The OnePlus 12 is the model’s common flagship, which for a number of years has been following one straight line, trying to nail the fundamentals. It is the flagship that many OnePlus followers will attain out for (versus the pricier Open), however in contrast to earlier fashions, there appears to be no seen compromise. You get a really succesful digicam system from the OnePlus Open, an IP score and even wi-fi charging. However one space OnePlus has stayed silent about is AI. In contrast to Google’s Pixel 8 collection and Samsung’s Galaxy S24 collection, the 12 has no user-facing and enjoyable generative AI software program options. Apple, too, is anticipated to announce a number of generative AI options with iOS 18 this 12 months.
So, is the shortage of AI-enabled includes a large deal in a smartphone section that has stagnated over time? Or has OnePlus accomplished sufficient to make one overlook concerning the absence of AI options? Let’s discover out.
OnePlus 12 Overview: Worth in India
In contrast to the OnePlus Open, the OnePlus 12 is offered in two variants. The seen bump in its price ticket (from Rs. 56,999) appears justifiable on condition that the bottom variant now presents 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which is priced at Rs. 64,999. The second variant, with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, retails at Rs. 69,999, which appears fairly aggressive, maintaining the {hardware} on supply.
The OnePlus 12 is offered in Flowy Emerald and Silky Black. We obtained the Flowy Emerald end of the 512GB variant for evaluation.
Within the field, OnePlus presents a gentle TPU case, a Sort-A to Sort-C charging cable and a 100W charger. This looks as if fairly a handful, on condition that Samsung’s Galaxy S24 solely supplies a charging cable within the field.
OnePlus 12 Overview: Design
The OnePlus 12 sticks to its roots in relation to design and selection of fabric. In contrast to the OnePlus Open, which was a step in a distinct course altogether, the OnePlus 12 builds on the larger adjustments. These have been caused by the OnePlus 10 Professional, which launched the odd-looking, gasoline stove-like format. With time, this format, which began off with 4 digicam cutouts (one among which was for the dual-LED flash) set right into a sq. with rounded corners, developed right into a round module, which seemed to be pressed into the raised glass rear panel on the OnePlus 11.
The OnePlus 12’s curved glass display screen has curved edges on the high and backside as effectively
For the brand new OnePlus 12, OnePlus goes with a flat glass rear panel and a similar-looking round digicam module, with the identical wraparound design on the left aspect of the body. To make it seem totally different, the corporate went with a flat holder for the round digicam module, which has flat glass fitted into the round holder that resembles a premium timepiece and appears very elegant. However for some purpose, this one is not completed to the everyday OnePlus requirements.
The half the place the digicam module wraps across the fringe of the body is sort of sharp at each corners, and the plastic filler that connects each the digicam module and mid-frame collectively appears a bit misaligned as effectively, leading to a noticeable ridge, which breaks the seamlessness of the curved flap. I’ve inspected another OnePlus 12 items, and the sharp corners, together with the misaligned filler, certainly appear to be a design and high quality oversight. These tolerances certainly appear to be much like those initially reported by some customers in China on the launch.
The wrap-around digicam module has some actually sharp edges close to the mid-frame with some misaligned plastic fillers
Fortunately, these misalignments and becoming points do not seem to have an effect on the IP score of the gadget. The IP65 score additionally surprisingly aligns with the above, so there is not any purpose for a person to immerse the cellphone in water as it is just designed to deal with splashes of it. This can be a bit limiting as a number of smartphones in and under this section supply an IP67 or IP68 score for mud and water resistance.
As for the end, I just like the polished steel body, which provides a stage of grip, given the superbly textured glass of the Flowy Emerald end. Followers will likely be completely satisfied to see the return of the long-lasting Alert Slider, however for causes finest recognized to OnePlus, it is now situated on the left aspect as an alternative of the best. The facility and quantity buttons at the moment are on the best. This can be a format much like the OnePlus Open in an unfolded state.
OnePlus 12 Overview: Specs and software program
As at all times, this flagship has the most recent and finest core {hardware} obtainable. This would come with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, there is a most of 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and as much as 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage however no room for storage enlargement. The fingerprint reader is embedded into the show, is of the optical selection, and labored reliably in the course of the course of this evaluation.
Communication requirements embrace Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC and help for a number of world satellite tv for pc positioning techniques. There’s additionally help for loads of 5G bands and house for 2 bodily nano SIM slots and dual-5G standby.
The cellphone seems to be and feels fairly premium and likewise has an official IP65 score this 12 months
The cellphone has a 5,400mAh (dual-cell) battery, and OnePlus features a 100W charger within the field. Nonetheless, charging speeds are capped at 80W. The cellphone additionally presents 50W wi-fi charging utilizing the corporate’s proprietary wi-fi charging dock, which is bought individually at Rs. 5,499.
The cellphone runs OxygenOS 14.0, which relies on Android 14. OnePlus guarantees 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of safety updates, which appears ok. As for the OxygenOS 14, it just about seems the identical because the earlier model of the ColorOS-derived software program.
