The OnePlus 12 maintains a familiar design, closely resembling last year’s OnePlus 11, though it comes with a steeper price tag. Its sleek metal-and-glass construction feels premium, featuring a standout circular camera bump and the much-loved alert slider. The phone boasts a stunning 6.82-inch OLED display that is crisp, ultra-bright, and smooth.
Performance and Battery Life
Under the hood, the OnePlus 12 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, which offers a 30% performance boost and 20% improved efficiency over its predecessors. While the phone runs smoothly in standard usage, its full potential is only unleashed through a “high performance” or gaming mode, indicating a prioritization of power efficiency over raw speed.
Battery life is a highlight, with the phone lasting an impressive 52–55 hours per charge and over nine hours of active screen time under default settings. Charging is lightning-fast, reaching 100% in under 30 minutes with the included 100W charger.
Key Specifications
Display: 6.82-inch 120Hz QHD+ OLED (510 ppi)
Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
RAM: 12GB or 16GB
Storage: 256GB or 512GB
Cameras: 50MP main, 48MP ultrawide, 64MP 3x telephoto, 32MP selfie
OS: OxygenOS 14 (Android 14)
Water Resistance: IP65
Weight: 220g
Sustainability and Repairability
The OnePlus 12’s battery retains at least 80% of its capacity after 1,600 charge cycles. While it lacks significant use of recycled materials, it is generally repairable, with screen and battery replacements costing £174 and £21, respectively (plus labor). The device is evaluated under the Eco Rating scheme and appears in Oppo’s sustainability reports.
Software: OxygenOS 14
Running a modified version of Android 14, OxygenOS 14 provides ample customization options and a slick interface. However, it lacks the advanced AI features now standard in competing phones, such as smart photo editing, AI wallpapers, or transcription tools. Moreover, OnePlus falls short in software support, offering only four years of Android updates and five years of security patches—less than Apple, Google, Samsung, and even Fairphone’s 10-year promise.
Camera Performance
The camera system shows minor improvements over the OnePlus 11. The 50MP main camera delivers good results in varied lighting but falters in dim or high-contrast settings. The 64MP telephoto lens performs well up to 6x zoom in bright conditions but struggles in lower light. The ultrawide lens is similarly decent but not standout. While functional, the camera doesn’t rival the consistent excellence of competitors like Google, Samsung, or Apple.
Conclusion
The OnePlus 12 is a solid phone with excellent battery life, a beautiful display, and fast charging. However, it falls short in AI features, software support, and camera performance compared to its top-tier rivals, making it hard to justify its higher price tag.