The Realme 12 Pro duo was announced earlier this week and the company is currently taking in pre-bookings with an ₹2,000 discount. The pre-booking period ends on February 5 (Monday), so let’s take a vote on who is buying one.
We will start with the Realme 12 Pro as this generation is much more viable than the 11 Pro, which bet it all on a 100MP camera – it didn’t have an ultra wide and zooming was achieved only by the high resolution main camera. The 12 Pro is different, it drops to a 50MP main (1/2.0”) but adds a 32MP 2x tele and 8MP ultra wide cameras (112°).
Realme 12 Pro highlights
The rest is more or less the same as before with a 6.7” 120Hz 10-bit FHD+ display and a 5,000mAh battery with 67W charging (1-50% in 19 minutes). Some things did change, e.g. using a Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 instead of a Dimensity 7050. Also note that the 12 Pro generation has IP65 dust and water resistance ranting – it could have been IP67, but the 11 Pro pair didn’t have any rating, so we’ll take it.
The Realme 12 Pro starts at ₹26,000 for the 8/128GB variant and the 8/256GB one is just ₹1,000 more.
The Realme 12 Pro+ is a better phone than its predecessor too. Yes, the camera is upgraded – the loss of the 200MP 1/1.4” main sensor (replaced by a 50MP 1/1.56” one) is compensated by the addition of a 64MP 3x periscope. The 11 Pro+ offered great 2x and acceptable 4x zoom, but the new dedicated camera will offer better range and higher quality above 2x.
Realme 12 Pro+ highlights
The other major upgrade on the 12 Pro+ is that it is more powerful than the 12 Pro with a Snapdragon 7s Gen 2. The 11 Pro and 11 Pro+ were both powered by the Dimensity 7050. The 12 Pro+ took a hit on charging speed, however, as the 5,000mAh battery now maxes out at 67W. It does 1-50% in 19 minutes and 100% in 48 minutes (claimed by Realme) compared to 1-63% in 15 minutes and 100% in 28 minutes (tested by us). It’s a downgrade, certainly, but perhaps you don’t care about 100W charging anyway.
The Realme 12 Pro+ starts at slightly above the 12 Pro with an 8/128GB unit going for ₹30,00 and the 8/256GB upgrade being pricier at ₹2,000 more. There’s also a 12/256GB option for ₹34,000.
Let’s look at some competition. The vivo V29 (8/128GB) goes for ₹33,000. It uses the older Snapdragon 778G, but has a higher resolution 6.78” 1,260 x 2,800px display (vs. FHD+). The rear camera has a 50MP main (1/1.56”) and 8MP ultra wide (no tele), but the front-facing camera is special with a 50MP sensor. The 4,600mAh battery is smaller and a bit faster at 80W (1-50% in 17 minutes).
You can go a bit cheaper with the vivo V29e for ₹27,000 (8/128GB). This one drops down to an FHD+ display (still a 6.78” 10-bit 120Hz panel) and a 64MP main camera, but does keep the 50MP selfie. The chipset and battery are downgraded to Snapdragon 695 and 5,000mAh/44W, respectively.
The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ has 8/256GB as its base configuration and right now that costs ₹32,000. This phone runs on the Dimensity 7200 Ultra and has a 6.67” 1,220 x 2,712px display (12-bit, 120Hz). There’s no dedicated telephoto, instead you get a 200MP 1/1.4” sensor, similar to the Realme 11 Pro+. The 5,000mAh battery supports 120W charging and is full at the 19 minute mark.
The cheaper option is the Realme Note 13 Pro, ₹26,000 for an 8/128GB phone. This one has the same Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset as the Realme 12 Pro+ and gets to keep the 200MP camera of its sibling above. Charging is dialed down to 67W, but it still outpaces the Realmes (by a fraction) as it gets to 50% in 17 minutes and 100% in 44 minutes.
vivo V29 • vivo V29e (India) • Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ • Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro
Even the 8/128GB OnePlus 12R is ₹40,000, so it might be out of your budget. If you can swing it, you will enjoy a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and a 6.78” LTPO display (1,264 x 2,780px), plus a 100W battery with 100W charging (1-100% in 26 minutes).
The OnePlus Nord 3 is a more direct competitor, costing ₹29,000 for the 8/128GB model. This one also has a flagship chipset, though an old one – the Dimensity 9000. It also has a 6.74” 1,240 x 2,772px display, 50+8+2MP camera and a 5,000mAh battery with 80W charging.
The Poco F5 (₹30,000 for an 8/256GB unit) gets the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2, which is a faster version of the 7s. It has a 6.67” 12-bit 120Hz display with FHD+ resolution, but the camera is pretty basic with a 64MP main (a small 1/2.0” sensor) and an 8MP ultra wide. Charging the 5,000mAh battery to full takes 46 minutes.
OnePlus 12R • OnePlus Nord 3 • Xiaomi Poco F5
Time to vote – would you pick up the Realme 12 Pro?
How about the Realme 12 Pro+?