Among the many minor visible updates is one thing new referred to as Fluid Cloud features like iOS’s Stay Actions. The function provides a Dynamic Island-inspired capsule on the intense left within the standing bar that gives related information (like a countdown timer for a supply service) for native and third-party apps. Like iOS, you possibly can faucet and maintain the capsule to broaden it to a much bigger card with extra buttons (to pause or cease the exercise) or faucet as soon as to open the app itself. The identical information additionally seems on the lock display screen as effectively. The function can also be obtainable on the Android 14 variations of Oppo’s ColorOS and Realme UI 5.0 (referred to as Flash Capsule).
OxygenOS 14’s Fluid Cloud works effectively however is proscribed to some apps.
Additionally new is Sensible Recommendations, which works with Fluid Cloud on the house display screen and on the lock display screen but additionally exhibits related updates from Zomato and Swiggy (for now) on the All the time-on Show (AOD). It is a nifty new function that takes benefit of the cellphone’s AOD function, decreasing the necessity to decide up your cellphone, unlock it, and examine notifications for updates.
Whereas the general software program expertise is fairly polished, the cellphone doesn’t supply any generative AI software program options, which is the present social gathering trick for premium units this 12 months. There are a number of AI-enabled options in case you search for them, like Sensible Contact, which principally extracts textual content from a screenshot. Sensible Imaging Matting, in response to Oppo, additionally makes use of AI to chop out individuals and objects from photographs, however that is one thing we now have already seen on Samsung units and even on iPhones prior to now 12 months, so it is nothing new.
This isn’t simply the case with OnePlus but additionally with all manufacturers underneath the BBK Electronics umbrella, as was the case with Vivo X100 Professional, which is priced at Rs. 89,999. Whereas Google and Samsung appear to have made a enjoyable and helpful use-case for his or her respective generative AI capabilities, it has certainly but to return to the purpose the place a shopper will begin to count on or demand such options from each flagship smartphone.
With Samsung and Google becoming a member of palms to push for extra generative AI options on their respective smartphones, the BBK manufacturers will quickly begin to miss out and danger dropping clients if they do not cook dinner up one thing fascinating in coming updates. That is extra so as a result of Apple, which has for lengthy steering cleared of “AI” can also be anticipated to go large on it with its iOS 18 software program replace.
OnePlus 12 Overview: Efficiency
With the most recent {hardware} inside, my expectations, whether or not it was the person expertise with software program or uncooked efficiency in artificial benchmarks, have been sky-high. Software program efficiency is buttery clean, however benchmarks even with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC come up quick when in comparison with the iQoo 12 (additionally Snapdragon 8 Gen 3) and have been noticeably much less when in comparison with the Vivo X100 Professional (MediaTek Dimensity 9300), particularly in AnTuTu and Geekbench. The OnePlus 12 scored 1,629,220 factors on AnTuTu, whereas Vivo’s X100 Professional managed 2,020,631 factors on the identical check.
As for uncooked efficiency, the cellphone performs effectively whereas taking part in Name of Obligation: Cell. It simply manages 120fps when set to ‘medium’ graphics and ‘extremely’ body fee. Setting the graphics and body fee to Very Excessive additionally appears to not stress out this cellphone. Extra importantly, the massive vapour cooling chamber appears to be doing its job of maintaining the cellphone cool each when taking part in high-end 3D video games and even when utilizing the digicam app to shoot 4K movies again to again.
The OnePlus 12 (proper) seems very totally different from its foldable cousin, the Open (left)
Extra importantly, the 120Hz show retains up, with the contact sampling fee being on level and really correct, making this a really dependable cell gaming machine. The show exhibits principally correct colors when considered within the Professional Display color mode. Photos and textual content seem tack sharp at 510 ppi. The OnePlus 12 nonetheless stays one of many solely smartphones to supply such a high-resolution QHD+ show at this value level, and I had this set to its full decision in the course of the evaluation.
With 4,500 nits of peak brightness, outside utilization just isn’t an issue both. However this additionally works effectively in its favour when watching HDR10+ or Dolby Imaginative and prescient content material on supported streaming apps. The ProXDR show additionally comes into use when viewing photographs of their full dynamic vary, and the identical applies to Dolby Imaginative and prescient 4K 30fps video recordings, which the cellphone is able to. The audio high quality is fairly good as effectively, and it sounded very immersive whereas taking part in video games. It was additionally adequate when it got here to watching the video. Aqua Contact additionally works fairly effectively when there’s water on the show and could be a lifesaver on wet days, on condition that the cellphone lastly helps an IP65 score.
The cellphone’s QHD+ show may be very sharp and will get actually vivid at 4,500 nits of peak brightness
Battery life can also be equally spectacular. The cellphone managed a strong 28 hours and 6 minutes in our customary video loop battery check, which was effectively above expectations for a smartphone each at this value level and above. With every day utilization, I simply managed round 9 hours of screen-on time or a couple of day and a half of heavy utilization (linked to each information and W-Fi), which additionally included digicam utilization, an hour of gaming and about 3 hours of video streaming.
