The realme 12 5G has finally made its debut in the Philippines, completing the 12 Series! Positioned as an entry-level contender, this device aims to redefine the mobile experience for users who seek value for money without compromising quality. With its aesthetics, 5G-ready features, camera versatility, and affordability, the realme 12 5G stands to bring sought-after features within a Php 15,000 budget.
While it looks very much like its siblings, the realme 12 5G actually costs Php 3,000 less than the realme 12+ when it was first launched. Here are the similarities and differences —
DESIGN AND DISPLAY
Adapting the same Trendy Watch Design, the realme 12 5G exudes elegance with two new colors – Twilight Purple and Woodland Green. The camera module still flexes a Sunburst Dial design and polished PVD edges with a silver 3D Jubilee Bracelet running across the back cover. Due to its matte finish and reflective sides, this device remains eye-catching, especially under the sunlight! The smooth curves and sleek profile contribute to its premium look and feel, while the ergonomic design ensures a comfortable grip during extended use. It’s also not
Buttons are placed in usual areas, which we’ve discussed in detail in our sneak peek post.
I also have friends who mentioned how Twilight Purple is giving Borahae (I Purple You, a term used by fans of BTS) vibes, so I’m thinking it’s a design that would definitely appeal to both millennials and Gen Zs. It’s the kind of color and design that I wouldn’t want to cover with a different phone case!
In terms of display, the realme 12 5G sports a 6.7-inch IPS LCD panel which is pretty decent for the model’s price tag. Dubbed as “Sunlight Display”, it’s capable of being visible even when used under the sun, thanks to its 950 nits of brightness, adaptive brightness, and Full HD+ resolution at 2400 x 1080 for sharper images and clearer details. At a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, this vibrant display delivers clear visuals and fluid animations that bring content to life. Whether you’re streaming your favorite movies, playing games, or browsing the web, you’d be able to do so any time of the day.
While the realme 12 5G has dual stereo loudspeakers, audio isn’t as clear even though you have it blasting on two different directions. I would suggest listening at around 75% volume or plug in earphones so it’s not garbled.
CAMERA
Equipped 108MP 3x Zoom Portrait Camera, this device can help capture clear photos, whether you’re shooting sweeping landscapes or intimate portraits – pretty much in line with their tag line “Be The Portrait Master”. The 3x In-Sensor Zoom and Portrait Mode allow you to zoom in on distant subjects up to a certain extent. While the zoom can be toggled up to 20x, I would suggest maximizing 1x to 3x only for clear visuals.
For an entry-level smartphone, I find it amusing how the realme 12 5G is able to offer Street Mode options for photography. Entering Street Mode enables users to access auto zoom when you tap subjects via screen, interval shooting for moving subjects, adjust focal length, and use Master Portrait Filters created with Oscar-winning cinematographer Claudio Miranda (Life of Pi).
Memories can also be taken in hi-res mode or full 108MP shots, pro mode, tilt-shift, and panorama; while videos can be captured in slo-mo, time-lapse, movie mode, and dual-view video. Group Portraits are also possible via rear camera, but the front camera also works well for groufies.
In front, even with an 8MP selfie cam, selfie photos come out a bit too soft for my liking even with the beauty filters off. Still good enough for the price, though! Plus, the front camera can be used for videos, photos, and portrait mode, too. Video register is still better vs taking video calls via average laptops.
Based on my experience, the realme 12 5G takes really good photos under daylight and bright environments, but not as much at night. It’s also unable to capture moving subjects, unless you switch to burst mode. For videos, it can take social media-friendly sizes at 1080p, just like my sample below, which was taken using a tripod:
Video may appear shaky when taken while walking, so I would describe this as more of a live selling or livestream smartphone than a day-in-the-life type of vlogging device.
STORAGE AND PERFORMANCE
With 8GB of RAM (expandable up to 8GB more) and 256GB of internal storage, the realme 12 5G offers ample space to store all your photos, videos, documents, and apps. Whether you’re a digital content creator who needs to store large files, a student who needs to access their files daily, or a working millennial with lots of apps for multitasking, you’ll have plenty of room to keep everything organized and easily accessible. This is further expandable via microSD card, which can be inserted via the 2nd SIM slot.
