1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Motorola One 5G Ace | Realme 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-01-14 | 2024-01-29 | Realme 12 Pro+ is significantly newer, suggesting more up-to-date software and features. |
| Dimensions | 166.1 x 76.1 x 9.9 mm | 161.5 x 74 x 8.8 mm | Motorola One 5G Ace is larger and bulkier, potentially less comfortable for one-handed use and carrying in pockets. |
| Weight | 212g | 196g | Realme 12 Pro+ is lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use and easier to carry. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.7" | Both offer the same screen size, suitable for media consumption and multitasking. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2412 | Both have very similar resolution, offering comparable sharpness and detail. |
| PPI | 393 | 394 | Both offer very similar pixel density for detailed viewing. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | AMOLED | Realme 12 Pro+ has superior display with deeper blacks, better contrast, and more vibrant colors. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Realme 12 Pro+ provides much smoother scrolling and animations, enhancing the overall visual experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Both have identical peak brightness. (Note: This specification seems incorrect as devices will have higher brightness levels) |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) | Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (4 nm) | Realme 12 Pro+ has a more modern and efficient chipset, leading to better performance and battery management. |
| AnTuTu Score | 330,000 | 603,400 | Realme 12 Pro+ offers significantly better performance for gaming, multitasking, and app loading times. |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 710 | Realme 12 Pro+ has a more powerful GPU, providing better graphics performance for gaming and demanding apps. |
| Camera | |||
| Rear Standard | 48MP f/1.7, 0.80µm | 50MP f/1.8, 1/1.56", 1.00µm, Sony IMX890 | Realme 12 Pro+ has a larger sensor and larger pixels, suggesting better low-light performance and image quality. |
| Selfie | 16MP f/2.2, 1.12µm | 32MP f/2.4, 1/2.74", 0.80µm, Sony IMX615 | Realme 12 Pro+ has higher resolution for selfies and may offer better clarity and detail. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 64MP f/2.6, 1/2", 0.70µm, OV64B | Realme 12 Pro+ has a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom, enhancing versatility. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP f/2.2, 1.12µm | None | Motorola One 5G Ace has a dedicated wide-angle lens, helpful for capturing expansive scenes. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP f/2.4, 1.75µm | None | Motorola One 5G Ace has a dedicated macro lens for detailed close-up shots. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 8MP f/2.2, 1/4", 1.12µm, Hynix HI-846 | Realme 12 Pro+ has a combined Wide Angle + Macro lens, offering additional flexibility. |
| Video | 4K@30fps EIS, 1080p@60fps EIS | 4K@30fps EIS, 1080p@120fps EIS | Realme 12 Pro+ has a slightly better slow-motion recording capability and video stabilization. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both have the same battery capacity, suggesting comparable battery life. |
| Charging | 15W Fast Charging | 67W Fast Charging | Realme 12 Pro+ charges significantly faster, reducing downtime. |
| Charger | 10W Charger in-box | Non-removable | Motorola includes a 10W charger, while the Realme does not explicitly state if it does. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10 | Android 14 | Realme 12 Pro+ has a much newer version of Android with more features and security updates. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6 | Realme 12 Pro+ has faster and more efficient Wi-Fi. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 5.2 | Realme 12 Pro+ has a newer version and includes high quality audio codecs |
| SIM | Single SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Realme 12 Pro+ supports using two SIMs simultaneously |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 64/128 GB | 128/256/512 GB | Realme 12 Pro+ offers significantly more storage options. |
| RAM | 4/6 GB | 8/12 GB | Realme 12 Pro+ offers significantly more RAM, resulting in better multitasking. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither device offers expandable storage, so selecting a sufficient storage variant is crucial. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | 2 Microphones | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers, Noise cancellation, 2 Microphones | Realme 12 Pro+ has a superior audio configuration. |
| Security | |||
| Features | rear-mounted fingerprint sensor | basic fingerprint sensor | Both offer fingerprint security. |
| Sensors | |||
| Features | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Geomagnetic | Motorola One 5G Ace has a compass and the Realme 12 Pro+ has a Geomagnetic sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola One 5G Ace Advantages:
- Wider Aperture Main Camera: The f/1.7 aperture on the main camera may allow for slightly better low-light performance than the Realme's f/1.8, however, this is a slight difference in this case.
