The realme 12 Pro 5G is a mid-range phone. realme announced it on January 29, 2024, alongside the 12 Pro+ 5G. Sales in India started on February 6, 2024. In Europe, it launched at €399.99 for the 8 GB/256 GB model. It is the first realme Number Series phone with a 2x telephoto camera.
Design and display
Like the Pro+, it borrows its look from luxury watches. The back is vegan leather with a gold-tone camera ring. It comes in Submarine Blue and Navigator Beige.
The 6.7-inch curved OLED screen has a 2412 x 1080 resolution and a 120 Hz refresh rate. realme rates its local peak brightness at 950 nits. It uses 2160 Hz PWM dimming at low brightness. The phone measures 161.47 x 74.02 x 8.75 mm, weighs about 190 g and is rated IP65.
Performance
Inside is the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1, a 4 nm chip with Adreno 710 graphics. Its CPU runs at up to 2.2 GHz. It is a step below the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 in the 12 Pro+.
RAM is 8 GB or 12 GB, with 128 GB or 256 GB of storage. Versions vary by market. There is no microSD slot.
Cameras
The main camera has a 50 MP Sony IMX882 sensor in a 1/2-inch format. It has OIS and an f/1.8 lens. A 32 MP Sony IMX709 telephoto camera adds 2x optical zoom. The third camera is an 8 MP ultrawide with a 112-degree view.
Rear video goes up to 4K at 30 fps. The 16 MP front camera records up to 1080p at 30 fps.
Battery and charging
The battery holds 5,000 mAh. It charges at up to 67 W with SUPERVOOC, and realme claims 1% to 50% in 19 minutes. The box includes a 67 W charger. Wireless charging is not supported.
Software and updates
The phone launched with realme UI 5.0 on top of Android 14. Its update policy could not be confirmed by two reliable sources.
It also has NFC, stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. Unlocking uses an in-display fingerprint reader. There is no headphone jack.
Should you buy the realme 12 Pro 5G?
The 12 Pro 5G suits buyers who want a telephoto camera without paying for the Pro+. It keeps the same display, battery, charging and design. The main trade-offs are a slower chip and a 2x instead of 3x zoom.
Keep in mind that it lacks wireless charging and expandable storage. Its IP65 rating covers splashes only. The realme 13 Pro 5G has since followed it.
