In response to Xiaomi’s highly anticipated Redmi 12 5G (review) from last year and Redmi 13C 5G (review) from early this year, Realme has released the Realme 12X 5G. Even though it is comparable to the somewhat more costly Realme 12 5G, the Realme 12X 5G has a 50MP primary camera rather than a 108MP one. All other aspects of the Realme 12 5G series phones are identical, including the MediaTek Dimensity chipset and display.
Should you continue using the less expensive Realme 12X 5G in that scenario? Or is the Realme 12 5G’s somewhat more sophisticated camera setup worth an additional Rs 2,000? Or should you think of something completely different? Let’s investigate.
Verdict
For regular consumers, the Realme 12X 5G is an excellent option. The phone has enough power to operate moderate games and major social media apps thanks to the built-in Dimensity 6100+ SoC. You may play BGMI with HD graphics as well. Furthermore, it is very appealing because of features like 45W charging and 5G support. Nonetheless, there are still certain areas that require enhancement, such as the software and cameras. To outperform competitors, Realme may potentially think about incorporating an AMOLED display into upcoming models.
Create and present
The differences between the Realme 12X 5G and Realme 12 5G are hardly undetectable when compared side by side. I don’t mind that the design itself took cues from the more expensive Realme 12 Pro+ because it guarantees a high level of uniformity throughout the portfolio, regardless of price. The Realme 12X 5G lacks a leather finish, but it does have a circular camera module shaped like a watch with a zip pattern running through the middle. For the pricing (Rs 11,999 for the base model), it looks excellent overall.
It’s impressive that Realme managed to maintain the weight of the Realme 12X 5G under 180 grams even with a 5,000mAh battery. All in all, the design is well-thought-out and worth the cost.
Comparable to the Realme 12 5G, the Realme 12X 5G has a tall 6.72-inch Full-HD+ (1,080 x 2,400 pixels) LCD with a refresh rate of 120Hz. The display does away with the outdated waterdrop notch in favor of a hole-punch cutout. The abnormally large cutout is probably going to cause the front camera to record gestures in the air. In the performance section, I will go into further detail about that.
If you’re indoors, the viewing experience is often good. In direct sunlight, visibility could be negatively impacted. The Realme 12X 5G’s LCD panel means that contrast and deep blacks aren’t as noticeable as they are on AMOLED panels, but colors still look rather well indoors. This display quality is good enough for reading and watching brief YouTube or Instagram videos, especially given the price.
Cameras
Performance, battery life, and design are prioritized, but the camera division suffers.
The Realme 12X 5G has a 50MP primary camera and a 2MP secondary sensor, as was previously announced. It also indicates that, like the Realme 12 5G, the smartphone is missing its ultra-wide camera. The latter has a main camera with 108MP.
At best, the Realme 12X 5G‘s camera performance is mediocre overall. During the day, photos taken with a primary camera are crisp, but the colors are frequently uneven. Images can have a strong yellow tinge in some circumstances, and you could also occasionally notice a warm tone. The color problem can be resolved by using the native editing tool to change the temperature, but it will become more difficult to achieve the desired sharpness.
The output is essentially unchanged even in low light, however image noise is now more noticeable. Not even turning on night mode helps get the intended outcome.
The quality of the images taken by the 8MP selfie camera is comparable to that of the main camera. On the other hand, skin tone recognition is not always accurate, sometimes producing a lighter complexion. Although a lighter skin tone can be preferred by some people, I want a realistic or almost correct representation.
However, there are clear variances between the photos and the Realme 12 5G. More light is captured by its 108MP camera sensor, producing more vibrant colors. If so, the Realme 12 5G, which costs an extra Rs 2,000, does provide some improvement in terms of camera performance.
Performance and software
Now that 128GB storage is available on all Realme 12X 5G versions, this is a step in the right direction. Starting at Rs 11,999, the base 4GB RAM variant is followed by an 8GB model that costs Rs 14,999. The model I’m evaluating costs Rs 13,499 and has 6GB of RAM. While the more reasonably priced Realme 12X 5G has LPDDR4 RAM, the Realme 12 5G uses LPDDR4X RAM. The Dimensity 6100+ SoC from MediaTek powers the Realme 12 5G and 12X smartphones.
Even at this point, Realme deserves praise for pushing Android 14 out of the box. Realme 12X 5G is also expected to receive two major Android OS updates, which is a good number considering the segment. Overall, I like its animations and some of the features Realme UI offers, including the ability to view several photos in social media apps. However, some features of Realme UI such as File Dock and Smart Image Matting were missing, probably due to system overload.
What surprised me the most was the addition of the AirGesture feature at this price. This feature requires a selfie camera (like a large front camera) and artificial intelligence that allows users to control the phone with simple gestures. However, at the time of review, the feature did not work properly.
The company also needs to focus on reducing pre-installed applications for a clean software experience.
Battery
At a minimum, you can anticipate exceptional battery life from the Realme 12X 5G. With only one full charge, the phone’s 5,000mAh battery allows for all-day backup. PC Mark tested the phone’s battery life for more than 17 hours (at 50% brightness and with flight mode on), which is a very good result.
Moreover, the phone takes about 50 minutes to fully charge with the 45W SuperVOOC charger that is included. While charging, the phone also features a Dynamic Island animation reminiscent of the iPhone 15 Pro, which gives the user interface a welcome update.
Final verdict
The Realme 12X 5G boasts several fantastic features that will appeal to regular users at this price range. Even while the phone’s camera isn’t the best, it’s still a good option for viewing videos or browsing social media. You won’t be disappointed with the tall display even if you read. More significantly, consumers of all ages would find its simplistic design excellent.
Not to mention, support for 5G is available.
It would make more sense to pay more for the Realme 12 5G if a dependable camera system is your top concern. The Redmi 13C 5G can provide some relief if your budget is tight but don’t hold your expectations too high.
Otherwise, the Realme 12X 5G is a good option for regular users if cameras aren’t your top concern.
