Whether you want to power-up your playtime, take multitasking to new heights, or you just crave pure performance—the new OnePlus 12 series won't disappoint. While last year's release brought with it a singular new 11-series namesake, the OnePlus 11, this year ushers in two exciting new options: the OnePlus 12 and the OnePlus 12R. So, what can you expect from these new devices? Let's take a look at what has everyone talking and see how they compare to the OnePlus 11.
OnePlus 12 & OnePlus 12R: Two is Better than One
Last year, the OnePlus 11 was the only 11-series phone offered in the U.S. (with the OnePlus 11R version only available overseas). This year, you get both the OnePlus 12 and 12R to choose from, with the latter being a bit of a pared-down option for those of you who don't need all the bells and whistles, but still crave an ultra-cool, powerful phone at an amazing price.
So, let's start by outlining the OnePlus 12's key features and go from there:
OnePlus 12 Features
- 6.82" QHD AMOLED Display + 120Hz - 4,500 Nits (Peak)
- OxygenOS 14.0 based on Android 14
- Aluminum Alloy & Glass
- 2 Color Options: Silky Black & Flowy Emerald
- Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
- 4 Cameras: 3 Main and 1 Selfie
- Main
- Wide - 50MP with Laser Auto Focus
- Ultra-Wide - 48MP
- Telephoto - 64MP with 3x Optical Zoom, 6x Sensor Crop, 120x Digital Zoom
- Selfie:
- 20MP
- Video
- 8K video at 24 fps
- 4K video at 30/60 fps
- Main
- 5,400mAh Battery, Super-Fast 80W Wired/50W Wireless Charging
- Up to 16GB RAM + 512GB Storage
- Starting Price: $799
OnePlus 12 Improvements
As you can see, this year's phone brings with it some impressive improvements over the OnePlus 11. For starters, the next-generation processor on the OnePlus 12 is a step up from the already impressive Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 featured on the 11-series phone. The 12 also gets a bigger 5,400mAh battery vs. its predecessor's 5,000mAh battery—made even more powerful thanks to the new processor—and it's reportedly able to deliver two day’s power in just 30 minutes! Another change is the bigger, brighter display, which jumps to 6.82 inches from 6.7 inches and boasts an amazing 4,500 nits of peak brightness. The 12 also offers more storage with up to 512GB available vs. 256GB max on the 11.
The biggest change? The camera! The OnePlus 12's 4th-Gen Hasselblad camera features Sony’s new LYT-808 main sensor, advanced 64MP 3X Periscope Telephoto Camera and 114° ultra-wide camera so you can capture crystal-clear moments like never before. While the camera setup is much more powerful than the 11's, the design looks the same on both phones, but the buttons on the 12 are different, with volume and power moving to the right side. One thing that remains status quo on the OnePlus phones is that they both offer absolutely stunning designs. While the color options are similar to that of the 11's (slightly different versions of green or black), the unique marbling on the 12's new Flowy Emerald color is truly stunning.
OnePlus 12R Features
Another option this year is the OnePlus 12R, which boasts some pretty impressive features for a lot less money than both the OnePlus 11 and 12. Here's a quick look at key features:
- 6.78" FHD AMOLED Display + 120Hz - 4,500 Nits (Peak)
- OxygenOS 14.0 based on Android 14
- Aluminum Alloy & Glass
- 2 Color Options: Iron Gray & Cool Blue
- Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
- 4 Cameras: 3 Main and 1 Selfie
- Main
- Wide - 50MP
- Ultra-Wide - 8MP
- Rear - 2MP
- Selfie:
- 16MP
- Video
- 4K video at 60/30 fps
- 1080p video at 60/30 fps
- 720p video at 60/30 fps
- 5,500mAh Battery, Super-Fast 80W Wired Charging (no wireless)
- Up to 16GB RAM + 256GB Storage
- Starting Price: $499
- Main
OnePlus 12R vs. 12 vs. 11
As you can see, the OnePlus 12R has a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor on board, which is the same as the 11's but not as powerful as the Gen 3 version offered on the OnePlus 12. It also features a slightly smaller display than the 12's but slightly bigger than the 11's. The coolest feature? It packs at whopping 5,500 mAh battery—the biggest of any OnePlus phone—not to mention the largest VC cooling system to date and super-fast 80W wired charging. (Alas, there's no support for wireless charging.) The max storage is the same as the OnePlus 11's but less than that of the 12's. Still, for $300 bucks less than the OnePlus 12 and about $120 less than the OnePlus 11, it may be a great option if you love the extra powerful battery, but don't need wireless charging or a super-impressive, pro-style camera and video setup.
The Verdict
All three phones offer a lot of amazing features that may be just right for you, depending on what your needs are and how much you're willing to spend. No matter which phone you ultimately choose, be sure to check out the latest offers on all of the OnePlus phones so you can find the best deal on your new device. Need more information before you decide?