OnePlus 12: The Balanced Flagship of 2024—Is AI Really Essential?

The OnePlus 12 stands as the brand’s main flagship, having consistently focused on refining the essentials over recent years. It’s the device that many OnePlus aficionados will gravitate towards (in contrast to the more expensive Open), yet, unlike its predecessors, it doesn’t seem to suffer from any significant drawbacks. You receive a competent camera setup akin to what’s offered on the OnePlus Open, along with an IP rating and wireless charging capabilities. However, OnePlus has chosen to remain quiet regarding AI features. In contrast to Google’s Pixel 8 series and Samsung’s Galaxy S24 series, the OnePlus 12 does not incorporate any user-facing generative AI functionalities. Additionally, Apple is anticipated to unveil numerous generative AI capabilities with iOS 18 this year.

So, does the absence of AI features matter in a market segment that has seen stagnation over time? Or has OnePlus done enough to make the lack of AI functionalities irrelevant? Let’s investigate.

OnePlus 12 Review: Price in India

In contrast to the OnePlus Open, the OnePlus 12 comes in a pair of variants. The noticeable increase in its pricing (starting from Rs. 56,999) seems warranted, as the base variant now provides 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, retailing at Rs. 64,999. The alternative variant, equipped with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, is priced at Rs. 69,999, which is quite competitive given its hardware specs.

The OnePlus 12 is offered in Flowy Emerald and Silky Black hues. For our review, we obtained the Flowy Emerald finish of the 512GB variant.

Inside the box, OnePlus includes a soft TPU case, a Type-A to Type-C charging cable, and a 100W charger. This feels like a generous package, especially when comparing it to Samsung’s Galaxy S24, which only comes with a charging cable.

OnePlus 12 Review: Design

The design of the OnePlus 12 remains true to its heritage and material selection. Unlike the OnePlus Open, which took a divergent design approach, the OnePlus 12 capitalizes on the substantial changes introduced by the OnePlus 10 Pro, which featured a rather unique layout reminiscent of a gas stove. Over time, the original design, which began with four camera cutouts (including one for the dual-LED flash) set in a square, transformed into a circular module that was somewhat embedded in the raised glass back of the OnePlus 11.

The OnePlus 12’s curved glass display also features curved edges at the top and bottom.

 

The new OnePlus 12 features a flat glass back and a similar circular camera arrangement, adorned with a wraparound design on the left frame side. To enhance its distinctive look, the company opted for a flat base for the circular camera module, which features flat glass embedded within, resembling a high-end watch and offering a sophisticated appearance. However, this unit doesn’t seem to reflect the typical OnePlus craftsmanship.

The section where the camera module merges with the frame has noticeable sharp corners, and the plastic filler connecting the camera module and mid-frame appears misaligned, creating a noticeable ridge that disrupts the fluidity of the design. I’ve examined other OnePlus 12 units, and the sharp edges paired with the misaligned filler indeed indicate a design flaw. These tolerances are similar to what was reported by some users in China upon launch.

The wrap-around camera module presents sharp edges near the mid-frame accompanied by misaligned plastic inserts.

 

Fortunately, these design inconsistencies do not undermine the device’s IP rating. The IP65 classification corresponds with these aspects, meaning users should refrain from submerging the phone in water as it is designed for splash resistance only. This limitation is noteworthy, as several competing smartphones in this price bracket offer an IP67 or IP68 rating for added dust and water resistance.

Regarding materials, I appreciate the polished metal frame, which enhances grip, complemented by the beautifully textured glass of the Flowy Emerald finish. Fans will be pleased with the return of the classic Alert Slider, but for reasons known only to OnePlus, its placement is now on the left side instead of the right. The power and volume buttons are positioned to the right side—a configuration similar to how the OnePlus Open is organized when unfolded.

OnePlus 12 Review: Specifications and Software

This flagship model always comes equipped with the most advanced core hardware. This includes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, with a maximum of 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage, though there is no option for storage expansion. The fingerprint sensor is integrated into the display, utilizing optical technology, and operated reliably throughout this review.

Communication capabilities encompass Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, and compatibility with multiple global satellite positioning systems. Additionally, there are numerous 5G bands and room for two physical nano SIM cards with dual-5G standby support.

The device exudes a premium feel and comes with an official IP65 rating this year.

 

The OnePlus 12 houses a dual-cell 5,400mAh battery, and OnePlus provides a 100W charger in the package. Nonetheless, charging speeds are limited to 80W. The device also supports 50W wireless charging using the company’s proprietary wireless charging dock, which is sold separately for Rs. 5,499.

