OnePlus 12R: a reminder why we first fell in love with the idea of a “flagship killer”،
Of all the phones I've owned over the years, there are a few that stand out the most, having left a lasting impression on me.
Now, there are many factors that make up a great phone, from every piece of hardware that gives it shape, form, and power, to the software that brings it to life. But I've owned phones that do all of these things very well, without me feeling any attachment to them.
So, more specifically, I'm talking about those times when a product truly belongs to you, and not just an easy-to-use tool. One of those special phones for me was the OnePlus 3 (released in 2016), and it was the one that made me appreciate Android better than any other I had tried at the time.
And that's where I come to the main topic of debate, the latest mid-range offering from the company that coined the phrase “flagship killer”, the OnePlus 12R. What does this have to do with my beloved old OnePlus 3? Well, it all comes down to exactly that provocative slogan and the feeling, as a user, that you got more than you paid for.
The Essence of a Flagship Killer
A lot of time has passed since OnePlus introduced the notion of “flagship killer” with the OnePlus 1 in 2014, so the phrase has had plenty of time to mature. That said, for the sake of the uninitiated, let's remember what a flagship phone itself is.
The first thing you associate with a flagship phone is premium hardware. Two main aspects stand out here: raw power and technological novelty that is simply too expensive to include in a more affordable product.
If we step back from the exaggerated hype around new “magic” tricks, ultimately all most of us really need is a solid user experience. A flagship phone is usually one that offers all the necessary ingredients for a great user experience, sacrificing gadgets and standout features to achieve a more affordable price.
Why the OnePlus 12R could be the best flagship phone in a while
Coming back to the OnePlus 3, I remember that it not only matched some of the flagships and their specifications of that year, but even beat them in other aspects. I am of course talking about 20W charging, considered fast at the time. At the very least, it was faster than the 15W of the Galaxy S7 or iPhone 7 of the same year. Well, the OnePlus 12R has something similar. In fact, he has more than just one such advantage. For starters, at speeds of 80W, it still charges much faster than any mainstream flagship, including the big three: Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra (45W), iPhone 15 Pro Max (25 W) and the Google Pixel 8 Pro (30 W).
Then there's the new Aqua Touch display, which I initially thought was an absolute gimmick, but ended up being something I really like about the phone. One of the best aspects of Aqua Touch on the 12R (and the standard OnePlus 12) is that I didn't have to actively search for it, it just worked behind the scenes, improving my life without even letting me know that 'he was there. .
Now, fast charging isn't such a big deal, although it still adds a more premium flagship feel to the 12R. But it's this nugget of niche technology that really makes the latest OnePlus mid-ranger feel like it's playing in the bigger leagues, because all the players there also have “that something special.”
Nail the recipe and add the cherry on top
The OnePlus 12R wouldn't be considered a flagship if it only had a few standout features. No, as we've already established, it needs to hold up in every other aspect, or at the very least come close to it. Well, I can confidently say that the 12R didn't leave me wanting more, most of the time. Every tap and swipe on that beautifully fluid screen gave me little sensations of joy, and watching content on it left me with much more screen time than I'm comfortable with.
After all, most other phones in this price bracket don't offer the same level of performance, which makes the OnePlus 12R stand out in its segment.
Now, yes, there are some weak points like the camera, but even that part of the 12R left me quite happy with the results. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised by the color accuracy and post-processing built in by OnePlus. It's a bit annoying though that phone makers still feel the need to throw in a useless 2MP camera just to say their phone has a triple camera. system. For what? The Pixel 8 and iPhone 15 don't need to do this and they seem to be quite popular despite this.
There's also the whole situation with software updates, notorious for being a bit unreliable and currently lagging behind the competition. But that's another sacrifice I'm willing to make, especially considering that $500 average price.
Looking back, I think one of the biggest contributing factors to me loving my OnePlus 3 was the feeling that I had just made one of the best purchases of my life, and I still stand by that statement.
The 12R genuinely seems like a product that would leave most buyers feeling the same way, so, yes, spending some valuable time with it really brought me back in the best possible way. It also reminded me of how excited I was when I bought my first flagship killer and why I remember my time with it after all these years.
PS I still keep this OnePlus 3 in a drawer in my childhood home.
