OnePlus 12 preview: Could this be the "no-flaw" phone of 2024?

OnePlus 12 preview: Could this be the “no-flaw” phone of 2024?،

Presentation of the OnePlus 12

True to its iconic motto “Never Settle,” OnePlus couldn’t really wait until 2024 to unveil its next purebred flagship. The new OnePlus 12 is now official (at least in China) but the global variant shouldn't be long in arriving either.

The OnePlus 12 arrives with some truly flagship specs that set it apart from its rivals and make it the flagship to beat… at least until the barrage of Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 devices hits us in 2024!

So how does the OnePlus 12 stack up against the rest of the Android scene and what sets it apart? Let's explore!

What's new on the device

Ultra-bright 2,600 nit OLED display
Fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 generation 3 chipset
New main camera with innovative Sony sensor
New 3X telephoto camera
Large 5,400 mAh battery with fast charging

Contents:

OnePlus 12 specifications

Of race

Here are the full specifications of the OnePlus 12 so far, but be warned, they feature the China-based version. Although the overall version of the phone may differ slightly, we are pretty sure that the majority of hardware specifications will not be changed.

Specifications	OnePlus 12
Height and weight	164.3 x 75.8 x 9.15mm, 220gr
Display	6.8-inch OLED screen Resolution 3168×1440 LTPO1-120Hz Typical brightness of 1600 nits, local maximum brightness of 4500 nits
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, 2nd Gen 4nm
RAM, storage and price	12 GB LPDDR5X RAM + 256 GB UFS 4.0 16 GB LPDDR5X + 512 GB UFS 4.0 16 GB LPDDR5X + 1 TB UFS 4.0 24 GB LPDDR5X + 1 TB UFS 4.0
Software	Oxygen OS 14.0 (Android 14)
Cameras	Wide: 50MP LYT-T808 1/1.43 inch f/1.6 Ultra-wide: 48MP Sony IMX581 f/2.2 Telephoto: OmniVision OV64B 3.0X 64MP f/2.6 telephoto lens Front: 32MP f/2.2
Battery	5,400mAh
Charging Speeds	USB-C 100W wired 50W wireless 10W inverted

Design and colors of the OnePlus 12

Never change a winning team

OnePlus has seemingly found its stride with the overall design language behind its latest flagships. Stylish all-glass devices with a very thin, gently curved aluminum frame on the front and back, with a clustered camera system, OnePlus flagships surely have a recognizable design language.

Unsurprisingly, as with most other flagship phones these days, not much has changed in terms of appearance compared to the previous generation, so the OnePlus 12 looks quite similar to last year's OnePlus 11.

One pretty major difference that should change the ergonomics is the placement of the volume buttons and ring switch, OnePlus' beloved hardware feature. The volume rocker is on the right side of the phone, just above the power button, while the ring switch moves to the left; on previous OnePlus flagships, it was the other way around.

The OnePlus 12 features IP65 water and dust resistance, capable of withstanding low-pressure water jets coming from any direction. Not as good as IP68, so best to avoid soaking and prolonged contact with water.

The OnePlus 12 is available in three colors, White, Rock Black and Ever Green. The latter is the most intriguing, with a marble-like texture, which greatly sets it apart from the other two more standard color versions.

OnePlus 12 screen

The display is apparently one of the areas where OnePlus has invested a lot. For starters, there's a 6.8-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1,440 x 3,168 pixels, slightly larger than last year's OnePlus 11. As with most previous OnePlus flagships, it's an LTPO display, which allows it to dynamically change screens. refresh rate between 1 and 120 Hz for the ultimate scrolling experience.

But what really makes the OnePlus 12 such an intriguing device are the other display specs. The device is said to have one of the brightest displays on the market, capable of reaching 2,600 nits of peak brightness. A screen this bright would technically be brighter than the new Pixel 8 Pro, capable of reaching 2,400 nits. The next Galaxy S24 UltraOn the other hand, the peak brightness is said to reach 2,500 nits, so the OnePlus 12 would also have a head start.

Besides brightness, the OnePlus 12 seems to have very high color accuracy. There's also 2,160Hz PWM dimming for a near-flicker-free viewing experience that shouldn't strain your eyes. There is also BOE single-pixel calibration technology, which ensures that each display sub-pixel is independently calibrated for a more accurate image.

OnePlus 12 camera

Slow but steady wins the race

Image credit – OnePlus

50MP Sony LYT-T808 1/1.43 inch, f/1.6
Sony IMX581 ultra-wide 48MP, f/2.2
OmniVision OV64B 3.0X 64MP Telephoto Lens, f/2.6
32MP front camera, f/2.2

The OnePlus 12 comes with a new 50MP camera powered by Sony's new LYT-T808 camera sensor. This one was found at the OnePlus Open and is intriguing in more than one way. First, it's dual-layered, which means it can absorb much more light than a traditional camera sensor. Thus, it offers better low-light capabilities, similar to larger sensors.

