Realme has just taken the covers off the latest addition to the company’s signature lineup in the form of the Realme 11 Pro+. The phone is headlined by a 200MP Samsung ISOCELL HM3 sensor, a first for any smartphone in the country. The rest of the optics include an 8MP ultra-wide and 2MP macro shooter alongside a 32MP selfie camera.
Redmi has traditionally been the biggest competitor to Realme handsets and it just so happens that the former had announced its own offering under the Note series. The Redmi Note 12 Pro+ (review) also makes use of a 200MP primary camera although it is not the same as the one on the 11 Pro+. So which phone can take better images in this highly competitive mid-range segment? The only way to find that out is through a detailed camera comparison.
Table of Contents
Daylight HDR shot
Let’s first analyse the easiest of scenarios which is a regular day snap in ample sunlight. By default, both sensors pixel-bin the image to 12.5MP by combining 16 pixels into one for greater detail. Right off the bat, one thing is clear… the Realme 11 Pro+ is boosting both the colours and saturation levels above normal. Now this would be appealing for sharing on Instagram but it undoubtedly gives the image a slightly unrealistic pastel look. On the other hand, the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ has a more balanced look to it as you can see with the colour of the sky, plants, and flowers. Detail levels are on point for both images, even in the shadow just below the creeper and I’m particularly impressed with the dynamic range on offer. However, I think the Realme image is just a tiny bit better exposed in the centre as compared to the Redmi. Even so, the only reasonable difference lies in the colour reproduction of both images and that is very subjective to liking. There is no clear winner here so I will call this round a tie.
Winner: Tie
Ultra-wide shot
The phones also have 8MP ultra-wide cameras that are good enough for the price bracket. However, compared to the main sensor the quality obviously is downgraded. That being said the sample shot above shows a great amount of ingenuity from both devices. As far as detailing is concerned, the Realme shot gets the better of Redmi but only slightly. The colour reproduction and temperature match the more natural tones set in the scene. However, there is more warping at the edges when looking at the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ image while the 11 Pro+ does a stellar job of keeping the sides even. This round goes to the Realme 11 Pro+.
Winner: Realme 11 Pro+
UHD 200MP shot
While the sensors on either phone can spit out 200MP full-resolution images, there is a slight difference. Redmi uses the ISOCELL HPX sensor while Realme has the latest HP3. The differences don’t become very apparent when you see sample images from each phone side-by-side. You get the slightly boosted colour profile against more natural colours, as I had mentioned in the Daylight HDR section. However, cropping at 50X there is a downgrade in detail on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ as compared to Realme. This is even more pronounced at 100X, wherein the 11 Pro+ impressively preserves the leaves’ shape and texture while the Redmi completely botches it. It is clear from this comparison that the superior sensor on the Realme 11 Pro+ is clearly the better choice.
Winner: Realme 11 Pro+
Macro shot
The macro sensors on either phone are not the best quality but they get the job done. As to which one does it more effectively, the Realme 11 Pro+ image definitely has more detail and focus on the lower petal as compared to Redmi. There’s also a slightly yellow colour tint on the latter, visible prominently on the grass cover behind the flower. While both images can be called decent enough, I think the winner here is Realme’s output.
Winner: Realme 11 Pro+
Portrait
With the absence of a dedicated depth sensor, both phones rely on AI to craft a depth map and separate the background. The Redmi Note 12 Pro+ provides a better blur and has a sharper focus on the subject. Moreover, you can adjust the amount of background blur by changing the depth of field after the photo has been snapped. The Realme’s output is good enough for my liking but there is no customisation available after the image is taken and the bokeh effect is inferior to Redmi. This round is won by the Note 12 Pro+.
Winner: Redmi Note 12 Pro+
Selfie
The front camera on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ is a 16MP shooter while Realme doubles that resolution on its own offering. However, if we are to talk about facial detail, the former is a better choice as compared to the latter. On the 11 Pro+, it is clear that there is a layer of processing which smoothens out the face and slightly boosts the skin tone. This is not the case with the Note device as it maintains a higher degree of realism in its shot. However, the dynamic range and exposure handling behind my face are worse than what Realme is able to project in its image. Even so, I have to go with the Redmi Note 12 Pro+’s image for the win in this round.
Winner: Redmi Note 12 Pro+
Low light shot
The image snapped in low light from both phones is not vastly different but there are a few points of note. Realme tends to favour more exposure and illuminates the shadows quite cleanly. At the same time, it has the tendency to slightly mute colours and reflect them into the night sky changing the shade. As for the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ image, a lot of the low light realism is maintained and there is also lower lens flare. Detail-wise, both phones are equal and I think most people will find it hard to choose between the two shots. This round is a tie in my opinion.
Winner: Tie
Night mode
Making use of the dedicated Night mode on each of the devices churns out very similar results as the images that were snapped without it. Both phones use more processing but manage to contain noise levels without overexposing. Details are more prominent and the lens flare is reduced. This round is a tie as well.
Winner: Tie
Verdict
The result is three to two in favour of the Realme 11 Pro+ which takes home important rounds of Ultra-wide, UHD and macro photography. On the other hand, the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ scores in the portrait and selfie mode categories. Both crucial facets of a smartphone’s image processing prowess, daylight and night scenarios, are tied for both phones. You can make an informed choice on your purchase decision with these facts in mind.
