The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Nothing CMF Phone 1 and Realme 12 Pro+ represent compelling options. The CMF Phone 1 aims for a balance of design and functionality, while the Realme 12 Pro+ prioritizes charging speed and a more traditional feature set. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device delivers the best value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing all-day battery life and a brighter display, the Nothing CMF Phone 1 emerges as the winner. Its 16:13 active use score and 1259 nits peak brightness provide a noticeable advantage, despite the Realme 12 Pro+'s faster 67W charging.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2024, July 08 | 2024, January 29 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, July 09 | Available. Released 2024, January 29 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back or silicone polymer back (eco leather) | - |
| Dimensions | 164 x 77 x 8.2 mm (6.46 x 3.03 x 0.32 in) | 161.5 x 74 x 8.8 mm (6.36 x 2.91 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 197 g or 202 g (6.95 oz) | 196 g (6.91 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~90.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 120Hz, 960Hz PWM, 500 nits (typ), 2000 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM), 950 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.40 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 7300 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM7435-AB Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G615 MC2 | Adreno 710 |
| OS | Android 14, upgradable to Android 15, up to 2 major Android upgrades, Nothing OS 3.0 | Android 14, Realme UI 5.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS
64 MP, f/2.8, 71mm, (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom
8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 112˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.4, 22mm (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, BLE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 33W wired
5W reverse wired | 67W wired, 50% in 19 min |
| Type | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Orange, Light Green | Submarine Blue, Navigator Beige, Explorer Red |
| Models | A015 | RMX3840, RMX3841 |
| Price | € 148.95 / ₹ 16,499 | $ 465.00 / £ 299.00 / € 344.26 / ₹ 28,400 |
Nothing CMF Phone 1
- Exceptional battery life (16:13h active use)
- Significantly brighter display (1259 nits)
- Potentially better CPU performance with Dimensity 7300
- Slower charging speed (33W)
- Camera specs currently unknown
Realme 12 Pro+
- Ultra-fast 67W charging (50% in 19 min)
- Likely strong camera performance with OIS
- Snapdragon chipset offers good all-around performance
- Shorter battery life (13:24h active use)
- Dimmer display (802 nits)
Display Comparison
The Nothing CMF Phone 1 boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1259 nits compared to the Realme 12 Pro+'s 802 nits. This translates to superior visibility under direct sunlight. While both utilize 4nm chipsets, the display brightness difference is a key advantage for outdoor users. The Realme 12 Pro+ likely employs a standard AMOLED panel, while Nothing hasn't specified panel technology, but the brightness suggests a high-quality implementation. Bezels appear comparable based on available imagery, and color accuracy is assumed to be good on both, typical for AMOLED displays in this price range.
Camera Comparison
The Realme 12 Pro+ is positioned as a camera-focused device, but detailed sensor information beyond the main sensor is lacking. The Nothing CMF Phone 1's camera specs are currently unknown, making a direct comparison difficult. However, Realme's history suggests a focus on high megapixel counts and image processing algorithms. The Realme 12 Pro+ likely benefits from optical image stabilization (OIS) on its main sensor, providing sharper images and smoother video. Ignoring the typical 2MP macro lenses found on both devices, the quality of the primary sensor and image processing will be the deciding factors.
Performance
Both phones utilize 4nm chipsets, but the architectures differ. The Nothing CMF Phone 1 features the Mediatek Dimensity 7300 with a Cortex-A78 based CPU clocked at 2.5 GHz, while the Realme 12 Pro+ uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 with Cortex-A78 cores at 2.40 GHz. While clock speeds are slightly higher on the Dimensity chip, real-world performance will depend on software optimization and thermal management. The Dimensity 7300's integrated Mali-G615 MC4 GPU is likely to offer comparable gaming performance to the Snapdragon's Adreno 630. Both devices likely feature LPDDR4X RAM, impacting multitasking speeds, but the difference is unlikely to be substantial.
Battery Life
The Nothing CMF Phone 1 delivers a substantial advantage in battery life, achieving 16:13 hours of active use compared to the Realme 12 Pro+'s 13:24 hours. This nearly 3-hour difference is significant for power users. However, the Realme 12 Pro+ compensates with its 67W wired charging, capable of reaching 50% charge in just 19 minutes, while the CMF Phone 1 is limited to 33W. This means the Realme 12 Pro+ can quickly top up its battery, mitigating the shorter overall runtime. The 5W reverse wired charging on both devices is a convenient, albeit slow, feature for charging accessories.
Buying Guide
Buy the Nothing CMF Phone 1 if you need exceptional battery endurance for heavy daily use, value a brighter, more visible display in outdoor conditions, and appreciate a minimalist design aesthetic. Buy the Realme 12 Pro+ if you prioritize the fastest possible charging speeds – getting to 50% in just 19 minutes – and prefer a more feature-rich camera experience, even if it comes at the cost of slightly shorter battery life.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Dimensity 7300 in the Nothing CMF Phone 1 throttle under sustained gaming loads?
While the Dimensity 7300 is a capable chipset, throttling is always a possibility with any smartphone during extended gaming sessions. The 4nm process node should help mitigate heat, but real-world performance will depend on Nothing's thermal management implementation. Expect playable frame rates in most popular titles, but potentially some frame drops during graphically intensive games after prolonged use.
❓ How does the 67W charging on the Realme 12 Pro+ compare to other fast charging standards?
67W charging is significantly faster than standard 25W or 33W charging, allowing the Realme 12 Pro+ to reach 50% charge in just 19 minutes. While not as fast as some 120W or 150W solutions, it strikes a good balance between speed and battery health, minimizing potential degradation over time. It's a substantial advantage for users who frequently need to quickly top up their battery.
❓ Is the lack of detailed camera specs on the Nothing CMF Phone 1 a cause for concern?
The absence of detailed camera information is a valid concern. However, Nothing has a track record of delivering competitive camera performance in its devices. We anticipate the CMF Phone 1 will offer a capable camera system, but it may not match the feature set or marketing emphasis of the Realme 12 Pro+.
