Realme made a splash at CES 2024 by unveiling a new mid-range smartphone aimed at photography enthusiasts. The Realme 12 Pro+ brings high-end camera technology to a more affordable price point.
Designed in collaboration with luxury Swiss watchmaker Ollivier Savéo, the 12 Pro+ has an eye-catching style. A polished metallic blue or white sunburst dial is framed by a gold fluted bezel and accented by a 3D bracelet strap in a jubilee pattern. The aesthetic marries Savéo’s watchmaking pedigree with Realme’s trademark vibrant colors.
But the real showstopper feature is the 12 Pro+’s periscope camera with 3x optical zoom. It uses a large 64MP sensor for improved low light shots compared to the iPhone 15 Pro and Galaxy S23 Ultra. Realme claims the sensor takes in 1.8 times more light. This should allow the 12 Pro+ to rely on its zoom lens instead of digital zoom even in dim conditions.
Image Source – Twitter
The main 50MP camera also impresses, with optical stabilization and a Sony IMX890 sensor for sharp, vivid images. A 0.6x ultra-wide rounds out the rear array. While specifics weren’t given, prior Realme phones have included excellent ultra-wides.
Realme played coy about the 12 Pro+’s processor, likely a Qualcomm mid-range chip. But performance should be ample thanks to optimizations like Realme’s MasterShot algorithm for computational photography. Unique for the price, it enables RAW photo capture and editing options typically found only in high-end mobiles.
With flagship-rivaling cameras, slick design, and competitive pricing, the Realme 12 Pro+ could pressure companies like Apple and Samsung when it launches later this month. Realme’s rapid rise already shows the influence an upstart can have in the industry. And by bringing once-exclusive features like periscope zoom to mid-range devices, it forces established players to step up their camera game across all price tiers.
The 12 Pro+ may not have everything, but it packs in impressively advanced optics for phone shoppers who value photography above all else. Realme is betting camera buffs on a budget will respond enthusiastically.
