realme 12+ 5G vs. OPPO Reno11 F 5G: Mid-range camera powerhouses

The mid-range space is full of value-packed smartphones with powerful features without the flagship price tags. We compare two devices, the realme 12+ 5G and the OPPO Reno11 F 5G, offering impressive cameras at similar price points.

The realme 12+ 5G starts at P17,999 for the 8GB+256GB model, while the OPPO Reno11 F 5G is priced at P18,999 for the 8GB+256GB model. The smartphones are now available in the Philippines.

Which mid-range phone packs more punch? Let’s find out.

Design and Display

Both devices have AMOLED displays with FHD resolutions and 120Hz refresh rates. The realme 12+ 5G has a 6.67-inch panel, while the OPPO Reno11 F 5G has a 6.7-inch panel.

The realme 12+ 5G has a brighter display with a peak brightness of 2000 nits and a color depth of 16.7 million colors. However, the Reno11 F 5G has only 1100 nits but has a color depth of 1.07 billion colors. Both phones have punchy colors and overall good display quality, with a slight nod to the former for extra saturation and better sunlight legibility.

The Reno11 F 5G has slimmer bezels around the display, resulting in a slightly smaller footprint that measures 161.6 x 74.7 mm. It’s thinner too at 7.54 mm and weighs only 177g. The realme 12+ 5G measures 162.95 x 75.45 x 7.87 mm and weighs 190g.

In terms of design, though, the realme 12+ 5G takes the crown with a vegan leather back, the 3D Jubilee Bracelet strip, and a sunburst dial camera island, inspired by luxury watches. It is gorgeous and premium, with a better hand feel.

The Reno11 F 5G, on the other hand, took a different approach with design elements inspired by nature, such as the Ocean Blue color with a pattern that looks like “shimmering waves”. But it does have an IP65 dust and water resistance (versus the IP54 on the realme 12+ 5G), which offers superior, more robust protection.

One feature the realme 12+ 5G has over the Reno11 F 5G is stereo speakers. This may be a personal thing, but stereo speakers should be a staple in the mid-range segment.

Performance

The realme 12+ 5G and the OPPO Reno11 F 5G are powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7050 chipset. Both phones have at least 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 256GB storage. They also support Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.

Both phones come with an OS based on Android 14 and offer regular updates and more stable performance. The realme UI 5 and ColorOS 14 are almost identical. But I prefer the former more in this regard, because of how I use the phone.

In particular, the swipe-up feature on the realme UI0, which displays the app drawer and immediately displays the keyboard, which allows for faster app search. It sounds trivial, I know, but it is something I use all the time. And yes, both phones come with a search function when you swipe down on the home screen. But I turned it off because the ads on both UIs annoy me.

In terms of performance, both phones are similar. They are fast and responsive. Even in gaming, they have similar performance. Moreover, the benchmarks are also almost the same. On AnTuTu, the realme 12+ 5G scored 607,977 points, while the Reno11 F 5G has 615,152 points. On Geekbench 6, realme had 963 (single core) and 2310 (multi-core), while the OPPO phone got 903 and 2360, respectively.

Cameras

Finally, we have the devices’ best features, the cameras.

The realme 12+ 5G has a triple rear camera setup, consisting of a 50MP main camera with a Sony LTY-600 sensor with OIS, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, and a 2MP macro camera. It also has a 16MP selfie shooter in front.

The OPPO Reno11 F 5G also has a triple rear camera setup, consisting of a 64MP Ultra-Clear camera with an OmniVision OV64B sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide, and a 2MP macro. While in front, there’s a 32MP shooter for selfies.

Both phones have great photo quality, rivaling other devices twice their prices. The realme 12+ 5G gets a slight nod here, as its main camera has more pleasant and accurate colors. However, overall, the devices have good details, sharpness, and colors, but this all boils down to preference, as some might prefer the Reno11 F 5G’s output.

Moreover, the realme 12+ 5G also features Street Shooting Mode, which offers several features including the DIS which prioritizes capturing the shot, multiple focal lengths, and street filters.

Meanwhile, the OPPO Reno11 F 5G takes the lead in selfies with more pleasant skin tones and sharpness.

Final Remarks

The comparison between the realme 12+ 5G and OPPO Reno11 F 5G in the 18K to 20K segment characterizes what the mid-range segment is all about — prioritizing some features over others to get to a certain price point.

This means whichever phone you prefer will likely depend on what features you need. If you want a more premium design, a brighter display, stereo speakers, and a better main camera, then go for the realme 12+ 5G. However, if you like a more colorful display, a robust build, and a better selfie camera, then the OPPO Reno11 F 5G might be more for you.

One thing is for certain. You can’t go wrong with either phone. Both devices offer tremendous value for the price.

The realme 12+ 5G is priced at P17,999 for the 8GB+256GB model and P19,999 for the 12GB+256GB model. It comes in Submarine Blue and Navigator Beige. Full review here.

The OPPO Reno11 F 5G with 8GB+256GB is priced at P18,999 and is available in Palm Green, Ocean Blue, and Coral Purple. Review here.