The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Realme 12 Pro and Nothing Phone (2a) Plus represent compelling options. The Realme 12 Pro aims for a balance of features and affordability, while the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus prioritizes a clean software experience and strong battery performance. This comparison dives deep into their specifications to determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing all-day battery life and a unique software experience, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus emerges as the winner. Its 16:34 hour active use score and 1097 nits peak brightness significantly outperform the Realme 12 Pro, despite the latter's faster 67W charging.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2024, January 29 | 2024, July 31 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, January 29 | Available. Released 2024, August 03 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 161.5 x 74 x 8.8 mm (6.36 x 2.91 x 0.35 in) | 161.7 x 76.3 x 8.5 mm (6.37 x 3.00 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 190 g (6.70 oz) | 190 g (6.70 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density) | 1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~90.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 107.5 cm2 (~87.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM), 950 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, HDR10+, 700 nits (typ), 1100 nits (HBM), 1300 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A715 & 6x 2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6450 Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 7350 Pro (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 710 | Mali-G610 MC4 |
| OS | Android 14, Realme UI 5.0 | Android 14, up to 3 major Android upgrades, Nothing OS 3.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS
50 MP, f/2.2, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", PDAF, OIS
32 MP, f/2.0, 47mm (telephoto), 1/2.75", PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom
8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 112˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.4, 24mm (wide) | 50 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.76" |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes, 360˚ |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| 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, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 67W wired, 50% in 19 min | 50W wired, 50% in 21 min, 100% in 56 min |
| Type | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Submarine Blue, Navigator Beige | Black, Grey |
| Models | RMX3842 | A142P |
| Price | € 219.59 / $ 746.80 / ₹ 24,490 | € 269.90 / ₹ 22,599 |
Realme 12 Pro
- Faster 67W wired charging
- Potentially more affordable price point
- Realme UI offers extensive customization options
- Likely lower peak display brightness
- Less powerful CPU compared to Dimensity 7350 Pro
- Battery life likely shorter than Nothing Phone (2a) Plus
Nothing Phone (2a) Plus
- Exceptional 16:34 hour active use battery life
- Brighter 1097 nits display
- Cleaner, more minimalist Nothing OS
- Slower 50W wired charging
- Potentially higher price point
- Nothing OS may lack some customization options
Display Comparison
The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured peak of 1097 nits, compared to an unstated peak brightness for the Realme 12 Pro. This translates to better visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. While both utilize 4nm chipsets, the display’s brightness impacts overall power consumption. The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus’s brightness advantage is particularly beneficial for media consumption and gaming. We lack PWM frequency data for both, but display quality is a clear win for the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specs for the Realme 12 Pro, a direct comparison is limited. However, the market positioning suggests both phones will feature capable main sensors. The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus likely benefits from Nothing’s image processing algorithms, focusing on natural color reproduction. The absence of information regarding OIS on either device makes it difficult to assess low-light performance. We can assume both will include standard wide and ultrawide lenses, but the Realme 12 Pro’s potential for a higher megapixel count doesn’t automatically translate to better image quality without knowing sensor size and lens aperture.
Performance
The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus leverages the Mediatek Dimensity 7350 Pro, featuring a more powerful CPU configuration with 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A715 cores and 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510 cores, compared to the Realme 12 Pro’s Qualcomm SM6450 Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 (4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55). While both are built on a 4nm process, the Dimensity 7350 Pro’s core architecture suggests superior multi-core performance. This will be noticeable in demanding tasks like video editing and heavier gaming. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 prioritizes efficiency, potentially offering better sustained performance under load due to potentially better thermal management, but the Dimensity 7350 Pro has a clear lead in raw processing power.
Battery Life
The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus shines in battery performance, achieving an impressive 16:34 hours of active use. While the Realme 12 Pro’s battery capacity is unknown, its 67W charging is faster than the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus’s 50W charging (50% in 21 minutes, 100% in 56 minutes). However, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus’s superior battery life mitigates the slower charging speed. The Realme 12 Pro’s faster charging is advantageous for quick top-ups, but the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus offers the convenience of lasting significantly longer on a single charge.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme 12 Pro if you need the fastest possible charging speeds and are comfortable with Realme UI. Its 67W charging gets you to 50% in just 19 minutes, ideal for users who frequently need a quick power boost. Buy the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus if you prefer a cleaner, more minimalist software experience with exceptional battery life and a brighter display, even if it means slightly slower charging.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Mediatek Dimensity 7350 Pro in the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus exhibit thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
While the Dimensity 7350 Pro is a powerful chip, sustained performance depends heavily on the phone's cooling system. Nothing's design prioritizes thermal efficiency, but prolonged, graphically intensive gaming may still lead to some throttling. However, the chip's initial performance advantage over the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 should be noticeable even with some throttling.
❓ How does Realme UI compare to Nothing OS in terms of bloatware and software updates?
Realme UI is known for including pre-installed apps (bloatware), although the extent varies by region. Nothing OS, on the other hand, is lauded for its clean, near-stock Android experience with minimal bloatware. Nothing also promises consistent and timely software updates, a key advantage over Realme's update schedule.
❓ Is the 50W charging on the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus slow compared to the 67W on the Realme 12 Pro in real-world usage?
While 67W is faster on paper, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus’s superior battery life means you’ll likely need to charge it less frequently. The difference in charging time isn’t drastic enough to negate the benefit of having a significantly longer-lasting battery. The 50W charging is still reasonably quick, reaching 50% in 21 minutes.
