Review | OnePlus 12 review: with super bright display and super fast charging, phone is a match for Samsung, Google flagships
- A screen that’s readable in any light, a fast charger in the box that delivers a full battery charge in 30 minutes – there’s much to like about the OnePlus 12
- The triple rear cameras take sharp photos, image processing is top notch, and the stereo speakers a treat. The best thing about the phone may be its price
OnePlus has been making Android phones for 10 years now, and the Chinese brand’s latest flagship phone, the OnePlus 12, is a serious competitor to phones like the Google Pixel 8 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
One of the first things you’ll notice about the OnePlus 12 is the price. At a starting price of US$799 (and a lot less in Hong Kong), it costs much less than the competition.
Design and hardware
The OnePlus 12 has an aluminium frame and the display is covered by Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The display has a resolution of 3,168 by 1,440 pixels, which is a pixel density of 510 pixels per inch, and an aspect ratio of 19.8:9.
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The 6.82-inch QHD+ always-on display has a refresh rate of 120Hz and a maximum brightness of 4,500 nits. OnePlus says it’s the brightest screen ever on any smartphone. The screen is really readable in any light.
Biometrics to secure the phone include face recognition and an in-screen fingerprint reader. The phone comes in two colours – silky black or flowy emerald.
Software and features
The OnePlus 12 runs Android 14, with an OxygenOS 14 overlay.
Its main feature is the large, round camera bump that takes up about one third of the rear. The cameras and imaging software are a collaboration between OnePlus and Hasselblad.
There are three cameras – a 50-megapixel wide-angle with Sony’s LYT-808 image sensor, a 64-megapixel 3x periscope telephoto and a 48-megapixel ultrawide. The selfie camera on the front is a 32-megapixel wide-angle.
The phone can capture video in 4K Dolby Vision and it uses the latest HDR algorithm.
Other cool features of the OnePlus 12 include 3D spatial audio, dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, Aqua-touch, which allows for successful screen touches when the phone is wet, and an infrared transmitter, to allow control of TVs and other gadgets with IR remotes.
Battery
The battery has a capacity of 5,400 milliamp-hours and is dual-cell. The charging system can charge both cells at the same time, which cuts charging time in half (theoretically). The phone can charge through a USB-C cable or wirelessly.
The handset comes with an 80-watt USB fast charger in the box. Apple, Samsung and Google leave you to buy your own USB fast charger.
With the 80W charger, you can power up the OnePlus 12 from empty to 50 per cent in just 12 minutes and to 100 per cent in just 30 minutes. OnePlus also sells a 50W wireless charger that can fully charge the phone in 55 minutes.
Conclusion
I like the OnePlus 12 a lot. It doesn’t skimp on features and it costs less than the competition.
The cameras are top notch, with sharp lenses and excellent image processing that produce outstanding photos in most lighting situations.
The screen is as good as any I’ve seen, with smooth scrolling and bright, clear graphics. The stereo sound from the built-in speakers makes watching video a treat.
The OnePlus 12 is better value than the competition, especially when you factor in the high-speed USB power adapter. It includes the 80W USB power adapter, a USB-A to USB-C cable and a USB-A to USB-C adapter dongle.
If you’d like a top-of-the-line Android phone and don’t want to spend US$1,000 or more, you should take a hard look at the OnePlus 12.
The OnePlus 12 with 12 gigabytes of RAM and 256 gigabytes of storage costs HK$4,999 from CityLink or HK$4,350 from price.com.hk in Hong Kong, and US$799 overseas. The 16GB/512GB model costs US$899.
Jim Rossman is a columnist for Tribune News Service
