OnePlus 12 Detailed Review – The Performance King With Highest AnTuTu Score Of 2.3 mn

The OnePlus 12 is one of the biggest improvements to the company’s flagship phone in recent years, making it a more competitive force in the market against companies like Apple and Samsung. The OnePlus 12 boasts a bigger screen, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, triple cameras, including an enhanced 3x periscope camera, and quick 80W wired charging. Even with its added wireless charging and infrared blaster, the price remains essentially the same.

Appsrs’ Early Verdict

OnePlus 12 Specs At A Glance

Checkout all the OnePlus Specs in the below mentioned table in a easy to read manner. After the table we also have discussed highlighted features and also talked about other standard comparison.

Category	Specification
NETWORK	Technology: GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G 2G bands: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 – SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only), CDMA 800 3G bands: HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 – International, HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100 – India, China, CDMA2000 1x 4G bands: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71 – International, 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 – India, China 5G bands: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA – International, 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA – India, China Speed: HSPA, LTE-A (CA), 5G
LAUNCH	Announced: 2023, December 05 Status: Available. Released 2023, December 11
BODY	Dimensions: 164.3 x 75.8 x 9.2 mm (6.47 x 2.98 x 0.36 in) Weight: 220 g (7.76 oz) Build: Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass), aluminum frame SIM: Single SIM (Nano-SIM) or Dual SIM (2x Nano-SIM, eSIM, dual stand-by) or Dual SIM (2x Nano-SIM, dual stand-by), IP65, waterproof and dustproof
DISPLAY	Type: LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 600 nits (typ), 1600 nits (HBM), 4500 nits (peak) Size: 6.82 inches, 113.0 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio) Resolution: 1440 x 3168 pixels (~510 ppi density) Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Always-on display
PLATFORM	OS: Android 14, OxygenOS 14 (International), ColorOS 14 (China) Chipset: Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) CPU: Octa-core (1×3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 5×3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2×2.3 GHz Cortex-A520) GPU: Adreno 750
MEMORY	Card slot: No Internal: 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM, 1TB 24GB RAM, UFS 4.0
MAIN CAMERA	Triple: 50 MP, f/1.6, 23mm (wide), 1/1.43″, 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/2.6, 70mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0″, 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0″, 0.8µm, PDAF Features: Hasselblad Color Calibration, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama Video: 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240/480fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS, Dolby Vision
SELFIE CAMERA	Single: 32 MP, f/2.4, 21mm (wide), 1/2.74″, 0.8µm Features: Auto-HDR, panorama Video: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
SOUND	Loudspeaker: Yes, with stereo speakers 3.5mm jack: No, 24-bit/192kHz Hi-Res audio
COMMS	WLAN: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth: 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, LHDC Positioning: GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC NFC: Yes, eSE, HCE Infrared port: Yes Radio: No USB: USB Type-C 3.2, OTG
FEATURES	Sensors: Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, color spectrum
BATTERY	Type: Li-Po 5400 mAh, non-removable Charging: 100W wired, PD, QC, 1-100% in 26 min (International), 80W wired, PD, QC, 1-100% in 30 min (USA), 50W wireless, 1-100% in 55 min (advertised), 10W reverse wireless
MISC	Colors: Flowy Emerald, Silky Black, Silver Models: PJD110 SAR: 1.18 W/kg (head), 0.68 W/kg (body) Price: ₹64,999 / $799.99 / £849.00 / €999.00
TESTS	Performance: AnTuTu: 2,333,033(As per DigitalChatStation), GeekBench: 5124 (v6), GFXBench ES 3.1: 157fps (offscreen 1080p) Display: Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Camera: Photo / Video Loudspeaker: -26.3 LUFS (Good) Battery (new): Active use score 14:11h

OnePlus 12 Specifications In Detail

Are you confused after reading some fancy figures from above table? Wory not! Let’s discuss these specs in detail to help you understand what each of the fact means in a layman language. Pardon but first thing I ever like to talk about any phone is their processor, so let us start with it and continue so on!

The 2.3 mn AnTuTu Score Processor

The latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 3 chip powers the OnePlus 12, which is supported by either 12GB or 16GB of RAM (as reviewed). It’s reasonable to assume that the most advanced Qualcomm chip will be a powerhouse, but OnePlus also says that its “Trinity Engine” optimizes the CPU, RAM, and storage for a more stable and speedier experience.

