Coolpad CP12 Neo Plus Complete Specs Prices Pros & Cons Review

Coolpad CP12 Neo Plus Overview

The Coolpad CP12 Neo Plus is a budget-friendly smartphone launched in May 2025, designed to deliver reliable performance with essential features while remaining accessible in terms of price. This device is equipped with a mid-range Unisoc SC9863A1 processor accompanied by up to 4GB RAM and a sizable 5000mAh battery, making it an ideal choice for users looking for long-lasting usage on a limited budget. Powered by Android 15 (Go edition), the phone combines a smooth software experience with modern connectivity options.

Design and Build

The Coolpad CP12 Neo Plus measures 164.2 x 75.7 x 8.8 mm and weighs approximately 196.2 grams, offering a balanced and comfortable grip for everyday use. The design is sleek and modern with three color options available: Chocolate Brown, Snowflake White, and Star Blue. Its chassis features a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for quick and secure unlocking. The build quality focuses on durability and functionality rather than premium materials, fitting the budget segment it targets.

Display

The device sports a 6.56-inch IPS LCD panel with a 720 x 1612 pixel resolution, producing a pixel density of about 269 pixels per inch. While the resolution is more aligned with entry-level phones, the display includes a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, enhancing the fluidity of UI animations and scrolling, which is an impressive addition in this price range. The screen peak brightness is approximately 450 nits, making it sufficiently viewable in most lighting conditions though direct sunlight may challenge readability. The 20:9 aspect ratio provides a tall and narrow screen, good for media consumption and browsing.

Performance

Under the hood, the Coolpad CP12 Neo Plus runs on the Unisoc SC9863A1 chipset, an octa-core processor built on a 22nm process. It combines four Cortex-A55 cores clocked at 1.6 GHz and four Cortex-A55 cores running at 1.2 GHz, optimized for power efficiency and basic multitasking. The GPU included is an IMG8322, capable of handling casual games and routine graphics tasks. Its performance is tailored for light apps, social media, and daily communication but is not suited for heavy gaming or intensive workloads.

The phone runs Android 15 Go edition, which is a lightweight version of Google's latest OS, optimized to run smoothly on devices with limited RAM and processing power. This ensures better performance and battery efficiency, delivering essential Android features without unnecessary bloat.

Memory and Storage

Coolpad offers flexible internal storage options for the CP12 Neo Plus, including 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB variants. These options help users select the model that best fits their storage needs. The accompanying RAM varies from 2GB in the base variant up to 4GB in higher storage models. For users needing additional storage, the device provides a dedicated microSDXC slot, allowing memory expansion without sacrificing SIM card slots.

Camera Capabilities

The Coolpad CP12 Neo Plus features a single rear camera setup with a 13 MP sensor, f/1.8 aperture that ensures decent light intake for daytime and moderate low-light photography. The camera is equipped with autofocusing capabilities and an LED flash to support shooting in darker environments. It records video at 1080p resolution at 30 frames per second, adequate for casual video capturing and social media sharing.

For selfies and video calls, the device comes with a 5 MP front-facing camera with an f/2.0 aperture. While not a standout feature, the front camera handles everyday tasks such as video conferencing and basic self-portraiture reasonably well.

Battery and Charging

One of the standout features of the CP12 Neo Plus is its large 5000mAh battery capacity, offering long usage time on a single charge. This is especially significant considering the 120Hz display refresh rate, which can be demanding on battery in more advanced models. With moderate use, users can expect more than a day of continuous operation including browsing, streaming, and calling.

Charging speeds are on the modest side, supporting 10W wired charging via a USB Type-C 2.0 port. Although this means a longer time to fully recharge the battery compared to fast charging technologies, the device is optimized to provide respectable endurance between charges.

Network and Connectivity

The Coolpad CP12 Neo Plus supports GSM, HSPA, and LTE networks, making it compatible with a wide range of carriers globally. It covers multiple 2G, 3G, and 4G bands such as GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100, and LTE bands 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, and 41, providing reliable network speeds and coverage.

Wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2 with A2DP for audio streaming, and navigation supports multiple satellite systems including GPS, GLONASS, BDS, and GALILEO. Notably, the phone lacks NFC functionality but compensates with a built-in FM radio and a classic 3.5mm headphone jack for wired audio accessories.

Audio and Additional Features

Audio output comes through a loudspeaker capable of clear sound reproduction suitable for calls and media playback. The inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack remains a valuable feature for users who prefer wired headphones over Bluetooth alternatives.

The phone is also equipped with essential sensors such as a side-mounted fingerprint scanner for biometric security, accelerometer for motion sensing, proximity sensor to turn off the display during calls, and a compass which may be used with navigation apps.

Software Experience

Running on Android 15 Go edition, the Coolpad CP12 Neo Plus offers a streamlined and bloat-free version of Android tailored to work efficiently on devices with constrained hardware resources. Users benefit from faster app launches and better battery management, which enhances the overall responsiveness of the device.

Google Go apps and other light, optimized software provide essential functions without the overhead seen in full Android versions, which is ideal for first-time smartphone users or those upgrading from feature phones.

Summary and Competitiveness

The Coolpad CP12 Neo Plus presents itself as a practical phone for those on a tight budget who do not want to compromise on battery life or basic smartphone functionality. It balances performance, display features, and software optimizations in a package that is well-suited for entry-level users, students, and those who primarily use their device for communication, social networking, and media consumption.

While the camera and charging speed do not compete with mid-range or premium offerings, the phone stands out for its refresh rate display, large battery, and expandable storage. This makes it a competitive option among budget smartphones released in 2025.