Introduction
After years of chasing the premium flagship market, OnePlus has finally delivered a phone that truly deserves your attention. The OnePlus 12 isn't just another incremental upgrade – it's a statement that OnePlus is back to doing what it does best: offering flagship performance at prices that won't break the bank. Having spent several weeks with this device, I can confidently say this is the most complete OnePlus phone ever made.
The smartphone landscape in 2024 is crowded, with Samsung, Google, and Apple dominating the conversation. But the OnePlus 12 quietly enters the scene as a legitimate contender, bringing top-tier specifications, exceptional battery life, and a camera system that finally competes with the best. For anyone looking for a premium Android experience without paying ultra-premium prices, the OnePlus 12 deserves serious consideration.
Design and Build Quality
The OnePlus 12 continues the brand's signature design language while introducing refinements that make it feel more premium than ever. I've been testing the Flowy Emerald variant, and it's absolutely stunning. The frosted glass back features a mesmerizing marbled pattern that shifts between green and turquoise depending on the lighting – it's a design that commands attention without being gaudy.
The phone feels substantial in hand, with an aluminum alloy frame and glass construction that exudes quality. At 220 grams, it's not light, but the weight distribution feels balanced. The curved display edges remain polarizing – personally, I'd prefer a flat screen like most 2024 flagships, but OnePlus insists on this design choice. The curves do create some unwanted reflections and make the phone slightly less grippy.
One feature I absolutely love is the alert slider. This physical switch lets you instantly toggle between ring, vibrate, and silent modes without unlocking your phone. It's shocking that more manufacturers haven't copied this brilliant feature. OnePlus wisely brought it back after foolishly removing it from the 10T, and I hope it stays forever.
The phone has an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance, which is decent but falls short of the IP68 rating on competitors like the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro. This means it can handle splashes and brief water exposure, but you shouldn't take it swimming. For more information about water resistance ratings, check out this comprehensive IP rating guide.
Display Excellence
The 6.82-inch ProXDR AMOLED display is genuinely one of the best I've used on any smartphone. The QHD+ resolution (3168 x 1440 pixels) delivers incredibly sharp text and images, while the LTPO technology enables adaptive refresh rates from 1Hz to 120Hz, seamlessly adjusting based on content to save battery.
OnePlus claims a peak brightness of 4,500 nits, which sounds absurd – and it kind of is. You'll never actually see the full screen at that brightness, as it only hits that peak for HDR highlights on a small portion of the display. But even accounting for marketing speak, this screen gets remarkably bright outdoors. I had no issues using it in direct sunlight, something I can't say about many phones.
Colors are vibrant without being oversaturated, and there are multiple color profiles to choose from. The Hasselblad Natural Color Calibration profile is my personal favorite, offering balanced colors that don't look artificially boosted. Whether you're watching videos, playing games, or scrolling social media, this display delivers an exceptional viewing experience.
One clever feature is per-app refresh rate control. You can set specific apps to run at 120Hz, 90Hz, or 60Hz independently. This gives you fine-grained control over battery life – keep social media apps at 120Hz for smooth scrolling, while setting others to 60Hz to conserve power. It's a small touch that shows OnePlus is thinking about user experience.
Performance and Software
Under the hood, the OnePlus 12 packs Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset – the same processor found in the Galaxy S24 series. Paired with either 12GB or 16GB of RAM, this phone absolutely flies through any task you throw at it. Apps open instantly, multitasking is seamless, and even intensive games run without breaking a sweat.
OxygenOS 14, based on Android 14, offers a clean and intuitive experience. While it's not as minimal as OxygenOS used to be in the pre-Oppo merger days, it's still far less bloated than Samsung's One UI. The interface feels snappy and responsive, with thoughtful animations that don't slow you down.
Gaming performance is excellent, though there's a caveat. During extended gaming sessions, particularly with demanding titles like Call of Duty Mobile, the phone can experience thermal throttling after 15-20 minutes. Frame rates can drop by 10fps or more when things heat up. It's not a dealbreaker, but competitive mobile gamers should be aware.
OnePlus deserves credit for not jumping on the AI hype train. While Samsung stuffed the Galaxy S24 with AI features of questionable utility, the OnePlus 12 focuses on being a great phone first. You won't find gimmicky AI writing assistants or photo editing tricks here – just solid, reliable performance. That said, OnePlus has indicated they may add AI features later in 2024 through software updates.
On the software support front, OnePlus promises four years of major Android updates and five years of security patches. This is respectable, though it trails Samsung and Google's seven-year commitments. However, I'd argue that four years of guaranteed good performance is more valuable than seven years of questionable updates on aging hardware. Learn more about Android update policies across different manufacturers.
