Introducing the OnePlus 12:
As Tech January heats up with Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra and its cohorts, OnePlus is also stoking the flames with its latest flagship, the OnePlus 12. Positioned as a formidable competitor to not just the Galaxy S24 Ultra but also to any other contemporary flagship on the market, the OnePlus 12 is poised to make a significant impact.
With cutting-edge hardware, sleek design, and the hallmark attention to detail that OnePlus is known for, the OnePlus 12 embodies the ethos of “Never Settle” that has defined the brand for the past decade. It’s a testament to how far OnePlus has come in such a short span of time.
Could the OnePlus 12 be hailed as one of the standout phones of 2024? The potential certainly seems promising, given OnePlus’ track record of delivering exceptional devices. Is it destined to be a perennial favorite among smartphone enthusiasts? Only time will tell.
What’s New with the OnePlus 12:
- A super-bright OLED display with a slight curve
- Powered by the top-of-the-line Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset
- Features a new wide-angle camera equipped with an innovative dual-stacked Sony sensor
- Includes a telephoto camera offering 3X optical zoom and up to 120X digital zoom
- Boasts a large 5,400mAh battery with lightning-fast charging capabilities
- Available at an aggressive starting price of $799
- OnePlus 12 with a pre-applied screen protector
- 80W fast-charging brick
- Type-A to Type-C charging/data cable
- Protective case
- SIM tray ejector
- OnePlus Red Cable Club cards
- Booklets and manuals
- Logo stickers
A Powerhouse Device:
A super-bright OLED display with a slight curve:
The OnePlus 12 boasts impressive specs that reaffirm its status as a flagship device. The standout feature is the Pro XDR OLED display, offering exceptional clarity and vibrant colors. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, the OnePlus 12 delivers blazing-fast performance.
Design-wise, the OnePlus 12 retains the signature OnePlus aesthetic while introducing subtle refinements. The Flowy Emerald variant, inspired by nature, exudes elegance with its fluid design and satin texture. Despite its increased weight and dimensions, the OnePlus 12 remains comfortable to hold, thanks to its ergonomic curves.
In terms of functionality, the OnePlus 12 introduces some notable changes, including the relocation of the volume rocker for improved ergonomics. Additionally, the inclusion of an IR blaster and IP65 water and dust resistance adds practicality to the device.
Display Innovation and Camera Capabilities:
The OnePlus 12’s OLED display sets new standards with its exceptional brightness and color accuracy. Utilizing LTPO technology, the display offers a seamless experience with dynamic refresh rates. Gorilla Glass Vectus 2 ensures durability, while Aqua Touch technology allows for uninterrupted touch sensitivity even when the screen is wet.
OnePlus 12 camera:
On the camera front, the OnePlus 12 impresses with its 50MP main camera and innovative image-processing algorithms. The addition of a telephoto camera with 3X optical zoom enhances the device’s photography capabilities, making it a versatile choice for capturing every moment.
Overall, the OnePlus 12 stands out as the pinnacle of OnePlus’ smartphone lineup, delivering an unparalleled user experience packed with cutting-edge features and exceptional performance.
The OnePlus 12 is a marvel when it comes to photography, offering superb colors and excellent dynamics that bring your shots to life. While opinions on aesthetics may vary, there’s no denying the beauty captured by the OnePlus 12, especially in well-lit conditions.
In low light settings, the OnePlus 12 doesn’t disappoint either. With its impressive dynamics, the phone retains detail in shadows without sacrificing clarity in brighter areas. Plus, its automatic night mode ensures you still get great shots even in less-than-ideal lighting conditions—a feature we truly appreciate.
Zooming:
Zooming in, the OnePlus 12 excels, particularly in the 3X to 10X range. Images remain sharp and detailed even at higher magnifications, a notable improvement over its predecessor. While the phone boasts a 120X zoom capability, it’s more of a novelty than a practical feature, offering little in terms of usable results.
Portrait Mode is another highlight, thanks to the OnePlus 12’s long telephoto lens. With roughly 70mm of focal length, it produces intimate portraits with a pleasing depth of field, resulting in flattering and captivating images.
Switching to the ultra-wide camera, the OnePlus 12 continues to impress with excellent HDR and dynamics, even in selfie mode. It handles challenging lighting situations admirably, ensuring your selfies look stunning regardless of the conditions.
Video quality:
When it comes to video quality, the OnePlus 12 doesn’t disappoint, thanks to its powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. This top-of-the-line processor ensures smooth performance across the board, whether you’re gaming or multitasking. Benchmark tests confirm its prowess, with impressive scores that reflect its capabilities in real-world usage.
