OnePlus 12 Review: Better Than You Think!

Summary

The OnePlus 12 is highlighted for its impressive battery life, fast charging, and smooth performance with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. Despite its competitive pricing, the phone offers a bright LTPO Pro XDR display and a large 5,400mAh battery but falls short in camera quality and AI features compared to top flagships. The OnePlus 12R is introduced as a more budget-friendly option with minor compromises.

Takeaways

• 📱 The OnePlus 12 has been released with a competitive price of $799, with a free upgrade to 16GB of RAM and a half-terabyte model for pre-orders.
• 💡 The device features a 6.8-inch 1440p LTPO Pro XDR display with significantly improved brightness levels, making it highly readable in various lighting conditions.
• 🔋 It boasts a large 5,400mAh battery, offering exceptional battery life and supporting 80-watt wired and 50-watt wireless charging capabilities.
• 🚀 Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, the OnePlus 12 provides high performance and smooth user experience, with effective cooling for sustained use.
• 📸 The camera system has seen an upgrade but still falls short of the top-tier flagship standards, particularly in low-light conditions.
• 🔧 The phone includes useful features such as an infrared blaster, high PWM dimming for reduced flicker at low brightness, and Aqua Touch technology for improved usability in wet conditions.
• 🔄 It offers customization options for app frame rates and performance settings, enhancing the user experience for specific needs.
• 🔌 The USB-C port supports fast charging and data transfer speeds, with USB 3.2 Gen 1 capabilities.
• 📶 The OnePlus 12 lacks some AI features found in other flagships with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, such as advanced photo editing and live transcriptions.
• 🛡️ Software update support is limited to four years for the operating system and five for security updates, which is less than what some competitors offer.
• 🌐 Additionally, the OnePlus 12R has been introduced as a more budget-friendly version, with some features reduced compared to the OnePlus 12.

Q & A

What is the starting price of the OnePlus 12?

The starting price of the OnePlus 12 is $799, with a free upgrade to the 16GB RAM and half terabyte model for that price if pre-ordered.

How does the OnePlus 12's display compare to its predecessor?

The OnePlus 12 has a significantly improved display with up to 1,600 nits outdoor brightness and 4,500 nits peak HDR brightness, making it extremely readable in any light.

What is the battery capacity of the OnePlus 12?

The OnePlus 12 has a 5,400 milliamp hour battery, which is one of the largest ever in a OnePlus flagship.

What is the charging capability of the OnePlus 12?

The OnePlus 12 supports 80 watts wired charging and up to 50 watt wireless charging, with the ability to charge up to half battery in about 12 minutes.

How does the OnePlus 12's camera system compare to the market leaders?

While the OnePlus 12's camera system has seen improvements and is acceptable for a flagship level, it still falls a bit short of beating the highest level of camera performance found in other flagship phones.

What special feature does the OnePlus 12 have to enhance usability in wet conditions?

The OnePlus 12 features a technology called Aqua Touch, which allows the phone to remain usable even with water droplets on the screen, improving responsiveness in wet conditions.

What is the refresh rate of the OnePlus 12's display?

The OnePlus 12 has a 6.8-inch 1440p LTPO Pro XDR display with a refresh rate that can support up to 1440p at 120Hz.

What chip does the OnePlus 12 use and how does its performance compare to gaming phones?

The OnePlus 12 uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip and performs very closely to gaming phones and the S24 Ultra in benchmarks, offering a super fast and smooth user experience.

What is the PWM dimming frequency of the OnePlus 12's display for users sensitive to flickering?

The OnePlus 12's display supports high PWM dimming at a frequency of 2,160 hertz, which is faster than the human eye can perceive, reducing the risk of headaches and eye fatigue for sensitive users.

How does the OnePlus 12R differ from the OnePlus 12 in terms of specifications and price?

The OnePlus 12R is a more budget-friendly version of the OnePlus 12, featuring a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip instead of Gen 3, no wireless charging, and a slightly lower IP rating, all at a lower price point.

What is the software update policy for the OnePlus 12 compared to other flagships?

The OnePlus 12 is promised to have four years of software updates and five years of security updates, which is less than the six or seven years offered by other flagship brands like Pixels, Samsung, and iPhones.