The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Realme 12 and Nothing Phone (2a) Plus represent compelling options for budget-conscious buyers. While both aim to deliver a premium experience without the flagship price tag, they take different approaches. The Realme 12 focuses on a balanced feature set, while the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus prioritizes performance and a unique design aesthetic. This comparison will dissect their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing overall performance and a smoother experience, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is the better choice. Its Dimensity 7350 Pro chipset, coupled with its impressive 16:34 hour active use battery life, provides a noticeable advantage over the Realme 12's Dimensity 6100+.
| 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, March 06 | 2024, July 31 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, March 06 | Available. Released 2024, August 03 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 165.6 x 76.1 x 7.7 mm (6.52 x 3.00 x 0.30 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 | 188 g (6.63 oz) | 190 g (6.70 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~392 ppi density) | 1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.72 inches, 109.0 cm2 (~86.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 107.5 cm2 (~87.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz, 800 nits (typ), 950 nits (HBM) | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, HDR10+, 700 nits (typ), 1100 nits (HBM), 1300 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A715 & 6x 2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 6100+ (6 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 7350 Pro (4 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | 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 | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 108 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.67", PDAF
Auxiliary lens | 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 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide) | 50 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.76" |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | 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, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 45W wired, 50% in 30 min | 50W wired, 50% in 21 min, 100% in 56 min |
| Type | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Twilight Purple, Woodland Green | Black, Grey |
| Models | RMX3999 | A142P |
| Price | ₹ 15,999 | € 269.90 / ₹ 22,599 |
Realme 12
- Potentially more affordable price point
- Fast 45W wired charging
- Likely a lightweight design
- Less powerful Dimensity 6100+ chipset
- Inferior thermal management
- Likely lower display brightness
Nothing Phone (2a) Plus
- More powerful Dimensity 7350 Pro chipset
- Excellent battery life (16:34h active use)
- Brighter display (1097 nits)
- Faster 50W charging
- Higher price compared to Realme 12
- Potentially heavier build
- Unique design may not appeal to everyone
Display Comparison
The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured peak of 1097 nits. This is a substantial improvement over what we'd expect from the Realme 12, making the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus more usable in direct sunlight. While the Realme 12's display specs aren't provided, the brightness difference suggests a clear advantage for the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus in outdoor visibility. The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus's panel likely benefits from its more advanced chipset's display processing capabilities, potentially offering better color accuracy and contrast as well.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specifications for the Realme 12, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the focus should be on the main sensor and image processing. The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus likely benefits from the more powerful ISP within the Dimensity 7350 Pro, enabling faster image processing and potentially better low-light performance. The Realme 12 will likely rely on software optimization to compensate for any hardware limitations. We can assume both phones will include standard features like portrait mode and night mode, but the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus has the potential for superior image quality due to its chipset.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Realme 12 utilizes the Mediatek Dimensity 6100+ (6nm), while the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus features the Dimensity 7350 Pro (4nm). The 4nm process node of the 7350 Pro is inherently more efficient, translating to better thermal management and sustained performance. The CPU architecture also favors the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus, with its Cortex-A715 cores clocked at 3.0 GHz compared to the Realme 12's Cortex-A76 cores at 2.2 GHz. This means the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus will handle demanding tasks and games with greater ease and less throttling. The Realme 12's Dimensity 6100+ is still capable for everyday use, but will show its limitations under heavy load.
Battery Life
The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus demonstrates a clear advantage in battery life, achieving an active use score of 16:34 hours. While the Realme 12's battery capacity isn't specified, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus's efficiency, combined with the 4nm chipset, allows it to last significantly longer on a single charge. Furthermore, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus offers 50W wired charging, reaching 50% in 21 minutes and 100% in 56 minutes, compared to the Realme 12's 45W charging which takes 30 minutes to reach 50%. This faster charging speed minimizes downtime and provides greater convenience.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme 12 if you need a reliable daily driver with decent performance and fast 45W charging, and are looking for the most affordable option. Buy the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus if you prioritize a more powerful processor for gaming and demanding apps, a brighter display, and longer battery life, and appreciate a distinctive design language.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Dimensity 7350 Pro in the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus get hot during extended gaming sessions?
The Dimensity 7350 Pro's 4nm process node is designed for improved thermal efficiency. While some heat generation is inevitable during prolonged gaming, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is expected to manage temperatures better than devices with less efficient chipsets, minimizing throttling and maintaining consistent performance.
❓ How does the 50W charging on the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus compare to the 45W charging on the Realme 12 in real-world use?
The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus charges noticeably faster, reaching 50% in just 21 minutes and a full charge in 56 minutes. The Realme 12 takes 30 minutes for 50%, indicating a significant time saving with the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus, especially for users who need a quick top-up.
❓ Is the difference in CPU architecture (Cortex-A76 vs Cortex-A715) noticeable in everyday tasks?
For basic tasks like browsing and social media, the difference may be subtle. However, the Cortex-A715 cores in the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus offer a significant performance boost in demanding applications, multitasking, and gaming, resulting in a smoother and more responsive user experience.
