realme 12 Pro+ 5G Impressions | Shooting with Style

After finally getting an official launch date for the realme 12 Series 5G, the excitement couldn’t be more palpable. Along with this event, we’re getting the realme 12 Pro+ 5G, a flagship-level smartphone that can go toe-to-toe with the competition. Clad in the most stylish exterior while packing some premium, top-shelf specs, it’s safe to say that expectations are a bit high, given how successful its predecessor was.

After some time with the realme 12 Pro+ 5G, we’ve yet to formulate a concrete idea on the full extent of how much it’s improved in the past year. Male no mistake, there definitely are improvements, and boy are they spectacular. From the plush, vegan leather backside to the luxury watch-themed shooter adornments, this smartphone just oozes luxury.

It’s no surprise that we get the usual sweet items out of the box, including a proprietary TPU case, a USB-C cable, and a 67W SUPERVOOC charging brick that tops you up quick. However, allow us to deliver a hot take. The realme 12 Pro+ 5G should not be used with a phone case. We tried it, and it felt weird. While the leather finish feels less sleek than the Realme 11 Pro+, it’s the kind of tactile exterior that grows on you after a while.

At barely 8 millimeters and weighing less than 200 grams, it’s not only spectacular, but slim. Quite handy for a smartphone that sports a 6.7-inch display with more than 90% screen-to-body ratio. That’s a hefty display and a chin that keeps getting slimmer–slowly, but surely, with each year. Switching things on, we’re greeted by a vivid, color-rich screen that can surely be customized to your liking. It’s a curved OLED, after all.

Also, stereo speakers. We love us some stereo speakers. A lot.

Now, the cameras. After a bit of blind testing, rooftop shots, and random night photography, we’ve scratched the surface of the realme 12 Pro+ 5G’s tripled-camera setup–headlined by a capable 64MP Periscope Portrait Camera. Given these are night shots taken by a complete amateur, they look pretty good.

It’s also worth noting that the color palette in the watermark is a nice addition to have, and removable if it doesn’t tickle your fancy.

We’ll save more of the testing for all the other shots, including selfies. Wouldn’t want to go off the rails too soon. It’s also nice to have a bit of suspense. Kidding aside, these lenses work smoothly and put out some nice shots. As we’ve experienced in the previous “Pro” versions of realme’s numbered series, the cameras are definitely a highlight.

 Aside from the cameras, there’s still more to unpack. The chipset alone has a ton of potential when it comes to gaming. Perhaps not the dream of max settings on Hoyo titles, but some decent framerates and smooth gameplay. Seeing that we have a total of 24GB of RAM, it’s also exciting to see how day-to-day tasks would go. Based on simple navigation and browsing through apps, the interface feels snappy enough.

Knowing that we also have a dynamic 120Hz refresh rate makes things even sweeter. It’s also interesting to see how a few initial firmware updates would help improve the overall experience. We’ll make sure to whip up some content for everyone in the coming days, so it’s best to stick around and keep your eyes peeled.

Stay tuned for the official launch of the realme 12 Series 5G this coming March 7, 2024. For more information, check out the official realme website and Facebook page.