Alright, let's dive into a head-to-head comparison of the Xiaomi Poco M5 and the Realme 12 Pro+. I've put these phones through the spec-sheet wringer and have some real-world insights to share, so let's get started!
1. Specifications Breakdown
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco M5 | Realme 12 Pro+ | Real-World Implications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2022-09-13 | 2024-01-29 | The Realme 12 Pro+ is significantly newer, offering more recent tech and design trends. |
| Form Factor | Standard | Standard | Both are standard smartphones; neither is foldable. |
| Dimensions | 164 × 76.1 × 8.9 mm | 161.5 × 74 × 8.8 mm | The Poco M5 is slightly larger; the Realme is slimmer. Not a huge difference, but might matter for those with smaller hands. |
| Weight | 201g | 196g | Realme is a tad lighter - which you may feel if you're holding it for a long time. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.58" | 6.7" | Realme offers a slightly more immersive experience with its larger display. |
| Resolution | 1080x2408 | 1080x2412 | Essentially identical sharpness. You're not going to see a difference with your eyes. |
| Pixel Density | 401 PPI | 394 PPI | Very similar clarity, meaning both are sharp for daily use. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | AMOLED | Massive difference: AMOLED provides much better contrast, richer colors, and true blacks, plus better power efficiency when using dark themes. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | The Realme offers slightly smoother scrolling and animations, particularly noticeable in gaming and fast-paced UI interactions. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Neither screen can actually achieve any brightness, a clear error in the data, which will be ignored going forward. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio G99 (6 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (4 nm) | The Realme's Snapdragon chip provides better performance and is built on a smaller, more power-efficient process. |
| AnTuTu Score | 414,500 | 603,400 | The Realme 12 Pro+ is significantly faster, resulting in smoother multitasking and better performance for demanding apps and games. |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Adreno 710 | The Adreno GPU in the Realme will generally provide better graphics performance. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/2.76", 0.64µm, Samsung S5KJN1 | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.56", 1.00µm, Sony IMX890 | The Realme has a larger sensor and larger pixels, capturing more light and detail leading to better low-light photos. |
| Selfie Camera | 5MP, f/2.2 | 32MP, f/2.4, 1/2.74", 0.80µm, Sony IMX615 | The Realme's front-facing camera has a much higher resolution sensor and larger pixels for sharper, clearer selfies. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 64MP, f/2.6, 1/2", 0.70µm, Omnivision OV64B | The Realme offers telephoto capabilities, which lets you zoom further and capture more detailed shots. |
| Portrait Mode (depth) | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | The Poco has a dedicated depth camera, but this is only 2MP. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | The Poco has a dedicated macro lens but it's only 2MP. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 8MP, f/2.2, 1/4", 1.12µm, Hynix HI-846 | The Realme offers a wide angle and macro lens. |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps with EIS | The Realme records significantly higher quality video, and has better stabilization. |
| Camera Features | Digital zoom, PDAF, etc. | Optical zoom, OIS, etc. | The Realme camera comes with more advanced features that will lead to higher quality photos and videos. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both offer the same capacity, which should translate into similar all-day battery life. |
| Charging | 18W fast charging | 67W fast charging | The Realme charges much faster - a huge practical difference, you'll be back to full charge in a fraction of the time. |
| Features | Non-removable | Non-removable | Both have sealed batteries. |
| Other | |||
| OS | Android 12 (up to 14) | Android 14 | The Realme has a more up-to-date OS out of the box. |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6 | The Realme supports newer Wi-Fi standards, offering faster speeds and better performance. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.2 | Both support modern Bluetooth, but each has different added features. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, BeiDou (B1) | The Realme supports more satellite systems for better location accuracy. |
| Storage | 64/128 GB | 128/256/512 GB | The Realme offers significantly more storage options with up to 512GB. |
| RAM | 4/6 GB | 8/12 GB | The Realme has more RAM for smoother multitasking and better app performance. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither offers expandable storage, which is a downside. |
| Audio | Basic Audio | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | The Realme has enhanced audio with Dolby Atmos, dual speakers, and noise cancellation mics. |
| Security | Side-mounted fingerprint | Basic fingerprint sensor | The Poco has a more advanced biometric security with the side-mounted sensor. |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Compass, Proximity, Fingerprint | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity, Fingerprint, Geomagnetic | The Realme has more sensors than the Poco. |
2. Key Insights
- Realme 12 Pro+ Dominance: The Realme 12 Pro+ generally outclasses the Poco M5 in many areas. It has a superior AMOLED display with a higher refresh rate, a more powerful and efficient chipset, much faster charging, and an advanced camera system. These differences translate to a noticeable improvement in user experience.
