OnePlus 12 | Comprehensive Full Review

A Brief Price Overview

  To start, the pricing of the OnePlus 12 is notably competitive for a flagship device when compared to rivals like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Series or the Pixel 8 Series. For instance, the Samsung Galaxy S24 begins at Rs 79,999 for the base model with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. If you want a configuration similar to the OnePlus 12 that I tested, the S24+ would cost Rs 1,09,999, and it only offers 12GB RAM, making it about 57% more expensive than the OnePlus 12.

When comparing to the Pixel 8 Pro, the situation is less straightforward, as the highest RAM and storage configuration available on the Pixel 8 Series is equivalent to the base configuration of the OnePlus 12. Nevertheless, the Pixel 8 Pro is priced at Rs 1,13,999, which is about 75% higher than the OnePlus 12 (12GB/256GB).

Overall, the OnePlus 12 is priced considerably lower than similar flagship devices, placing it back in the "flagship killer" category. But how does it actually perform and what is the user experience like?

After using the OnePlus 12 for just over two weeks, here are my insights, divided into different aspects.

Design

The OnePlus 12's design remains quite similar to that of the OnePlus 11. It retains the nearly identical circular camera module and curved glass back with a glossy aluminum frame. However, the glass back of the 12 is now frosted, and my green review unit sports an attractive wavy pattern. This new finish offers a more premium, solid feel compared t the slippery glossy back of the OnePlus 11, making the device more comfortable to hold.

When I took the phone to the bar, a few friends remarked that the design reminded them of the “plastic film found on cheap kitchen countertops in student accommodations.” Aesthetics are, of course, subjective, so it might be a good idea to see the phone in person before making a purchase decision.

I appreciate that the volume buttons have been repositioned to the same side as the power button, making them more accessible for one-handed use. Meanwhile, OnePlus' signature alert slider now has its own dedicated space on the left side. The front of the phone features Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, while the back is reinforced with Gorilla Glass 5. Additionally, the phone is IP64 rated, offering protection against spills and light rain.

The screen is designed to recognize touch inputs even when wet, which should make using the phone during rainy weather a bit more convenient.

Advanced Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Processor for Superior Performance

The OnePlus 12 is equipped with the cutting-edge Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, supported by either 12GB or 16GB of RAM (as tested). As Qualcomm's latest flagship chip, it's designed to deliver impressive performance. OnePlus also highlights its "Trinity Engine," which is claimed to optimize the CPU, RAM, and storage for an enhanced and more stable experience.

Although such claims should be viewed with some skepticism, the OnePlus 12 performs exceptionally well in practice. Games like Genshin Impact run at maximum settings with seamless 60 fps, showing no signs of lag or stuttering. Similarly, PUBG and Asphalt 9: Legends deliver a smooth and responsive gaming experience.

OnePlus 12 Camera Performance

If you're after a camera that produces striking and distinctive photos, especially of people, the OnePlus 12 is a great choice. However, if precise color accuracy and fine detail are your top priorities, you might want to explore other options. The collaboration between OnePlus and Hasselblad continues into its fourth generation, resulting in images that are unique but may not align with traditional expectations for smartphone photography.

OnePlus explains that while Hasselblad didn’t design the lenses, it has refined the camera processing to emulate classic Hasselblad portrait lenses. Although I haven’t used a Hasselblad camera myself, the OnePlus 12 competes well against top contenders like the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro Max. In fact, for selfies and portraits, the OnePlus 12 often delivered superior results.

If you're passionate about street photography or capturing candid moments, the OnePlus 12 will likely exceed your expectations. It offers a wide range of shooting modes, Pro settings, and filter options to help you create impressive images.

The OnePlus 12 features the same rear camera setup as the OnePlus Open, including the 50-megapixel Sony LYT-808 Type 1/1.4 image sensor (previously 48 megapixels in the Open) with an f/1.6 aperture. The camera consistently uses pixel binning to produce 12.5-megapixel images (23mm equivalent), except when using Hi-Res mode. Unfortunately, OnePlus does not allow shooting in RAW at full resolution, so you’ll need to work with the binned images in this case as well.

OnePlus 12 Image Performance

With the main wide lens on the OnePlus 12, you have the option to select your preferred default focal length. The standard setting is 23mm (1x), but you can also choose 28mm (1.2x) and 35mm (1.5x). These options are achieved through in-sensor adjustments, avoiding digital zoom or software manipulation. You can switch between these focal lengths with a slight pinch-to-zoom gesture, which is a feature carried over from the OnePlus Open and highlights the flexibility of Sony’s LYTA sensor.

Overall, the OnePlus 12 offers a refined camera experience, although there are minor issues, such as inconsistent detail at the edges. The color tones are warmer than I would have preferred, but these can be easily adjusted in post-processing.

OnePlus 12 Battery Performance

The OnePlus 12 features a 5,400mAh battery, an increase from the OnePlus 11's 5,000mAh capacity. This 5,400mAh size is also seen in the vivo X100 Pro and the Realme GT5 Pro, although the related Find X7 Ultra has a 5,000mAh battery. The newly announced Galaxy devices also have capacities of 5,000mAh or less.

In our tests, the OnePlus 12 performs well, thanks to an efficient combination of chipset, display, and software optimization, resulting in an overall Active Use Score of 14 hours and 11 minutes.

While gaming results are less impressive, which is typical for high-end phones, the device excels in web browsing and video playback, ranking high in both categories. The battery performance during voice calls is also quite satisfactory.

How about "Connectivity, Communication, and Sound Quality"?

The OnePlus 12 features the latest Bluetooth 5.4, supporting advanced codecs like LHDC, and is equipped with Wi-Fi 7. It also includes NFC, an IR Blaster located at the top, and Quick Share (formerly known as Nearby Share). While most flagship and high-end devices come with these features, the IR Blaster is less common. It allows you to use your smartphone as an infrared remote for devices such as TVs and air conditioners. From my experience, all these features have performed well without any issues.

The USB Type-C port is version 3.2 Gen 1, offering transfer speeds up to 5 Gbps and the capability to connect to an external display.

Regarding call quality, the performance is generally satisfactory, but I’ve noticed some shortcomings when speaking softly or at a low volume. Although this isn't a frequent issue, the OnePlus 10 Pro performed better in these conditions. However, turning off noise reduction on the OnePlus 12 can address this issue if needed. For most users, this may not be a noticeable problem, especially if you tend to speak softly.

The device features a pseudo-stereo speaker setup, with the earpiece serving as the second speaker. However, the bottom speaker delivers most of the sound, and covering it can significantly reduce the volume by about 80% or more. The audio quality is detailed and louder than many other phones I’ve used, though it lacks strong bass. Overall, the sound quality is impressive for a smartphone, and I find it excellent for listening to music—arguably the best among the phones I've tried so far.