In everyday use, the OnePlus 12 proves itself as a snappy performer, effortlessly handling all tasks thrown its way. Gaming is particularly enjoyable, with consistently high frame rates and minimal throttling even during extended sessions. Overall, the OnePlus 12 offers a seamless and immersive experience that’s sure to impress even the most demanding users.
Connectivity, and Software:
Storage-wise, the OnePlus 12 offers options of either 12GB or 16GB of speedy LPDDR5X RAM. While rumors hinted at a potential terabyte storage variant, the available options stick to the standard 256GB and 512GB capacities of UFS 4.0 storage.
On the connectivity front, the OnePlus 12 is equipped with top-tier specs. It boasts Wi-Fi 7, the latest and fastest wireless connectivity available, along with Bluetooth 5.4 and support for all essential 5G bands.
Running on Android 14 with OnePlus’ signature Oxygen OS, the OnePlus 12 delivers a feature-rich and customizable user experience. The updated Oxygen OS 14 introduces enhancements like a fresher Always-On Display experience, redesigned Zen Spaces, and improved security and privacy features—a testament to OnePlus’ commitment to user satisfaction.
Long-Term Support and Battery Life:
In terms of software support, the OnePlus 12 follows its predecessor’s footsteps, offering four years of major OS upgrades and five years of security patches. This means users can expect to receive updates up to Android 18 and security patches until 2029. While this support timeframe is standard for now, industry trends are shifting towards longer device support, as seen with Google and Samsung’s recent commitments to seven years of updates for their flagship devices.
Breaking away from the norm, the OnePlus 12 packs a larger 5,400mAh battery, nearly a 10% increase compared to the OnePlus 11. Paired with the more efficient chipset, this larger battery promises improved battery life, setting a new standard in the industry. In performance tests, the OnePlus 12 impresses with its endurance, lasting over 18 hours in the browsing test and nearly 14 hours in the YouTube battery test.
Rapid Charging and Audio Quality:
When it comes to charging, the OnePlus 12 doesn’t disappoint. With 80W wired charging and 50W wireless charging, the device achieves a full charge in just 37 minutes via wired charging and less than an hour with wireless charging. Additionally, OnePlus continues its tradition of including fast chargers in the box, enhancing the overall value for customers.
On the audio front, the OnePlus 12 delivers an immersive experience with its stereo speakers and Dolby Atoms support. The addition of a new Turbo vibrator motor enhances haptic feedback, providing precise and strong vibrations for a more tactile experience, particularly noticeable during typing.
Competitively Priced Flagship:
Starting at $800 for the 256GB version and reaching $900 for the higher-spec variant, the OnePlus 12 offers a compelling alternative to pricier flagship options like the Galaxy S24 Ultra. With its feature-rich experience, long-term support, and aggressive pricing, the OnePlus 12 stands out as a formidable contender in the smartphone market.
The OnePlus 12 emerges as a smartphone that excels in numerous key areas. It boasts a highly capable camera, outstanding performance, exceptional battery life, and lightning-fast charging speeds. Positioned as a no-nonsense flagship, it appeals not only to the dedicated OnePlus fanbase but also to anyone seeking a competitive Android phone in early 2024.
However, it’s not without its drawbacks. While the promise of four years of major OS upgrades is commendable, the competition is raising the bar by offering up to seven years of both major OS upgrades and security patches, leaving the OnePlus 12 trailing behind.
Furthermore, OnePlus tends to play it safe and appears hesitant to experiment. While the OnePlus 12 is undeniably attractive, it follows a formulaic design. More variety in terms of color options would have been appreciated, especially considering that the phone is available in only two colors, with one not even offered for the base 12GB/256GB version.
Additionally, OnePlus missed an opportunity to match the telephoto capabilities of competitors like iPhones, Galaxies, and Pixels, which offer a 5X zoom. While the telephoto lens on the OnePlus 12 is decent, achieving parity with the competition would have been a welcome addition.
Pros:
- Comfortable and user-friendly ergonomic design
- Remarkably bright screen
- Exceptional performance
- Lightning-fast wired and wireless charging capabilities
- Competent camera system, complete with a proper telephoto lens
- Inclusion of a charging brick in the box, reminiscent of earlier smartphone eras
Cons:
- Design plays it too safe, lacking innovation
- Tends to get slightly warm under heavier usage
- Limited to four years of software support, falling short of Google and Samsung’s extended support durations
