And in the event you suppose Realme has needed to compromise in different areas as a way to promote it at such a low value, you’d be flawed. The 12 Professional Plus 5G packs a flagship-grade predominant digicam, a curved-edge 120Hz AMOLED show, IP65 ranking, and a large battery with very quick charging. So, is there a catch or might this be the very best cut price in its section? Time to seek out out.
Realme 12 Professional Plus 5G: Value and availability
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The Realme 12 Professional Plus 5G begins at ₹29,999 (round $360) in India, but it surely’s additionally out there in different markets like Malaysia and Philippines. The bottom mannequin comes with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. The upper storage variant with 256GB is priced at ₹31,999 ($383), whereas the top-variant comes with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage for ₹33,999 ($407).
Realme tends to have perpetual reductions for the higher tier variants in the event you purchase it from its web site, so it makes good sense to purpose for both the highest or second-top variant. It additionally has loads of cashback and banking presents, and is even bundling the Realme Buds 2 Neo TWS earphones with any buy.
This high mannequin within the 12 sequence additionally has a extra thrilling alternative of colours, in comparison with the Realme 12 Plus 5G . The Navigator Beige trim that I obtained seems elegant, however I’d a lot quite have bolder shades just like the Submarine Blue or Explorer Crimson (extra like orange, going by the press photographs).
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Realme 12 Professional Plus 5G specs
Class
Realme 12 Professional Plus 5G
OS
Realme UI 5.0 (Android 14)
Show
6.7-inch Curved AMOLED, FHD+ (2,412×1,080), 120Hz refresh price
Chipset
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2
RAM
8GB, 12GB
Storage
128GB, 256GB
Audio
Stereo audio system, Dolby Atmos
Connectivity
5G (dual-5G standby), Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
Safety
In-display fingerprint sensor
Safety
IP65 water and dirt resistance
Battery
5,000mAh, 67W SUPERVOOC charging
Cameras
Rear: 50MP Sony IMX890 with OIS major + 8MP ultrawide + 64MP OmniVision OV64B 3x telephoto with OIS; Entrance: 32MP Sony sensor
Dimensions
161.47 x 74.02 x 8.75mm
Weight
196g
Colours
Submarine Blue, Navigator Beige, Explorer Crimson
Realme 12 Professional Plus 5G: What I like
(Picture credit score: Roydon Cerejo/ Android Central)
For those who favored the design language of the 12 Plus 5G, you then’ll definitely love 12 Professional Plus 5G too. In truth, this mannequin feels a bit extra premium because of a sturdier body, and curved edges on the again and the show. The faux-leather end feels nice to carry, and it provides to the grip whereas holding fingerprints at bay. The round digicam module embodies a luxurious watch design, which is a operating theme with the 12 sequence. The Professional mannequin has an added ornamental gold ring across the rear digicam dial, for a little bit of aptitude.
The telephone feels slim to carry at 8.75mm, and has simply the best heft so it doesn’t really feel toy-like. The buttons are clicky, speaker grills are positioned nicely so your fingers don’t by accident block them, and also you get a dual-SIM slot. There’s no microSD help, so storage shouldn’t be extendable. The 12 Professional Plus 5G will get a nifty IP65 ranking for mud and water resistance.
(Picture credit score: Roydon Cerejo/ Android Central)
The opposite wonderful thing about the Realme 12 Professional Plus 5G is the show. It’s a big 6.7-inch AMOLED panel with a Full HD+ decision. It produces wealthy colours and might get very brilliant. Viewing content material even beneath direct exhausting daylight was not a difficulty. You get an in-display fingerprint sensor too which is fast, however the face unlock is the quickest solution to get to your apps.
The curved edges on both aspect of the show offers you the sensation of utilizing a way more costly telephone. The show additionally will get a 120Hz refresh price, which scales to 90Hz or 60Hz based mostly on the app or your interplay with the display.
(Picture credit score: Roydon Cerejo/ Android Central)
The Realme 12 Professional Plus 5G is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2, which is peppy and does a great job of dealing with all of your typical social and productiveness apps. Multitasking was a breeze on the 12GB mannequin that I examined, and I really feel it must be an analogous expertise on the decrease variants too. HDR movies regarded good on this show and the stereo audio system offered a fascinating expertise.
Battery life is very good because of the 5,000mAh capability, which simply lasts for a couple of day and half on medium to heavy workloads. There’s no wi-fi charging, however wired charging is a fast 67W with the bundled adapter.
(Picture credit score: Roydon Cerejo/ Android Central)
One of many predominant causes you need to contemplate this telephone is for the cameras. The 12 Professional Plus options the 50MP Sony IMX890 sensor for the principle digicam, which can be discovered within the OnePlus 12 , whereas the telephoto is the OmniVision OV64B 64MP sensor as seen within the OnePlus Open . Each sensors are optically stabilized and supply very good readability, colours, and particulars in each daylight and evening time pictures.
