OnePlus 12 Review: Flagship profile pleasantly juxtaposed with value-for-money status

OnePlus 12 Review: If the OnePlus 11 gets referred to as the flagship killer, the OnePlus 12 is certainly a notch ahead, embracing a set of refinements that comfortably place it in the premium device category. Having spent a considerable amount of time with the OnePlus 12, I have closely assessed the upgradations this device has received. No doubt, there are apprehensions and room for improvement, but the positives easily outweigh whatever limited cons I can think of. 

OnePlus 12 Review: Design

Starting with the design, it feels a bit bulky, weighing a whooping 220g. To set the record straight, it is bulkier than its immediate predecessor. And I think, among its contemporaries too, it is the heavyweight champion. Design-wise, the OnePlus 12 looks good. I have the green colour variant, and it’s not disappointing at all. The camera module dons a similar colour to that of the smartphone. Under bright light, the camera module shines. The metal frame on the sides enhances the grip and renders it durable. Overall, the design might not have universal acceptance, but it can certainly lure a set of users craving a handy device. But the question persists: What to do with the thickness?

OnePlus 12 Review: Display

Featuring a 6.8-inch AMOLED display, the OnePlus 12 is equipped with advanced LTPO technology which helps adjust the refresh rate ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz. The device was bright enough even under the Delhi sun in mid-June, with brightness notching the 4500nits mark. Further, ProXDR technology is a brightness regulator, pulling off a decent job with seamless transitions. The device has an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance. In terms of aesthetics, the selfie cutout has undergone a placement adjustment, now featuring at the centre. The curved display is immune to accidental touch issues, which, however, is a bit problematic while playing games. The multimedia experience is premium, thanks to the tall-appearing display and the stereo speakers with 3D Spatial Audio. 

OnePlus 12 Review: Performance  

Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, the device works with a breeze. I have used it extensively for activities like social media scrolling, clicking photos, making videos with absolute ease. Games like Genshin Impact, Call of Duty, Asphalt 9, and others can be played without any technical hiccups. It runs on OxygenOS 14 based on Android 14. Along with its physical durability, the brand has apparently offered technical support with four years of software updates. 

OnePlus 12 Review: Camera

The OnePlus 12 has a camera module that includes a 50MP primary sensor with Sony LYT-808, a 64 MP periscope-style telephoto camera, which has up to 100x digital zooming capability, and a 48MP ultra-wide shooter. The camera module captures good-quality photos, maintaining natural colours. In well-lit conditions, the primary camera and the telephoto sensor complement each other nicely, clicking decent images. There have been several instances where the device tends to brighten the tone, but overall, the outputs did not present substantial noise in capturing skin tones. The video recording is impressive with this device, featuring a plethora of effects and modes, along with the basic video-editing tool. So, if you are a potential content creator, this device is a great deal. The 32MP selfie camera offers accurate skin tone detection under proper lighting. 

OnePlus 12 Review: Battery

The device gets power from a 5,400mAh battery, which offers excellent battery life. Even under exhaustive usage scenarios, the battery comfortably lasts for a day. Notably, when you try this device in high-performance mode enabled, meaning the highest refresh rate and resolution, it gives a backup worth almost 12 hours. It comes with 100W charging support, which takes almost 35-40 minutes to fill the tank completely. Additionally, it also has 50W AirVOOC wireless charging functionality. 

OnePlus 12 Review: Verdict

With the launch of OnePlus 12, the smartphone manufacturing giant has neatly struck a balance between a flagship profile and value-for-money aspect, keeping the price in check, compared to other premium devices doing rounds in market, while providing features akin to premium contemporary devices. To start with, it has a brilliant display, robust battery, seamless performance, decent camera. However, those overtly concerned with its bulkiness and preferring a slimmer profile, may have their reservations. To conclude, considering the upgrades it has received and performance benchmarks it has achieved,the OnePlus 12 has greater number of ayes than nays.