realme 12x

While there's a big focus on performance, battery, and design, the camera department takes a hit.As mentioned, the Realme 12X 5G features a 50MP primary camera accompanied by a 2MP sensor. It also means the smartphone lacks an ultra-wide camera, similar to the Realme 12 5G. The latter features a 108MP primary camera.Overall, Realme 12X 5G's camera performance is average at best. Images with a primary camera in daylight are sharp, though colours are often inconsistent. In some cases, images feature a prominent yellow tint, while you may occasionally notice a warm tone as well. The colour issue is fixable by adjusting the temperature via the native editing tool, but getting the right sharpness will get tricky. Either way, editing all images is going to be a tedious task.The portrait mode relies on the primary camera and 2MP depth sensor, though results remain average at best, again. Occasionally, the camera requires a stable grip for a sharp output. Even if you manage to keep the smartphone stable, the bokeh effect isn't negligent. In all fairness, it's a common limitation with smartphones in this range.For videos, the Realme 12X 5G supports 1080p recording at 30fps. The quality of the video again depends on the stability of the smartphone. The colours are again not the best and details can be slightly washed out. Realme could've also considered adding recording at 60fps to gain an edge over rivals.Even in low-light conditions, output remains more or less the same, though noise in images now becomes prominent. Even enabling night mode does not help with the desired result.The 8MP selfie camera captures photos with a similar quality to that of the primary camera. However, skin tone detection can be inconsistent, occasionally resulting in a brightened complexion. While some users may appreciate a lighter skin tone, I personally prefer an accurate or nearly accurate representation.On the other hand, differences in images against Realme 12 5G are quite evident. Its 108MP camera sensor manages to capture more light, leading to more playful colours. In that case, spending those additional Rs 2,000 on the Realme 12 5G does offer some respite in the camera performance.

All the Realme 12X 5G models now offer 128GB storage, which is the right way forward. The base 4GB RAM option starts at Rs 11,999, while the 8GB model is available at Rs 14,999. The variant I am reviewing offers 6GB RAM and is priced at Rs 13,499. The Realme 12 5G utilises LPDDR4X RAM type, while the more affordable Realme 12X 5G gets LPDDR4 RAM. Both Realme 12 5G and 12X draw power from MediaTek's Dimensity 6100+ SoC.In our benchmark, the Realme 12X 5G performed decently against rivals directly, including Redmi 13C 5G. It achieved higher scores in the AnTuTu and Geekbench tests. Surprisingly, the Realme 12X 5G achieved marginally higher scores than the Realme 12 5G in AnTuTu and Geekbench's multi-core tests.When it comes to real life, the performance is mostly smooth, though you may occasionally notice stutters while switching apps. The scrolling experience is also decent by enabling 120Hz refresh rates. For gaming, BGMI supports HD graphics at 60fps, while COD (Call of Duty) gets medium GFX support. In my test, the titles ran with negligible lag, but I didn't face abrupt overheating or battery drain issues.Realme deserves credit for offering Android 14 right out of the box, even at this price point. The Realme 12X 5G is also expected to receive two years of major Android OS updates, which is a good considering the segment. Overall, I like the animations and some features that Realme UI offers, including limited access to photos for social media apps. However, some Realme UI features, including File Dock and Smart Image Matting, were missing, likely to not overburden the system.What surprised me the most was the addition of the AirGesture feature in this price range. The feature requires selfie cam access (thus a larger front camera cutout) and some AI backing to let users control the smartphone with simple hand gestures. However, the feature did not work smoothly during my review.The company must also focus on reducing the pre-installed apps for a cleaner software experience.

At least, you can count on excellent battery performance with the Realme 12X 5G. Equipped with a 5,000mAh battery, the phone provides all-day backup on a single full charge. In PC Mark's battery test (with flight mode enabled and 50 percent brightness), the phone lasted for over 17 hours - a highly respectable performance.Moreover, with the included 45W SuperVOOC charger, the phone reaches a full charge in approximately 50 minutes. The smartphone also offers an iPhone 15 Pro-inspired Dynamic Island animation while charging, which adds a refreshing touch to the overall UI.