Overview

Since its early-2024 launch, the realme 12 Pro+ is consistently praised as a trendsetter for bringing a genuine periscope telephoto camera to the mid-range segment, wrapped in a distinctive vegan-leather design inspired by luxury watches.

The most repeated praise centers on the rare telephoto zoom capability and premium design touches. The most consistent criticism is a Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset that trails rivals in raw gaming power, along with a slower 67W charging speed compared to the previous generation's 100W.

For readers evaluating handling before buying, this summary focuses on real-world ownership — ergonomics at 196g, the feel of the vegan-leather back, and whether mid-range performance is acceptable for the intended use.

Owners frequently describe the 12 Pro+ as the phone that first proved a genuine periscope zoom camera could reach the mid-range segment, a distinction reviewers say still sets it apart from most rivals released since.

The vegan-leather design is also a recurring talking point, with reviewers noting it consistently draws compliments in a segment where most rivals lean on generic glass or plastic backs.

The phone is frequently recommended to buyers who want a genuinely differentiated camera and design combination without stepping up to flagship pricing, a niche reviewers say it fills more convincingly than most rivals in its class.

Daily use

Daily use feels smooth for messaging, browsing, and moderate multitasking, with reviewers noting the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 handles typical tasks well despite trailing more powerful rivals.

The curved-edge AMOLED display and vegan-leather back combine for a genuinely premium feel that reviewers say punches well above the phone's price point.

realme UI bloatware is a recurring minor criticism, though reviewers say it's easily manageable with a quick cleanup after setup.

Connectivity includes 5G, Wi-Fi 6, and NFC, a reasonably complete package reviewers say leaves little to complain about at this price.

The in-display fingerprint sensor is consistently described as fast and reliable, a small but meaningful convenience reviewers note in daily use.

12 Pro+

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Camera

The 64MP periscope telephoto with 3x optical zoom and up to 120x digital zoom is the standout feature, a genuinely rare capability reviewers say sets the phone apart from every other rival in its price range.

The 50MP Sony IMX890 main camera with OIS delivers excellent daylight and low-light photos, though reviewers note the 8MP ultrawide lens is comparatively average.

Zoom at extreme levels like 120x shows diminishing returns, with large text on distant objects barely legible, though reviewers treat it as an occasional-utility feature rather than a primary daily-use tool.

Portrait mode benefits from the telephoto's natural 3x optical reach, giving flattering perspective compression that reviewers say looks noticeably more natural than the digitally-cropped portrait shots common on rival phones without a dedicated zoom lens.

Battery and charging

The 5000mAh battery delivers excellent all-day battery life, with reviewers reporting some of the best endurance test results in its class thanks to efficient software optimization.

67W charging is noticeably slower than the previous generation's 100W, taking around an hour for a full charge — a trade-off reviewers note but don't consider a dealbreaker.

In Wi-Fi endurance testing, the device achieved over 15 hours of runtime, a result reviewers describe as a meaningful improvement over its predecessor.

Performance

The Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 handles everyday apps and casual gaming smoothly, though reviewers consistently note a more powerful chipset like the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 would have better matched the phone's premium camera and design ambitions.

Reviewers describe the overall performance as sufficient for most users who aren't deeply invested in demanding mobile gaming.

UFS 3.1 storage available up to 256GB provides adequate speed for file transfers and app loading, a spec reviewers note is sensible rather than flagship-tier.

Handling and portability

At 74.02mm wide, 161.47mm tall, and 196g, the realme 12 Pro+ is comfortably sized, with reviewers praising the vegan-leather back for providing excellent grip without feeling slippery.

The curved display edges help the phone feel narrower in hand, a design touch reviewers consistently highlight as contributing to the phone's premium in-hand feel.

Owners with average-sized hands describe thumb reach across most of the display as comfortable, thanks to the balanced 196g weight and vegan-leather grip.

Build quality

The vegan-leather back finish is a genuine standout, giving the 12 Pro+ a distinctive, luxury-watch-inspired design that reviewers say feels unlike any other phone in its class.

The curved-edge AMOLED display and overall build quality feel premium and well put together, with reviewers noting no obvious compromises in construction.

The overall design earns praise for standing out noticeably from mid-range rivals with more generic glass or plastic finishes, a differentiation reviewers say is rare at this price.