Smartphone Comparison: Realme 8 vs. Realme 12 Pro+
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Realme 8 | Realme 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-03-25 | 2024-01-29 | Realme 12 Pro+ is significantly newer, likely with better software support and newer features. |
| Dimensions | 160.6 × 73.9 × 8 mm | 161.5 × 74 × 8.8 mm | Realme 12 Pro+ is slightly larger and thicker, potentially less comfortable for one-handed use, especially for users with smaller hands. |
| Weight | 177g | 196g | Realme 8 is lighter and easier to carry for extended periods and feel more comfortable for daily usage. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.4" | 6.7" | Realme 12 Pro+ offers a slightly larger viewing area, better for media consumption, gaming and multitasking |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2412 | Both displays are sharp, with almost imperceptible difference. |
| PPI | 411 | 394 | Both have very similar pixel density, meaning clarity will be comparable at normal viewing distances. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors, deep blacks, and good contrast ratios; display quality will be similar. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Realme 12 Pro+ provides a smoother visual experience, beneficial for gaming and scrolling through social media. |
| Brightness | 1000 nits | 0 nits | Realme 8 should be much more visible outdoors under bright sunlight. Note: Brightness of Realme 12 Pro+ is not provided. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio G95 (12nm) | Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (4nm) | Realme 12 Pro+ has a significantly more powerful and efficient processor, offering better performance and improved battery life. |
| AnTuTu Score | 409,874 | 603,400 | Realme 12 Pro+ performs better in demanding tasks, offering faster app loading, smoother operation, and better gaming capabilities. |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MC4 | Adreno 710 | Realme 12 Pro+ has a more advanced GPU, which can handle graphically intensive games and apps more effectively. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both should offer similar battery life under similar usage patterns. |
| Charging | 30W Fast Charging | 67W Fast Charging | Realme 12 Pro+ charges significantly faster, reducing downtime when plugged into a charger. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 64MP, f/1.79, 1/2" | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.56" | Realme 12 Pro+ has a larger sensor size, generally resulting in better low-light performance and image quality, despite the lower resolution |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.45, 1/3.13" | 32MP, f/2.4, 1/2.74" | Realme 12 Pro+ has a higher-resolution selfie camera with a larger sensor size. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 64MP, f/2.6, 1/2" | Realme 12 Pro+ offers a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom capabilities. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.25 | None | Realme 8 includes a wide angle lens for capturing expansive scenes. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | Realme 8 includes a dedicated macro lens for extreme close up shots. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 8MP, f/2.2, 1/4" | Realme 12 Pro+ includes a wide angle lens with macro capabilities for capturing expansive scenes and close up shots. |
| Black & White | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | Realme 8 includes a dedicated black and white camera for adding more creativity in photos. |
| Video | 4K@30fps, EIS | 4K@30fps, EIS | Both phones offer similar recording capabilities, Realme 12 Pro+ features Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). |
| Features | Quad Camera, Digital Image Stabilization, Ultra Stable Video | Triple Camera, Optical Zoom, Optical Stabilization (OIS), PDAF | Realme 12 Pro+ has a more advanced camera system with Optical Zoom and Optical Image Stabilization, offering higher versatility. Realme 8 has Ultra Stable Video. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 | Android 14 | Realme 12 Pro+ offers a newer Android version, likely providing enhanced features, security, and a more refined user experience. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6 | Realme 12 Pro+ supports the newer Wi-Fi 6 standard for faster speeds, lower latency, and improved reliability in congested networks. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.1 | Bluetooth 5.2 | Realme 12 Pro+ features a newer Bluetooth version, potentially offering better performance and connectivity with compatible devices, with support for higher quality audio codecs. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, BeiDou (B1) | Realme 12 Pro+ offers more accurate location tracking with additional satellite system support. |
| SIM | Dual SIM | Dual SIM | Both phones support Dual SIM functionality. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 64GB/128GB | 128GB/256GB/512GB | Realme 12 Pro+ provides more storage options with larger storage capacity for user's files and media, while Realme 8 might fall short for heavy media consumers. |
| RAM | 4GB/6GB/8GB | 8GB/12GB | Realme 12 Pro+ comes with more RAM, providing better multitasking performance for users who run many apps simultaneously. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone offers expandable storage, which could be a limitation for some users. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio Quality | Hi-Res Audio | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Realme 12 Pro+ offers a more immersive audio experience with Dolby Atmos and stereo speakers, along with noise cancellation. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Fingerprint Sensor | Fingerprint Sensor | Both phones offer basic biometric security via fingerprint sensors. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Screen: Unknown | Screen: Unknown | Screen protection is unknown for both, further evaluation will be required. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Magnetometer | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope | Realme 8 has a magnetometer while Realme 12 Pro+ doesn't, while Realme 12 Pro+ has a Geomagnetic sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Realme 8 Advantages:
- Lighter Weight: At 177g, it's 19g lighter than the Realme 12 Pro+, offering better comfort for extended use.
