OnePlus 12 Review: The Affordable Flagship Phone

Transport yourself back to 2014 when the OnePlus One stole the spotlight with its grand entrance. Fast forward a decade, and here we are in the sleek and mighty OnePlus 12 era. As though answering a call from the past, this anniversary edition has elegantly taken its place on our test bench, ready to unveil all the enthralling details for your eager eyes.

Introduction:

The OnePlus 12, a decade after the OnePlus One, emerges as a top-tier flagship. Boasting a stellar display, a powerful Snapdragon processor, and a compelling camera setup, it aims to overcome past limitations. With a noteworthy battery capacity of 5,400mAh and 100W charging, it promises a seamless experience. The return of wireless charging and improvements in camera technology, including a Hasselblad system, marks a significant upgrade.

 Despite not chasing the AI trend, the OnePlus 12 focuses on essential features, excelling in battery life and durability with an upgraded IP65 rating. In 2024, it will stand out as a formidable flagship offering premium features at a reasonable cost.

OnePlus 12 Review: Price And Availability

The OnePlus 12 is currently up for pre-order on the OnePlus website, Amazon, and Best Buy. It will be fully released and available on February 6 from the same three retailers.

The base model of the OnePlus 12, which comes with 12GB RAM and 256GB of storage, starts at $799.99. The model with 16GB RAM and 512GB of storage is priced at $899.99.

In addition, the OnePlus 12R is also available for pre-order on the same three websites and will be released on February 13.

The OnePlus 12R comes in two variants. The base model, with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage, is priced at $499.99. The higher-end model, with 16GB RAM and 256GB storage, is priced at $599.99.

OnePlus 12 Unboxing:

The OnePlus 12 comes in a sleek red box with a standout ’12’ on top, featuring subtle OnePlus and Hasselblad branding. Inside, you’ll find a robust 100W adapter (80W for 110V outlets) and a handy USB-A-to-C cable.

In Europe, the OnePlus 12 package skips the protective case, sticking to tradition from the last two versions. India, however, breaks the pattern by including a case. Inside the paper sleeve above the phone, besides the paperwork, discover three stickers to spread the OnePlus vibe across your devices. Plus, there’s a ‘Red Cable Club’ membership card for discounts on accessories. It adds a special touch, tailoring the unboxing experience for users in various regions.

Chic Design Marvel:

The OnePlus 12 has a stunning and practical design. Its spherical camera bump, metal sides, and textured housing make it both visually appealing and comfortable to hold. Small tweaks, such as repositioning the mute switch, maintain a consistent overall appearance. It’s slightly heavier, but that doesn’t pose a problem as long as the design remains uniform. 

The camera design takes inspiration from luxury timepieces and nature, with colors like Flowy Emerald and Silky Black with a touch of glitter. The Chinese version offers an additional white/silver option. The Gorilla Glass 5 on the back feels premium. Despite not undergoing a significant transformation, OnePlus made sensible changes, such as a larger camera module that resembles a high-end watch dial.

 The matte coating prevents fingerprints and the provided silicone case offers added protection without compromising quality.

An Incredibly Bright, Vibrant Display:

The OnePlus 12 boasts a generous 6.82-inch display, providing ample space for immersive video-watching and gaming experiences. With a high resolution, content appears crisp and vibrant, showcasing colors in their full glory. The variable refresh rate, ranging from 1 to 120Hz, enhances performance, especially during intense tasks like gaming. 

OnePlus claims it to be the brightest phone display ever, with a peak brightness of 4,500 nits, surpassing competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max. While the difference might not be drastic in real-world comparison, the OnePlus 12’s exceptional brightness makes it ideal for outdoor use. 

The LTPO AMOLED screen supports HDR, Pro XDR, and Dolby Vision, with an innovative Aqua Touch feature ensuring touchscreen accuracy even when the screen is wet. Despite the use of an optical under-display fingerprint scanner, its functionality, though sometimes slow, aligns with the overall value offered by the OnePlus 12’s display. 

In summary, the phone’s 2K ProXDR display, coupled with a 120Hz refresh rate, delivers a delightful visual experience, making it well-suited for both everyday use and demanding gaming scenarios.

