1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | Realme 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 166.1 x 76.1 x 9.9 mm | 161.5 x 74 x 8.8 mm | Realme 12 Pro+ is more compact and thinner, making it more comfortable to hold and pocket. Motorola Moto G 5G is bulkier and might feel less ergonomic. |
| Weight | 212g | 196g | Realme 12 Pro+ is significantly lighter, reducing fatigue during prolonged use. Motorola Moto G 5G is noticeably heavier. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.7" | Both phones have the same screen size, offering a similar viewing area. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2412 | Both have very similar resolutions, resulting in comparable sharpness. |
| PPI | 393 | 394 | Both have similar pixel density, so the display sharpness will be almost identical. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | AMOLED | Realme 12 Pro+ provides more vibrant colors, deeper blacks, and better contrast. AMOLED also allows for better power efficiency with dark mode. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Realme 12 Pro+ offers noticeably smoother animations and scrolling, making the user interface feel more responsive. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Both have the same peak brightness. We cannot comment on outdoor visibility without this information. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 750G (8nm) | Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (4nm) | Realme 12 Pro+’s newer chipset is more power-efficient and powerful, resulting in faster app loading, smoother multitasking and better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 390,000 | 603,400 | Realme 12 Pro+ scores significantly higher, indicating better overall performance for demanding tasks and gaming. |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 710 | Realme 12 Pro+’s GPU is more capable for gaming and graphically intensive applications. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.7 | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.56" Sony IMX890, 1.00 µm pixel size | Realme 12 Pro+'s larger sensor size with larger pixel sizes can capture more light for better low-light performance. It also offers more detailed images. |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.2, 1.00 µm pixel size | 32MP, f/2.4, 1/2.74" Sony IMX615, 0.80 µm pixel size | Realme 12 Pro+ has higher resolution for sharper selfies, although slightly smaller pixel size. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 64MP, f/2.6, 1/2" Omnivision OV64B, 0.70 µm pixel size | Realme 12 Pro+ has a dedicated telephoto lens for better optical zoom, allowing for more versatility when taking photos. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.2, 1.12 µm pixel size | None | Motorola Moto G 5G has an ultrawide lens, great for capturing landscape shots. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4, 1.75 µm pixel size | None | Motorola Moto G 5G has a dedicated macro lens, allowing to take detailed close-up shots. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 8MP, f/2.2, 1/4" Hynix HI-846, 1.12 µm pixel size | Realme 12 Pro+ has a combo wide angle + macro lens. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@30fps | Up to 4K@30fps, 1080p@120fps | Realme 12 Pro+ records at higher framerate 120fps for slow-motion video, capturing more detail. Both offer 4K for high quality videos. |
| Video Stabilization | EIS | EIS, OIS | Realme 12 Pro+ has Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) which provides better stabilization, reducing blur in videos, especially in low light. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both phones should offer similar battery life under similar usage conditions. |
| Charging | 20W Fast Charging | 67W Fast Charging | Realme 12 Pro+ charges much faster, greatly reducing charging times, ideal for users on the go. Motorola Moto G 5G is slower. |
| Battery type | Li-Ion | Li-Polymer | Li-Polymer is a more advanced chemistry with better energy density and safety. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10 | Android 14 | Realme 12 Pro+ has a much newer OS, providing access to newer features, better performance, and improved security. Motorola Moto G 5G runs on an older OS. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | 802.11ac | 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) | Realme 12 Pro+ supports the latest Wi-Fi 6, offering faster download and upload speeds, and better performance in crowded networks. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 5.2 | Realme 12 Pro+ has a newer Bluetooth version, enabling more efficient and reliable connections to accessories, and includes higher quality codecs. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, BeiDou (B1) | Realme 12 Pro+ has better GPS accuracy as it supports more navigation systems. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Both support Dual SIM for convenient use of two phone numbers |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 64 GB or 128 GB | 128 GB or 256 GB or 512 GB | Realme 12 Pro+ provides significantly more storage options. |
| RAM | 4 GB or 6 GB | 8 GB or 12 GB | Realme 12 Pro+ has more RAM for smoother performance while multi-tasking. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone has an option to expand the storage |
| Audio | |||
| Audio | 2 microphones | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Noise cancellation microphone, Stereo Speakers, 2 microphones | Realme 12 Pro+ offers a much richer audio experience due to it's stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res Audio support. |
| Security | |||
| Security | rear-mounted fingerprint sensor | basic fingerprint sensor | Both phones have a fingerprint sensor. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Geomagnetic | Motorola Moto G 5G features a Compass sensor. Realme 12 Pro+ features a Geomagnetic sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola Moto G 5G Advantages:
- Wider Aperture on Main Camera (f/1.7): May perform slightly better in extremely low light compared to the Realme 12 Pro+ main camera.
