realme is set to release another variant to its 12 series, and if you’re scouting around for a compelling midrange smartphone, then you’ve come to the right place.
The realme 12 5G is slated for launch in the Philippines after first being unveiled in India last March. Built as the more affordable variant in the realme 12 series, the smartphone boasts appealing aesthetics similar to the more premium realme 12+ and Pro variants.
Its stunning design is just for starters, though. The realme 12 has other features that make it a competitive all-around smartphone in the mid-level price range. You’ll get a peek at that below, as we unbox the smartphone ahead of its launch on April 25.
Unpacking luxury
The realme 12 catches your eye with its captivating design, but beyond that, you’d know it’s built to perform the moment you take it out of the box.
The realme 12 comes in a box in the brand’s golden yellow color. Inside, there’s a much thinner box with the text, “Make it real,” and contains a clear jelly case, SIM card ejector, as well as the phone’s Quick Guide and Safety Guide.
But the real gem, of course, is the phone itself, which is not only good-looking but also lightweight. The realme 12 5G is packed with a 5000mAh battery, which can be juiced up with the included 45W SUPERVOOC power brick and Type A-to-Type C USB cable. Charging is quite fast; it increased our phone’s battery from a mere 3% to 60% in just 38 minutes.
Fresh and classy
Just like the more premium realme 12+ and Pro models, the realme 12 5G features a classy design one might not expect from a midranger. Its cover has a glittery matte finish which, in our case, comes in the Woodland Green colorway. It’s a fresh and elegant choice of color, and realme likewise proved its keen eye for style with the phone’s other variant—Twilight Purple.
Our test unit carries the same look created by luxury watch designer Ollivier Savéo for the 12+ and Pro variants. It has the device’s circular dual-camera module as the main attraction, with its polished sunburst dial and PVD edges. Adding more flair is the 3D jubilee bracelet that runs across the cover.
The realme 12’s rear camera setup is another feature the brand promises to delight users. It features a 108MP 3x zoom portrait camera that can capture details even in the dark. realme says the massive shooter can also produce cinematic photos in Portrait Mode.
To give the phone a more premium look, the cover design is complemented with flat, glossy edges. These make the device comfortable to hold, but probably even easier to wield with the use of a jelly case.
On the left edge of the phone is a volume rocker and the device’s power button just below it. The power switch doubles as a fingerprint scanner, which is quick in unlocking the smartphone.
At the bottom, you’ll find a 3.5mm headphone jack, mic, USB Type-C port for charging and data transfer, as well as a speaker grille. At the top edge is the slot for micro and nano SIM cards, plus a secondary audio output.
Then, of course, there’s the display that realme also takes pride in: a 6.72-inch screen with a 2400 x 1080 FHD+ resolution. It has a sampling rate of 120Hz and 950nits peak brightness that all in all provide a pleasant experience when using the device through day and night. In addition, its 240Hz touch sampling rate makes the realme 12 responsive. We haven’t experienced any lag so far.
The front also features a pretty straightforward 8MP selfie shooter in a punch-hole.
Capable performer
Despite being the base model in realme’s latest Number Series, the realme 12 5G doesn’t compromise on performance. It runs on an 8-core MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ chipset that guarantees reliable 5G connectivity, detailed photos, and uninterrupted gaming experience despite being a lower midrange SoC.
The capable processor is boosted with the device’s 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage that altogether allow us to seamlessly multitask on the smartphone. Adding to the pleasant experience is the device’s operating system, the user-friendly Android 14-based realme UI 5.0.
The realme 12 5G is slated for launch in the Philippines on April 25, 6pm. Stay tuned to Speed.ph for our full review of the stylish and promising device.
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