Check out the review of the OnePlus 12
The OnePlus 12 was recently released in the Netherlands with a suggested retail price of 949 euros. The manufacturer is thus trying to gain a share in the crowded high-end segment, in which brands such as Samsung, Google, Xiaomi and Motorola are also active.
The 12 has a new camera system, large battery and on paper comes with nice extras. Is that enough to recommend it or not? You will find out in this extensive OnePlus 12 review. Curious about a specific part of the review? Then use the table of contents.
OnePlus 12 review
1
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Design
2
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Display
3
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Hardware
4
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Cameras
5
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Software
6
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Battery (duration)
7
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Conclusion
8
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To buy
Luxurious, grand and characteristic of OnePlus
The OnePlus 12 is no small boy and that is due to the immense 6.82-inch screen, more about which later. We see rounded screen edges on the side and a flat top and bottom. The large camera island can be found on the back.
This island protrudes a few millimeters and what you think about it is a matter of taste. We can appreciate it, although it is really big. It partially flows into the frame on the right side and is equipped with three lenses and various sensors.
We tested the black model, which has a slightly rough finish – something OnePlus has used more often in the past. The 12 is also available in green, with the rear having a ‘marble effect’. The white model is not for sale here and whether that will ever happen remains to be seen. A handy infrared sensor can be found at the top and the bottom accommodates the USB-C connection and the SIM card slot. There is room for two physical SIM cards, but you can also use an ESIM.
The right side is equipped with the on/off button and volume buttons and the seat is on the left. With the physical slider you can quickly switch between sound profiles, something that is characteristic of OnePlus devices. The weight is 220 grams, which is partly why one-handed operation is not recommended. The device exudes luxury in everything.
Big, bright and operable in the rain
The screen is one of the key points of the smartphone and OnePlus has gone to great lengths to achieve this. A 6.82-inch AMOLED display with a high resolution of 3168 by 1440 pixels was chosen, making everything look razor-sharp. By default, the 12 is set a step lower, which is better for battery life.
The brightness is 1600 nits in normal conditions, but can temporarily peak at 4500 nits. That sounds technical, but it simply means that the screen can always be read. The screen shows 1 billion colors and the refresh rate is a maximum of 120Hz, so everything is displayed smoothly. There is LTPO technology available, so the refresh rate is adjusted to the content. If you read a book or watch a movie, pixels are refreshed less often than when you play a heavy 3D game.
The screen is easy to operate when it is wet, which is a nice added bonus. Thanks to a technique, fingers are still detected and water droplets do not spoil the meal.
Since it rains regularly in the Netherlands, this is a feature that we certainly appreciate and works surprisingly well. These are water droplets that are already present on the screen, so not that literally fall on the screen; that’s still a step too far.
To die for
The power source is the brand new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and there is at least 12GB of RAM, assisted by 256GB of storage space. The OnePlus 12 we tested contained 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage memory. Everything you do with the device works as you expect. Apps open immediately, multitasking is no problem and games like Genshin Impact, Asphalt or Modern Warfare run like a charm.
The stereo speakers produce excellent, full sound and the optical fingerprint scanner works quickly and accurately. The infrared sensor is also a nice and handy one and allows you to control all kinds of devices. Just add them in the special app and you can operate your set-top box, television or other device with the OnePlus 12.
A lot of time has also been spent developing a system to dissipate heat. Thanks to a so-called combination with a few drops of coolant, the OnePlus phone does not get too hot, even during an intensive gaming session.
OnePlus opts for a periscopic lens
OnePlus has been working with lens manufacturer Hasselblad for years. This includes working on the composition of color profiles, which you can also choose on the 12. There are a total of four cameras, including the one on the front. You can use it to take 32 megapixel selfies or, of course, use it for a video call.
The main camera on the back has a resolution of 50 megapixels and you use that for regular pictures. Details are clearly visible, colors are displayed faithfully and in the gallery below you can see many snapshots taken with the automatic settings.