- Display Advantage: The AMOLED display on the Realme is a huge win. It makes a dramatic difference in visual quality.
- Performance Gap: The Snapdragon chip in the Realme provides substantially better performance than the Helio G99 in the Poco. This means smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and a better gaming experience.
- Camera Capabilities: The Realme's camera system with a larger sensor, telephoto lens, and enhanced video capabilities positions it as a superior choice for photography and videography.
- Charging Speed: 67W charging on the Realme is a game-changer compared to the Poco's 18W. You'll spend much less time plugged into a wall.
- Tradeoffs: The Xiaomi's main selling point is the price - this model is older and cheaper than the Realme. It's still capable, but is simply outclassed in nearly every category. It also has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, which could be preferable for some users.
3. User Profiles and Recommendations
Xiaomi Poco M5:
- Ideal For: Budget-conscious users who need a basic smartphone for everyday tasks. It is suitable for light social media use, browsing, and calling.
- Use Cases: First smartphone for a teenager, a backup phone, or users who don't need high performance or advanced features, or very light smartphone use.
- Value Proposition: If you need a phone for very basic usage and don't want to spend a lot, this is a reasonable pick.
Realme 12 Pro+:
- Ideal For: Users who prioritize a high-quality display, good performance, excellent camera capabilities, and fast charging. This phone is great for photography enthusiasts, mobile gamers, and users who multitask.
- Use Cases: Capturing high quality photos and videos, gaming, streaming, social media, and content creation, or those that want their device to be responsive and a good value for the money.
- Value Proposition: If you're willing to invest more, the Realme delivers far more value for the money, providing a significantly better overall experience.
4. Buying Decision Framework
Here are three questions to guide your decision:
What is your primary use for the phone?
- If basic communication and light use are the main priorities, the Poco might suffice.
- If photography, gaming, and multimedia are important, the Realme is a must.
How much are you willing to spend?
- If budget is the top concern, the Poco is a lower price.
- If you're looking for the best value for your money, the Realme is a better long-term investment.
How important are display quality and camera capabilities to you?
- If you use your phone for lots of content consumption, the Realme has a way better display.
- If you use your phone for photography, the Realme has far better camera options.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Basic User: If you mainly use your phone for calls, texts, and browsing, the Xiaomi Poco M5 is adequate.
- Content Creator: For photography, videography, and social media, the Realme 12 Pro+ is the better choice.
- Gamer: For a better gaming experience, the Realme 12 Pro+ offers more processing power and a better display.
- Budget-Conscious User: If you need the lowest priced phone, and you are sure you don't want any better, the Xiaomi Poco M5 will do for simple tasks.
- Everyday Power User: The Realme 12 Pro+ is a strong recommendation as it does most things well.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would absolutely pick the Realme 12 Pro+. While the Poco M5 might be more budget-friendly, the Realme 12 Pro+ provides a superior experience in almost every way that matters to me as a smartphone user and tech analyst. The AMOLED display, faster performance, and advanced camera capabilities justify its higher cost, and I personally would not be able to go back to an LCD display after using an AMOLED. The significantly faster charging is also a key feature that provides a better experience. Given how frequently I use my phone for photos, videos, and overall productivity, the Realme 12 Pro+ is the clear winner. It is a much more capable, future-proof device that provides more performance, better features, and is a clear improvement in nearly every category.
