OnePlus 12 Review: Easily the best OnePlus phone ever
OnePlus 12 Intro
It's not only Samsung that's stoking the fires of Tech January with the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the rest of the series, OnePlus is also bringing a ton of heat with its brand-new non-foldable flagship, the OnePlus 12. And seemingly, the OnePlus 12 is shaping up to be rather serious competition to both the Galaxy S24 Ultra and just about any contemporary flagship out there.
With cutting-edge hardware, lovely design, and the signature OnePlus attention to detail, it's a phone that truly embodies the "Never Settle" mantra, which has been around for a decade already. Where'd all the time go? We don't know, but if all of OnePlus' upcoming devices are as good as the OnePlus 12 (and priced so sensibly), we'll have fewer and fewer bones to pick.
Could it be that the OnePlus 12 might be one of the "no-flaw" phones of 2024? Surely, the potential is there, and historically speaking, OnePlus isn't a company to take a misstep. Is the OnePlus 12 a phone that will go down in the annals of mobile phone history and be one of the often-recommended devices in 2024?
What’s new about the device:
- Super-bright and slightly curved OLED display
- Top-of-the-line Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset
- New wide-angle camera with an innovative dual-stacked Sony sensor
- New telephoto camera with 3X optical zoom,120X max digital zoom
- Large 5,400mAh battery with extremely fast charging
- Aggressive $799 starting price
OnePlus 12
The OnePlus 12 total review score is lower than you might expect. That is not because the phone is flawed in some unexpected ways, but because we have implemented a new rating system at PhoneArena that gives readers a better idea of the performance of a phone across different categories. Remember to look at the scores and compare them to the average for the class, and we believe you will find these scores tremendously useful. Learn more about the new PhoneArena Smartphone Review Rating system here.
Table of Contents:
OnePlus 12 Unboxing
The OnePlus 12 comes with the classic red box which is fortunately full of the usual goodies we've come to expect from OnePlus.
- OnePlus 12 with a pre-applied screen protector
- Fast-charging brick (80W)
- Type-A to Type-C charging/data cable
- Protective case
- SIM tray ejector
- OnePlus Red Cable Club cards
- Booklets and manuals
- Logo stickers
OnePlus 12 Specs
Thoroughbred
What do the full OnePlus 12 specs tell us? To sum it up, the OnePlus 12 is a rather potent powerhouse that surely delivers on the hardware front. The highlight here is the super-bright ProXDR OLED display at the front, which puts the OnePlus 12 alongside all the top flagships. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 ensures that the phone will perform top-notch. A very brief overview of the phone's specifications is available right below.
| Specs | OnePlus 12 |
|---|---|
| Size and Weight | 164.3 x 75.8 x 9.15mm, 220gr |
| Display | 6.8" OLED 3168x1440 resolution LTPO 3.0 1-120Hz 1,600-nit typical brightness, 4,500-nit local peak brightness Dolby Vision, ProXDR PWM dimming: 2,160Hz |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, 2nd gen 4nm |
| RAM, Storage and Price | 12GB LPDDR5X RAM + 256GB UFS 4.0 (Silky Black) –– $799.99 16GB LPDDR5X + 512GB UFS 4.0 (SIlky Black/Flowy Emerald) –– $899.99 |
| Software | Oxygen OS 14.0 (Android 14) |
| Cameras | Wide: 50MP LYT-808, 1/1.43-inch, f/1.6 Ultra-wide: 48MP, 114-degree FOV, f/2.2 Telephoto: 64MP OmniVision OV64B 3.0X optical/120X digital zoom, f/2.6 Front-facing: 32MP f/2.2 |
| Battery | 5,400mAh |
| Charging Speeds | USB-C 3.2 80W SUPERVOOC wired 50W AIRVOOC wireless |
| Colors | Flowy Emerald, Silky Black |
OnePlus 12 Design & Colors
Never change a winning team
(Image Credit - PhoneArena
From the get-go: the OnePlus 12 isn't much different from the OnePlus 11. The signature persisting OnePlus design language is still present, just evolving in the right direction.
We have the Flowy Emerald variant of the OnePlus 12 on us, and it's surely one to behold. Inspired by nature, this particular color version of the OnePlus 12 has a very distinct satin texture, with a fluid-like design that evokes dynamics. Tilt the phone slightly, however, and the mellow green hue transforms into a faint turquoise. This chameleon look surely is intriguing.
Though it appears so, the fluid-like visual pattern lacks a distinctive texture. You can feel the consistent, silky surface on the back panel by running your fingertips over it, and that's about it. I have to admit, albeit nice, the rear texture makes for one rather slippery phone as the lack of glossy surfaces prevents the phone from 'sticking' to your palm. A case is certainly a necessity here.