The phone operates on OxygenOS 14.0, based on Android 14. OnePlus has committed to four years of OS updates and five years of security updates, which is quite commendable. Regarding OxygenOS 14, it bears a close resemblance to the previous iteration of the ColorOS-based software.

Notable visual updates include a new feature called Fluid Cloud that functions similarly to iOS’s Live Activities. This feature introduces a capsule, inspired by Dynamic Island, on the far left of the status bar, providing pertinent information (like a countdown timer for deliveries) for both native and third-party applications. Like its iOS counterpart, you can tap and hold the capsule to expand it into a larger card with extra buttons (to pause or stop the activity) or tap once to directly access the app. The same information is also displayed on the lock screen. This feature is also found in the Android 14 versions of Oppo’s ColorOS and Realme UI 5.0, known as Flash Capsule.

Fluid Cloud in OxygenOS 14 functions well but is restricted to a select few applications.

 

Furthermore, a new function called Smart Suggestions operates in tandem with Fluid Cloud on the home and lock screens, also presenting relevant updates from services like Zomato and Swiggy on the Always-on Display (AOD). This handy feature leverages the AOD, decreasing the need for users to pick up their device, unlock it, and check notifications for any updates.

While the overall software experience is polished, the device still lacks any generative AI functionalities, which have become the hype for premium smartphones this year. A few AI-powered features exist if sought out, such as Smart Touch, which primarily extracts text from screenshots. Smart Imaging Matting, according to Oppo, uses AI to isolate individuals and objects from photos—though this is a functionality we’ve witnessed in Samsung devices and even iPhones over the past year, thus lacking originality.

This absence of generative AI is not exclusive to OnePlus but also pertains to all brands under the BBK Electronics umbrella, as seen in the Vivo X100 Pro, priced at Rs. 89,999. While Google and Samsung excel in providing engaging and practical use cases for their generative AI capabilities, the BBK brands risk lagging behind and potentially losing customers if they don’t innovate in forthcoming updates. This concern is heightened as Apple, which had previously avoided an «AI» focus, is also projected to make significant strides in this arena with its upcoming iOS 18 software update.

OnePlus 12 Review: Performance

With cutting-edge hardware on board, my expectations for both software usability and raw performance in synthetic benchmarks were quite high. The software experience is impressively smooth; however, benchmark results with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC fall short compared to what the iQoo 12 (also utilizing the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3) delivers and are significantly lower than the Vivo X100 Pro (which has a MediaTek Dimensity 9300), especially in AnTuTu and Geekbench tests. The OnePlus 12 achieved a score of 1,629,220 points on AnTuTu, whereas the Vivo X100 Pro scored 2,020,631 on the same benchmarks.

In terms of raw performance, the device handles gaming well, including Call of Duty: Mobile, effortlessly reaching 120fps at ‘medium’ graphics and ‘ultra’ frame rate. Setting the graphics and frame rate to Very High also doesn’t seem to stress the device. Moreover, the large vapor chamber cooling system effectively maintains temperature, both during extended gaming sessions and while shooting 4K videos consecutively.

The OnePlus 12 (right) looks distinct from its foldable counterpart, the Open (left).

 

The 120Hz display performs admirably, and the touch sampling rate is precise, making it an excellent choice for mobile gaming. The display showcases mostly accurate colors in the Pro Screen color mode, with images and text appearing exceptionally sharp at 510 ppi. The OnePlus 12 remains one of the select smartphones offering such a high-resolution QHD+ display at this price range, and I kept the resolution maximized during the review process.

With a peak brightness of 4,500 nits, outdoor visibility is not a concern. This brightness level also benefits HDR10+ or Dolby Vision content on supported streaming platforms. The ProXDR display enhances photo viewing by rendering them in full dynamic range, a benefit mirrored in Dolby Vision 4K video recordings, which the phone can capture. Audio quality is commendable, providing a rich immersive experience for gaming and sufficient clarity for video consumption. Aqua Touch functionality is excellent when moisture is on the display, which can be highly beneficial on rainy days, especially since the phone now supports an IP65 rating.

The smartphone’s QHD+ display is exceptionally sharp and achieves notable brightness with a peak of 4,500 nits.

 

Battery performance also impresses. In our standard video loop battery test, the device lasted an impressive 28 hours and 6 minutes, exceeding expectations for a smartphone in this price or higher. On average, my day-to-day usage yielded around 9 hours of screen-on time or roughly a day and a half of intensive use (while connected to both data and Wi-Fi), which included camera activities, an hour of gaming, and about 3 hours of video streaming.

