Review of the Realme 12 Pro: Hardware and Design
The Realme 12 Pro, which shares its design with its larger sibling, showcases an exquisite rear panel crafted from vegan leather that is both soft-touch and available in colours including Navigator Beige and Submarine Blue. Furthermore, the apparatus incorporates a circular camera incision inspired by Rolex, which is encircled by concentric lines that, when illuminated, generate distinct patterns.
Upon examination of the camera enclosure, one might be lead to believe that four cameras are present. In place of this, the 12 Pro incorporates three distinct lenses and a fourth aperture for symmetry. It is essential to note, however, that as a result of the camera cutout’s dimensions, it frequently removes keys and cards from its pouch.
Transitioning to the sides, the phone is adorned with a sleek plastic frame that initially exudes an air of sophistication. While aesthetics may vary, frames made of polished plastic are susceptible to scratches.
Vegan leather may also present an issue.
It is universally acknowledged that vegan leather is considerably more delicate than a glass back. During our two-week testing period, the phone exhibited remarkable durability, as no peeling or discoloration was observed. It is important to note, nevertheless, that this issue was also prevalent on the Realme 11 Pro Plus. Therefore, be prepared to secure the phone with a case or cover if you purchase it.
Review of the Realme 12 Pro: Display
Display image for the Realme 12 Pro
While high-end devices such as the S24 Ultra have abandoned curved displays entirely, brands such as Realme have embraced the trend. This determination is based on the perception of average consumers who continue to associate curved displays with high-end smartphones. However, prior to proceeding, the Realme 12 Pro is equipped with a punch-hole facial camera and a curved 6.7-inch FHD+ OLED 120Hz display.
In terms of the viewing experience, the display offers excellent viewing angles and vibrant colours. This provides an exceptional viewing experience, particularly when viewed indoors. Despite this, the phone’s outdoor viewing experience is significantly lacking due to its maximal luminosity of merely 950 nits. Despite the display being illuminated directly in sunlight, ocular acuity is required.
The front panel image
Also located on the front is the biometric scanner. Additionally, while it functions admirably, it is situated marginally below the natural location of the hand. In conclusion, with regard to durability, the phone did sustain a few minor dents throughout our evaluation process, but nothing noteworthy.
Variable rate of refreshment
Comparable to the Realme 12 Pro Plus, the 12 Pro has an extremely inconsistent refresh rate. For instance, although the user interface (UI) operates at 120Hz, ensuring a fluid experience, numerous third-party applications restrict their refresh rate to 90Hz, and the software restricts YouTube to 60Hz. This results in a janky experience, given that our eyes immediately detect the refresh rate change.
Realme 12 Pro Battery and Performance Evaluation
Prior to discussing benchmarks and performance, it is worth noting that the Realme 12 Pro is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 midrange processor and an Adreno 710 GPU. Additionally, 256GB of internal storage and up to 12GB of RAM are included with the phone. It is crucial to note, however, that Realme’s 12GB of additional dynamic RAM is merely a novelty, as system storage is considerably slower than RAM.
The 12 Pro performed exceptionally well in our testing under typical conditions, including social media browsing and YouTube video viewing. We did, however, observe a stutter when launching the camera application. Conversely, the 12 Pro’s gaming performance came as a delightful surprise, as the 6th Generation 1 ran COD Mobile and BGMI at maximum settings with ease.
Transitioning to synthetic benchmarks, the phone achieved 933 in the single-core test on Geekbench and 2707 in the multi-core test, lagging behind its larger sibling by only 4%-5%. Furthermore, the phone maintained its efficacy throughout a 30-minute and 30-thread acceleration test, all due to the revolutionary vapour chamber cooling system.
Excellent battery life
The combination of the 12 Pro’s 5,000mAh battery and the midrange 6 Gen 1 processor yields an extraordinary battery life, sufficient for an entire day of photo taking and gaming. In addition, a 67W Type-A to Type-C adapter is included with the phone, enabling it to be recharged in its entirety within a span of 47 minutes.
Review of the Realme 12 Pro Plus Cameras
Realme’s event generated the most discussion regarding cameras, and we believe they were correct. Realme 12 Pro, on the other hand, features a 50MP Sony IMX882 OIS primary camera sensor, a 32MP 2x Telephoto lens, and an 8MP 112-degree UltraWide camera.
We were favourably surprised by the cameras during our evaluation, as the primary 50MP sensor captures daytime images with vibrant colours, precise details, and dynamic range that are not oversaturated. However, the device struggles with nighttime commotion and a purple hue in dimmer areas. However, it is worth noting that a phone within this price bracket would face comparable, if not greater, challenges under such circumstances.