The OnePlus 12's weight and dimensions have increased, but its ergonomics haven't suffered at all. Due to the lack of flat edges and sides that dig into your palm, the curved back elevates the comfort. What's more, you're left with the impression of handling a much smaller phone. Overall, handling this one is a joy.
The OnePlus 12 differs from the dominant majority of former OnePlus flagships when it comes to button placement. The volume rocker on the new phone is located on the right side, directly above the power button, where it is more ergonomic and is supposedly easier to reach. OnePlus' trademark ring switch is located on the left side. Devoted OnePlus supporters will need to adjust to this change, but I can't imagine it would take long to get up to terms.
OnePlus 12 vs OnePlus 11
The OnePlus 12 is the first flagship phone from OnePlus to include an IR blaster. IR blasters are often seen on Oppo and Xiaomi phones, and in all honesty, having a sensor of this kind has its practical advantages. Yet, it's certainly a surprising addition to the OnePlus 12's feature list. Thanks to this addition to the phone, users can control various IR-home appliances without having to resort to dedicated apps.
The OnePlus 12 comes with IP65 water and dust resistance, capable of withstanding low-pressure water jets from any direction. Not as good as IP68, so dunking and prolonged contact with water best be avoided. Interesting here is OnePlus self-developed Aqua Touch tech, which allows for an uninterrupted touch experience when the screen is wet or damp.
OnePlus 12 Display
(Image Credit - PhoneArena
The display is seemingly one of the areas in which OnePlus has pushed the boundaries quite a lot. The OLED display up front has grown slightly to 6.8 inches across in comparison with the OnePlus 11, but it's still slightly curved to the sides, which goes against the current industry trend of using fully flat screens. As with most previous OnePlus flagships, it is an LTPO one, which allows it to dynamically switch the refresh rate between 1 and 120Hz for a smooth and rewarding scrolling experience.
But what truly makes the OnePlus 12 such an intriguing device is its exceptional brightness. OnePlus advertises a 4,500-nit peak brightness, but you will most certainly not be able to achieve it. Then again, such a high brightness measurement is entirely plausible.
How is such a thing even possible? It surely boils down to the way brightness is measured: manufacturers tend to measure the maximum brightness a single pixel can achieve, whereas we and most other websites that dabble with phone reviews measure brightness across the full screen, therefore the discrepancy.
In reality, we measured a maximum display brightness of 1,120 nits with the screen showing a fully white image. On the other hand, the minimum brightness of just 1.8 nits makes for an expansive brightness amplitude. The color temperature of 6,464 Kelvins also means that by default, the OnePlus 12 screen is quite accurate.
The display is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2, but in line with the long-standing OnePlus tradition, the OnePlus 12 also comes with a basic TPU screen protector pre-applied.
Aside from the brightness, the OnePlus 12 seemingly has very high color accuracy. There's also 2,160Hz PWM Dimming for a nearly flicker-free display experience that shouldn't strain your eyes. There's also BOE single-pixel calibrating technology, which makes sure that each display sub-pixel gets calibrated independently for a more accurate image.
Aside from the brightness, the OnePlus 12 seemingly has very high color accuracy. There's also 2,160Hz PWM Dimming for a nearly flicker-free display experience that shouldn't strain your eyes. There's also BOE single-pixel calibrating technology, which makes sure that each display sub-pixel gets calibrated independently for a more accurate image.
The ultrasonic fingerprint scanner embedded into the display is fast and accurate, unlocking the phone instantly and rarely requiring a secondary scan. An even faster but certainly less secure face unlock solution is also on board.
OnePlus 12 Camera
Slow but steady wins the race
The OnePlus 12 comes with a brand-new 50MP main camera powered by one of Sony's new camera sensors, the LYT-808, of the same sensor family as the LYT-T808 that powered the OnePlus Open's main camera and delivered lovely image quality and overall camera performance. However, the OnePlus 12's LYT-808 sensor is NOT stacked, so the OnePlus Open technically remains the better-equipped OnePlus phone.
The main camera of the OnePlus 12 is also a bit wider at 23mm and comes with a faster f/1.6 aperture too, which suggests very good low-light camera performance.
Aside from hardware improvements, OnePlus has also thrown in a number of software and image-processing improvements. A brand-new HDR algorithm promises much better image processing when shooting in scenes with extreme lighting. OnePlus says its HDR-processing is AI-powered, so the phone understands what it sees and applies just the necessary edits to achieve a more natural look.
OnePlus has also slightly boosted the megapixel count of the ultra-wide camera from 48 to 50MP, but this doesn't deliver any major improvements in terms of image quality. The OnePlus 12's ultra-wide angle camera is slightly narrower than the OnePlus 11's––114 versus 115 degrees––so you can fit marginally less in the frame on the newer phone. Autofocusing works from just 3.5cm, or an inch and a half, so macro shots could be taken from up close.
