OnePlus 12 Review: The Boldest and Coolest Phone You Can Buy
OnePlus 12 offers stunning design, impressive battery life, fast performance, and unique cameras at an affordable price.
OnePlus 12 is undeniably cool with a sleek design and standout color options. It’s an eye-catching phone that stands out from the crowd, blending style and substance. While it’s a great choice for anyone seeking a flagship killer (a phone that gives you premium features for less), there are a few trade-offs.
The OnePlus 12 offers top-tier performance, comparable to the iPhone 15 Pro, with fantastic cameras and battery life. You also get unique features like super-fast charging and an IR blaster for controlling your TV. In terms of value, it’s hard to beat.
However, it’s not as durable as other flagship phones like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or iPhone 15 Pro. It lacks an IP68 rating, so it’s not fully waterproof. While it can handle some water exposure, it’s not as tough as its competitors. Furthermore, OnePlus does not provide the same level of long-term software support as Samsung or Google, which could be an issue in the future.
Despite these flaws, the OnePlus 12 is an excellent pick for anyone searching for a cheap, high-performance phone with standout features. It is not for everyone but if you are prepared to take a chance, you will be rewarded with one of the most stylish smartphones available.
Table of Contents
OnePlus 12 Specification
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Release Date | December 11, 2023 |
| ⚖️ Weight | 220g |
| 📏 Dimensions | 164.3 x 75.8 x 9.2 mm |
| 📱 Operating System | Android 14, up to 4 major upgrades, OxygenOS 15 (International) |
| 💾 Storage Options | 256GB/512GB/1TB, no card slot |
| 📐 Display Size | 6.82 inches |
| 📸 Display Resolution | 1440 x 3168 pixels (~510 ppi) |
| 🖥️ Display Type | LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision |
| ⚡ Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) |
| 💻 CPU | Octa-core (1×3.3 GHz Cortex-X4, 3×3.2 GHz Cortex-A720, 2×3.0 GHz Cortex-A720, 2×2.3 GHz Cortex-A520) |
| 🎮 GPU | Adreno 750 |
| 🧠 RAM Options | 12GB, 16GB, 24GB |
| 📷 Main Camera | 50 MP (wide), 64 MP (telephoto), 48 MP (ultrawide) |
| 🤳 Selfie Camera | 32 MP (wide) |
| 🎥 Video Recording | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240/480fps, Dolby Vision |
| 🔊 Audio | Stereo speakers, 24-bit/192kHz Hi-Res audio |
| 📶 Network | 5G, LTE, HSPA, GSM, CDMA |
| 🔋 Battery | 5400mAh, 100W wired charging (International), 50W wireless |
| ⚡ Charging Speed | 100% in 26 min (International), 100% in 30 min (USA) |
| 🎨 Colors | Flowy Emerald, Silky Black, Silver (Glacial White) |
| 📱 SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) |
| 💧 Protection | IP65, waterproof and dustproof |
| 💵 Price | ₹48,173 / $679.95 / £730.00 / €726.39 |
| 📊 Performance Benchmarks | AnTuTu: 1821801, GeekBench: 5124, GFXBench: 157fps |
| 🔊 Loudspeaker | -26.3 LUFS (Good) |
| ⏳ Battery Life | Active use score: 14:11 hours |
| 🔌 USB | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG |
| 📡 NFC | Yes |
| ⚡ SAR | 1.18 W/kg (head), 0.68 W/kg (body) |
OnePlus 12 Price and availability
It is priced at $799.99 in the US, £849 in the UK (around AU$1,215), but you won’t actually pay that much. OnePlus offers at least $100 off for any trade-in, which brings the effective price down to $699. This makes it comparable in price to Pixel 8, Galaxy S24 and $100 cheaper than iPhone 15 base model.
While OnePlus 12 is cheaper, it competes well with flagship phones. It has a larger, sharper and brighter display than the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max. The OnePlus 12 also boasts a bigger battery and faster charging. However, unlike the others, it lacks IP68 water resistance and long-term software updates.
At $600 less than the Galaxy S24 Ultra and $500 less than the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the OnePlus 12 offers great value, but you need to be careful with its durability, as there are fewer cases available.
Price for OnePlus 12:
- 256GB: $799.99 / £849
- 512GB: $899.99 / £899
- AU price: around AU$1,215
OnePlus 12 Design
It stands out with its unique green color and cool stripes, along with a shiny satin finish. Even black version has a sparkly look that makes it different from any other black phone. In a time when other brands focus on simple designs, OnePlus embraces curves and bold colors, making the phone’s design one of the coolest ever.
