Realme 12 5G vs Realme 11 5G: What’s different?

The Realme 11 5G and Realme 12 5G launched nearly a year apart, but unlike what the naming scheme might suggest, the 12 isn’t necessarily an upgrade over the 11 in all regards. Both phones share a similar design, camera system, and even SoC, but they differ significantly in the battery and display department. Let’s take a closer look at these differences and figure out which one works best for you.

Realme 12 5G vs Realme 11 5G: Things that haven’t changed

The front of the phone is largely unchanged as both phones use a 6.72-inch LCD display and punch hole camera. They’re both powered by the same MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ 5G SoC, and they’re both available with up to 8 GB of RAM and in a 128 GB storage variant. Performance of the phone in general and the rear camera array should be identical as the SoC remains unchanged.

Realme 12 5G vs Realme 11 5G: Things that have changed

1. Design

The design of these two phones is very similar from the front, but the rear is a different story. The camera island on the Realme 11 5G was circular and placed in the traditional top-left position.

ALSO READ: Realme P1 Pro 5G, P1 5G smartphones launched in India; here’s all you need to know

It also had only two camera modules visible. The Realme 12 5G moves this island to the centre-line of the phone and appears to have four camera modules. The rear camera array on both phones is still the same 108MP + 2MP combo, however.

2. Displays

While the displays on both phones are the same size and resolution — 6.72inches @ 1080×2400 — the display on the newer Realme 12 5G is nearly twice as bright and far superior for outdoor use.

The Realme 11’s display goes from 550-680 nits, while the 12’s display goes from 800-950 nits. The refresh rate remains that same at 120Hz on both phones.

3. Touch sampling rate

The Realme 12 5G upgrades the touch sampling rate from 180Hz on the 11 to 240Hz. This higher sampling rate should offer tangible benefits for competitive gamers, but casual gamers and regular smartphone users will notice no difference.

4. Battery life and charging

This one is an interesting trade-off. Both phones offer a similarly sized battery — about 5,000mAh — the one on the 11 charges via 67W SuperVOOC while the 12 charges at 45W SuperVOOC. This results in the 11’s battery going from 0-50 per cent in 17 minutes, while the 12’s battery goes from 0-50 per cent in 30 minutes. The 11 also comes with an 80W charger in the box while the 12 comes with a 45W charger.

This is interesting because while it’s clearly true that the Realme 11 charges faster, the Realme 12 5G’s relatively slow charging speed — 30 minutes to 50 per cent is still very fast, and should be better for overall battery health in the long run.

ALSO READ: Realme 12 5G review

5. Selfie cameras

The rear cameras remain the same, but the selfie cameras are not. The selfie camera on the 11 is a 16MP f/2.45 unit with a 23mm field of view, while the one on the 12 is an 8MP unit with a wider f/2.0 aperture and narrower 26mm field of view. Both shoot 1080p30 videos.

Here again there’s a trade-off. The Realme 11’s higher resolution sensor should capture more detail, while the Realme 12 5G’s  f/2.0 aperture should offer superior low light performance.

6. Speakers

The Realme 12 5G is superior here as it offers stereo speakers while the Realme 11 5G only has a single speaker.

Realme 12 5G vs Realme 11 5G: Pricing and configuration

It’s a little unusual, but the older Realme 11 is more expensive than the newer Realme 12 5G. The Realme 11 is available at Rs 18,999 and Rs 19,999 for the 8/128 and 8/256GB variants respectively. The Realme 12 5G, on the other hand, is available from Rs 16,999 to Rs 17,999 for 6/128 and 8/128GB variants respectively. 

Additionally, the Realme 11 is available in Glory Gold and Glory Black, while the Realme 12 5G is available in Twilight Purple and Woodland Green.

Unboxed take: Which one should you choose?

They’re both great phones, but we’d go with the newer and cheaper Realme 12 5G. Performance between the two phones is identical, but the Realme 12 5G’s brighter display and stereo speakers offer a superior gaming and multimedia experience. While it does charge slower than the Realme 11 5G, we really can’t complain about 45W charging in this price bracket.