Under the hood, the realme 12 5G is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ chipset (6nm; 5G) that delivers smooth and responsive performance for all your day-to-day tasks when paired with the 120Hz display. Whether you’re multitasking between apps, light gaming, or streaming your favorite videos, this chipset ensures that everything runs seamlessly.
I just have to point out as well that this is not a gaming smartphone. The realme 12 5G would still be best described as a day-to-day multitasking assistant rather than that as it tends to heat up after an hour of continuous gameplay. While it can handle light games and more graphic-intensive ones like Asphalt 9, Sky: Children of Light, and Pokemon: Unite, I wouldn’t recommend going on max graphics.
This device runs on Android 14 with realme UI 5.0, which is quite similar with typical Android devices that come with pre-installed bloatware. These can easily be deleted, though, so it’s not much of an issue. It also comes with some features like Floating Window to make multitasking easier.
BATTERY
Good for an entire day’s work, the realme 12 5G packs 5,000mAh of battery – the usual standard for entry-level devices nowadays. This is paired with a 45W fast charger that claims to charge the device from 1 to 50% within just 30 minutes. Proven and tested!
Considering what I normally do on the daily – using social media apps, editing videos, taking photos and videos, accessing documents and the web, downloading multiple files for work, and streaming my favorite KDramas and music videos – the realme 12 5G was able to keep up with my needs for an entire day. That’s around of 15-16 hours on the road, at the office, and events.
PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
The realme 12 5G is now available in 8GB+256GB storage variant, priced at Php 14,999. Early bird buyers from April 25 until May 5 are entitled to exclusive freebies worth up to Php 24,999, including a Mystery Gift Box with TechLife and realme accessories. Those who will be purchasing via realme’s TikTok shop, on the other hand, will automatically receive a Pocket Bluetooth Speaker and TechLife Cooling Fan for every purchase.
Overall, the realme 12 5G remains to be a good choice for consumers who need style, long-lasting battery, and productivity features combined without breaking the bank. With its sleek design, decent display, camera setup, and performance, this device ticks all the boxes for a multitasking individual. However, if you have a bit more thousands to spare, I would still suggest that you upgrade to a 12+ or 12 Pro.
SPECS SHEET
| Display | Screen type: LTPS LCD Screen size: 6.72” Resolution: FHD+ 1080*2400 PPI: 391 Screen-to-Body Ratio: 91.4% Refresh Rate: 120Hz Dynamic Refresh Rate: 45Hz/ 48Hz/ 50Hz/ 60Hz/ 90Hz / 120Hz Touch Sampling Rate: 240Hz Brightness: 800 Nits (Typ); 950 Nits (HBM) Protection: IP54 Dust and Water Resistance |
| Dimensions | L x W x H: 165.7mm x 76.1mm x 7.69mm Weight: 188g |
| System | OS: realme UI 5.0, Android 14 Voice Assistant: Google Assistant Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ (6nm; 5G) |
| Storage | 8GB RAM + 256GB ROM External Storage Expandability: up to 2TB SIM Card Tray: Hybrid Dynamic RAM Expansion: up to 12GB |
| Battery | 5000mAh Charging Wattage: 45W SUPERVOOC Charge |
| Camera | Rear: 108MP 3x Zoom Portrait + 2MP Black and White Front: 8MP |
| Audio | Speakers: 2 Audio Ports: 3.5mm Headphone Jack Audio Certification: Hi-Res |
| Connectivity | WiFi: 2.4GHz, 5GHz Bluetooth: 5.3 Frequency Bands: 2G/ 3G/ 4G/ 5G |
| Color | Woodland Green, Twilight Purple |
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Ang gandang phone no need na to use filter app ang linaw ng mga shots .. must have 😍
Ang Gandang phone and love The Color Purple 💜
Nice din Yung cam,kita din sa mga sample photos na malinaw yung kuha and overall ,maganda naman
Worth It to Buy