Buying a new phone is a hard task and a decision best done with thorough research. Nowadays, you get a lot of options and choices. Just browse your favorite online mall and you’ll be swamped by the number of choices. In the mid and low-range market, the options are almost endless. But what actually makes a phone stand out? Is it the price? Is it the looks or appearance? Or is it the camera? What if there’s a phone that has all three? Enter the realme 12 5G. A recently released smartphone, the realme 12 5G has made waves and has finally graced our review table. But is it good though? Let’s find out in this review!
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ CPU: 6nm Process, Octa-Core; Up to 2.2GHz GPU: ARM-Cortex G57 MC2 |
| Display | 6.7” 120Hz Sunlight Display Display Size: 6.72 Brightness: 800 Nits (typ)/ 950nit (HBM; Extra Brightness Turned On) Refresh Rate: Up to 120Hz (With 6-Level Dynamic Refresh Rate) 6-Level Dynamic Refresh Rate: 45Hz, 48Hz, 50Hz, 60Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz Touch Sampling Rate: Up to 240Hz Resolution: FHD+ (1080*2400) Screen-to-Body Ratio: 91.4% Display Colors: 16.7M |
| Cameras | 108MP 3x Zoom Portrait Camera Rear Camera Primary Camera Pixels: 108MP Lens: 6P FOV: 84° Sensor Size: 1/1.67” Aperture: f/1.75 Focal Length: 24mmB&W Camera Pixels: 2MP Lens: 3P FOV: 89° Aperture: f/2.4 Focal Length: 22mmPhotography Functions: Photo, Video, Night, Street, Pro, Pano, Portrait, Time-Lapse, Slow-Motion, Text Scanner, Hi-Res, Tilt-Shift, Movie, Dual-View Video, Group Portrait Video Recording： 8MP AI Selfie Camera Photography Functions： Video Recording： |
| RAM / Storage | 8GB+256GB RAM: 8GB (LPDDR4X) ROM: 256GB Up to 16GB Total RAM with up to 8GB Dynamic RAM Expansion Expandable Storage up to 2TB |
| Charging & Battery | 45W SUPERVOOC Charge 5000mAh (typ) Massive Battery 4880mAh(min) Battery Capacity Includes a 45W Charging Adapter with cable in the box USB Type-C Port |
| Cellular & Wireless | 5G + 5G Dual Mode SA/NSA Supported Frequency Bands: GSM: 850/900/1800MHz WCDMA: Bands 1/5/8 LTE FDD: Bands 1/3/5/8/28B LTE TDD：Bands 40/41 5G NR: n1/n3/n5/n8/n28B/n40/n41(2535-2655MHz)/n77/n78 *Actual network and band usage is dependent on local operator deployment.Wireless: 2.4/5GHz Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 4 / Wi-Fi 5 Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Size & Weight | Length: 165.6mm Width：76.1mm Depth ≈ 7.69mm Weight ≈188g |
| Sensors | Magnetic Induction Sensor Light Sensor Proximity Sensor Gyrometer Acceleration Sensor Side Fingerprint Sensor |
| Navigation | GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS |
| Buttons & Ports | Type-C Port Power Button Volume Buttons 3.5mm Headphone Jack |
| Operating System | realme UI 5.0 Based on Android 14 |
| Packing List | realme 12 5G USB Type-A toType-C Charging Cable 45W SUPERVOOC Charging Adapter Protect Case Screen Protect Film SIM Ejector PIN Quick Guide Important Info Booklet with Warranty Card (Safety Guide) |
To test the new hardware of the realme 12 5G, we used four benchmarking tools to see how it measures with other phones. A number is given at the end of each benchmark and using that number, you can compare the performance of the realme 12 5G with other phones.
A feature that the realme 12 5G touts is its 108MP camera. Not only does it produce vibrant and clear images during daytime but it also is as effective for night shots. For testing, you can see that I took a couple of pictures of my cat in the dark and a miniature for close-up shots. Often times, at this price point, phones can be a bit wonkier and features like these are usually left in the back burner as phones concentrate more on powerful hardware. Not the realme 12 5G.
One look at the realme 12 5G and you’ll notice that it’s a bit chunkier and bulkier than most of its contemporaries. This however is not a disadvantage but a great deal given that it adds a certain premium feel to an otherwise “unassuming” mid-range phone. realme have stated that the design is inspired by quality watches and they really did a solid here. The phone looks and feels like one that is above its price point. Not only that but they did not compromise on the build quality. The realme 12 5G feels solid and there’s weight to the phone. Even if you try (I did) to bend it, the phone wouldn’t bend unless you deliberately exert a tremendous amount of effort.
Since we’re talking about hardware, how does the realme 12 5G play when it comes to mobile games? To test this, I played a huge deal of Mobile Legends on it. The experience has been crisp and I have yet to encounter a hiccup or any hardware issue while playing this popular MOBA title. However, it does feel a bit sluggish with games likes Warhammer 40,000: Tacticus as there are times when the transition between menus and screens do feel a bit sluggish. Nevertheless, gaming experience with this one is more or less okay. But since we’re talking about the screen…
A feature previously found only in premium phones, the realme 12 5G is equipped with a 6.72-inch screen with a 2400×1080 resolution. Not only that but the screen has a 120Hz refresh rate, making navigation and gaming a buttery smooth experience. My only problem with this one is that the screen automatically adjusts to your lighting. Not that it’s bad but the adjustments are not on par with the brightness of your surroundings. There were times in which the screen just went darker, necessitating a manual override in the brightness settings just for me to see what’s happening on screen.
With all things said and done, the realme 12 5G is undoubtedly an awesome phone. It’s incredibly well-made and exudes a certain elegance in its build design. It may be a bit thicker than most phones but it is a consequence of what it stores inside. It’s rigid and feels solid when held. It did not compromise and it shows.
Another thing worth noting is the camera. There’s really nothing to complain about the camera of the realme 12 5G. It’s above par with what you can expect at its price point and you’ll definitely get some good shots with this one.
Last is the price. While not that affordable, you do get a lot of value with what you pay for in the realme 12 5G. Although it has more expensive siblings, you definitely cannot go wrong with buying this one as a new phone or as a gift to a loved one.
As mentioned above, there’s nothing left but praises for the realme 12 5G. Although there are some minor hiccups here and there, the phone really stands out above the rest in terms of its build, camera, and its price point. If you’re out there shopping for a phone to replace your aging one without having to break the bank, this is a very good option to consider.
The realme 12 5G is available in the Philippines. You can grab it at physical stores near you or order it online. As of the writing of this review, the realme 12 5G is priced at PhP 14,999. You may get it for cheaper if you watch out for this deals in online stores.
On the other hand, you may fancy the realme 12 5G’s more powerful sibling. You can read more about it in our realme 12 Pro+ 5G review.
For more information about the realme 12 5G, check out the official product page.
