Realme 12+ review

The competition

At the time of writing, a base 8GB/128GB Realme 12+ unit will set you back INR 19,950 (€220/$240). The storage upgrade is priced quite cheap, and you can pick the 8GB/256GB variant for INR 21,000 (€230/$250). We couldn't find the 12GB/512GB variant available yet.

With that pricing in mind, we had a look at what the competition has to offer. The Xiaomi Poco X6 has a similarly sized 6.67-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, but it is one that has 12-bit color and is Dolby Vision certified. The X6 also offers stereo speakers and IP54 ingress protection. Its base config has 8GB/256GB and costs even less than the 256GB Realme 12+. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 is a nice little upgrade in performance over the Dimensity 7050. You also get a slightly larger 5,100 mAh battery with the X6, though not necessarily better battery life. The Poco also lacks expandable storage.

You could also save a bit of money and go for the seriously cheaper Poco M6 Pro instead and still get most of the way there in terms of overall experience. The MediaTek Helio G99 Ultra isn't a particularly powerful chip, though, and you will sacrifice certain features like 5G and 4K video capture.

Xiaomi Poco X6 • Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 4G • Motorola Moto G84 • Infinix Zero 30

If you don't really mind the lack of 5G, then the Redmi Note 13 Pro 4G might be worth considering. It is a very similar device to the ones already mentioned, even rocking the same Helio G99 Ultra chipset. However, its 200MP main camera does have a certain appeal.

Motorola has a nice and affordable option in the Moto G84. It has a nice design with IP54 certification and stereo speakers, just like the Realme 12+. Its OLED display is a bit smaller at 6.5 inches but is comparable. Don't expect much performance or 4K video recording from the Snapdragon 695 chipset, but at least it has 5G.

You can probably consider the Infinix Zero 30 as well. Sure, it is a slightly older 2023 device, but it checks many boxes. Some of its standout features include a 144Hz refresh rate on the large 6.78-inch AMOLED display and a pretty decent camera setup, including a 108MP main shooter and a particularly nice 50MP selfie camera with autofocus and 4K video capture. The Dimensity 8020 also offers a nice little bump in performance over the Dimensity 7050.

Our verdict

The Realme 12+ is an interesting device. It definitely has an exquisite design with standout aesthetics. There is plenty more to like here, such as solid rear cameras, a very competent stereo speaker setup, pretty good battery life, and competitive charging speed.

The Dimensity 7050 inside the Realme 12+ may not be the fastest chip around but it's hard to find something more powerful for that kind of cash. It has enough power to run the UI and most daily tasks and apps smoothly, but you can't expect much more. The Realme 12+ also handles its high refresh rate very poorly, with practically no dynamic switching and very limited high refresh rate gaming abilities.

Even so, the Realme 12+ seems like a good value device at its current price point, and it's got our outright recommendation.

Pros

• Very generous accessory package.
• Premium design that punches above its weight and good build quality.
• Pretty good battery life.
• Rapid charging speed.
• Very good stereo speaker setup.
• Very little thermal-throttling.
• microSD slot and 3.5mm audio jack.

Cons

• Poor high refresh rate handling and practically no high refresh rate gaming.
• Image quality out of the selfie camera is not very good.