Finally, and most importantly, a telephoto camera with 3X optical zoom is finally coming back on OnePlus flagships. After debuting on the OnePlus 7 Pro years ago, the telephoto camera fell out of favor, resulting in a OnePlus 11 with a measly (by today's standard) 2X telephoto. While not as impressive as the 5X periscopes on most flagship phones these days, like the iPhone 15 Pro Max, Galaxy S24 Ultra, and Pixel 8 Pro.
Main Camera - Day
Superb colors and excellent dynamics - what more do you need? Sure, it's mostly a subjective opinion, but the OnePlus 12 does take beautiful shots when the light is sufficient.
Main Camera - Low-light
The OnePlus 12 is pretty capable when the lights go down. Photos taken with the phone have great dynamics, with a decent amount of detail in the shadows, while the street and incandescent lights aren't burnt. The phone would automatically switch to its dedicated night mode when it detects less than ideal lighting, which is something we love to see.
Zoom Quality
Here's a quick sample gallery of the most usable zoom range - 3X to 10X. Sharpness and details are very decent well up until 10X, which is great news as the OnePlus 11 was slightly less impressive in this regard. While the phone technically allows you to zoom up to 120X, that's merely a party trick that doesn't deliver usable results.
Portrait Mode
Thanks to its long telephoto, the OnePlus 12 can take long portraits, corresponding to roughly 70mm of focal length. This makes for a very tight field of view and a more intimate portrait in comparison with the 2X mode that is usually the default choice on many phones. It also delivers a more pleasing and flattering portrait as well as shallowed depth of field.
Ultra-wide Camera
Selfies
Excellent HDR and dynamics with the selfie camera as well. In the second photo sample, my face was completely blasted with sunlight from one side, but the camera has captured a very decent selfie.
Video Quality
We have rigorously tested the camera on the OnePlus 12 and above you can see the results of those tests. We carefully measure the performance of all cameras in various test scenes, ranking the performance across important metrics like exposure, subject exposure, color accuracy, detail, artifacts and more. We do these tests for both photos and videos.
You can learn more about our PhoneArena Camera Score testing protocol here.
OnePlus 12 Performance & Benchmarks
The power of the Snapdragon
OnePlus 12 comes with the excellent Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, the latest top-of-the-line chipset that's coming to many Android flagships in 2024. You will find in the Galaxy S24 Ultra, as well as multiple upcoming flagships for certain.
And the chip surely delivers on the performance front. In our benchmark tests, which include Geekbench 6 and 3DMark, the OnePlus 12 performs spectacularly. Hitting north of 6,000 points on the multi-core Geekbench test is a mark of one potent flagship, but the exceptional result of 2,100+ points on the single-core also means that the OnePlus 12 is more than capable to meet your everyday needs adequately.
But benchmarks don't tell the full picture. In real-life, you surely get one snappy phone that blitzes through most tasks you might throw at it. Gaming is excellent as well, with consistently high frame rate in most games we tried. The phone got warm, but nothing too extraordinary. Little to no throttling is observed during long gaming sessions, so you can expect a mostly uniform experience.
Storage-wise, you can get the OnePlus 12 with 12 or 16GB of RAM of fast LPDDR5X RAM. Despite the rumors we might see a terabyte storage version on the phone, we are left with the pretty standard 256 and 512GB capacities of UFS 4.0 storage.
On the connectivity front, the OnePlus 12 is outfitted with top specs as well. You get Wi-FI 7, the latest and fastest wireless connectivity available out there, as well as Bluetooth 5.4 and a support for just about any 5G band that matters.
OnePlus 12 OS / Android version
OnePlus 12 comes with Android 14, with the company's signature Oxygen OS on deck. We have always had a soft spot for OnePlus' custom Android skin as it's feature-rich and customizable but also light-weight at the same time, elevating the user experience and becoming ethereal in the process.
A fresher Always-On Display experience and redesigned Zen Spaces are some highlights of Oxygen OS 14, but so are the enhanced security and privacy that OnePlus is particularly proud of.
How long will the OnePlus 12 be supported, though? Similar to its predecessor, the OnePlus 12 will receive four years of major OS upgrades and five years of security patches. This means that you can expect to get Android 15, Android 16, Android 17, and eventually, Android 18, as well as get security updates through 2029.
That's a pretty standard support timeframe for now, but the industry is quickly moving towards a much longer device support for its top phones. Google first and then Samsung promised seven years of major OS and security upgrades for the Pixel 8 and Galaxy S24 series, respectively, indicating the direction in which most phone makers would probably steer.