Phone feels thicker because it has a bigger battery for longer battery life. It’s a bit heavier than the Galaxy S24 Ultra but still comfortable to hold with curved edges. Design is fun, with a smooth camera bump that blends into the edges.
One drawback is that the OnePlus 12 lacks IP68 water resistance, which is found on most premium phones such as the Galaxy S24. Without it, you will not be able to ensure that your phone is water resistant.
OnePlus 12 Display
It has an incredibly bright display that can reach up to 4,500 nits, which is bright enough to potentially harm your eyes over time, according to OnePlus reps. However, the phone doesn’t display that much brightness for long periods, instead boosting only small sections of the screen when needed. While it’s hard to actually harm your eyes with the phone, it’s worth noting that these levels of brightness might be excessive.
In everyday use, the display is fast and responsive especially when gaming, with no lag at all. The OnePlus 12’s screen is slightly larger and sharper than the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but its curved edges make it appear smaller. I personally like the curved design of the OnePlus 12, but the Galaxy S24 Ultra has better anti-glare thanks to its Gorilla Armor glass. The OnePlus 12 may get brighter, but the Ultra doesn’t need to reach such high levels, making the tradeoff reasonable.
OnePlus 12 Software
OnePlus 12 runs Oxygen OS, which gives a simple, clean Android experience without extra features. Unlike the Samsung Galaxy S24, which has too many apps and features, Oxygen OS is easier to use and better organized. It also includes some helpful home screen tools that Google removed from Android, making it easier than even the Pixel 8.
However, OnePlus still has a few Android issues, like having multiple photo apps (OnePlus Gallery and Google Photos), which can be confusing. But unlike Samsung, OnePlus doesn’t overload you with extra browsers or app stores.
The downside is that OnePlus only offers three years of updates, while Samsung and Google give seven years, and Apple gives five. This could be a problem for OnePlus in the long run.
OnePlus 12 skips new AI features that other Android phones like Galaxy S24, have. While the Galaxy S24 has AI tools for translation and image editing, OnePlus 12 doesn’t, which some people may find refreshing. However, this might change if Google adds more AI features to Android in the future.
OnePlus 12 Cameras
OnePlus 12 has a unique camera that takes some practice but can create great photos, especially of people. It’s not the best for super accurate colors, but it’s great for portraits. The camera works well compared to other top phones like the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max, especially for selfies and portraits.
However, it’s not the most versatile. The zoom lens works well for portraits but struggles with long-distance and close-up shots, resulting in blurry photos.
If you like street photography or candid shots, OnePlus 12 has lots of modes, settings and filters to create cool pictures. It may not be the best camera but it offers a unique look compared to the more accurate photos from other phones.
OnePlus 12 Performance
OnePlus 12 is great for gaming and productivity, thanks to its fast Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. It’s almost as fast as the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but a little slower in benchmarks. In everyday use, like gaming and photo editing, it runs smoothly.
Unlike the Galaxy S24 Ultra, the OnePlus 12 skips AI features that can slow things down. It doesn’t have things like Circle to Search or Magic Editor, and I don’t miss them because the phone feels faster without them.
OnePlus says it has great cooling and performance, but I’m not sure about all their claims. I didn’t face any performance issues, but I take their promises with caution.
OnePlus 12 Battery life
OnePlus 12 has a bigger battery than the Galaxy S24 Ultra or iPhone 15 Pro Max, so it lasts longer. I easily used it for two days with normal use, and even with heavy gaming and lots of photos, it lasted all day and into the night.
It has a 5,400 mAh battery that charges fast. Using the 80W charger, it goes from 0% to 100% in about 30 minutes. The Galaxy S24 Ultra reaches 70% and the iPhone 15 Pro Max reaches 40% in the same time.
OnePlus also offers a 50W wireless charger. In just 15 minutes, my phone was charged to 27%, which is more than the iPhone 15 Pro Max can charge in the same time. The OnePlus 12’s wireless charging is faster than most wired chargers.
However, Galaxy S24 Ultra charges at 45W with a wired charger, so it still charges faster when plugged in than the OnePlus 12 charges wirelessly.
Pros and Cons of OnePlus 12
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 🟢 Cool design | 💧 Splash-resistant, not waterproof |
| 🔋 Great battery and performance | 📅 Fewer updates than others |
| 📸 Great cameras | 🤖 No new AI features or titanium frame |
Conclusion
OnePlus 12 is a great choice. It features a longer battery life, faster charging, and a brighter screen, all for a lesser price than other top phones. It has a few drawbacks, but they may not matter to you. With its sleek design and simple software, it’s one of the greatest phones to buy.
