Apple iPhone 12 vs Realme 12 Pro+
The Verdict
iPhone 12 delivers Apple's premium ecosystem with the powerful A14 Bionic chip, exceptional 60fps video with Dolby Vision, and superior display brightness at 1200 nits. Its compact 6.1-inch form factor and ceramic shield durability justify the $799 price for users prioritizing performance and iOS integration. Realme 12 Pro+ counters with remarkable value, offering a larger 6.7-inch 120Hz display, faster 67W charging, and a versatile triple camera system including 3x periscope zoom and higher megapixel count. Battery capacity of 5000 mAh significantly outlasts iPhone's 2815 mAh. However, Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 trails A14 Bionic in raw performance, and 4K video caps at 30fps. For budget-conscious users prioritizing cameras, battery life, and screen size, Realme 12 Pro+ offers outstanding value. iPhone 12 wins for those valuing premium software, compact design, and consistent flagship performance.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 12 if…
- →First iPhone with 5G connectivity
- →Ceramic Shield front cover is four times more drop-resistant
- →Flat-edge design is comfortable and stylish
Buy the Realme 12 Pro+ if…
- →64 MP periscope 3x telephoto at sub-$400 pricing
- →Sony IMX882 main sensor delivers excellent photos
- →67W fast charging
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 12
Pros
- First iPhone with 5G connectivity
- Ceramic Shield front cover is four times more drop-resistant
- Flat-edge design is comfortable and stylish
- A14 Bionic delivers excellent performance and efficiency
- Dolby Vision HDR video recording is a first for any smartphone
Cons
- 60Hz display when competitors offered 90Hz or 120Hz
- Small 2815 mAh battery offers mediocre battery life
- 64 GB base storage is inadequate in 2020
- Lightning port instead of USB-C
- No telephoto lens — only dual camera
Realme 12 Pro+
Pros
- 64 MP periscope 3x telephoto at sub-$400 pricing
- Sony IMX882 main sensor delivers excellent photos
- 67W fast charging
- IP65 water resistance
- Premium vegan leather back option
Cons
- Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 is not a performance flagship chip
- No wireless charging
- 8 MP ultrawide is disappointing
- Realme UI has bloatware and ads
- Only Wi-Fi 6 (no 6E or 7)
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 | Realme 12 Pro+ |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 14 (Realme UI 5.0) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 164 g | 195 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front | Aluminum frame, vegan leather or glass back |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP65 |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm | 162.0 x 74.2 x 8.8 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.6, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS (Sony IMX882) |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 32 MP, f/2.4 |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Dolby Vision HDR | 4K@30fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | 8 MP, f/2.2 |
| Telephoto | — | 64 MP, f/2.6, 3x periscope optical zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2815 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 67W SuperVOOC wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | No |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 2412 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 950 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (4x2.40 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 710 |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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