The realme 12 Pro+ is a 2024 midrange phone built around a feature that was unusual at its launch price: a 3x optical periscope telephoto camera. It is most appealing if you value zoom portraits, a comfortable design, and long battery life. Its Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 performance, weaker ultrawide camera, and software clutter make it less compelling for demanding gaming or buyers seeking the strongest all-rounder. Whether it is a good buy now depends on the exact regional version, condition, warranty, and current price.
What is the realme 12 Pro+?
realme announced the 12 Pro Series on January 29, 2024. The 12 Pro+ is a camera-oriented midrange Android phone whose defining feature is a rear camera system with a periscope telephoto lens. Its launch-era software was Android 14 with realme UI 5.0, but that does not establish which software version is installed today or how much update support remains. realme’s launch announcement and GSMArena’s review and specifications document the launch-period details.
Specifications and availability can vary by region. The official specification page cited here is for the Philippines, while the launch-price context below is for India; check the exact model or SKU offered in your market before comparing it with other phones. realme Philippines specifications
What are the realme 12 Pro+’s pros?
Periscope zoom gives it a distinctive camera option
The rear setup combines a 50 MP main camera, a 64 MP periscope telephoto camera, and an 8 MP ultrawide. The periscope offers 3x optical zoom; realme describes 6x as in-sensor zoom. The main camera includes optical image stabilization in launch-period specifications. Those numbers describe the hardware, not a guarantee that every focal length produces equally strong photos: independent reviews identify the telephoto as a useful strength and the ultrawide as the weaker camera. realme’s launch announcement calls the system five “lossless zoom levels”; that is the company’s description, not an independent image-quality finding.
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- For USA Buyers: This Smartphone is not compatible/will not work with any CDMA Networks including: VERIZON, SPRINT, US CELLULAR. Please check with your network provider for 3G or 4G/LTE compatibility check before you purchase.
- Dual-SIM, Network Compatibility, SIM CARD 1 & 2 : [2G : GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 : CDMA 800and/or 3G : HSDPA 850(B5) / 900(B8) / 2100(B1) and/or 4G : FDD-LTE 700(B28) / 850(B5) / 900(B8) / 1800(B3) / 2100(B1) TDD-LTE 2300(B40) / 2500(B41) and/or 5G : NR N1/N3/N5/N8/N28/N40/N41/N77/N78 SA/NSA]
- 6.7 inches, AMOLED, 1B colors, 1080 x 2412 pixels
- 512GB Storage, 12GB RAM
- Android 14, Qualcomm SM7435-AB Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (4 nm), Octa-core (4x2.40 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)
Battery life and handling drew favorable review comments
Reviewers praised battery life and the phone’s comfortable design. Gadgets 360 measured 26 hours and 46 minutes in its standard video-loop test using its review sample and method in 2024. That controlled result is useful for comparing reviews, but it is not a promise of everyday runtime, which varies with settings and use. Some versions have a vegan-leather finish, and reviewers noted an IP65 rating; verify both finish and rating for the particular regional version you are considering. Gadgets 360’s review
What are the realme 12 Pro+’s cons?
Performance is capable but not a standout
The Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 is a midrange chipset. Reviews describe everyday performance as adequate while noting that some alternatives deliver more speed. That makes the phone a less natural choice for buyers who prioritize demanding games or sustained performance over camera versatility. Android Central’s review and GSMArena’s verdict discuss those tradeoffs.