- Dedicated Macro lens: Offers dedicated macro lens to capture detailed close-up shots
- Wider Angle Lens: Has an ultra-wide angle lens for landscape photos, which the Realme 12 Pro+ lacks.
- Compass Sensor: The presence of a compass can be useful for certain navigation applications.
Realme 12 Pro+ Advantages:
- Superior Display (AMOLED, 120Hz): Provides a richer visual experience with smoother animations.
- Much Faster Chipset (Snapdragon 7s Gen 2): Offers significantly higher performance, better gaming, and smoother multitasking.
- Significantly Higher AnTuTu Benchmark: Indicates better overall performance capabilities.
- Optical Image Stabilization (OIS): Provides much better stabilization for photo and video.
- Telephoto Lens: Provides better optical zoom capabilities, and overall better camera versatility.
- Significantly Faster Charging (67W): Reduces charging time dramatically.
- Newer Android OS (Android 14): Provides access to the latest features, security, and performance improvements.
- Advanced Audio: Offers Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, and stereo speakers for superior audio experience.
- More RAM and Storage Options: Provides more internal memory for multitasking and storage.
- Newer Bluetooth version and WiFi 6: Enables higher quality connectivity with peripherals and faster WiFi speeds.
- Better Location Services: Supports more satellite systems for better location accuracy.
Trade-offs:
- The Realme 12 Pro+ lacks a dedicated macro lens, which the Motorola Moto G 5G has.
- The Motorola Moto G 5G has a dedicated ultrawide lens while the Realme 12 Pro+ has a combined wide angle + macro lens.
- The Motorola Moto G 5G uses a Li-Ion battery type while Realme 12 Pro+ uses a Li-Polymer battery type.
- Motorola Moto G 5G uses rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. Realme 12 Pro+ has basic fingerprint sensor.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola Moto G 5G Ideal User:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Users who prioritize affordability and are willing to make some compromises on performance.
- Basic Phone Needs: Those who use their phone for calls, texts, web browsing, and social media and want ultrawide and macro cameras
- Users who want a Compass: Users who need compass sensor functionality.
- Users who want wider main camera aperture for low light photography
Use Cases:
- Casual browsing and social media consumption.
- Everyday photography using ultrawide and macro cameras.
- Basic mobile gaming
- Navigation using the compass sensor.
Realme 12 Pro+ Ideal User:
- Performance Seekers: Users who prioritize speed, responsiveness, and a smooth user experience.
- Mobile Gamers: Those who want better gaming performance and a high-refresh-rate display.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who want a versatile camera system, including zoom capabilities, and better video stabilization, plus the flexibility to use either a macro or wide lens.
- Multimedia Consumers: Users who watch videos or listen to music and want an immersive experience.
- Users who want long-term support: Prefer a phone with the newest available Android OS version.
- Users who want fast charging: Prioritize faster charging times.
Use Cases:
- Intensive mobile gaming and graphic-heavy apps.
- High-quality photography with optical zoom and video with OIS.
- Watching movies and videos with immersive audio.
- Multitasking and using resource-intensive apps.
- Daily usage that requires faster charging speeds.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? The Motorola Moto G 5G is likely more affordable, while the Realme 12 Pro+ represents a higher investment.
- How important is performance and a smooth user experience? If smooth animations and fast apps are a must, the Realme 12 Pro+ is better suited.
- Which camera features are the most crucial to you? Consider if you prioritize zoom, ultrawide, and macro cameras, as well as video quality.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Budget-Conscious, Basic Use: If you need a reliable phone for basic daily use, with an ultrawide and macro lens and the compass sensor functionality, the Motorola Moto G 5G is a suitable choice, and you don't need to pay the premium for all the extra features that come with the Realme 12 Pro+.
- Performance & Features Prioritized: If you prioritize gaming, a high-quality display, versatile cameras with OIS, and long-term software support with faster charging, the Realme 12 Pro+ is a worthwhile investment.
- Camera Lover: If you really care about photo quality and versatile camera capabilities including zoom, the Realme 12 Pro+ offers a telephoto lens and OIS capabilities that the Motorola Moto G 5G lacks.
My Choice
If I had to choose between these two phones, I would choose the Realme 12 Pro+. While the Motorola Moto G 5G has some advantages like wider aperture main camera, dedicated macro lens, ultrawide lens and compass sensor, the Realme 12 Pro+ offers a much more modern and well-rounded experience. The superior display with AMOLED and 120Hz, the significantly more powerful chipset, the better camera with telephoto lens and OIS, the fast charging, and newer Android version make it a better choice for anyone who wants a high-performance smartphone. I often watch videos on my phone, play games and take pictures and videos for social media and I believe the Realme 12 Pro+ would be the more enjoyable experience overall. I consider the features of the Realme 12 Pro+ to be worth the extra investment for most users seeking a modern smartphone, and I value long-term use with software updates, and the overall performance, display and camera offered by this phone.
