front camera is a 16MP unit. We know that Realme tends to have a warm tone that delivers vibrant images. This characteristic is evident in most daylight photos taken with this smartphone, which look quite beautiful. Even in proper lighting conditions, it performs satisfactorily with good detail. However, in low-light situations, it struggles a bit with detail and contrast.In good lighting conditions, this device performs well, but it struggles a bit with balancing heavy exposure. Better results could have been achieved with a wider dynamic range. The portrait mode also works well, and the background blurriness looks natural. You can take portraits at 2x zoom, and the primary camera offers a night mode that provides better output compared to the normal mode.
Video Capabilities
The video capabilities allow you to shoot at a maximum of 1080p at 30fps, and it would have been great if it supported 60fps or 4K, but the main camera has stabilization. The results from the front camera are generally good, especially for outdoor shots, maintaining proper sharpness and detail, even handling dynamic situations correctly. Indoor shots can sometimes be a bit soft, but the tone and brightness are not uncomfortable.The sound from the dual speakers is loud, although the balance can be slightly one-sided. Overall sound quality is satisfactory, and I found the sound quality from the earpiece to be satisfactory as well.
Performance
In terms of performance, the smartphone runs on Realme UI 5.0 based on Android 14. The processor is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 685, with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. Although this processor is not top-tier, it performs satisfactorily for daily tasks. The device handles multitasking well, but there is a slight delay when switching between apps.This device does not significantly raise temperatures, and the battery usage rate is reasonable. It has a 5000mAh battery with a 67W charging system. The included charger is rated at 80W, which is an added benefit.
When we look at the pros and cons of this smartphone, the main downside is the processor, as it does not justify the price properly. Adding an ultra-wide shooter would have been a welcome addition. The hybrid SIM slot may also be a limitation for some users. On the positive side, the design is appealing, and the Realme UI is generally well-organized.
Now, it depends on you whether this phone is suitable for your needs. If you prioritize performance and gaming, it might not be the best fit. This was today’s review.
