The Realme 12 Pro+ packs a unique 3x periscope zoom camera into a mid-range device for the first time. Read this article to learn all about its powerful camera capabilities.
The Budget Phone Camera Game is Changing
Realme, a sister brand of Oppo and OnePlus, unveiled a game-changing mid-range phone at CES 2023 – the Realme 12 Pro+. This device is making waves as the first in its price range to feature an advanced periscope zoom camera with optical image stabilization (OIS).
But what does this actually mean? And why should you care about the cameras on a budget phone anyway? Read on to have your mind blown by the photography prowess Realme just packed into an affordable device.
Realme 12 Pro+ Has Massive Zoom Camera Sensor Bigger Than Most Flagship Phones
The star of the show on the Realme 12 Pro+ is its 3x periscope zoom camera. This uses a large 64MP OmniVision OV64B sensor that comes in at a whopping 1/2 inches in size.
To put that into perspective, that’s:
- Over 2.6x larger than the iPhone 15 Pro’s 12MP 3x zoom camera sensor
- At least 1.8x bigger than the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s 10MP periscope sensor
A Wild Amount of Light for Crisp Zoom Shots
With a sensor that large, the Realme 12 Pro+ can take in a crazy amount of light compared to other 3x zoom cameras. We’re talking at least 1.8 times more light than an iPhone or Galaxy phone!
This gives the phone a huge advantage when using its periscope camera to zoom in. It can preserve an impressive level of crisp detail even at full 3x magnification, as evidenced by the comparison photos Realme showed off.
Other phones with smaller 3x telephoto cameras would likely switch to digital zoom in dim environments. But the Realme 12 Pro+ and its big sensor can stick to optical zoom without sacrificing quality.
But Just How Good is the Zoom Really?
Of course, there’s a difference between hype and reality. We’ll have to test out the Realme phone’s zoom capabilities for ourselves before we can say if it truly bests pricier flagship phones.
But based on what Realme has revealed so far, we have high hopes. This mid-ranger could raise the bar for the level of optical zoom possible on a budget device. Flagship-Level Camera Tricks on a Mid-Range Phone
The excellent zoom isn’t the only photographic treat Realme packed into the 12 Pro+. The phone brings over several high-end camera capabilities rarely seen outside of premium flagships.
Dazzling Low Light Photos
That big sensor on the 3x camera will come in handy for dim scenes too. With its extra light-gathering abilities, the 12 Pro+ can capture surprisingly solid low light shots while zoomed in.
Many phones revert to digital zoom in the dark, which introduces ugly noise and artifacting. So having usable optical zoom in low light gives this mid-ranger a nice advantage.
Serious Main Camera Hardware
The Realme 12 Pro+ is also equipped with a very respectable main camera. It uses the same 50MP Sony IMX890 sensor found in the acclaimed OnePlus 11.
With OIS onboard and a bright f/1.8 aperture, this more-than-capable main camera should be able to produce some great images. Especially with the phone’s advanced software tricks.
Flagship-Level Computational Photography
The unnamed Qualcomm chip inside the 12 Pro+ enables Realme’s high-end “MasterShot Algorithm”. This brings over RAW processing and other computational photography smarts typically exclusive to premium phones.
That means this mid-range device can leverage editing options like adjusting white balance and recovering blown highlights. Overall, you get way more versatility than is standard for the price. More Mid-Range Phone Firsts In addition to its unprecedented zoom camera, the Realme 12 Pro+ brings a few other welcome features to its segment.
Luxury Design for Less
Realme tapped luxury Swiss watch designer Ollivier Savéo to style this phone. You can see his influence in the sleek metallic chassis with its eye-catching blue and gold accents.
It’s a dash of premium flair you rarely find on mid-range devices. And it helps further elevate the 12 Pro+ beyond its price tag.
Blazing Fast Charging
While Realme hasn’t spilled all the specs yet, we anticipate the phone will charge at blistering speeds. Realme devices often support 100+ watt charging, meaning you can fill up in hardly any time.
For context, that’s almost twice as fast as an iPhone 14 Pro and faster than any Galaxy phone. Rapid charging is an underrated feature that’s still a mid-range exclusive for the most part.
Final Words
The Realme 12 Pro+ previews several camera capabilities that until now have only existed on high-end flagship phones. From its expansive zoom to advanced computational photography, it’s packed with premium imaging tech.
While the phone is not launching in most Western markets, its feature set could raise the bar for mid-range devices globally. If this level of photography prowess becomes the new normal for budget phones, Apple and Samsung may feel pressured to step up their camera game too.
The Realme 12 Pro+ provides an exciting glimpse into the future of mid-range phone photography. And if this is the new standard, flagships better watch their backs.
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