- Potentially Better Sunlight Visibility: With a brightness of 1000 nits compared to Realme 12 Pro+ which does not have a listed brightness, it may offer better outdoor visibility.
- Wide Angle and Macro lenses: Offers a dedicated wide angle and macro lens, while Realme 12 Pro+ offers a wide angle and macro as one lens.
Realme 12 Pro+ Advantages:
- Newer Technology: Launched almost 3 years later, it features a more modern chipset, offering significantly better performance.
- Smoother Display: 120Hz refresh rate provides a smoother, more responsive visual experience compared to the 60Hz of Realme 8.
- Faster Charging: 67W fast charging is significantly quicker than the 30W charging of Realme 8.
- Superior Camera System: Features an optical zoom lens, a larger main sensor, better selfie camera, and OIS for better image quality and stability, making it more versatile for different photography scenarios.
- More Storage Options: Offers up to 512 GB of internal storage, catering to users with large media libraries.
- More RAM: Comes with up to 12GB of RAM, allowing for better multitasking and smoother gaming.
- Newer Software: Ships with Android 14, offering a modern user experience and likely longer software support.
- Better Audio: Offers enhanced spatial audio, higher quality audio playback, clearer calls, better audio separation and immersion.
Trade-offs:
- The Realme 8 is lighter and may have better screen brightness, making it slightly more comfortable for extended use and better outdoor visibility (however this is unconfirmed)
- The Realme 12 Pro+ is thicker and heavier and its screen brightness is unknown.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Realme 8 Ideal User:
- Budget-Conscious: Users looking for a more affordable option with decent performance for everyday tasks.
- Light Users: Individuals who prioritize lightweight devices and don't require the latest technology or performance.
- Basic Photography: Users who need a decent camera for general snapshots and do not need high end features such as optical zoom or stabilization.
- Specific Use Cases:
- Everyday browsing, social media, and messaging.
- Casual gaming.
Realme 12 Pro+ Ideal User:
- Performance Enthusiasts: Users who prioritize performance, demanding gaming, and multitasking.
- Photography Lovers: Individuals who value a versatile camera system with optical zoom and OIS.
- Media Consumers: Users who enjoy watching videos and movies and benefit from a larger screen and enhanced audio.
- Long-Term Users: People who prefer a phone with a newer OS and likely longer software support.
- Specific Use Cases:
- High-end gaming.
- Professional photography.
- Heavy multitasking.
- Frequent media consumption.
Price-to-Value:
- The Realme 8 is likely more budget-friendly, making it a good value for basic users.
- The Realme 12 Pro+ offers higher performance and a better camera system, justifying its higher price for more demanding users.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- How important is performance? If you need top performance, the Realme 12 Pro+ is the clear choice. If you prioritize budget and only need basic performance, the Realme 8 suffices.
- How important is the camera? If camera quality is critical, the Realme 12 Pro+ provides more versatile capabilities with optical zoom and better sensors. If you only need a basic camera the Realme 8 will be suitable.
- What is your budget? The Realme 8 is likely more affordable, but the Realme 12 Pro+ justifies its higher price with significantly improved performance and features.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Casual User, Limited Budget: Choose the Realme 8 for basic smartphone needs at a lower cost.
- Scenario 2: Performance User, Gaming Enthusiast: Choose the Realme 12 Pro+ for better overall performance, faster charging, and a smoother display.
- Scenario 3: Photography Enthusiast: Choose the Realme 12 Pro+ for the better camera system and optical zoom.
My Choice
I would choose the Realme 12 Pro+.
Reasons:
- Future-Proofing: The significantly more powerful chipset, newer software, and advanced features of the Realme 12 Pro+ make it a more future-proof device. The Realme 8 being an older model is likely to have diminished support.
- Camera Versatility: The inclusion of optical zoom, a larger main sensor, OIS, and a better selfie camera are very important for anyone who is serious about smartphone photography.
- Overall User Experience: The 120Hz display, faster charging, and improved audio features contribute to a much smoother and more enjoyable user experience. The enhanced multitasking performance is important for my needs.
While the Realme 8 is lighter and more budget-friendly, the performance and camera upgrades of the Realme 12 Pro+ are worth the additional cost for my personal needs.