If you want to capture more, use the 48-megapixel wide-angle sensor. You use the third camera to zoom and OnePlus has finally opted for a periscopic zoom lens. That’s a first.
Optical zooming, without loss of quality, is possible up to three times. However, you can bring objects up to 120 times closer, but digital zoom is also used, which does not improve the quality. In the galleries below you will see photos taken with the wide-angle lens, main camera, with three times optical zoom and with six times digital zoom.
Manufacturers such as Google, Vivo and Samsung also use such cameras, but they allow you to zoom in further optically, something we would secretly have liked to see on the 12.
OnePlus 12 in my pocket in the dark in London
All photos in this review were taken in central London and we also visited the city at dusk and in the dark. We used the automatic settings of the device to take the photos. You can get started with things like a night mode or the Master mode (the successor to the Pro Mode), but it is best to discover that yourself. This allows you to play with things like the ISO value, white balance or shutter speed to really get the most out of the camera.
It is also striking that details are captured well, as are the colors. Sometimes it happened that something was cut out in the photo, for example the dial of Big Ben in a photo from a distance.
However, the OnePlus 12 did no worse than the Google Pixel 8 Pro, which we also had in our pocket. All in all, the new OnePlus flagship offers an extensive arsenal of cameras and options to take excellent photos in all circumstances.
OxygenOS is less nice than it used to be
The OnePlus 12 runs on Android 14, receives four major Android updates and will therefore be equipped with new functions up to and including Android 18. You can also expect five years of Android security patches. This makes the update policy excellent. There are brands that support phones for much less time, but Google and Samsung even promise seven years of Android upgrades.
Of course, OxygenOS lies over Android, the shell of OnePlus. Where this used to be one of the skins with the coolest features and the fewest adjustments. it is different nowadays. The software is looking more and more like Oppo’s ColorOS and that is a shame. Both companies fall under parent company BBK Electronics and also share many budgets for hardware and software development.
As a user, you have many options to adjust the appearance of the software. For example, you can think about the shape and color of icons or accent colors, you can choose from hundreds of backgrounds and you can play with the number of apps you want to show on a home screen.
A handful of proprietary apps are installed, including a Community app, clock, the OnePlus Store and a Zen Space app. This is not necessarily more or less than with other brands and the applications mentioned can be removed.
Great battery, but charging steals the show
The OnePlus 12 is equipped with a large 5400 mAh battery and that is something we don’t see often. We used the OnePlus 12 during the review period with the Full HD resolution enabled and the brightness was around 60 to 70 percent. The device was used daily for apps such as WhatsApp and Slack, but also to play games, watch the occasional movie and other things such as internet banking and of course making calls.
If you are the kind of person who hangs his or her device on the charger every night, then you certainly don’t have to worry about the battery life of the 12. We regularly achieved a day and a half with our usage. If the battery is almost empty, then you are in the right place with OnePlus.
Charging is wired with 100 Watts, which fully charges the battery in just under 25 minutes. It’s nice that the charging block is included, but a case is no longer included in the box.
Wireless charging is possible and works with a maximum of 50 Watts, but you have to buy a separate charger yourself. If you want to charge another smartphone or, for example, your smartwatch or wireless earbuds, you place it on the back of the OnePlus 12 to transfer some wireless battery juice.
Conclusion OnePlus 12 review
The OnePlus 12 is a real luxury horse, but also has a lot to offer in terms of content. We see fast hardware, an extensive set of cameras, a beautiful screen and an excellent battery. You also have little to nothing to complain about in terms of updates and if we really have to mention something, it is that the OxygenOS shell is becoming increasingly busy.
However, that does not alter the fact that you are fully equipped with this device. If you are looking for a smartphone in this price range, the OnePlus 12 is certainly a device that should be at the top of your list.
Buy OnePlus 12
The OnePlus 12 is available in two colors (black and green) and two memory variants. The entry-level model is equipped with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage and has a suggested retail price of 949 euros.