When the battery does deplete, recharging is rapid, with the 80W capped wired charging achieving 99 percent in 30 minutes, fully charging in 37 minutes. Wireless charging is also an option, but since OnePlus did not provide their AirVOOC charger, I was unable to test this feature.

OnePlus 12 Review: Cameras

The OnePlus 12 boasts an impressive camera array, largely derived from the OnePlus Open, the company’s foldable device. Its primary camera utilizes a Sony LYT-808 50-megapixel sensor, which differs slightly from the Sony LYT-T808 in the OnePlus Open, yet the results remain comparable. The key variances I observed between both models pertain to focusing speed and reliability, along with marginally enhanced image processing likely attributed to the improved ISP in the new SoC, as the OnePlus Open utilizes a slightly older Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC.

This year’s camera module takes inspiration from wristwatch designs.

 

The main camera captures images rich in detail, with excellent contrast and color depth, revealing intricate details in shadows without losing brightness in the highlights. The sharpness is commendable, and the detail retention is remarkable, whether it’s on textured surfaces or foliage. Low-light performance is competent but does experience some reduction in detail and dynamic range.

Camera samples from the OnePlus 12. From top to bottom: Ultra-wide, primary, and telephoto (3X) (tap to view images).

 

The 64-megapixel 3X telephoto lens stands out and produces exceptionally sharp photos in various lighting conditions. Images of both objects and subjects exhibit clarity, even under artificial illumination, establishing a natural bokeh. This lens excels for portrait photography of both pets and people, and I found it particularly enjoyable for capturing images of my young child. However, this telephoto lens prioritizes exposure rather than shutter speed, making it less adept at capturing moving subjects. Thus, even with OIS, images may appear slightly blurred if the subject moves during the shot. In terms of zoom, the device maintains quality up to 6X (lossless in-sensor zoom), after which image integrity begins to diminish.

The primary camera (top) excels in low-light photography, while the telephoto camera (bottom) performs even better (tap image to expand).

 

One issue that OnePlus has, inexplicably, yet to resolve (even on the Open after updates) involves the white balance of its telephoto camera. Images taken with this lens tend to appear warmer and more saturated than those from the primary camera, which is generally more accurate. This results in photos with a yellowish tint, particularly when photographing predominantly white subjects.

Given the strong performance of both the primary and telephoto lenses, I anticipated the ultra-wide lens would offer similar results (hoping that the new SoC would yield improvements), but it performs comparably to the Open. While they look satisfactory on the device, they lack sharpness and detail, coming across as a bit soft not only in low light but also in good lighting conditions. Indeed, these results are far behind what Google’s Pixel 8 Pro can deliver, albeit at a considerably higher price point.

The OnePlus 12 captures detailed selfies in ample light (top) but struggles in low-light conditions (bottom) (tap to view images).

 

Macro photography reveals intricate details, and the telephoto camera enables close-up shots that appear impressively sharp. Selfies are well-executed with good dynamic range, accurate skin tones, and effective edge detection in bright conditions, but low-light selfies are mediocre and leave much to be desired.

Video performance shows significant enhancements over the OnePlus 11, with 4K footage being steady and showcasing vibrant colors. The dynamic range is exceptional, and the bitrate is high. However, in low-light conditions, quality dips slightly, but noise is minimized. Colors are well-represented, and stabilization is handled effectively. I also experimented with 8K video, which still feels somewhat gimmicky, as the phone struggles to maintain a steady framerate during recording.

OnePlus 12 Review: Verdict

The OnePlus 12 excels on numerous fronts, smoothly surpassing the smartphone it replaces, making it an easy recommendation for those looking to upgrade, even for previous model owners.

OnePlus has stuck to its tried-and-true formula, providing a smartphone that perfectly occupies the space between the sub-Rs. 50,000 premium devices and the higher-end sub-Rs. 90,000 range, which includes contenders like Google’s Pixel 8 (Review) (starting at Rs. 75,999) and Samsung’s Galaxy S24 (starting at Rs. 79,999). However, both of these rivals boast enticing AI features that the OnePlus 12 notably lacks.

If you are keen to explore AI and want to experience those features, the latter two options may serve you better. But if AI isn’t a priority for you, the OnePlus 12 represents an outstanding value, offering a larger (and superior) display, enhanced performance, versatile cameras, and great battery longevity (including wireless charging) at a lower price point.

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