The OnePlus 12 is the model’s common flagship, which for a number of years has been following one straight line, making an attempt 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 ranking and even wi-fi charging. However one space OnePlus has stayed silent about is AI. Not like 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 yr.
So, is the shortage of AI-enabled incorporates a large deal in a smartphone section that has stagnated over time? Or has OnePlus performed sufficient to make one overlook concerning the absence of AI options? Let’s discover out.
OnePlus 12 Evaluation: Worth in India
Not like the OnePlus Open, the OnePlus 12 is on the market in two variants. The seen bump in its price ticket (from Rs. 56,999) appears justifiable on condition that the bottom variant now affords 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, conserving the {hardware} on provide.
The OnePlus 12 is on the market in Flowy Emerald and Silky Black. We acquired the Flowy Emerald end of the 512GB variant for evaluation.
Within the field, OnePlus affords a gentle TPU case, a Kind-A to Kind-C charging cable and a 100W charger. This looks like fairly a handful, on condition that Samsung’s Galaxy S24 solely gives a charging cable within the field.
OnePlus 12 Evaluation: Design
The OnePlus 12 sticks to its roots relating to design and selection of fabric. Not like the OnePlus Open, which was a step in a distinct route altogether, the OnePlus 12 builds on the larger modifications. These have been caused by the OnePlus 10 Professional, which launched the odd-looking, gasoline stove-like structure. With time, this structure, which began off with 4 digicam cutouts (considered one of which was for the dual-LED flash) set right into a sq. with rounded corners, developed right into a round module, which gave the impression to be pressed into the raised glass rear panel on the OnePlus 11.
The OnePlus 12’s curved glass display has curved edges on the high and backside as nicely
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 completely 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 motive, this one is not completed to the standard 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 nicely, leading to a noticeable ridge, which breaks the seamlessness of the curved flap. I’ve inspected another OnePlus 12 models, 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 ranking of the system. The IP65 ranking additionally surprisingly aligns with the above, so there isn’t any motive for a consumer to immerse the telephone in water as it’s only designed to deal with splashes of it. This can be a bit limiting as a number of smartphones in and beneath this section provide an IP67 or IP68 ranking for mud and water resistance.
As for the end, I just like the polished metallic body, which provides a stage of grip, given the superbly textured glass of the Flowy Emerald end. Followers shall be completely happy to see the return of the enduring Alert Slider, however for causes finest recognized to OnePlus, it is now situated on the left aspect as an alternative of the fitting. The ability and quantity buttons are actually on the fitting. This can be a structure much like the OnePlus Open in an unfolded state.
OnePlus 12 Evaluation: Specs and software program
As all the time, this flagship has the newest and finest core {hardware} accessible. 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 growth. The fingerprint reader is embedded into the show, is of the optical selection, and labored reliably through the course of this evaluation.
Communication requirements embody Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC and assist for a number of international satellite tv for pc positioning programs. There’s additionally assist for loads of 5G bands and area for 2 bodily nano SIM slots and dual-5G standby.
The telephone appears and feels fairly premium and likewise has an official IP65 ranking this yr
The telephone has a 5,400mAh (dual-cell) battery, and OnePlus features a 100W charger within the field. Nevertheless, charging speeds are capped at 80W. The telephone additionally affords 50W wi-fi charging utilizing the corporate’s proprietary wi-fi charging dock, which is offered individually at Rs. 5,499.
The telephone runs OxygenOS 14.0, which relies on Android 14. OnePlus guarantees 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of safety updates, which appears adequate. 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 Reside Actions. The function provides a Dynamic Island-inspired capsule on the acute left within the standing bar that gives related knowledge (like a countdown timer for a supply service) for native and third-party apps. Like iOS, you’ll be able to faucet and maintain the capsule to develop it to an even bigger card with extra buttons (to pause or cease the exercise) or faucet as soon as to open the app itself. The identical knowledge additionally seems on the lock display as nicely. The function can also be accessible 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 nicely however is proscribed to a couple apps.
Additionally new is Sensible Ideas, which works with Fluid Cloud on the house display and on the lock display but in addition exhibits related updates from Zomato and Swiggy (for now) on the At all times-on Show (AOD). It is a nifty new function that takes benefit of the telephone’s AOD function, decreasing the necessity to decide up your telephone, unlock it, and examine notifications for updates.
Whereas the general software program expertise is fairly polished, the telephone doesn’t provide any generative AI software program options, which is the present social gathering trick for premium gadgets this yr. There are a number of AI-enabled options in the event you search for them, like Sensible Contact, which mainly extracts textual content from a screenshot. Sensible Imaging Matting, based on Oppo, additionally makes use of AI to chop out folks and objects from pictures, however that is one thing now we have already seen on Samsung gadgets and even on iPhones previously yr, so it is nothing new.
This isn’t simply the case with OnePlus but in addition 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 client will begin to count on or demand such options from each flagship smartphone.
With Samsung and Google becoming a member of fingers to push for extra generative AI options on their respective smartphones, the BBK manufacturers will quickly begin to miss out and threat dropping clients if they do not prepare 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 Evaluation: Efficiency
With the newest {hardware} inside, my expectations, whether or not it was the consumer expertise with software program or uncooked efficiency in artificial benchmarks, have been sky-high. Software program efficiency is buttery easy, however benchmarks even with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC come up brief 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 take a look at.
