Apple iPhone 12 Pro vs Realme C55
The Quick Answer
Apple's iPhone 12 Pro commands a 6x price premium with flagship features that justify the cost for most users.
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 12 Pro commands a 6x price premium with flagship features that justify the cost for most users. The Super Retina XDR OLED display delivers 800 nits brightness, 60Hz refresh rate, and superior color accuracy compared to the C55's 6.72-inch IPS LCD at 680 nits and 90Hz. Performance heavily favors the iPhone 12 Pro, powered by the A14 Bionic chip with 6GB RAM versus the C55's MediaTek Helio G88 and 4GB base RAM. Camera capabilities show the iPhone's 12MP system with Dolby Vision 4K@60fps recording outperforms the C55's 64MP main sensor limited to 1080p@30fps. Battery capacity tells a different story: the C55 packs 5000 mAh with 33W charging versus the iPhone's 2815 mAh with 20W wired and 15W MagSafe, though the A14's efficiency likely balances this gap. The C55 offers practical advantages like USB-C, larger screen, and expandable storage variants up to 256GB. Software support heavily favors iPhone 12 Pro with years of iOS updates guaranteed. Choose the iPhone 12 Pro if you prioritize camera quality, performance, security, and long-term support. Select the C55 if budget is primary, you need battery longevity, and can tolerate slower performance for everyday tasks.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 12 Pro if…
- →First iPhone with LiDAR scanner for AR and Night mode portraits
- →Introduced MagSafe magnetic accessory ecosystem
- →First 5nm chip (A14 Bionic) on any smartphone
Buy the Realme C55 if…
- →33W SUPERVOOC fast charging is rare at $159
- →64 MP main camera captures good daylight photos
- →FHD+ resolution provides sharp text and images
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 12 Pro
Pros
- First iPhone with LiDAR scanner for AR and Night mode portraits
- Introduced MagSafe magnetic accessory ecosystem
- First 5nm chip (A14 Bionic) on any smartphone
- ProRAW format for professional photo editing
- Flat-edge design revival praised for aesthetics
Cons
- No 120Hz ProMotion display at Pro pricing
- Small 2815 mAh battery requires charging daily
- Charger removed from box controversially
- 2.5x telephoto falls short of Android competition
Realme C55
Pros
- 33W SUPERVOOC fast charging is rare at $159
- 64 MP main camera captures good daylight photos
- FHD+ resolution provides sharp text and images
- 5000 mAh battery lasts two days with moderate use
- Mini Capsule Dynamic Island-style notification feature
Cons
- No 5G or NFC connectivity
- Helio G88 is very basic for gaming or heavy tasks
- 2 MP depth sensor is essentially useless
- IPS LCD panel has poor contrast
- No water resistance
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 Pro | Realme C55 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 13 (Realme UI 4.0) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 189 g | 189 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame | Plastic frame and back |
| IP rating | IP68 | None |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm | 167.3 x 76.1 x 7.89 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP | 64 MP, f/1.79, PDAF |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 8 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision | 1080p@30fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP 2.5x | — |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | — |
| Depth | — | 2 MP, f/2.4 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 4 GB / 6 GB / 8 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2815 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 33W SUPERVOOC |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | No |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.72 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 2400 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 90Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 800 | 680 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz + 6x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Mali-G52 MC2 |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | MediaTek Helio G88 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 5 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
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