When you want to buy a new phone, many questions immediately arise. How long will the smartphone last? Is it worth investing in a gaming gadget, or maybe it’s better to choose a cheaper option with good cameras? These questions are valid, given the market offers such a vast selection of similar gadgets that it’s impossible to quickly decide and buy your dream phone. Additionally, not everyone can afford a flagship phone that costs from $980 / €920. So, what should you do in this case? We suggest getting acquainted with an ambitious newcomer – the realme 12 5G, which is sure to attract its own circle of fans thanks to its advantages.
realme 12 5G specifications
- Display: 6.72″ LTPS LCD 1080×2400, 120 Hz, 800 nits (typical) / 950 nits (maximum)
- Processor: MediaTek Dimension 6100+ 6 nm
- Video card: Mali-G57 MC2
- Memory: 8/256 GB, expandable up to 8 GB of RAM
- SIM card: 2×nanoSIM (hybrid connector)
- Cameras:
- Main unit: 108MP (1/1.67″ sensor) + 2MP depth sensor
- Video recording: 720p at 30 fps or 1080 at 30 fps
- Front camera: 8 megapixel
- Sound: stereo, 3.5 mm mini-jack
- Battery: 5000 mAh, 45W SuperVOOC wired charging
- Operating system: Android 14
- Wireless technologies: Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.2, 5G, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e (2.4 and 5 GHz), Galileo and NFC
- Protection: IP54
- Dimensions and weight: 165.60×76.10×7.69 mm, 188 g
- Colors: Woodland Green, Twilight Purple
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Positioning and price
It’s clear that the mid-range realme 12 5G faces plenty of competition, even from within the realme family. However, the fact that this model offers respectable features at an affordable price encourages us to take a closer look at our contender.
This is the most affordable member of the “number” series, the realme 12, which was released alongside the realme 12+ 5G. Compared to the latter, it has a weaker screen (IPS instead of AMOLED), a slightly less powerful chipset, less memory, poorer cameras (only one useful module on the back), a fingerprint sensor on the side button instead of the screen, and slower charging. You can find the comparison here. Besides the realme 12 5G and 12+ 5G, the lineup also includes the more advanced realme 12 Pro and realme 12 Pro+ 5G, which were introduced in January (here are the links to our reviews).
The device is available in two colors: Woodland Green and Twilight Purple (both look great). Memory versions include 6/128 GB, 8/128 GB, and 8/256 GB. However, not all of these will be available in Europe. In Ukraine, only the 8/256 GB version is currently available, priced at approximately $270 / €250.
Package contents
The package is standard: a 45W charger, a SIM tray removal tool, documentation, and a transparent case that will protect your device from scratches and scuffs (at least for a while). Additionally, a screen protector is already applied, so you won’t need to spend extra money on protecting the screen from accidental drops or usage marks.
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Design, ergonomics
realme has long admired the aesthetics of premium watches, so the latest innovations are inspired by these elegant products, particularly in the area of the camera island. realme 12 5G is an interesting solution for those who want to stand out from the crowd. The new model looks much better compared to last year’s realme 11.
On the right we see the volume and power buttons, the latter of which is also a fingerprint scanner. We’ll talk about the scanner a little later. And here it is worth adding that the Dynamic Button option allows you to quickly press the power button twice to switch between selected applications and settings. At the bottom and top are a SIM card slot, an earpiece speaker and a mini-jack. The front camera is round and inconspicuous. The smartphone has small display bezels with a noticeable “chin”.
The back panel looks unusual – we see a light purple color that shimmers beautifully in the sunlight. The panel is matte, so fingerprints remain invisible on it. The cameras, on the other hand, are located on one large module that protrudes strongly above the body. The “back” is divided in half from bottom to top by a thin and delicate line, which adds elegance to the model (we saw something similar, but in a more expressive style, on the 12 Pro / 12 Pro+ series). At the bottom left is the brand logo.
Overall, the device looks good: decent build quality, flat frames in line with the latest trends, and an interesting design on the back panel. The plastic does detract a bit, but let’s remember that this is a budget model, so we can’t expect eco-leather or metal here.
The phone fits comfortably in the hand and is not heavy, weighing 188 grams with dimensions of 165.60 × 76.10 × 7.69 mm. However, it’s difficult to operate with one hand.
The body is protected according to the IP54 standard, meaning the smartphone is dust-resistant and can withstand water splashes.
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Display
Since this is a budget model, it can’t be perfect in every aspect. The first obvious compromise is the screen, as it uses IPS technology instead of AMOLED. However, the 1080×2400 resolution ensures clear detail. With a brightness of up to 800 nits (950 nits peak), the screen remains readable even in bright sunlight. At night, it won’t blind your eyes. While the realme 12 can’t match flagship displays, it still offers bright colors, good contrast, and wide viewing angles—images don’t fade when viewed from different positions. Overall, it’s a really good IPS display.
The refresh rate is also an important technical parameter. You can choose the automatic mode, which adapts to the content, 60 Hz for battery saving, or up to 120 Hz, which makes the screen display smoother.
In the settings, as always, you can adjust screen parameters according to your preferences—choose fonts, dark theme, screen color mode (vivid and natural), adjust color temperature, select screen size (large, standard, and small). Additionally, there’s a “Full-screen mode for applications” feature that alters the screen’s appearance based on the parameters and applications displayed on it.
Sound
Here we have certified Hi-Res stereo sound, clear and loud. There was no shortage of bass and treble. There were no problems while playing games, listening to music or watching movies. Also, the realme 12 5G has a 3.5 mm mini-jack, so if you use wired headphones, you don’t have to give up this option. In turn, I connected wireless “earbuds” and improved the sound in the app, and it was great too. During calls, I could hear myself and the other party, which is the most important thing.
