The OnePlus 12R is available for $499, offering impressive flagship features at a considerably lower price point. Boasting an exceptional display, solid build quality, and flagship performance, it unfortunately falls short in the camera department, reminiscent of previous OnePlus models. Could this signal a comeback for OnePlus?
Design and Build Quality
The OnePlus 12R continues the brand’s tradition of stylish design. It boasts a sleek and elegant look with a luxurious camera module and an anti-fingerprint matte aluminum frame. The cool blue glass back adds a touch of sophistication and is surprisingly resistant to fingerprints. The phone features a premium aluminum and glass construction, with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protecting the front and Gorilla Glass 5 on the back. The classic alert slider is still present, and the volume and power buttons are located on the right side. The device’s design includes a distinctive circular camera module framed by a ridged ring. This device also supports IP64 for water and dust resistance.
Display
The phone is equipped with a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2780 x 1264 pixels. The screen supports a dynamic refresh rate of up to 120Hz and can reach a peak brightness of 4500 nits, while typical usage brightness is around 1600 nits. Additionally, the inclusion of Aqua Touch technology enhances usability in wet conditions. Other features include Dolby Vision HDR 10+ and support for the 10-bit color gamut, making the display one of the best in its price range.
However, the curved glass display, while visually appealing, poses practical challenges such as limited screen protector options and increased risk of accidental touches. The back glass is also notably slippery, so using a case for better handling is recommended.
Performance
The OnePlus 12R is powered by last year’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. It is a flagship processor so the performance is quite smooth. This powerhouse efficiently handles even the most demanding tasks easily. Whether you’re multitasking between apps, running graphics-intensive games, or editing videos. Paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, the phone offers exceptional responsiveness and seamless app switching.
Software
The OnePlus 12R comes with OxygenOS 14.0 based on Android 14, offering a customizable user experience. Past days, OxygenOS has been known for its bloatware-free approach and for offering a near-stock Android experience with some additional features. It is still bloatware-free but not that clean anymore. It lacks modern-day AI features.
The OnePlus 12r offers extensive customization options. You can modify icon packs, home screen animations, fingerprint scanner animations, and always-on display images. The status bar is fully customizable, with options to hide icons, change the battery percentage layout, and apply custom color themes throughout the OS. Specialty features such as the Hyper Boost gaming engine, high-performance mode, Zen mode, and a smart sidebar provide added functionality. Performance is smooth, thanks to the Trinity engine, which optimizes CPU, RAM, and storage usage. However, the aggressive app background management and slower update timelines are notable drawbacks. The device is promised four years of OS updates.
Camera
The device features a triple camera setup, including a 50 MP Sony IMX 890 primary sensor, an 8 MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2 MP macro lens. While the primary sensor is taking decent shots, it doesn’t quite match the prowess of some other mid-range phones on the market. And the ultrawide and macro sensors are absolutely trash. They offer subpar image quality, often resulting in soft, undersaturated, and noisy photos.
Battery and Charging
OnePlus 12R packs a hefty 5500mAh battery. OxygenOS has always been good when optimizing Battery life. They have some battery features to optimize even more. It has various power-saving modes and smart charging methods to enhance battery longevity. You can expect 8-10 hours of on-screen time with typical use and around 7 hours with more intensive activities.
And for charging 12R supports 100W SUPERVOOC, which comes in the box. Even the most expensive flagship doesn’t come with a charger these days. This charger can rapidly refuel the phone from 0 to 100% in half an hour.
Conclusion
The OnePlus 12R is an excellent choice for users looking for a feature-rich phone with great performance, long battery life, and a smooth user experience, all at a competitive price. These features are usually found in higher-end devices. However, the camera performance and software update limitations are the weaknesses of the device—alternatively, last year’s OnePlus 11 offers similar specifications with better camera performance at a comparable price.