Although it’s usually better to take these promises with a grain of salt, the OnePlus 12 feels incredibly quick to use. At its highest settings, the action role-playing game Genshin Impact displayed a flawless gameplay experience with 60 frames per second and no latency or stuttering. PUBG, a battle royale shooter, was equally silky smooth. Likewise, for Asphalt 9: Legends racer.

OnePlus 12 Review: Design

The OnePlus 12’s design is a topic of much discussion. Since it’s so amazing to see, it’s underappreciated and deserving of much greater attention.

The phone always looks nice coming out of my pockets because of the rounded camera bulge on the back of it, along with its textured shell and metal trim sides. Because of its rough casing, smudges are rarely permanent, but the OnePlus 12 is more easier to use in one hand than the Galaxy S24 Ultra or iPhone 15 Pro Max due to its smaller size.

The OnePlus 12’s design has seen a few slight modifications, such as the silent switch’s relocation to the left, but the general aesthetic and design language have not changed. However, OnePlus was kind enough to include an infrared blaster on the top edge of the phone, which makes it possible to use it as the best universal remote control ever to operate all of my favorite household appliances.

Because of the phone’s increased weight, my sole issue with the OnePlus 12 design is that it feels heavier than its predecessor. (It weighs 0.5 ounces more than the OnePlus 11.) Although I don’t think it’s a deal breaker, I handle the phone more carefully now because an accidental drop would not go well.

Also Checkout | Is the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra the King of Android Phones? – Detailed Review

4500 nits Display – Does It Hold Up?

The 6.82-inch 2K ProXDR screen on the OnePlus 12 offers a lot of features for the price, including the ability to reach an unprecedented peak brightness of 4,500 nits, according to OnePlus. My observations from using the phone thus far indicate that the OnePlus 12’s ProXDR provides intense brightness in direct sunshine, enabling me to view everything with remarkable clarity.

Though I’m still not certain the phone can achieve the 4,500 nit peak, I’ll be happy if its display can outperform the OnePlus 11’s 1,300 nits of brightness. With its 120Hz refresh rate, the OnePlus 12 is a good choice for intense gaming scenarios where a lot of action is taking place on screen. The most difficult games appear fluid because everything moves along easily.

A noteworthy feature of the display is Aqua Touch, a novel technology that guarantees precision even in the event of a wet screen on the phone. Like me, you may like Aqua Touch’s enhanced sensitivity if you occasionally take your phone into the shower to browse through your feeds or listen to some music.

OnePlus 12 Review: Performance

Device	Performance
OnePlus 12	5,066
Galaxy S24 Ultra	4,415
iPhone 15 Pro Max	4,193

It outscored the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max in 3DMark’s Wild Life Extreme graphics benchmark. It scored the second-highest on that test, trailing only the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-powered Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro.

Multitasking and phone navigation are fast, and I couldn’t discover anything that slowed it down. Clearly, powerful chip and software optimization are helping. OnePlus claims that the biggest benefit is that it will stay smooth as your phone fills with apps and content. I’ve only had the phone a week, so I’ll have to test this over the following months.

OnePlus’ Oxygen OS covers Android 14 on the OnePlus 12. Clean and simple, I enjoy the interface. Android beginners and veterans are equally well served here. OnePlus provides four years of software upgrades and five years of security updates. The same as the OnePlus 11, which was OK, but Google and Samsung now give seven years of support.

Longer support periods make your phone safer over time. Five years isn’t awful, but OnePlus should have done more here. It’s a major reason the phone lags behind the competition.

Even more aggravating is that OnePlus supports the OnePlus 12 longer than the cheaper OnePlus 12R, which gets one year less software and security support. It’s frustrating because it implies that sustainability is just for wealthy shoppers.

The OnePlus 12 lacks a big generative AI drive. Google’s Pixel phones have had AI features for eons, while Samsung’s Galaxy S24 series launched with AI. AI is even built into the OnePlus 12’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 CPU. OnePlus hasn’t discussed AI, and the software has no generative AI features.

I like the company’s approach. I don’t find AI capabilities on other phones, like the Pixel 8 Pro’s wallpaper generator, particularly useful, so I’m glad OnePlus hasn’t added redundant functions only to brag about having them. Perhaps they are singing a different song for OnePlus 13.

