Realme 12x 5G: Realme has made a name for itself thanks to its great value offerings, and the Realme 12x 5G is one more phone from the brand that’s set to give the budget 5G market yet another shake up.
On paper, the phone appears to have something for every kind of user — 5G, high refresh rate display, good cameras and a large battery — inside a compact body. But how does it fare when you actually use it?
Let’s dig a bit deeper and find out if the Realme 12x 5G is as impressive as they say.
Design: Good Looks That Outpunch Its Price
The Realme 12x 5G certainly doesn’t look cheap, for a budget phone. Not even close. It features a shiny back panel with a camera module that appears to be taken right out of a flagship series.
Its thin profile, curved sides and flashy finish in hues like Twilight Purple and Woodland Green lean into modern times.
It’s lightweight and feels manageable, and even though it is plastic, it doesn’t feel like a toy. Realme did a good job here making this feel more expensive than it actually is.
Display: Smooth Operator
Up front, you’re greeted with a 6.72-inch Full HD+ LCD panel with 120Hz refresh rate. That’s right — 120Hz on a budget phone.
Scrolling is smooth, animations are speedy and even casual gaming gets a lift from the higher refresh rate.
Yes, it’s not AMOLED so the blacks aren’t as inky, but it still serves up vibrant colours along with respectably bright whites. For everyday tasks such as video watching, social media or reading, this is a display that will not let you down.
Performance: Budget Brains, With a Kick
Internally, the Realme 12x 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ SoC, combined with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The set up for this cost is more than you’d anticipate.
The multitasking is a breeze on the phone and even light to moderate gaming doesn’t bog the phone down.
Apps launch with haste, multitasking is generally lag-free and the phone doesn’t get especially hot during prolonged use.
Realme also bundles Dynamic RAM Expansion that can pump in up to 8GB of virtual RAM to offer seamless operations during heavy load.
The Camera: Good Enough for Everyday Shots
The camera setup is nothing out of the ordinary, 50MP primary sensor, depth sensor in back and an 8MP selfie shooter up front.
The main camera takes some good photos in good light with good detail and natural colors. Dynamic range is fine, but not amazing in low light.
The selfie camera is adequate and appropriate considering it will mostly be used for video calls and social media snaps, but man-o-man those beauty filters can be a little much. Basically, it’s an “acceptable” camera system for a phone at this price.
Battery & Charging: All day battery scape: 4000mAh battery + Android 10’s intelligent power-saving technology.
Running the show is a 5,000mAh battery that easily powers through a full day of heavy use. Whether you’re watching shows for hours on end or gaming through a marathon session, this battery’s got you.
And thanks to a 45W SUPERVOOC fast charge capability, you can charge quickly from 0 to 50% in less than half an hour—a rather unique feature on a device from this segment.
Pros and Cons
Pros
120Hz screen for super smooth UI
Great battery life with quick charging
Super sleek design that appears classier than its price point
Trusted by millions every day
Expandable memory and a headphone jack
Affordable 5G connectivity
Cons
No ultra-wide or macro lens
LCD display instead of AMOLED
Low-light camera performance is average at best
Bloatware in Realme UI 5.0
Plastic back (solidly constructed)
Realme 12x 5G: Final Verdict: A $200 Phone That Punches Well Above Its Weight
The Realme 12x 5G is a fine specimen of how budget phones are getting smarter, faster and, dare I say, more handsome. It isn’t pretending to be a flagship, but it delivers an unexpectedly good experience on all counts.
If you want an attractive 5G phone with decent performance that’s easy on the wallet, this one is right up your street.
It is not perfect but, at this price? It’s hard to complain.