- Dedicated Macro Lens: Allows for very detailed close up shots.
- Dedicated Wide-Angle Lens: Allows for wide shots and group photos.
- Compass Sensor: Provides navigational utility and direction finding.
- Included Charger: The 10W charger is included in the box, which the Realme doesn't explicitly confirm.
Realme 12 Pro+ Advantages:
- Newer and More Powerful Chipset: The Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 offers significantly better performance than the Snapdragon 750G for demanding tasks, gaming, and general use.
- Superior AMOLED Display: The AMOLED panel provides deeper blacks, better contrast, and more vibrant colors, offering a much better viewing experience than the LCD panel.
- Higher Refresh Rate: The 120Hz refresh rate ensures smoother scrolling and animations for a more fluid visual experience.
- Significantly Faster Charging: The 67W fast charging allows for much faster battery top-ups, saving valuable time.
- Optical Zoom: The telephoto lens with optical zoom offers superior zoom quality without losing as much detail.
- Better Selfie Camera: The higher resolution front-facing camera results in more detailed selfies.
- More RAM and Storage Options: Offers double the RAM and much more storage space, leading to better performance and more files/media storage.
- Newer Android Version: Android 14 ensures a more modern and feature-rich user experience and better future security patches.
- Better Audio: Includes Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, and Stereo Speakers.
- Better Connectivity: Newer WiFi standard, and better bluetooth standards.
- Dual SIM Support: Supports two SIM cards simultaneously.
Trade-offs:
- The Motorola One 5G Ace trades raw performance, display quality, and faster charging for a wide angle and macro camera, with slightly better apertures in the main camera.
- The Realme 12 Pro+ sacrifices dedicated wide angle and macro lenses but provides superior overall performance, display quality, and charging speed, a superior telephoto lens, and more RAM/storage options.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola One 5G Ace:
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious users who prioritize a larger screen and standard smartphone features. Users who enjoy using wide angle and macro lenses may find the camera system more appealing.
- Use Cases: Basic day-to-day usage, casual social media browsing, and basic mobile photography.
- Price-to-Value: Provides some value for a low price tag, but is outclassed by other phones with better performance and features at a similar price.
Realme 12 Pro+:
- Ideal User: Users who value performance, a high-quality display, fast charging, and a versatile camera system. Users who enjoy taking a variety of types of photos and/or watch a lot of media on their phones.
- Use Cases: Mobile gaming, heavy multitasking, photography/videography, watching media, and everyday use with a need for a smooth experience.
- Price-to-Value: Offers a great balance of features and performance for the price, making it a good value for most people.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? The Motorola One 5G Ace will likely be much cheaper but lacks a lot of quality of life features.
- What are your priorities: Performance or specific Camera Features? If raw performance, display quality, and faster charging are paramount, go for the Realme 12 Pro+. If a dedicated wide angle and macro lens are more important, the Motorola One 5G Ace has that.
- How important is software version and long-term support? The Realme 12 Pro+ ships with Android 14 and will likely receive more software updates than the Motorola, which shipped with Android 10.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Budget User with Basic Needs: If you are on a very tight budget and need a basic smartphone for calls, texts, and some social media, the Motorola One 5G Ace can work. If you can afford a slightly more expensive option, it may be worth it to choose the Realme.
- Performance and Media Consumption User: If you value a smooth experience, excellent display quality, fast charging and a capable camera, the Realme 12 Pro+ is the clear choice. The performance difference is significant for most users, especially those who want to play mobile games.
- Photography Enthusiast: The Realme 12 Pro+ is recommended with a better overall camera experience, including a telephoto lens with optical zoom.
Final Choice
I would choose the Realme 12 Pro+. While the Motorola One 5G Ace has a wide-angle and macro camera, it is heavily outclassed in almost every other category. The Realme 12 Pro+ is a much more modern phone with a better display, performance, battery, and charging, leading to a much more fluid and quality user experience.
