Realme 12 Pro 5G vs Realme 12 Pro+ 5G: Which one should you buy?

Realme recently launched two new smartphones, the Realme 12 Pro and the Realme 12 Pro+. At first glance, you might think they're the same phone, just with different names. And you wouldn't be entirely wrong. They share a lot of the same specs, from the display to the battery. But there are a few key differences, and the biggest one hits you right in the wallet – the price tag. So, which one should you buy? Let's dive into the details to find out.

Realme 12 Pro vs Realme 12 Pro+: Body and display

Both Realme 12 Pro and Realme 12 Pro+ flaunt sleek 10-bit 6.7-inch curved AMOLED displays with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate for a buttery-smooth scrolling experience. Whether you're browsing social media or gaming, the display is a joy to behold. The design is pretty similar too, with a fancy faux-leather rear panel with a gold accented plastic frame. In fact, apart from the 20x and 120x zoom branding on the Pro and Pro+ respectively, it's very difficult to tell them apart.

Realme 12 Pro vs Realme 12 Pro+: Performance and software

Here's where things get interesting. The Realme 12 Pro rocks the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor, while the 12 Pro+ boasts a superior Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset. This means, on paper, the Realme 12 Pro+ should be noticeably faster for tasks like browsing, texting, gaming, and multitasking. However, the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 is still a capable chip, and for everyday use like browsing and social media, you might not even notice the difference. Both phones run on Realme UI 5.0, based on Android 14, so both phones have got you covered on the software front.

Realme 12 Pro vs Realme 12 Pro+: Camera

The camera is another area where the two phones diverge. The Realme 12 Pro has a triple camera setup on the back, with a 50MP IMX882 main sensor, a 32MP telephoto sensor with 2x optical zoom, and an 8MP ultra-wide-angle sensor. The Realme 12 Pro+ ups the ante with a 50MP IMX890 primary rear sensor, the flagship-grade 64MP OmniVision OV64B telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom and an 8MP ultra-wide-angle sensor. As noted in our review also, both phones pack good cameras at their respective price points. However, folks who are enthusiastic about photography should opt for the zoom prowess of the Realme 12 Pro+.

Realme 12 Pro vs Realme 12 Pro+: Battery and charging

Both Realme 12 Pro and Realme 12 Pro+ phones pack massive 5,000mAh batteries that will easily last you a full day, even with moderate to heavy usage. They also support 67W fast charging, which means you can get your phone juiced up from 0 to 100 per cent in about 40 minutes.

Realme 12 Pro vs Realme 12 Pro+: Which one should you buy?

So, the big question – which one should you buy? The Realme 12 Pro starts at Rs. 25,999, while the Realme 12 Pro+ starts at Rs. 29,999. This is for the base 8GB RAM + 128GB storage version. That's a Rs. 4,000 difference. However, if you go for the 256GB storage version, the price difference increases to Rs 5,000.

With that said, if you're on a tight budget and mainly use your phone for everyday tasks, the Realme 12 Pro is a great option. You're getting a fantastic display, a long-lasting battery, and a decent camera setup. However, if you're a power user who needs better performance and camera quality, not to mention the superior telephoto lens — in that case, the extra Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 premium for the Realme 12 Pro+ is worth it. You'll get a faster processor, a better camera, and smoother performance for gaming and multitasking.

Ultimately, the choice comes down to your priorities and budget. If you're not sure which one to get, you can always head to your nearest store and try them both out. You might be surprised at which one you prefer!