The first digicam’s huge f/1.8 aperture ensures a creamy bokeh impact in close-up photographs, whereas in low mild, the app routinely takes a long-exposure shot. The telephoto or Portrait digicam as Realme calls it, is equally spectacular. It has a 3x optical zoom, which has good stabilization once you’re framing. Picture high quality is kind of spectacular even at 10x magnification. Nonetheless, there are diminishing returns as you transcend 20x zoom. On the most 120x stage, giant textual content on distant objects is nearly recognizable but it surely’s clear that the digicam is nicely past its consolation zone.
Video recording maxes out at 4K30 on the Realme 12 Professional Plus. Picture high quality is kind of good through the day and you’ve got the flexibility to modify between the ultra-wide, major, and telephoto cameras when recording at 1080p. The first and tele can shoot at 4K, however you need to select which sensor you need earlier than you hit file.
The 32MP selfie digicam is equally spectacular, capturing sharp and detailed photos in daylight and indoor lighting. The post-processing works nicely in cleansing up noise, and the default pores and skin smoothing filter isn’t too aggressive and produces pleasing portraits.
Realme 12 Professional Plus 5G: What I do not like
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The Realme 12 Professional Plus 5G doesn’t have a macro digicam or perhaps a macro capturing mode, which some may miss. Realme might have accomplished the trifecta by utilizing a extra substantial ultrawide digicam with autofocus. This may have helped in getting sharper photographs in addition to enabled macro pictures. That is the one rear digicam that may’t file at 4K decision, which I really feel was a missed alternative.
The opposite space which might have used a greater improve is the SoC itself. Don’t get me flawed, it really works simply high quality in day-to-day use but it surely’s not as highly effective as a number of the others on this section. Going by benchmark numbers, it put out almost the identical scores or simply barely higher numbers than the MediaTek Dimensity 7050 SoC, which sits in Realme’s less expensive 12 Plus 5G. We additionally might have gotten higher options like 4K at 60fps video recording on the 12 Professional Plus 5G, had Realme used a stronger processor.
The final grievance with this telephone has been a recurring one on most Realme telephones, and that’s the software program. Realme UI 5.0 relies on Android 14 , and my unit obtained a number of updates for Android safety patches and bug fixes, which is nice to see. However there’s no getting round how pointless bloated it feels, with tons of unnecessary apps and lots of first-party ones that bombard you with unsolicited notifications. You’ll be able to work round this by being cautious throughout setup and never giving permission to sure apps, but it surely’s nonetheless a trouble which we shouldn’t must cope with.
Realme 12 Professional Plus 5G: Competitors
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The Realme 12 Professional Plus’s greatest competitor is the Redmi Word 13 Professional Plus . It sits in an analogous value vary, and boasts of higher water resistance, a higher-resolution AMOLED show, and faster charging. Between the 2, I’d nonetheless put my cash on the 12 Professional Plus 5G merely due to the higher auxiliary cameras and as a result of the truth that it comes with Android 14 out of the field.
The Vivo V30 is one other telephone that competes on this section, that includes an equally eye-catching design as its dearer sibling , good high quality rear cameras, 80W charging, and a extra highly effective SoC. It does miss out on a telephoto digicam although, which is the large spotlight of the Realme 12 Professional Plus.
For these within the U.S., it is nonetheless exhausting to beat the Pixel 7a at its present value. The Pixel 8a may be very new, and can finally substitute the 7a as our go-to advice as soon as it will get an honest deal.
Realme 12 Professional Plus 5G: Must you purchase it?
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You should purchase this if…
You want a flexible telephoto digicam with good zoom vary
You desire a trendy mid-range telephone
You need long-lasting battery life
You should not purchase this if…
You need clutter-free person interface
You need sturdy gaming efficiency
You want wi-fi charging
Realme continues to ship nice worth even with its mid-range choices, and the 12 Professional Plus 5G is an efficient instance. For what it prices, the telephone actually excels within the digicam division because of a robust major sensor, versatile telephoto digicam, and a strong selfie digicam. Realme would not cease there although, because it delivers an equally premium utilization expertise because of a faux-leather again panel and the luxury-watch impressed rear modules. Efficiency can be respectable, the telephone is water and dustproof, and the battery simply lasts greater than a day. The vivid curved-edge AMOLED show is great for binge-watching on the transfer.
The everyday software program hurdles proceed to hang-out Realme telephones, because the interface is just too cluttered and bloated with unnecessary apps. The ultrawide digicam can be nothing particular, when in comparison with how good the opposite cameras are. Lastly, there’s the processor itself, which might have been completely respectable on a telephone at round $300, however not at this value. If the 12 Professional Plus 5G is not out there the place you reside, here is an inventory of nice options that ought to work simply as nicely.
An excellent telephoto digicam beneath $400
For a telephone priced round $400, the Realme 12 Professional Plus 5G boasts of excellent predominant and telephoto digicam sensors, and is again by a premium vegan-leather end. You additionally get a curved-edge show, 67W charging, and a strong Snapdragon platform. All these options collectively makes it good worth.