Also Read | Samsung Galaxy S24 Detailed Review – Familiar S-series traits, new Galaxy AI tricks

OxygenOS Software

OnePlus should have improved its OxygenOS interface, which doesn’t provide much. OnePlus has a sleek, modern layout with unique features like the smart sidebar that allows me to quickly access apps. OxygeneOS lacks AI features that make Pixel 8 and Galaxy S24 more appealing.

OnePlus is partnering with Google to add AI features to the OnePlus 12 since AI features take time to create. The OnePlus 12 will have Google’s Magic Compose, which uses generative AI to send tailored messages. As with the Galaxy S24, the Galaxy AI’s Chat help feature will take what you type and offer options to sound professional, informal, or social media.

Additionally, OnePLus wants to launch “Emojify” to employ generative AI to create emojis from profile photos and pet photos. I don’t know how useful or practical this functionality is to the average individual until OnePlus delivers them by Q1 2024’s end.

OxygenOS 14 looks and works similarly to the OnePlus 11 version with this exception. I was shocked by this because OnePlus launched some useful features with the Open foldable phone, like Open Canvas multi-tasking, thus I expected the same degree of improvement with the OnePlus 12.

OnePlus 12 Review: Battery

The design of the OnePlus 12 is similar to the OnePlus 11. An almost identical spherical camera unit is fitted inside a curving glass rear with a glossy aluminum frame. The 12’s glass rear is frosted now, and my green review sample has a nice wavy design. It’s strong and lovely to handle, better than the OnePlus 11’s slippery glossy rear.

However, when I carried the phone to the pub, my pals commented it looked and felt like “the plasticky laminate coating found on cheap kitchen work surfaces in student housing.” Like anything, looks are subjective, so try one on before buying.

I like that the volume buttons are now on the same side as the power button, making them easier to use with one hand, and the OnePlus toggle switch is on the left. The front is Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and the back is toughened Gorilla Glass 5. For rainy calls and spilled drinks, the phone is IP64-rated.

Since the phone’s screen recognizes touch inputs even when wet, using it in the rain should be easier. The screen was less precise when wet, although it was still useable with few wrong inputs. Spraying equivalent amounts of water on my iPhone 15 Pro Max screen made it nearly useless. OnePlus wins.

Camera Does Need Certain Improvements

The OnePlus 12 aims to overcome the historical camera limitations of its predecessors, featuring a fourth-generation Hasselblad Camera for Mobile system. Comprising a 50MP main camera, 48MP ultrawide, and a 64MP periscope camera with 3x optical zoom, the OnePlus 12 showcases improvements over its predecessor. The main camera delivers excellent results with sharp details, realistic colors, and good dynamic range, although distinctions from the OnePlus 11 are less noticeable in optimal lighting.

The 48MP ultrawide camera performs well, particularly in high-contrast scenes. Portrait mode results are similar between the OnePlus 12 and 11. The front-facing camera captures realistic skin tones, offering an improvement in true-to-life tones compared to the OnePlus 11. The significant enhancement lies in the new 64MP periscope camera, elevating optical zoom to 3x and enabling 6x in-sensor zoom without detail degradation.

In low-light conditions, the OnePlus 12 tends to underexpose scenes with a warmer color temperature compared to the OnePlus 11. Despite this, low-light performance showcases reduced noise and improved detail in the OnePlus 12. Video recording capabilities include 8K resolution, with the preferred choice being 4K at 30fps. The device caters to enthusiasts with various shooting modes, including Pro mode and a dedicated movie mode with a flat color profile option.

While the OnePlus 12 makes substantial strides in camera performance, it misses the opportunity to integrate AI-assisted photo and video editing, a feature present in competitors like the Galaxy S24. Overall, the OnePlus 12 delivers considerable improvements, solidifying its position as a notable contender in the smartphone camera landscape.

I have attatched camera samples below, one is in broad daylight and other is in Night Mode. These samples show camera comparison with its predecessor!

Daylight Image Sample

Night Image Sample

Conclusion

If there’s one thing I can’t get out of my head regarding the OnePlus 12, it’s that it feels more competitive than ever. With the reappearance of wireless charging and an extension of its telephoto range, it’s difficult to dispute that it outperforms all other flagship phones.

I’m quite particular about what I spend my money on. When I do, I want to know that I’m getting a lot for my money, and the OnePlus 12 once again confirms that it’s the best inexpensive flagship on the market. While I’m disappointed that it falls short in terms of AI, its significantly lower price point, combined with everything I outlined above, allows anyone on a tight budget to experience a top-tier flagship at a not-too-high price.