OnePlus 12 Review: Defining Excellence in a Decade of Innovation

Introduction:

Ten Years back in 2014, the OnePlus was released and now in 2024, we have the OnePlus 12. It is a sort of anniversary edition. The brand's concept and focus have changed a lot in the past decade. In fact, the 2014 "startup" that thrived on aggressive pricing and guerilla marketing for high-end technology has steadily established itself as a mainstay in the flagship market.

This year’s flagship phone by OnePlus shows that the company sticks to its slogan “Never Settles” always striving for improvement and never satisfied with the status quo. The Brand consistently tries to create premium devices and software that provide the best user experience possible. The OnePlus 12 comes as a proper high-end package on the 11^th of December 2023.

What’s new for 2024? After being called the flagship killer last year, the brand has made a lot of upgrades in its OnePlus 12 series for 2024. The outer look of the phone gets some minor changes while the inner is loaded with a lot of major updates like a new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, a bigger battery, and even wireless charging support.

Pros

·        Dolby Vision enabled

·        Outstanding display

·        Good Camera performance even in low light

·        Better Selfies

·        Bigger battery pack with super-fast charging

·        Wireless Charging enabled

Cons

·        Disappointing ultra-wide camera

·        Special AI features absent

·        Not as water-resistant as rival smartphones

Display and Build Quality:

What type of display is on the OnePlus 12? The OnePlus 12 showcases a lively 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED screen with an impressive 120Hz refresh rate, providing seamless and swift visuals. With a resolution of 1440 x 3168 pixels, the display ensures crisp and clear image quality. The display is covered with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 so that it gets more sophisticated protection compared to the rear induction coil, which makes sense.

Adaptive refresh rates range from 1 Hz to 120 Hz, changing automatically based on your activity. The phone can be configured to play games at the maximum 120Hz frame rate at all times. The screen can reach a maximum brightness of 4,500 nits (1,600 typ), supports 10-bit color for your video material, and supports Dolby Vision. The phone is bright, in my opinion. Fortunately, the display glass is not reflective, making it visible in direct sunlight.

What is the build material of the OnePlus 12? In the design of OnePlus phones continuity appears which can also be seen in the OnePlus 12. It looks almost like the previous one which was also an improved version of the OnePlus 10 Pro. There are some physical upgrades in this year's OnePlus phone. These are the changes in the position of the volume buttons and alert slider. The front and rear curved edges significantly reduce the appearance of bulk, and the thin aluminum frame gives the impression of slimness that the actual proportions are unable to capture. With a selection of three captivating colors – Flowy Emerald, Silky Black, and Silver – the phone provides users with a diverse array of options.

Performance:

What processor is in the OnePlus 12? It is powered by a new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Chipset that promises 98% faster AI performance, 30% faster CPU performance, 20% greater CPU power efficiency, 25% faster GPU performance, and 25% greater GPU power efficiency. The smartphone is also equipped with an Adreno 750 GPU, elevating the gaming experience with impressive visuals and seamless gameplay.

How much memory does the OnePlus 12 have? Although the phone comes in multiple memory configurations, the international edition is limited to the 16GB/512GB and 12GB/256GB models (the latter of which is the one we reviewed). A 1TB storage unit with 16GB or 24GB of RAM will also be available for the Chinese market. In any case, the storage is UFS 4.0 which promises 100% faster read and 133% faster write than UFS 3.1 and the RAM is LPDDR5X which is 33% faster, 30% wider bandwidth, and 20% more efficient as compared to LPDDR5.

Does the OnePlus 12 have expandable storage? Since there isn't a microSD card slot, you'll have to determine how much storage you require and weigh your options. Choose premium trims if you require more space.

What are the performance scores of the OnePlus 12? This phone is tested on Geekbench 6 to check the performance of a single core and multi cores and it scores 1429 with a single core and 5124 with a multi-core and its overall AnTuTu score is 1821801.

Camera:

Which camera is used in the OnePlus 12?  On its back, it carries an identical triple-camera setup. The main camera features a 50MP LYT-808 sensor. It is equipped with a 23mm equivalent focal length, f/1.6 aperture, and OIS. It's reported that the primary camera has a 1/1.4" optical format, and its pixel pitch is 1.12µm. The Ultra-wide camera utilizes a 48MP Sony IMX581 1/2.0" sensor coupled with a 14mm f/2.2 lens. The third periscope telephoto camera carries a 64MP lens with f/2.6 aperture, 70mm equivalent focal length, 3x optical zoom, and its pixel pitch is 0.7µm.

How many megapixels is the front camera of the OnePlus 12? The 32MP front-facing camera utilizes the Sony IMX 615 1/2.74" sensor, featuring 0.8µm pixels and a Quad-Bayer filter. The lens comes with a 21mm focal length, an f/2.4 aperture, and employs a fixed focus mechanism.

Video Features: The three rear cameras on the OnePlus 12 have a 4K60 video recording capability, while the primary camera additionally has an 8K24 setting. The 4K30 selfie camera lacks 60 frames per second 60 resolution setting. All four cameras have electronic stabilization that is constantly on.

Connectivity:

It consistently upholds its well-known identity while offering a range of connectivity options to link you to the outside world in various ways. This mobile device offers high-speed internet, flexible Wi-Fi features, and consistent physical connections to guarantee an outstanding user experience. With support for Wi-Fi 6E, it enhances performance and manages multiple devices on your home network efficiently, providing more dependable and faster wireless connections. Additionally, it is compatible with Bluetooth 5.4, which ensures dependable and efficient connections to a variety of wireless devices.

Does the OnePlus 12 have an NFC? Yes, Near-field communication (NFC) allows the user to make convenient contactless mobile payments. Does the OnePlus 12 support 5G? Embracing 5G Technology: OnePlus 12 Enhances Connectivity, Reducing Latency, Boosting Download, and Upload Speeds for an Enhanced Online Experience.

Battery:

This phone boasts a large Li-Po 5400mAh battery that is way bigger than the previous year’s battery which was 5000mAh. This massive battery is 14:11h of active use. With its 100W wired Fast Charging capability on Smart Rapid Charge, it will be charged from 0-100% in just 26 minutes. While with 50W 50W Wireless Charging on Smart Rapid Charge Mode the phone will take 55 minutes to fully charge.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the OnePlus 12 is a high-end feature-packed smartphone that caters to the needs of tech enthusiasts. Let’s talk about some of its competitors in the market, the first one is the Pixel 8 Pro, OnePlus 12 has better battery life and charging speed than this one. When we compare it with the Galaxy S24 which is priced as same as the OnePlus 12 and carries a 3x telephoto camera OnePlus's phone will win only based on its larger screen.