Camera System: Finally Competitive
For years, OnePlus lagged behind in photography. The OnePlus 12 changes that narrative completely. The triple camera setup includes a 50MP main sensor, a 48MP ultra-wide, and a 64MP periscope telephoto with 3x optical zoom. All three lenses are genuinely good – a rarity in smartphones where the main camera is great but secondary sensors disappoint.
The main camera captures stunning photos in good lighting, with accurate colors thanks to Hasselblad's color science. The Natural Color Calibration delivers images that look realistic rather than artificially enhanced. Detail is excellent, dynamic range is impressive, and even challenging scenes are handled well.
The telephoto lens deserves special praise. The 3x optical zoom with 6x in-sensor zoom capability produces sharp, detailed images that rival and sometimes surpass the Galaxy S24 Ultra. You can zoom up to 60x digitally, though quality understandably degrades beyond 30x. For the first time, OnePlus has a zoom camera that genuinely competes with the best.
Low-light photography has improved dramatically. Night mode captures bright, clean images with good detail preservation and minimal noise. While the Pixel 8 Pro might edge it out slightly in challenging lighting, the gap is much smaller than previous generations.
The 32MP front camera is solid for selfies and video calls, supporting 4K video recording. Portrait mode has improved significantly, with better edge detection and more natural-looking background blur. You can check out detailed camera test results from independent testing labs.
Video recording supports up to 8K at 24fps or 4K at 60fps. Stabilization is excellent, and the camera handles exposure changes smoothly. This is a very capable video camera for content creators and casual videographers alike.
Battery Life and Charging
The 5,400mAh battery is genuinely impressive. I consistently got through full days of heavy use with 20-30% remaining. With moderate use, two-day battery life is entirely achievable. This is one of the best battery performers I've tested in 2024, easily outlasting the Galaxy S24+ and Pixel 8 Pro.
What makes this even more remarkable is the 80W SuperVOOC wired charging. The phone charges from 0 to 100% in about 30 minutes – truly game-changing for busy lifestyles. Even a 10-minute charge can give you hours of use. The 50W wireless charging is equally impressive, fully charging in about 55 minutes.
The phone also supports 10W reverse wireless charging, letting you charge wireless earbuds or other accessories. It's not the fastest reverse charging, but it's a nice feature to have in a pinch.
One small bonus feature: the OnePlus 12 includes an IR blaster, something most flagship phones have abandoned. You can use your phone as a universal remote for TVs, air conditioners, and other appliances. It's not essential, but it's surprisingly handy when you need it.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.82" AMOLED LTPO, 3168x1440, 120Hz, 4500 nits peak |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| RAM/Storage | 12GB/256GB or 16GB/512GB |
| Rear Cameras | 50MP main, 48MP ultra-wide, 64MP telephoto (3x optical) |
| Front Camera | 32MP, 4K video |
| Battery | 5,400mAh, 80W wired, 50W wireless, 10W reverse wireless |
| Operating System | OxygenOS 14 (Android 14) |
| Water Resistance | IP65 |
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, USB-C 3.2 |
| Special Features | Alert slider, IR blaster, stereo speakers, in-display fingerprint |
| Dimensions | 164.3 x 75.8 x 9.2 mm, 220g |
| Colors | Flowy Emerald, Silky Black |
Pros and Cons
What We Love
- Exceptional value at $799 starting price
- Brilliant, ultra-bright display with 120Hz refresh
- Outstanding battery life with insanely fast charging
- Camera system that finally competes with the best
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 delivers flagship performance
- Alert slider is incredibly convenient
- Clean OxygenOS without excessive bloat
- Beautiful Flowy Emerald design
- IR blaster for controlling appliances
What Could Be Better
- Curved display creates unwanted reflections
- IP65 rating lower than competitors' IP68
- Only 4 years of updates vs 7 from Samsung/Google
- Can experience thermal throttling during gaming
- No wireless charging pad included
- Lacks advanced AI features (though some may prefer this)
- Heavy at 220 grams
Final Verdict
The OnePlus 12 is the best value flagship smartphone you can buy in 2024. While the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max might edge it out in specific areas like camera versatility or ecosystem integration, the OnePlus 12 delivers 90% of the experience at 60% of the price.
This phone excels where it matters most: a gorgeous display, exceptional battery life with blazing-fast charging, genuinely competitive cameras, and flagship performance. Yes, there are compromises – the IP65 rating isn't as robust as IP68, software support is shorter than Samsung's, and the curved screen isn't for everyone. But these trade-offs are easy to accept when you're saving $500 compared to the S24 Ultra.
For most people, the OnePlus 12 offers everything you need in a flagship phone without the flagship price tag. It's the most complete OnePlus device ever made and easily one of the best Android phones of 2024. If you're looking for premium performance without breaking the bank, this is the phone to get.
Rating: 4.7/5.0
Recommendation: Highly Recommended for anyone seeking flagship performance at mid-range prices.