Design and Build
The OnePlus 12 maintains the premium aesthetic that OnePlus is known for, with some noteworthy refinements. The phone features a sleek design with individual camera modules encased in rings, giving it a polished and premium look. The Hasselblad branding has been minimized to a stylized “H,” ensuring a clean and elegant camera island. The Flowy Emerald variant, in particular, stands out with its unique etched texture on the glass back, providing a distinctive and comfortable feel.
The alert slider, a hallmark of OnePlus devices, has been moved to the left side, which some users might find unusual at first. However, this change doesn’t affect usability and keeps the alert slider feature intact. The phone is available in multiple color options, including Cool Blue and standard black, catering to different aesthetic preferences.
Display
The OnePlus 12 sports a 6.82-inch AMOLED panel with LTPO technology, allowing the refresh rate to dynamically switch from 1Hz to 120Hz based on the content displayed. This contributes to smoother scrolling and better battery efficiency. The display supports HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, with an upcoming update enabling Android 14’s Ultra HDR mode for enhanced viewing experiences.
One of the standout features is the screen’s brightness, which reaches up to 1,600 nits in high brightness mode and an impressive 4,500 nits when viewing HDR content. This makes it one of the brightest displays on the market, ensuring excellent visibility in all lighting conditions. The screen is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2, offering superior durability.
Performance
Powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, the OnePlus 12 delivers top-tier performance. It’s incredibly fluid and responsive, handling multitasking, gaming, and intensive applications with ease. The device comes with up to 16GB of RAM, ensuring smooth performance even with multiple apps running simultaneously.
The haptics on the OnePlus 12 are particularly noteworthy, providing precise and satisfying feedback for every interaction. The fingerprint scanner is also extremely fast and reliable, enhancing the overall user experience.
Software
The OnePlus 12 runs on OxygenOS, which has evolved significantly over the years. While it retains some elements of the clean, AOSP-like builds from earlier models, it now incorporates features from ColorOS. This integration brings a host of new functionalities and customization options, although it might feel different to long-time OnePlus fans.
Despite the changes, the software remains intuitive and user-friendly, with several unique features like the “Shelf” for quick access to important information and “Aqua Touch” for improved touch response when the screen is wet.
Camera
The camera system on the OnePlus 12 has seen substantial improvements. The primary sensor delivers sharp and detailed photos with excellent color accuracy, thanks to Hasselblad’s color tuning. The zoom capabilities are impressive, with a 3x optical zoom and up to 60x digital zoom, providing flexibility for various shooting scenarios.
Low-light performance has also been enhanced, producing clear and vibrant images in challenging lighting conditions. The ultra-wide and macro lenses perform well, making the OnePlus 12 a versatile camera phone.
Battery Life
One of the standout features of the OnePlus 12 is its battery life. The 5,400mAh battery easily powers through a full day of heavy usage and can last even longer with moderate use. Standby time is exceptional, with minimal battery drain overnight. The phone supports fast charging, allowing for quick top-ups when needed.
Conclusion
The OnePlus 12 is a well-rounded flagship phone that excels in design, display quality, performance, and battery life. Its camera system has made significant strides, making it a strong contender in the premium smartphone market. While the software changes might take some getting used to for long-time users, the overall experience remains positive and feature-rich. If you’re looking for a high-performance device with a stunning display and excellent battery life, the OnePlus 12 is a compelling choice.