Rank #2
- Dual-SIM, Network Compatibility, SIM CARD 1 & 2 : [2G : GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 and/or 3G : HSDPA 850(B5) / 900(B8) / 2100(B1) and/or 4G : FDD-LTE 700(B28) / 850(B5) / 900(B8) / 1800(B3) / 2100(B1) : TDD-LTE 2300(B40) / 2500(B41) and/or and/or 5G : N1 / N3 / N5 / N8 / N28 / N40 / N41 / N77 / N78]
- 6.7 inches, AMOLED, 1B colors, 1080 x 2412 pixels
- 256GB ROM Storage, 8GB RAM
- Android 14, Realme UI 5.0, Qualcomm SM7435-AB Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (4 nm), Octa-core (4x2.40 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55), Adreno 710
- Rear: 50MP+64MP+8MP, Front: 32MP
The camera set is not equally strong across lenses
The 8 MP ultrawide is weaker than the main and telephoto cameras in review assessments, so the experience is less consistent when switching focal lengths. If you regularly shoot wide landscapes or interiors, compare actual ultrawide performance rather than treating the three camera resolutions as equivalent indicators.
Software polish and predecessor tradeoffs deserve attention
Reviewers raised concerns about software clutter, recommendations, or unwanted notifications. The phone also gave up some headline hardware compared with its predecessor, including a lower-resolution main-camera specification and slower charging, according to GSMArena’s comparison. Whether either issue matters depends on your current alternative and how you use a phone; do not assume the launch software version describes the device’s current update status.
Rank #3
- For USA Buyers: This Smartphone is not compatible/will not work with any CDMA Networks including: VERIZON, SPRINT, US CELLULAR. Please check with your network provider for 3G or 4G/LTE compatibility check before you purchase.
- Dual-SIM, Network Compatibility, SIM CARD 1 & 2 : [2G : GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 : CDMA 800and/or 3G : HSDPA 850(B5) / 900(B8) / 2100(B1) and/or 4G : FDD-LTE 700(B28) / 850(B5) / 900(B8) / 1800(B3) / 2100(B1) TDD-LTE 2300(B40) / 2500(B41) and/or 5G : NR N1/N3/N5/N8/N28/N40/N41/N77/N78 SA/NSA]
- 6.7 inches, AMOLED, 1B colors, 1080 x 2412 pixels
- 512GB Storage, 12GB RAM
- Android 14, Qualcomm SM7435-AB Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (4 nm), Octa-core (4x2.40 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)
How should you compare it with alternatives?
Compare phones at the same current price and with similar storage, condition, and warranty. The 12 Pro+’s strongest case is its telephoto camera, so megapixel totals alone will not reveal whether a rival is a better fit.
| What to compare | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Zoom and portraits | Check whether the alternative has a true telephoto or periscope lens, useful optical reach, and reliable portrait processing. This is the 12 Pro+’s clearest differentiator. |
| Main and ultrawide cameras | Compare detail, low-light performance, stabilization, video, and whether the ultrawide is genuinely useful rather than merely present. |
| Performance | Compare chipset speed and sustained gaming performance; reviewers say some competing phones are more powerful. |
| Display | Compare brightness and overall display quality; GSMArena notes that brighter alternatives exist. |
| Battery and charging | Consider tested endurance and charging speed, not battery capacity alone. Reviews praise this phone’s endurance, while GSMArena notes slower charging than the predecessor. |
| Software and ownership | Check preinstalled apps, notification behavior, update policy, regional warranty, and service options for the exact SKU. |
| Total price and condition | Compare the live price, storage and RAM configuration, seller, warranty, return terms, and whether the phone is new or refurbished. |
Is the realme 12 Pro+ worth buying?
It makes the most sense for someone who will use optical zoom and portrait photography, and who also values battery life and comfortable handling. It is a weaker fit for demanding gamers, buyers who prioritize peak performance, or people who frequently rely on an ultrawide camera. Check current local pricing rather than treating the launch price as a present-day benchmark: MySmartPrice reported a starting price of INR 29,999 in India in 2024, while GSMArena rounded the launch context to INR 30,000. Neither figure is a current quote. MySmartPrice’s launch-date review and GSMArena’s verdict
Quick Recap
- Before buying, confirm the exact regional version and supported bands.
- Check whether the listing is new or refurbished, who the seller is, the warranty and return terms, and the included storage and RAM.
- Ask what software version is installed and verify the update policy and local service coverage.
- Compare the live price against phones with stronger performance or brighter displays if those matter more to you than periscope zoom.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
