OnePlus has been making Android phones for 10 years now, and their 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 $799, it costs much less than the competition.

Specs

After you notice the price, you are bound to look for the specs.

Let’s take a look.

The 12 runs the latest CPU from Qualcomm, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which is the same processor in the S24 Ultra, which starts at $1,299.

The 12 I reviewed has 16 gigabytes of RAM and 512GB of internal storage.

It runs Android 14, with an OxygenOS 14 overlay. The graphics processor is the Audreno 750.

The 6.82” QHD+ always-on display has a refresh rate of 120Hz and a maximum brightness of 4,500 nits. The display’s LTPO technology adjusts the refresh rate between 1Hz and 120Hz to save battery life. FYI, LTPO stands for low-temperature Polycrystalline oxide.

OnePlus says it’s the brightest screen ever on any smartphone. I haven’t tested all of them, so I’ll have to take their word for it. The screen is really readable in any light.

The display has a resolution of 3,168 by 1,440 pixels, which is a pixel density of 510 pixels per inch. It has an aspect ratio of 19.8:9.

The battery is a dual-cell and has a capacity of 5,400 milliamp-hours.

The phone can use a physical SIM or eSIM. It has Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.

Biometrics to secure the phone include face recognition and an in-screen fingerprint reader.

The 12 has an aluminum frame and the display is covered by Gorilla Glass Victus 2.

Cameras

The main feature of the outside of the 12 is the large, round camera bump that takes up about one third of the backside.

The cameras and imaging software are a collaboration between OnePlus and Hasselblad.

There are three cameras in the bump — 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 is a 32-megapixel wide angle.

The phone can capture video in 4K Dolby Vision and it uses the latest HDR algorithm.

The 12 has a photo mode called Master Mode, which gives the photographer manual control over settings, including shutter speed, white balance, tint, sharpness, contrast and saturation that can all be adjusted before you capture the image.

Note, Master Mode is installed with a software update found in the system settings.

Fast charging

One of the reasons the 12 has two batteries is because the charging system can charge both at the same time, which cuts charging time in half (theoretically). The OnePlus 12 charges faster than any phone I’ve tried.

The 12 can charge through a USB-C cable or wirelessly.

One of my favorite things about the 12 is it comes with an 80-watt USB fast charger in the box.

Apple and Samsung and Google all ship their phones with only a USB-C cable, leaving you to buy your own USB fast charger.

With the 80W charger, you can power up the OnePlus 12 from empty to 50 percent in just 12 minutes and from empty to 100 percent in just 30 minutes.

OnePlus also sells a 50W wireless charger that can fully charge the phone in 55 minutes.

Flagship features

Some of the 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. You could also control air conditioners, lights, cameras, heaters, robot vacuums and more.

The 12 includes 16 antennas, all over the phone body, including three antennas just for gaming.

Wired charging and data transfer is done via a USB 3.2 Gen 1 port for transfers of up to 5 gigabits per second.

Pricing and availability

You can’t buy the OnePlus 12 in person. Online options include buying from OnePlus.com or Amazon.com. The phone comes in silky black or flowy emerald.

The OnePlus 12 with 12 gigabytes of RAM and 256 gigabytes of storage costs $799. The 16/512 model costs $899. You can save $100 by trading in any phone in any condition. You can also save more (up to $700 off) if you trade in a working phone on OnePlus’ trade-in eligible list. Check their website for the value of your trade-in.

Conclusions

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 a better value than the competition, especially when you factor in the high-speed USB power adapter.

The 12 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 a thousand dollars or more, you should take a hard look at the OnePlus 12.

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