In the past, capturing magazine cover-worthy photos often required the precision of a high-end camera or a flagship-level smartphone with an almost-6-digit price tag. However, as we step into 2024, the landscape of photography has rapidly evolved, welcoming smartphones like the realme 12+ 5G where RAW, high-quality images are within reach and within our budget. The realme 12+ 5G didn’t come alone, though! This March 7, it’s also bringing its older sibling – the realme 12 Pro+ 5G in the Philippines.

While we wait for the official launch and price reveal, here’s a sneak peek at what the realme 12+ 5G can do, some sample photos, and a closer look at its aesthetically-pleasing design:

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

DESIGN AND DISPLAY

Let’s begin with its appearance. When it comes to design, the realme 12+ 5G boasts of an aesthetic based on a luxury watch. This fancy-looking design was created in collaboration with International Luxury Watch Design Master Ollivier Savéo, who has worked with Swiss brands (such as Rolex, Piaget, and Quentin). At first glance, I was reminded of its predecessor – the realme 11 Pro+ 5G, due to its color, the circular camera module, and the lining at the middle. However, what sets the the realme 12+ 5G is its silver accents and eye-catching camera design. It has a a gorgeous sundial-like design at the center of the circular camera module and a “3D Jubilee Bracelet” at the center that are reminiscent of a premium watch.

The smartphone features a clean and minimalist design, a Premium Vegan Leather back cover which gives off high-end texture, and a semi-square design that helps provide a comfortable grip. Despite the premium all-over feel, realme also did not forget their market which prefers connecting earphones via an audio port! Who says smartphones have to totally switch to Bluetooth earphones, right? On the other hand, for those who prefer using speakers, it remains to be a treat because of the top and bottom-firing speakers that balance the sounds.

As for the display, the realme 12+ 5G sports a 6.67-inch display with 120Hz Super AMOLED technology and an FHD+ resolution of 2400×1080 pixels. The display is protected by 0.68mm Secondary Tempered High Strength Glass, ensuring durability and scratch resistance. Additionally, the device features an in-display fingerprint scanner for convenient and secure unlocking, along with IP54 Dust & Water Resistance for added peace of mind. We wouldn’t want all that premium-ness to break easily, after all! Judging solely based on outer appearance, this looks like something that the young ones (myself included) would want to take mirror selfies with.

CAMERAS

When it comes to photography, the realme 12+ 5G sports a 50MP SonyLYT 600 OIS Portrait Camera, an 8MP 112° Wide Angle Camera and a 2MP Macro Camera. These are considered flagship-grade cameras that can compete with earlier flagship models, based on my experience. Just notice how well it works in Default mode vs a competitor brand’s 2023 flagship device:

I’m not a fan of light flares and dull colors, nor needing to play around with Pro Mode to get the colors and look that I want, so the realme has my vote on this department.

In front, it has a 16MP Selfie Camera, which also delivers crisp shots with decent zoom capabilities. While not perfect, the cameras meet the common expectations for smartphone photography, offering lessened glare from light sources and impressive image quality.

It’s also equipped with a 0.6 wide and zoom capabilities from 2x to 20x. It starts to become a bit painting-like (not grainy, more of a smooth texture) once you hit 10x, though.

More photos and an in-depth review will be shared next Thursday (March 7, 2024) after the livestream launch. For someone like me who constantly needs to shoot under lowlight and zoomed subjects, these tests must come first!

LAUNCH AND OFFICIAL RELEASE

For more details about the device, tune in on March 7 at 6:00 PM on the realme Philippines Facebook page. Expect online and offline offers, as well as discounts via realme’s e-commerce pages in the next few days! Knowing how realme prices their products, I have a hunch that both smartphones won’t go over Php 35,000, but keep checking back for official announcements.

SPECS

Display	Screen Type: E4 AMOLED; 0.68mm Secondary Tempered High Strength Glass Screen Size: 6.67″ Screen Resolution: FHD+ 2400*1080 PPI: 394 Screen-to-Body Ratio: 92.65% Refresh Rate: 120Hz Touch Sampling Rate: 240Hz Brightness: 600 Nits (Typ); 1,200 Nits (HBM); 2,000 Nits (Sunlight Mode) Protection: IP54 Dust & Water Resistance
Dimensions	162.95mm x 75.45mm x 7.87mm (L x W x H)
Weight	190g
Storage	8GB+256GB / 12GB+256GB *Dynamic RAM Expansion of up to 12GB (12GB DRE is only available on the 12GB RAM variant) *Up to 2TB Expandability via microSD Card
Rear Cameras	50MP SonyLYT600 OIS + 8MP 112° Wide Angle + 2MP Macro
Front Camera	16MP
System	Operating System: realme UI 5.0, Android 14 Voice Assistant: Google Assistant Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 7050 (6nm; 5G)
Battery	5000mAh With 67W SUPERVOOC Charge
Audio	Speakers: 2 Audio Ports: 3.5mm Headphone Jack Audio Certification: Hi-Re
Connectivity	WiFi: 2.4GHz, 5GHz Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.2 Frequency Bands: 2G / 3G / 4G / 5G
Colors	Pioneer Green, Navigator Beige

Overall, I’d say this is a very promising smartphone that you should watch out for. Don’t miss it!

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