The realme 12 5G officially launched in the Philippines on April 25, 2024, further solidifying realme’s position in the local smartphone market. It promises to give users the power to become portrait masters with its dynamic camera specifications, among other features that make it an ideal gadget for daily use.

Upon unboxing the unit, the realme 12 5G unit came with a 45W SUPERVOOC Charging Adapter, a type A to C USB Cable, a warranty card, a safety guide, a quick guide, a SIM ejector pin, and a protective case.

Let’s start looking at the obvious with the realme 12 5G: its camera. The rear camera has a 108MP 3x Zoom camera, which can capture sharp details from sceneries or subjects in high resolution. The 108MP camera hardware utilizes an HM6 Sensor, which creates rich images with fine details and vibrant colors, while the 3x In-Sensor Zoom works in photo and portrait modes. It also has a Street Mode with dedicated DSLR-like watermarks, flexibility to manipulate the focal length or toggle auto or manual, and Master Portrait Filters with Claudio Miranda.

Other camera features include a Group Portrait Mode that leverages the 108MP’s full potential and an improved facial recognition software to capture facial features distinctly.

It can be a valuable yet affordable tool for budding or seasoned photographers or those who want to capture the moment in crisp detail, a Cinematic Bokeh Algorithm that intelligently adjusts blurring and lighting for a more natural and textured look, and a NightEye Engine to balance shadows and highlights in the dark to get the best possible photo quality.

Meanwhile, the realme 12 5G’s 8MP selfie camera has ¼” sensor size, an 80-degree field of view, and an f/2.0 aperture to provide detailed photos as the primary camera. Moreover, the front camera comes with video capture capabilities of up to 1080p @ 30fps, perfect for those who enjoy vlogging or going live on social media platforms.

Now that we’ve highlighted the camera, let’s circle back to the realme 12 5G’s other features.

Under the phone’s proverbial hood is the MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ chipset with a 6nm Process that supports 5G connectivity, something we all need nowadays for faster and stronger connections. Speaking of connection, the realme 12 5G also supports Smart 5G and switches between 4G and 5G networks, depending on which has better network speed and stability.

It also has an ARM Mali-G57 GPU with a CPU Clock Speed of up to 2.2GHz and a dedicated ISP that supports the 108MP Camera.

Other exciting features of the realme 12 5G are its 256GB storage, which can store significant amounts of files and data for people who love to keep memories or keep their phones handy, and 16GB RAM with an 8GB Dynamic RAM expansion to help improve total performance and overall multitasking.

Moreover, realme’s recent offering in the local smartphone market runs on the realme UI 5.0, Android 14, a new and improved version of realme UI based on Android 14. It has a more updated design and features tailor-made for security, personalization, and performance.

Upon booting, one of the most noticeable things on the screen is the Mini Capsule 2.0, with an expanding animation from the front camera hole punch that shapes itself into a capsule with necessary info. The Mini Capsule 2.0 also displays the charging and battery status, step tracker, event reminders, and music playback controls, among other functions, which makes navigation and control more accessible.

Yet, if you value a smartphone’s aesthetics as much as its performance, the realme 12 5G doesn’t disappoint. It draws inspiration from fashionable watches and comes in two aesthetic colors: Twilight Purple and Woodland Green. The overall sleek design incorporates elements from the watch industry, like the Polished Sunburst Dial, 3D Jubilee Bracelet, and Polished PVD Edges.

The phone is also sleek and lightweight, measuring only 7.69mm and weighing 188 grams, making it easy to carry around and fit in pockets without that bulky or heavy feeling. We love how realme considered a hybrid SIM tray, which can fit two SIM Cards OR one SIM Card and one microSD Card, eliminating the need for a second phone or gadget.

It’s also resistant to dust and water. However, it’s not submersible, so keep the phone in dry areas to avoid severe damage. Maybe this is something realme can explore moving forward, especially since Filipinos can’t resist diving into the water or ensuring unit longevity amid water-related incidents.

Despite its aesthetic exterior, the phone doesn’t sacrifice quality and accessibility. It has a dynamic button that also serves as a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, which allows custom mapping of the side-mounted power button for particular usage scenarios simply by double-tapping the button to activate.

Speaking of accessibility, the realme 12 5G comes with a “Riding Mode,” which h is an exclusive suite or User Interface meant to prioritize the three ”Modules”: Google Maps, Music, and Google Dialer. It enhances the user experience during driving or traveling.

Watching or streaming on the phone is an immersive experience with its 6.72″ screen size, 91. 4 percent Screen-to-Body Ratio, and 120 Hz Refresh Rate, coupled with dual stereo speakers that have an ”Ultra Volume Mode,” pushing the speakers to 200 percent volume for media, ringtones, alarms, and notifications.

Last but not least, the realme 12 5G comes with a 5000mAh Massive Battery, which can last for hours, possibly even days, without charging. It’s an ideal companion for users who rely immensely on their phones for entertainment or productivity. In the meantime, the 45W SUPERVOOC Charge Supports fast charging from 0 to 50 percent in 31 minutes and up to 100% percent in 83 minutes.

In conclusion, the realme 12 5G is capable of being a go-to mid-range budget smartphone that boasts quality and accessibility across various sectors. For instance, it can promote productivity with its heavy-duty battery, fast charging feature, and massive internal storage. On the other hand, it can also capture new memories and other scenes in crisp detail.

The realme 12 5G, priced at P 14,999, is now available in official realme stores nationwide.