As for uncooked efficiency, the telephone performs nicely whereas enjoying Name of Responsibility: Cell. It simply manages 120fps when set to ‘medium’ graphics and ‘extremely’ body price. Setting the graphics and body price to Very Excessive additionally appears to not stress out this telephone. Extra importantly, the big vapour cooling chamber appears to be doing its job of conserving the telephone cool each when enjoying 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 completely different from its foldable cousin, the Open (left)
Extra importantly, the 120Hz show retains up, with the contact sampling price being on level and really correct, making this a really dependable cellular gaming machine. The show exhibits principally correct colors when seen within the Professional Display screen 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 through the evaluation.
With 4,500 nits of peak brightness, outside utilization just isn’t an issue both. However this additionally works nicely 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 pictures of their full dynamic vary, and the identical applies to Dolby Imaginative and prescient 4K 30fps video recordings, which the telephone is able to. The audio high quality is fairly good as nicely, and it sounded very immersive whereas enjoying video games. It was additionally ample when it got here to watching the video. Aqua Contact additionally works fairly nicely when there’s water on the show and is usually a lifesaver on wet days, on condition that the telephone lastly helps an IP65 ranking.
The telephone’s QHD+ show could be very sharp and will get actually brilliant at 4,500 nits of peak brightness
Battery life can also be equally spectacular. The telephone managed a strong 28 hours and 6 minutes in our commonplace video loop battery take a look at, which was nicely above expectations for a smartphone each at this value level and above. With day by 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 knowledge 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 accessible, however OnePlus didn’t present us with their AirVOOC charger, so we couldn’t take a look at it.
OnePlus 12 Evaluation: Cameras
The OnePlus 12 packs a formidable 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 completely different from the Sony LYT-T808 digicam used on the OnePlus Open, however the outcomes are very related. The principle 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 yr’s digicam module has been impressed by wristwatches
The first digicam captures detailed photos with glorious 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 glorious, 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. High to backside: Extremely-wide, main and telephoto (3X) (faucet develop photos)
Just like the OnePlus Open, the 64-megapixel 3X telephoto digicam is the showstopper and manages jaw-droppingly spectacular pictures in every kind of lighting situations. Photos of objects and topics come out fairly sharp, even underneath synthetic mild, with a pure bokeh. It is glorious for portrait pictures of pets and other people alike, and I loved utilizing this one to snap pictures of my 4-year-old. Nevertheless, this digicam prioritises publicity over shutter pace and can’t deal with transferring topics nicely. So, regardless of packing OIS, there are possibilities that your topic might seem a bit blurry in the event that they transfer throughout seize. By way of zoom, the telephone manages good pictures as much as 6X (lossless in-sensor zoom), past which picture high quality begins to deteriorate.
The first digicam (high) captures good pictures in low mild, however the telephoto digicam (backside) performs even higher (faucet picture to develop)
One element that OnePlus has, for some motive, nonetheless not managed to repair (even on the Open after updates) is the white stability of its telephoto digicam. Photographs captured with it seem fairly heat and saturated in comparison with the first digicam, which is nearer to correct. This ends in pictures that seem yellowish, particularly when taking pictures one thing largely white.
Given how nicely the first and the telephoto carry out, I did count on the ultra-wide to carry out equally nicely (hoping that the brand new SoC would make a distinction), however it handles imaging in the identical method the Open did. Whereas they appear alright on the telephone, they lack sharpness and element and one way or the other appear a bit gentle, not simply in low mild however in daylight as nicely. Certainly, these are removed from what Google’s Pixel 8 Professional manages, however it’s priced rather a lot greater.
The OnePlus 12 shoots detailed selfies in daylight (high) however doesn’t carry out nicely in low mild (backside) (faucet photos to develop)
Macro pictures pack in quite a lot of element, and the telephoto digicam additionally lets me shoot close-ups that seem fairly sharp. Selfies come out nicely with good dynamic vary, correct pores and skin tones and edge detection in daylight, however low-light photographs are fairly common and go away rather a lot 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 nicely. 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 nicely. I additionally tried out the 8K video, which nonetheless feels a bit gimmicky, on condition that the telephone can’t deal with a gentle framerate whereas taking pictures.
OnePlus 12 Evaluation: Verdict
The OnePlus 12 performs nicely 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 common method and delivered a smartphone that matches in completely between the sub-Rs. 50,000 premium gadgets and the high-end sub-Rs 90,000 section, which incorporates gadgets like Google’s Pixel 8 (Evaluation) (begins from Rs. 75,999) and Samsung’s Galaxy S24 (begins from Rs. 79,999). Nevertheless, each of those contenders do pack some cool AI methods which the OnePlus 12 correctly avoids.
In case you are the sort that desires to check out one thing new and hop aboard the AI bandwagon, then the latter two are a better option. However in the event you do not care about AI, it is actually laborious to disregard the OnePlus 12 because it affords glorious worth for cash, getting you an even bigger (and higher show), higher efficiency, versatile cameras and glorious battery life (with wi-fi charging) for much less.
