Realme 12 Pro+ Review: Stunning Camera Performance Under ₹30
Design & Build: Premium Aesthetics, Practical Feel
Realme nails the premium aesthetic with the 12 Pro+. The distinctive circular camera module, accented by a polished gold “luxury watch-inspired” flange, immediately elevates its look beyond typical mid-rangers. Available in Navigator Beige and Submarine Blue, the vegan leather back (especially in Beige) offers excellent grip and resists fingerprints, a welcome change from glossy plastic or glass. The curved back seamlessly meets the subtly curved 6.7-inch AMOLED display, ensuring comfortable handling despite the large size. While not officially IP-rated, Realme claims basic splash resistance. The plastic frame feels sturdy, though not as cold or dense as metal. Overall, Realme delivers exceptional perceived luxury and ergonomic design within budget constraints, challenging rivals like the Nothing Phone (2a) and Redmi Note 13 Pro+ in visual appeal.
Display: Vibrant Visuals, Smooth Scrolling
The centerpiece is a stunning 6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED panel. Colors pop with richness and accuracy, thanks to 100% DCI-P3 coverage and support for 1.07 billion colors. Peak brightness reaches an impressive 950 nits outdoors, ensuring clear visibility under harsh sunlight. The 120Hz refresh rate delivers exceptionally smooth scrolling in social feeds and fluid gameplay, while the 240Hz touch sampling rate translates to responsive touch inputs crucial for gaming. Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 provides reliable scratch and drop protection. HDR10+ compatibility enhances streaming content on platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. While the resolution isn’t QHD, the pixel density (~394 PPI) remains sharp for daily use. The in-display fingerprint sensor is fast and accurate, completing a display package that excels for entertainment and usability.
Camera System: The Undisputed Star – Periscope Powerhouse
The camera system is where the Realme 12 Pro+ truly justifies its “Pro+” moniker and disrupts the sub-₹30,000 segment. The headline act is the groundbreaking 64MP OmniVision OV64B periscope telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. This hardware enables lossless zoom up to 6x, delivering detail and clarity previously unseen at this price. Zooming to 10x or even 20x remains impressively usable, thanks to sophisticated multi-frame computational processing. The periscope unlocks stunning portrait shots with exceptional natural-looking background blur (bokeh) and precise subject separation. The 50MP Sony IMX890 primary sensor (1/1.56″, OIS) is a proven performer. It captures vibrant, well-exposed images in daylight, with excellent dynamic range and accurate colors. Low-light performance is strong, with OIS minimizing blur and Night Mode effectively brightening scenes while preserving details and managing noise. The 8MP ultrawide sensor offers a 112-degree field of view. While it lacks the stellar quality of the primary and telephoto lenses, it’s competent for expansive landscapes and group shots in good light. The 32MP front camera produces detailed selfies with pleasing skin tones and effective background blur in portrait mode.
Camera Features & Software: Flagship-Like Experience
Realme’s camera software leverages the powerful hardware effectively. The MasterShot Algorithm, tuned in partnership with cinematographer Claudio Miranda, introduces advanced color science. It offers distinct modes: Master Filter provides cinematic color grading presets, while Master Mode unlocks granular manual controls (ISO, shutter speed, focus, white balance) for enthusiasts. Street Photography Mode 4.0 offers rapid snap capabilities. Video recording impresses with 4K@30fps from all rear cameras (including the periscope!) and exceptionally stable 1080p@60fps footage using advanced OIS+EIS stabilization. Slow-motion (720p@480fps) and AI-enhanced portrait videos add versatility. The interface is clean and intuitive, making pro-level features accessible. This camera package delivers a genuinely flagship-like photographic experience, outperforming competitors like the Pixel 7a in zoom versatility and matching them in primary sensor quality.
Performance & Software: Capable Mid-Range Engine
Powering the experience is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 processor. Paired with 8GB or 12GB of RAM (expandable via Dynamic RAM Expansion up to 8GB more), it handles everyday tasks – social media, browsing, messaging, streaming – with effortless smoothness. Multitasking is generally fluid. Gaming performance is solid for casual and moderately demanding titles like BGMI or Call of Duty: Mobile at medium to high settings (typically achieving 40-50 fps sustained), though graphically intensive games at max settings will push the chip. Thermal management is adequate, avoiding excessive throttling. Storage options are 128GB or 256GB using fast UFS 3.1 technology. The phone runs Realme UI 5.0 based on Android 14. While feature-rich with customization options (themes, always-on displays), it includes noticeable bloatware (pre-installed apps like Snapchat, LinkedIn, Facebook) and occasional promotional notifications. Cleanup is possible, but a cleaner OS experience would be preferable. Software support is confirmed for two major Android updates and three years of security patches.
Battery & Charging: All-Day Endurance, Super Speeds
A 5000mAh battery provides reliable all-day endurance for moderate to heavy users. Expect 6-7 hours of screen-on time (SOT) with mixed usage involving 5G, camera use, and video streaming. Less intensive users might stretch into a second day. The true standout is the 67W SuperVOOC fast charging. A depleted battery reaches 50% in approximately 18 minutes and achieves a full 100% charge in just 45-48 minutes. This rapid top-up capability significantly mitigates battery anxiety. The charger is included in the box. While wireless charging is absent – an expected omission at this price – the sheer speed of wired charging compensates effectively.
Value & Competition: Redefining Expectations
Priced aggressively starting around ₹27,999 (8GB/128GB), the Realme 12 Pro+ presents phenomenal value. Its primary competitors are:
- Nothing Phone (2a) (₹23,999): Offers cleaner software (Nothing OS 2.5), unique Glyph interface, capable cameras, and good performance (Dimensity 7200 Pro) but lacks a telephoto zoom and has slower 45W charging.
- Redmi Note 13 Pro+ (₹29,999): Features a brighter 120Hz 1.5K AMOLED display, slightly faster 120W charging, and an IP68 rating. Its 200MP primary camera offers high-resolution potential, but its 8MP ultrawide and 2MP macro fall short of the Realme’s versatile 3x periscope telephoto.
- Google Pixel 7a (₹36,999+): Boasts class-leading computational photography (especially point-and-shoot consistency, HDR, low-light), clean Android, and guaranteed updates. However, it’s significantly more expensive, has a smaller battery with slower charging (18W), and lacks a dedicated telephoto lens, relying on digital zoom.
The Realme 12 Pro+ carves its niche by offering an unmatched combination: flagship-grade camera versatility (especially the periscope zoom), a premium design, a vibrant 120Hz display, and incredibly fast charging – all under ₹30,000. It forces compromises in raw processing power compared to slightly pricier options and accepts some software bloat, but for users prioritizing photography flexibility and overall premium feel on a budget, it sets a compelling new benchmark.