OnePlus 12 Battery
No replacement for displacement
For years, top Android flagships have come along with 5,000mAh batteries on board, which could be considered the current unwritten rule.
Finally, the OnePlus 12 adds a little excitement and change to the field by packing a 5,400mAh battery, nearly a 10% increase in comparison with the OnePlus 11. This is an important step into the right direction because as the saying goes, "there's no replacement for displacement". Paired with the more efficient chipset, such a larger battery should fare quite well for the battery life of the OnePlus 12, shouldn't it?
Thankfully, this is indeed the case, as the OnePlus 12 delivers excellent battery life.
In the PhoneArena browsing test, which involves automated web browsing and scrolling over a Wi-Fi network with the display set at 200 nits of brightness, the OnePlus 12 amazes with a result of 18 hours and 14 minutes, a very respectable result! Meanwhile, gamers would be delighted to know that in our custom gaming test, which is run at 200 nits of brightness as well, the OnePlus 12 achieved a pretty decent result of 7 hours and 46 minutes.
Finally, our custom YouTube battery test, which runs a playlist of videos in a loop with the screen set at 200 nits, the newest never-settling flagship lasted for 13 hours and 36 minutes.
PhoneArena Charging Test Results:
Image by PhoneArena
The most important fact, however, is that OnePlus still includes fast chargers in the box. This surely boosts the value for the customer.
After skipping wireless charging last year, OnePlus has graced the OnePlus 12 with extremely fast 50W wireless charging as well, which is great to have.The company promises a full wireless charge in less than an hour, wicked fast. However, it requires the company's wireless AIRVOOC charging accessory, which is a separate purchase.
OnePlus 12 Audio Quality and Haptics
The OnePlus 12's stereo speakers sound great, with rich and vibrant sound that has that sought-after warmth to it. It could be the placebo effect, but it sure does sound better than the OnePlus 11. Dolby Atmos is on deck, so spatial audio support is covered.
In terms of haptic feedback, OnePlus has also brought some improvements to the device. The vibrator motor delivers precise and strong haptics, which are always nice to see (and feel). After vastly improving haptics last year with the OnePlus 11, which featured one of the largest haptic motors around, the OnePlus 12 improves on the experience with a new so-called Turbo vibrator motor. It boosts the experience by trying to emulate real keyboard clicks as well as providing different haptic patterns in supported mobile games.
While it's difficult to discern any significant difference in comparison with the OnePlus 11, there's no denying that the new flagship delivers excellent haptics sprinkled throughout the interface and most noticeable during typing.
OnePlus 12 Competitors
Starting at $800 for the 256GB version and going up to $900 for the higher-spec variant, the OnePlus 12 is an aggressively priced flagship that might prove to be quite enticing. Samsung hiked up the price tag of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, making the OnePlus 12 a more sensibly priced Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 alternative. Another potential rival is the Google Pixel 8 Pro, which has a pretty similar feature set at a very comparable price tag.
| OnePlus 12 Rivals | Advantages (over OnePlus 12) | Disadvantages (vs OnePlus 12) |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (MSRP $1,299) | Titanium frame Longer software support (7 years) 5X Telephoto camera S Pen stylus | No charger in the box Larger, heavier More expensive |
| Google Pixel 8 Pro (MSRP $999) | Stock Android expereince Lots of AI features | Lower system performance Slightly less premium design |
Learn more here:
OnePlus 12 Summary and Final Verdict
Image Credit - PhoneArena
There you have it: the OnePlus 12 is a phone that delivers on mostly all the important fronts.
Very capable camera, superb performance, and exceptional battery life as well as charging speeds are the recurring theme with this no-nonsense flagship that caters not only to the core OnePlus fanbase, but also to just about anyone willing to upgrade or even switch to a rather competitive Android phone in early 2024.
It's not all great, though. While four years of major OS upgrades is pretty good, the competition is quickly upping the ante, offering up to 7 years of both major OS upgrades and security patches, leaving the OnePlus 12 behind.
On another note, while great, OnePlus plays things pretty safe and somewhat reluctant to experiment. Sure, the OnePlus 12 is one beautiful device, but it's as formulaic as they come. At least some variety in terms of the colors could have been nice, as you get this phone in two colors only and of those isn't even available for the 12GB/256GB starter version.
What's more, it would have been nice to see OnePlus answer to the iPhones, Galaxies, and Pixels with a longer telephoto that matches the 5X zoom they deliver. Don't get us wrong, the telephoto on the OnePlus 12 is very decent, but matching the competition would have been extra neat.
*Disclaimer: You may notice review scores have changed on PhoneArena! Since September 20th, we have started using a new scoring system. Learn more about the new PhoneArena Smartphone Review Rating system here.
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