The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the vivo Y38 and Realme 12 Pro+ represent compelling options for users seeking a balance of features and affordability. While both devices utilize Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets, they target slightly different priorities – the Y38 focuses on efficiency, while the 12 Pro+ aims for a more robust performance profile. This comparison dives deep into the specifics to determine which phone best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing all-day battery life and faster charging, the Realme 12 Pro+ emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset offers a noticeable performance uplift, and the 67W charging significantly reduces downtime. However, the vivo Y38 remains a strong contender for budget-conscious buyers.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 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, May 02 | 2024, January 29 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, May | Available. Released 2024, January 29 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | - |
| Dimensions | 165.7 x 76 x 8 mm (6.52 x 2.99 x 0.31 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 | 199 g (7.02 oz) | 196 g (6.91 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1612 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~264 ppi density) | 1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.68 inches, 107.2 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~90.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz, 1000 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM), 950 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.40 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM4450 Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM7435-AB Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 613 | Adreno 710 |
| OS | Android 14, Funtouch 14 | Android 14, Realme UI 5.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 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, HDR, panorama | 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 | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.1, (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.4, 22mm (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 44W wired | 67W wired, 50% in 19 min |
| Type | 6000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Ocean Blue, Dark Green | Submarine Blue, Navigator Beige, Explorer Red |
| Models | - | RMX3840, RMX3841 |
| Price | - | $ 465.00 / £ 299.00 / € 344.26 / ₹ 28,400 |
vivo Y38
- More affordable price point
- Efficient Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset
- Potentially lighter and more compact design
- Slower charging speeds (44W)
- Less powerful processor for demanding tasks
- Likely lower display brightness
Realme 12 Pro+
- Faster Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 processor
- Significantly faster 67W charging
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility
- Longer battery life (13:24h active use)
- Higher price tag
- Potentially larger and heavier design
- May run slightly warmer under heavy load
Display Comparison
The Realme 12 Pro+ boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured peak of 802 nits, which translates to better visibility outdoors. While the vivo Y38’s display specifications are not provided, it’s likely to be lower in peak brightness. The Realme’s brightness advantage is crucial for users who frequently consume content under direct sunlight. Further analysis would require knowing the panel technology used in the Y38 (e.g., IPS LCD vs AMOLED) to assess color accuracy and contrast ratios, but the 12 Pro+ clearly leads in raw luminance.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specifications for the vivo Y38, a direct comparison is limited. However, the Realme 12 Pro+ likely benefits from a more sophisticated image processing pipeline, leveraging the power of the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2. The 12 Pro+’s camera system likely prioritizes detail and dynamic range, while the Y38 will likely focus on providing acceptable image quality for social media sharing. The absence of information regarding sensor size and OIS on the Y38 makes it difficult to assess its low-light performance relative to the 12 Pro+.
Performance
The Realme 12 Pro+’s Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset represents a clear step up in performance compared to the vivo Y38’s Snapdragon 4 Gen 2. The 7s Gen 2 features 4x Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 2.40 GHz, versus the Y38’s 2x Cortex-A78 cores at 2.2 GHz. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming performance. Both chips are built on a 4nm process, offering good efficiency, but the 7s Gen 2’s architectural advantages provide a tangible benefit. The Y38 is suitable for everyday tasks, but the 12 Pro+ handles demanding applications with greater ease.
Battery Life
The Realme 12 Pro+ shines in the battery and charging department. Its 67W wired charging can replenish 50% of the battery in just 19 minutes, minimizing downtime. While the vivo Y38 offers 44W charging, it’s noticeably slower. The Realme 12 Pro+ also boasts an impressive active use battery score of 13:24h, indicating excellent endurance. Although the Y38’s battery capacity isn’t specified, the faster charging and longer runtime of the 12 Pro+ make it the superior choice for users who prioritize battery life.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo Y38 if you need a reliable daily driver with a focus on power efficiency and a lower price point. It’s ideal for users who primarily browse, use social media, and make occasional calls. Buy the Realme 12 Pro+ if you prefer a smoother multitasking experience, enjoy mobile gaming, and value faster charging speeds – it’s geared towards users who demand more from their smartphone.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 in the vivo Y38 struggle with graphically intensive games like Genshin Impact?
The Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 is capable of running Genshin Impact, but you'll likely need to lower the graphics settings to medium or low to achieve a playable frame rate. The Realme 12 Pro+'s Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 will provide a significantly smoother experience at higher settings.
❓ How long does it realistically take to fully charge the Realme 12 Pro+ from 0% to 100%?
While the Realme 12 Pro+ charges to 50% in 19 minutes, a full charge from 0% to 100% typically takes around 50-60 minutes with the included charger. This is still considerably faster than the vivo Y38's 44W charging.
❓ Is the difference in performance between the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 and 7s Gen 2 noticeable for everyday tasks like browsing and social media?
For basic tasks like browsing, social media, and messaging, the difference won't be dramatically noticeable. However, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 in the Realme 12 Pro+ will feel snappier when switching between multiple apps or opening resource-intensive applications.