However, the camera itself is slightly different. It's a little wider at 23mm and with a faster f/1.6 aperture, while the OnePlus Open was tighter at 24mm and slower at f/1.7. This means that the OnePlus 12 might have a slight advantage in low-light image performance.

OnePlus has also slightly increased the megapixel count of the ultra-wide camera from 48 to 50MP, but this is unlikely to result in major improvements in quality. A host of image processing and algorithm improvements could potentially improve the quality of ultra-wide shots.

Last but not least, a telephoto lens with 3X optical zoom is finally back on OnePlus flagships. After debuting on the OnePlus 7 Pro years ago, the 3X telephoto lens fell out of favor, resulting in a OnePlus 11 with a measly 2X telephoto lens (by today's standard). While not as impressive as today's 5X and 10X periscopes, a quality 3X is nonetheless an improvement.

OnePlus 12 performance and benchmarks

The power of Snapdragon

Equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 generation 3 chipset, the latest powerhouse planned for most Android flagships in 2024.

The 2nd generation 4nm chip drops 32-bit support and is Qualcomm's first 64-bit-only chip. Apart from that, it gets 10% higher system efficiency, 30% faster Kryo CPU, 25% faster and 25% more efficient Adreno GPU, and hardware-accelerated ray tracing with global illumination . AI, the hottest trend, is enhanced with 98% improved performance along with 40% improved efficiency.

Overall, the Snapdragon 8 generation 3 is a beast that will fit very well into the OnePlus 12. What's more impressive, however, is the memory situation. Apparently, the OnePlus 12 will be available with up to 24GB of RAM, which is mind-boggling, as well as up to 1TB of onboard storage. Both are also quite fast, with LPDDR5X and UFS4.0 rounding out the spec sheet. There's no expandable storage, but that's hardly necessary at this point.

OnePlus 12 / Android OS version

OnePlus 12 comes with Android 14, with the company's signature Oxygen OS on deck. Customizable yet lightweight and non-intrusive, Oxygen OS has been our favorite for years, and we can't wait to play with its latest iteration!

It would likely bring a ton of additions, mostly in the form of these recent AI improvements. Additionally, we expect four years of software support for the OnePlus 12, which means the phone should receive future Android versions up to Android 18.

OnePlus 12 battery

We finally exceed the 5,000 mAh battery

For years, Android flagships have been equipped with 5,000 mAh batteries. The OnePlus 12 comes with a 5,400mAh battery, which is a small but important step in the right direction, increasing the capacity and battery life as much as possible! Paired with a more efficient chipset and display, such a larger battery should work quite well for the OnePlus 12's battery life.

In terms of charging, we will see very fast SUPERVOOC S 100W wired charging on the OnePlus 12, which should recharge the phone in no time. OnePlus is currently the frontrunner in the charging space, and the OnePlus 12 is unlikely to disappoint. Additionally, OnePlus is also one of the last manufacturers to still include fast-charging wall adapters in its device boxes, which adds exceptional value.

Additionally, after skipping wireless charging last year, OnePlus is also equipping the OnePlus 12 with blazingly fast 50W wireless charging. This will most certainly require the company's wireless charging accessory, a separate purchase.

Audio and haptic quality of the OnePlus 12

OnePlus has reportedly worked quite extensively on all those “invisible” improvements that make a smartphone great, but usually get little to no headlines. Among these is vibration feedback, which could bring a big improvement to the user experience thanks to a world first, namely the use of the Bionic Vibration Motor Turbo. According to OnePlus, this vibration motor offers better haptic feedback than what Android flagships offer these days and even beats the iPhone. It would be quite intriguing to put this to the test.

Competitors of the OnePlus 12

Be the first Snapdragon 8 generation 3 flagship product, it doesn't really have any competition of similar power yet. However, as early as mid-January 2024, we would see perhaps the OnePlus 12's biggest rival unveiled –– the Galaxy S24 series and the Galaxy S24 Ultra in particular.

If you view current generation devices as viable competition (which you absolutely should), then many can be major rivals. THE Pixel 8 Proas well as the Galaxy S23 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max could pass as viable high-end and premium alternatives to the upcoming OnePlus 12.

OnePlus 12 summary and final verdict

The OnePlus 12 is one of the devices that will set the general tone for 2024 in terms of flagship versions. And as for the phone releasing exclusively in China, it's shaping up to be a pretty intriguing device pricing-wise, so let's hope the aggressive pricing sticks to the global version as well!