When we talk about smartphones with a good quality-price ratio we enter the hunting territory of Realmethe brand that in 2023 more than any other, in the telephony sector, has grown in Europe by leveraging the happy encounter between an affordable price list and a more than adequate technical data sheet.
The new range Realme 12 Series, and in particular the 12+ model which we will talk about in greater detail, is a candidate as a programmatic statement from the young Chinese brand (it was born in 2018): will it succeed in its objective of offering a high-level experience at a low cost? Let’s try to answer with this test.
Careful design and precious materials
The design of Realme 12+ is the result of collaboration with the luxury watch designer Ollivier Saveo. The inspiration can be seen in details such as the circular camera module that recalls the dials and the “jubilee” finish that recalls woven bracelets. The vegan leather shell and PVD-plated edges give it a touch of quality. The Pioneer Green color that we are testing is beautiful; the alternative color is Navigator Beige.
Realme 12+ is light (190g) and very thin (7.57mm), the flat edges make the smartphone comfortable to hold, while the IP54 certification protects it from dust and splashes of water (not from complete immersion). Another appreciable feature is the presence of the 3.5mm headphone jackwhich has now almost disappeared from the market: here those who still love (not wrongly) wired headphones will find satisfaction
Solid performance and 5G connectivity
The beating heart of Realme 12+ is the processor Mediatek Dimensity 7050, a mid-range platform: it’s not a thunderbolt but it provides more than enough performance for most everyday tasks and light gaming. The memory is generous, up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB in the top version or in the 8+256GB configuration, still more than sufficient. Connectivity is 5G with Dual Carrier Aggregation support; network optimization algorithms improve stability and autonomy, automatically switching to 4G in the event of a weak 5G signal.
Among other specifications stand out dual Hi-Res stereo speakers certified, the in-display fingerprint sensor, NFC support, while Wi-Fi connectivity stops at Wi-Fi 5.
Amoled display at 120Hz and excellent battery life
Realme 12+ sports a large 6.7-inch AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rate and peak brightness of 2000 nits for very good viewing even in direct sunlight. The 240Hz touch sampling rate ensures smooth interactions.
The 5000mAh battery offers excellent autonomy, more than a day and a half even with intense use. When needed, the 67W Supervooc charging allows you to charge 50% in just 19 minutes, a remarkable result for this price range. Among the options is the ability to stop charging at 80% to preserve battery life.
Cameras
The camera sector of the Realme 12+ stands out for the main 50MP one with a large 1/1.95″ Sony LYT 600 sensor and f/1.88 aperture. An excellent sensor which allows, thanks also to OIS stabilization, to capture sharp and rich in details even from afar: the 2X zoom is without loss of quality, but up to approximately 5X the shots remain usable.
An interesting mode it is the “Snap Portrait System” which increases the continuous shooting rate up to 208 photos per minute, useful for capturing moving subjects or fast action scenes. Subject-aware autofocus and adaptive exposure algorithms improve the success rate of fast shots by 40%.
The cinematic portrait mode then implements three creative filters curated by cinematographer Claudio Miranda, inspired by the successful films he has worked on. These filters apply cinematic-style color and bokeh effects for even more impactful portraits. Less incisive, almost more of a complement, is the set of secondary cameras, with a 112° ultra-wide angle lens which performs with dignity in bright environments but which cannot be asked for much
Realme UI 5.0
The interface is the home one, Realme UI 5.0, based on Android 14. It introduces some smart features such as the File Dock for smoother multitasking, easy sharing of content between apps and devices and native integration with Microsoft Link to Windows.
Realme 12 and 12X: the younger brothers
The Realme 12 series also includes two cheaper but equally interesting models. Realme 12 5G inherits the customizable dynamic button for quick access to favorite functions and apps. At launch it will be purchasable for less than 300 euros.
Realme 12X 5G instead it focuses everything on 5G with the Dimensity 6100+ processor and signal optimization algorithms. The “Light Feather” design plays with light and shadow effects for an original look. The launch price will even be under 200 euros, a candidate for best buy in this price range.
Conclusions
Realme 12+ proved to be an interesting choice in the mid-range of 2024: it combines a design with original and very refined materials with great autonomy, a convincing primary camera and some unexpected features such as cinema filters.
The list price will be 359.99 euros (8/256 GB) and 419.99 euros (12/512 GB) but on promotion it will immediately drop to 299.99 euros (from 20 to 24 May, on Amazon): a decidedly interesting price considering the characteristics of the product.
To receive all the updates on offers, our tests and guides, subscribe to the La Scelta Giusta newsletter. If you want to write to us, our email is [email protected].
May 14, 2024 (modified May 14, 2024 | 2:37 pm)
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