The speakers of the realme 12 5G also feature a function called Ultra Volume Mode, which allows you to increase the volume level by up to 200%. I find the sound quality somewhat coarse, although not everyone may consider this a drawback.
Unlocking methods
The device offers two standard unlocking options – facial recognition and fingerprint (located on the power button). Initially, I chose the second option and used it for several days. Indeed, unlocking was faster and more secure, but there were many accidental presses. For instance, simply picking up the phone and inadvertently touching the button area caused the phone to react and unsuccessfully attempt to unlock, which was frustrating.
On the other hand, facial recognition works well, even in low light conditions.
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Connectivity and data transfer
realme 12 5G is equipped with advanced wireless technologies, including Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.2, and support for 5G networks. With support for Wi-Fi standards 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e across 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, you can quickly communicate over the Internet. Additionally, the presence of NFC allows for contactless payments. These features ensure a modern and versatile connectivity experience on the device.
Cameras
What are the photographic capabilities of the realme 12 5G? We have a fairly modest set, but is it worthy of attention?
- The main unit: 108MP + 2MP depth sensor
- Video recording: 720p at 30 fps or 1080 at 30 fps
- Front camera: 8 megapixels
The fourth visible “eye” is not a camera, but likely a laser autofocus. It was the same on the 12 Pro.
Let’s start with the features offered by the camera app. Among them: professional mode, panorama, high resolution, video, slow motion, timelapse, text scanner, group portrait, etc. The interface of the app is simple and understandable.
We know that good pictures depend on good lighting, and the realme 12 5G is no exception, the main camera takes good pictures, with rich colors and detail. Sometimes I would like to see a little more contrast. We also have a 3x zoom (the so-called “in-matrix zoom”) – but the quality is pathetic, if the 1.5x zoom is fine, then the maximum zoom is useless and has poor image quality.
realme calls the 12 5G model the new master of portrait photography. The phone indeed creates a good bokeh effect, and there is a portrait mode with a 3x zoom. However, in my opinion, the 1x zoom works slightly better.
Selfies taken on the realme 12 5G could be better. They are just okay, but not more, as the skin looks pale and not very clear. Remember that there are so-called “beautifiers” that overly correct your appearance. You can use them when you’ve had a bad day and need to look decent on social media :-). There is also an option to create group selfies.
The night mode gently illuminates photos, so I enjoyed the evening shots – they have a lot of detail and almost no digital noise.
The video looks good both in daylight and in evening lighting conditions. It can be recorded at a resolution of 720p at 30 frames per second or 1080p at 30 frames per second. Overall, the video quality is quite decent.
Read also: realme 12 Pro Review: All About the Cameras
Software
The smartphone runs on Android 14 with realme UI 5.0. On one hand, the software was saturated with various ads, applications for content playback and viewing, multiple stores, etc. Personally, this was quite bothersome for me, requiring deletion of some elements or organizing them into folders. On the other hand, the software offers many useful features that can simplify life for the average user.
For example: parental controls, dynamic button (the power button can perform certain functions with a double press – open applications, set a timer, enable bike mode, enable airplane mode, etc.), special features such as child mode, easy mode, split screen, special motions and gestures. realme also prioritizes user data security, so we have security and privacy options, as well as security mode and notifications.
New features have been introduced, such as File Dock, which provides quick access to recently opened images, videos, and documents, and PhoneLink for working with Microsoft Link to Windows.
It’s worth highlighting the “Mini Capsule” – an animation around the front camera that activates during specific actions. It’s somewhat reminiscent of the iPhone. For example, it informs about battery status during charging, charge level, shows animations to the rhythm of music, weather information, calendar events, and fitness achievements. The manufacturer assures that the functionality of the “capsule” will expand with future updates.
The manufacturer promises two major operating system updates and three years of security patch support – not particularly abundant compared to competitors.
Performance
The new model is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ chipset with a Mali-G57 MC2 graphics accelerator. It supports 8 GB of RAM (expandable up to 8 GB) and 256 GB of internal storage. The internal storage can be expanded using microSD cards, though doing so requires sacrificing the second SIM slot.
Working with the phone was comfortable. There were no issues with switching between games or apps in the background; each program operated swiftly. For those interested in numbers, I’ve included benchmark results from various tests:
Read also: Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G Review: True Flagship
Battery life
The smartphone is equipped with a 5000 mAh battery, which is standard for its price range. It comes with a SuperVOOC 45W charger. Despite actively using the phone during tests, the device typically lasted about 1.5 days before needing a recharge. As for charging speed, the realme 12 5G charges from 0% to 40% in half an hour, achieving a full charge in about an hour.
In the settings, there are modes available to help save battery life when needed: power saving mode, intelligent charging, productivity modes, optimal standby mode, and more.
Conclusions
Today we tested the realme 12 5G model, which certainly has its pros and cons. It’s a smartphone that offers advanced features at an affordable price. The large screen with a resolution of 1080×2400 (unfortunately, IPS, but of decent quality) provides bright images and smooth operation, especially thanks to the 120 Hz refresh rate.
High photo quality (even at night), long battery life, and an interesting design make the realme 12 5G a great choice for those looking for an efficient and affordable smartphone. Of course, if you’re seeking a phone with slightly better camera performance and faster charging, you might want to consider the Redmi Note 13 5G or OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite.
Read also:
- Realme 12 Pro Plus 5G Review: Created for Success
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: Strengths of AI and a Flawed Zoom
- POCO X6 Pro smartphone review: It came to conquer… a niche