realme 12 5G Review

We’ve spent months using the realme 12 5G, not just as a backup phone but often as our main device. With its sleek design, solid performance, and impressive battery life, it’s clear that this phone aims to be a strong contender in the mid-range market. Now that we’ve put it through its paces, here’s our in-depth review of the realme 12 5G!

realme 12 5G: Design

The realme 12 5G draws inspiration from high-end watches, and it shows. The rear panel sports a distinctive “watch-like sunburst dial” and a sleek line running down the center. Our review unit came in the striking Woodland Green color variant, which we found quite appealing. This color offers a premium touch, combined with a thin physique and rounded corners for a comfortable grip.

The circular camera layout, reminiscent of its predecessors, houses two cameras and an LED flash. Although it lacks a vegan leather option, the matte finish plastic gives off a metallic vibe, adding to its premium feel. The button and port layout mirrors that of the realme 12+ 5G, complete with a headphone jack, stereo speakers, and an IP54 rating for added durability.

Meanwhile, the volume rocker and power button are on the right side, while at the bottom, you’ll find a loudspeaker, USB-C port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The top houses the other loudspeaker, a secondary microphone, and a dual-sim card slot with a microSD slot that takes up the second sim.

realme 12 5G: Multimedia

For binge-watching sessions, the realme 12 5G’s 6.72-inch Full HD+ LTPS LCD is certainly up to the task. It delivers good levels of detail and rich colors. With 950 nits of peak brightness, you can see what’s on the screen clearly even under direct sunlight. The 6-level dynamic refresh rate adjusts to match the activity on screen, enhancing efficiency.

Audio-wise, you get a dual speaker setup that delivers decent bass, clear vocals, and treble that isn’t harsh. Volume-wise, it’s enough for a car or a small room. And for those who still use wired headphones, the realme 12 5G has a handy 3.5mm headphone jack.

realme 12 5G: Camera

The realme 12 5G’s camera system features a 108MP main shooter with 3x Zoom Portrait capabilities. Powered by the high-performance HM6 Sensor, this setup ensures that every shot is rich in detail and vibrant in color, even in low-light conditions.

However, compared to most devices today, the device lacks an ultra-wide lens. Meaning, it doesn’t offer a hassle-free experience when taking group photos. Technically, you have to physically move back if you wish to fit more subjects into the frame.

Low light photos from the front camera need improvement as well. Meanwhile, at night, the AI algorithm does most of the work, but the photos aren’t as sharp as those taken during the day. The edges are less defined, and there’s more noticeable grain. Even with 3x zoom, the difference in quality between day and night shots is quite noticeable.

Sample Photos:

realme 12 5G: Software

Running on Android 14 with realme UI 5.0, the realme 12 feels familiar and user-friendly. Whether you’re a seasoned realme user or new to Android, it offers a smooth experience. The UI isn’t overly skinned, maintaining that essential Android feel.

Special features like Split View and Floating Window can be quite handy for multitasking. Given the relatively small screen, Floating Window is more practical than Split View. However, the pre-installed bloatware is a downside. While some apps like Facebook, Lazada, and Shopee are useful, the rest were promptly deleted to free up space.

realme 12 5G: Performance

Under the hood, the realme 12 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ processor, ensuring a seamless and responsive user experience. Whether you’re multitasking or gaming, this device delivers reliable performance that keeps up with your demanding lifestyle. Switching from one app to another is smooth, too.

It comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which is pretty standard. For those with a large collection of music, videos, or documents, there is a microSD card slot for additional storage. The phone handles games like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Pokémon Unite, and Call of Duty quite well.

Benchmark Scores:

When using it intensively, we experienced a few lags, but they were still tolerable. Nevertheless, we opted to play at mid-level quality to ensure smooth performance. There were also times when the device heated up during heavy graphics gaming sessions, especially when the battery was down to 30%. Still, it was manageable. Given its specs, we didn’t really expect top-tier gaming performance anyway.

realme 12 5G: Battery Life

The realme 12 5G does not disappoint when it comes to battery life. With a massive 5000mAh battery, it ensures you can capture life’s moments without worrying about running out of juice. As our main driver, it could last more than 12 hours.

And when it’s time to recharge, the 45W SUPERVOOC Charge technology provides lightning-fast charging, getting you back up to 50% in just 30 minutes.

realme 12 5G: Verdict

The device is a solid mid-range phone that ticks most of the right boxes. It offers a premium design, reliable performance, good battery life, and a user-friendly interface. While it has its quirks, like the absence of an ultra-wide lens and pre-installed bloatware, these are minor setbacks considering its overall value. If you’re looking for a stylish and capable 5G phone that won’t break the bank, the realme 12 5G is definitely worth considering.

You can get the realme 12 5G for only Php14,999.