And when the battery did ultimately die out, charging it was fairly quick, with the 80W capped wired charging managing 99 % in half-hour and finishing the cost in 37 minutes. Wi-fi charging can also be obtainable, however OnePlus didn’t present us with their AirVOOC charger, so we couldn’t check it.
OnePlus 12 Overview: Cameras
The OnePlus 12 packs a powerful digicam setup, which has been largely borrowed from the OnePlus Open, the corporate’s book-style foldable. Its main digicam’s Sony LYT-808 50-megapixel sensor is barely totally different from the Sony LYT-T808 digicam used on the OnePlus Open, however the outcomes are very comparable. The primary variations I seen when evaluating the 2 have been all the way down to focusing pace and reliability together with barely superior picture processing, which might be all the way down to the marginally superior ISP within the new SoC because the OnePlus Open has a barely older Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC.
This 12 months’s digicam module has been impressed by wristwatches
The first digicam captures detailed photographs with wonderful distinction and color, exhibiting loads of particulars in shadows and never going overboard within the brighter areas of the scene. Sharpness is on level, and particulars are wonderful, whether or not it is textured surfaces and even foliage. Low mild efficiency additionally comes fairly shut however drops a bit by way of element and dynamic vary.
OnePlus 12 digicam samples. Prime to backside: Extremely-wide, main and telephoto (3X) (faucet broaden photographs)
Just like the OnePlus Open, the 64-megapixel 3X telephoto digicam is the showstopper and manages jaw-droppingly spectacular photographs in every kind of lighting circumstances. Photos of objects and topics come out fairly sharp, even underneath synthetic mild, with a pure bokeh. It is wonderful for portrait photographs of pets and folks alike, and I loved utilizing this one to snap photographs of my 4-year-old. Nonetheless, this digicam prioritises publicity over shutter pace and can’t deal with transferring topics effectively. So, regardless of packing OIS, there are possibilities that your topic could seem a bit blurry in the event that they transfer throughout seize. When it comes to zoom, the cellphone manages good photographs as much as 6X (lossless in-sensor zoom), past which picture high quality begins to deteriorate.
The first digicam (high) captures good photographs in low mild, however the telephoto digicam (backside) performs even higher (faucet picture to broaden)
One element that OnePlus has, for some purpose, nonetheless not managed to repair (even on the Open after updates) is the white steadiness of its telephoto digicam. Photos captured with it seem fairly heat and saturated in comparison with the first digicam, which is nearer to correct. This ends in photographs that seem yellowish, particularly when capturing one thing largely white.
Given how effectively the first and the telephoto carry out, I did count on the ultra-wide to carry out equally effectively (hoping that the brand new SoC would make a distinction), nevertheless it handles imaging in the identical method the Open did. Whereas they give the impression of being alright on the cellphone, they lack sharpness and element and one way or the other appear a bit gentle, not simply in low mild however in daylight as effectively. Certainly, these are removed from what Google’s Pixel 8 Professional manages, however it’s priced lots increased.
The OnePlus 12 shoots detailed selfies in daylight (high) however doesn’t carry out effectively in low mild (backside) (faucet photographs to broaden)
Macro photographs pack in lots of element, and the telephoto digicam additionally lets me shoot close-ups that seem fairly sharp. Selfies come out effectively with good dynamic vary, correct pores and skin tones and edge detection in daylight, however low-light photographs are fairly common and depart lots to be desired.
Video high quality has notable enhancements over the OnePlus 11, footage captured at 4K seems very steady and exhibits barely vibrant color as effectively. Dynamic vary is superb, and so is the bitrate. High quality takes a slight hit in low mild, however noise is saved to a minimal. Colors are in examine, and stabilisation can also be dealt with effectively. I additionally tried out the 8K video, which nonetheless feels a bit gimmicky, on condition that the cellphone can not deal with a gentle framerate whereas capturing.
OnePlus 12 Overview: Verdict
The OnePlus 12 performs effectively on all fronts and simply outdoes the smartphone it replaces. And so, it is simple to advocate as an improve even for individuals who personal the earlier mannequin.
OnePlus has adopted its typical system and delivered a smartphone that matches in completely between the sub-Rs. 50,000 premium units and the high-end sub-Rs 90,000 section, which incorporates units like Google’s Pixel 8 (Overview) (begins from Rs. 75,999) and Samsung’s Galaxy S24 (begins from Rs. 79,999). Nonetheless, each of those contenders do pack some cool AI methods which the OnePlus 12 correctly avoids.
In case you are the kind that desires to check out one thing new and hop aboard the AI bandwagon, then the latter two are a more sensible choice. However in case you do not care about AI, it is actually arduous to disregard the OnePlus 12 because it presents wonderful worth for cash, getting you a much bigger (and higher show), higher efficiency, versatile cameras and wonderful battery life (with wi-fi charging) for much less.