Disappointing Cameras:

The OnePlus 12 boasts a triple-camera setup, showcasing the brand’s commitment to improving its imaging capabilities. The collaboration with Hasselblad is now in its 4th generation, and this is evident in the vibrant colors captured by the 50MP main camera, 48MP ultrawide, and a 64MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. 

The iterative improvements, especially in low-light conditions with quad-bayer binning, mark a positive trend for OnePlus cameras. The Aqua Touch technology enhances touchscreen accuracy even when the display is wet, adding a practical touch.

 Although it may not challenge the Pixel 8 Pro’s camera supremacy, the OnePlus 12 demonstrates considerable prowess, offering a versatile photography experience. The partnership with Hasselblad extends beyond hardware to software, which is visible in the camera app’s interface.

 With a focus on continued improvement, OnePlus aims to redefine its camera reputation, making the OnePlus 12 a notable contender in the competitive smartphone camera landscape.

The OnePlus 12 elevates the selfie game with a high-resolution 32MP camera, adding an extra layer of detail to facial features. While the full 32MP may surpass practical requirements, the camera impresses with accurate white balance and pleasing colors, showcasing OnePlus’s commitment to delivering a refined and influential selfie experience.

The OnePlus 12 stands out in the video recording arena, empowering users with the ability to shoot up to 4K60 with its rear cameras and even 8K24 on the main one. The inclusion of always-on electronic stabilization across all four cameras ensures a compelling, shake-free visual experience.

 Daylight videos showcase good detail and dynamic range, with the main camera slightly favoring brightness. Notably, stabilization steals the show with smooth pans and tripod-like stability, especially on the main and ultrawide cameras. 

In low-light scenarios, the main camera shines with its brightness, commendable dynamic range, and accurate colors, setting the OnePlus 12 apart as a formidable contender in the smartphone videography landscape.

Stellar Battery Life, Ultra-Fast Charging:

The OnePlus 12 has an impressive battery life because of the OnePlus’ smart software modifications and the big 4,500-mAh battery (which has twin 2,700-mAh batteries). In a casual test, watching a YouTube video at maximum brightness for an hour did not reduce the battery percentage below 100%. Even after two hours, it remained at 100%, decreasing to 95% after three hours. This performance is one of the best I’ve ever seen in a scenario like this.

The OnePlus 12 has outstanding charging speeds, putting it ahead of many of its competitors. The phone supports OnePlus’ proprietary 80W SuperVooc wired charging technology and has a fast charger. Using the included charger, it just took 38 minutes to charge from 0 to 100%. It’s worth noting that this charging time is a little longer than the OnePlus 11, which took 27 minutes.

 Software:

The OnePlus 12 is equipped with OxygenOS 14, which runs on Android 14 and comes with a few pre-installed apps, such as the OnePlus store and a social media app. 

Though there is some bloatware, the system operates quickly and offers user-friendly gestures for easy navigation. A dedicated gaming mode is available that disables notifications, allowing for undisturbed gameplay.

 However, OnePlus misses out on utilizing the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s AI capabilities by not including unique AI-based features. 

The phone promises to provide four years of Android upgrades and five years of security patches, which is not as extensive as Google and Samsung’s seven-year agreement. Therefore, closing this gap in this area would be a significant development for OnePlus.

Specifications:

Pros & Cons:

Conclusion:

The OnePlus 12 is a great flagship smartphone that offers powerful performance, long battery life, and fast charging at a price point that is quite competitive. Its recent upgrades, including wireless charging and an extended telephoto range, make it an even better value. 

While the Galaxy S24 and Pixel 8 have better cameras, higher IP ratings, and more advanced features, the OnePlus 12 excels in delivering flagship performance without the high price tag. It has a sleek design, a robust software experience, and a four-year security update promise, positioning it as a smart choice for those seeking a top-tier Android device at a more affordable price. 

However, its camera performance is not as impressive, especially in low-light conditions, and it lacks the extended software support offered by its rivals. Nevertheless, if you prioritize high performance, gaming capabilities, and long battery life, the OnePlus 12 is a sensible and budget-friendly flagship option in the competitive smartphone market.