By Riera U. Mallari
I KNOW, I know. You really like realme’s recently launched 12+ and pro+, but your wallet says no.
Well, fret no more.
The realme 12 series’ most affordable sibling, but equally competent nonetheless, the realme 12 5G, is here.
Design and display
At first look, the realme 12 5G grabs your attention. It may have ditched the premium vegan leather back of its siblings in favor of a more conventional matte plastic finish, but this keeps the phone lightweight and potentially less prone to scratches. The flat sides with rounded corners offer a comfortable grip, and the overall design feels modern and sleek.
The display is where it is a cut above its competitors. The large 6.72-inch IPS panel with a thin bottom bezel for a near bezel-less look and the 120Hz refresh rate provide a smooth and fluid experience, perfect for scrolling and gaming.
Capable Performance
Under the hood, the realme 12 5G packs the MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ chipset, a reliable processor that should handle everyday tasks with ease. While it might not be a powerhouse for high-end gaming, it should be suitable for casual gamers and multitasking users.
But if you want the high-graphics ones, you can still play your games on like basic or medium kind of settings. And you can enjoy them with the stereo speakers. And guess what? There is a headphone jack, which has been missing in many smartphones lately.
Camera System
The realme 12 5G uses a Samsung HM6 Sensor (108MP) that captures lots of detail in scenes with lots of light, but also uses pixel-binning technology to get clear photos at night or in the dark.
It also supports 3x In-Sensor Zoom (similar to the realme C67 and realme 12 Pro+ 5G) for taking clear photos both in the default Photo Mode and Portrait Mode in the
Camera interface. This also allows support for Cinematic 3x Portrait Mode with a 72mm focal length for an almost true-to-life POV when taking Photos.
The amazing thing is that the 3X In-Sensor Zoom works as advertised. So let’s say you are trying to shoot something at a distance but you don’t really want more than near the object, you can always use the 3x zoom to capture a picture that might actually look like he was taken with the main camera. At the phone’s price point, this is a great feature.
Battery Built to Last
One area where the realme 12 5G also shines is battery life as it boasts of a long-lasting battery that has up to 590.8 hours of Standby, 33.6 hours of Phone Calls, 17 hours of YouTube Video Streaming, 21 hours of WhatsApp, 18 hours of Twitter, 86.4 hours of music, 5.5 hours of FPS games such as Free Fire and 10.4 hours on MOBAs such as Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.
It supports fast charging from 0% to 50% in 31 minutes, and up to 100% in 83 minutes
Verdict
Overall, the realme 12 5G is a strong contender in the high-low to the mid-range 5G market. If you’re looking for a stylish phone with a smooth display, long battery life, and access to the latest connectivity, the realme 12 5G is definitely worth keeping an eye on.
OFFLINE OFFERS
SRP AND EXCLUSIVE OFFERS
● SRP: P14,999
● First-selling duration: April 26 – May 5
● Credit Card payments: up to 6 months of installed payment plan with 0% Interest
● Home Credit: up to 9 months, 0% interest installment programs
● Mystery Box Promo
○ Get a chance to win freebies worth up to P24,999
● Lucky 12 Challenge
○ If you get your realme 12 5G from 1 of 100 selected concept stores, kiosks, and exclusive stores, then you can play our Lucky 12 Challenge at its selected time slots to get additional freebies from a prize pool worth over P600,000!