The OnePlus 12 marks a confident return to form for a brand once synonymous with delivering flagship performance at an accessible price. Staying true to its flagship killer identity, the OnePlus 12 combines top-tier hardware with a refined design and a more polished user experience, all while keeping costs significantly lower than its premium rivals. At its core lies the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, bringing lightning-fast speeds, improved AI capabilities, and better thermal efficiency. Complementing this is a vibrant 6.82-inch AMOLED display with QHD+ resolution and LTPO 3.0 technology, offering dynamic refresh rates up to 120Hz for ultra-smooth visuals.
Beyond raw power and display brilliance, the OnePlus 12 shines in other areas as well such as its triple camera setup developed with Hasselblad, which delivers impressive photography and 8K video. Add to that its blazing 100W wired and 50W wireless charging, and you get a phone that not only performs but also keeps up with a fast-paced lifestyle. With its minimalist yet bold design, OxygenOS 14 software, and premium build quality, the OnePlus 12 is tailored for users who crave flagship features without the flagship price.
In this detailed review, we’ll break down every aspect of the OnePlus 12 from its build quality and display to performance benchmarks, camera samples, battery longevity, and real-world usability. Whether you’re considering it as your next upgrade or simply curious about its position in the 2025 smartphone landscape, this review aims to provide a complete and honest evaluation.
OnePlus 12 design and build quality
The OnePlus 12 takes a familiar design language and polishes it to near perfection. Rather than overhauling its aesthetics, OnePlus chooses to refine what already worked, delivering a premium device that feels just as luxurious as phones twice its price. The phone features a smooth, curved glass back also available in a vegan leather finish for select variants paired with a sturdy aluminum frame. This combination not only enhances durability but also gives the phone a sleek and sophisticated appearance that’s a pleasure to hold. The iconic circular camera module remains but has been subtly reengineered to blend more seamlessly into the back panel, providing a more cohesive and modern look.
Weighing in at 220 grams, the OnePlus 12 is slightly heavier than its predecessor, but it feels balanced thanks to its ergonomic, symmetrical design. The build exudes quality, and the available color options Flowy Emerald, Silky Black, and a clean White variant are both eye-catching and practical, featuring a matte finish that resists fingerprints and smudges.
While it doesn’t carry the highest IP rating, the IP65 certification still ensures protection against dust and low-pressure water jets, which should be sufficient for most everyday environments. It may not survive a full dunk in water, but it can easily withstand light rain or a splash at the sink. Overall, the OnePlus 12 doesn’t need a radical redesign to stand out it succeeds by being polished, thoughtfully constructed, and unmistakably premium in both hand-feel and visual appeal.
OnePlus 12 display quality
One of the most remarkable highlights of the OnePlus 12 is undoubtedly its display. It features a massive 6.82-inch 2K AMOLED screen with a stunning resolution of 3168 x 1440 pixels, delivering breathtaking clarity and detail. Whether you’re watching HDR content, gaming, or simply browsing through social media, the visuals pop with richness and color accuracy. Thanks to a peak brightness of up to 4500 nits under HDR conditions, the screen remains brilliantly legible even in direct sunlight, which is a rare feat even among high end smartphones.
The inclusion of LTPO 3.0 technology allows for a dynamic refresh rate ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz, automatically adjusting based on the content for smooth animations while conserving battery life. Support for Dolby Vision and HDR10+ enhances contrast and brings out realistic tones in supported content, making it a treat for movie lovers and visual creatives alike.
Another standout feature is the advanced 2160Hz PWM dimming, which greatly reduces flicker especially useful during extended usage sessions or low-light viewing, helping reduce eye fatigue. The panel is also curved at the edges, blending seamlessly into the frame and adding to the immersive experience.
Whether you’re indoors or out, gaming or working, the display on the OnePlus 12 stands tall among 2025’s best. It combines technical excellence with real-world usability, proving that OnePlus has left no stone unturned when crafting one of the most visually stunning smartphone screens on the market today.
Performance and hardware OnePlus 12
The OnePlus 12 delivers cutting-edge performance, thanks to Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, built on an efficient 4nm architecture. This processor isn’t just fast it’s one of the most powerful mobile chipsets available in 2025, designed to handle intensive multitasking, AI processing, and high-end gaming with ease. Paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage, the device ensures lightning-fast data access and seamless operation across every app or task.
Whether you’re juggling dozens of apps, rendering videos, or diving into resource-heavy games like Genshin Impact, Call of Duty: Mobile, or PUBG, the OnePlus 12 delivers smooth, consistent frame rates and zero stutters. The gameplay experience is fluid even at the highest graphical settings, putting it on par with, if not ahead of, premium flagships from Samsung and Xiaomi.
To sustain this level of performance, OnePlus has introduced an upgraded Cryo Velocity cooling system, which incorporates advanced heat dissipation materials and a vapor chamber to manage thermals more effectively. This results in a cooler device during heavy usage and less throttling over extended sessions.
Performance benchmarks reflect its prowess:
- Geekbench 6 multi-core score: ~7100
- AnTuTu score: Over 1.6 million
These scores place the OnePlus 12 at the top of the 2025 performance charts. Whether you’re a mobile gamer, content creator, or power user, this phone offers a flagship grade experience that rivals and sometimes surpasses the competition.
OnePlus 12 software and user interface
The OnePlus 12 runs on OxygenOS 14, a polished and efficient operating system built atop Android 14. Known for its clean interface and smooth performance, OxygenOS continues to offer a near-stock Android experience with thoughtful enhancements that don’t feel intrusive. It’s fast, fluid, and free from unnecessary bloatware, which is increasingly rare in today’s Android landscape.
Several useful features enhance daily usability. The Smart Sidebar offers instant access to tools and apps from any screen, ideal for multitasking. Zen Mode returns as a favorite for digital detoxing, temporarily silencing distractions to help users focus. The Shelf provides a dedicated space for widgets, quick memos, weather updates, and more all accessible with a simple swipe. Additionally, users can customize their Always-On Display with vibrant themes and contextual info, adding personality without draining the battery.
Unlike Oppo’s ColorOS, OxygenOS has retained its distinct identity, keeping the minimalist aesthetic that OnePlus fans appreciate. Animations are smooth, transitions are snappy, and UI navigation is intuitive even first-time users will find it easy to adapt.
A major selling point is OnePlus’s long-term software support promise. The OnePlus 12 will receive four years of major Android OS updates and five years of security patches, which brings peace of mind and makes the device a future-proof investment. For users who value both performance and a clutter-free interface, OxygenOS 14 on the OnePlus 12 strikes an excellent balance between customization, speed, and stability.
Camera system of the OnePlus 12
OnePlus has taken a big leap in photography with the OnePlus 12. The phone sports a triple camera setup co-developed with Hasselblad:
- 50MP Sony LYT-808 main sensor with OIS
- 48MP ultra-wide camera
- 64MP periscope telephoto with 3x optical and 120x digital zoom
Daylight shots are detailed, color-accurate, and vivid. The new LYT sensor offers better low-light sensitivity and dynamic range. Portraits show excellent subject separation, with creamy bokeh that feels DSLR-like.
The telephoto lens is a welcome upgrade zoom photos remain usable even up to 10x. Ultra-wide photos maintain color consistency, though some minor distortion remains at the edges.
The front houses a 32MP selfie shooter, which performs well in daylight and holds up for 1080p video calls and casual content creation.
Video capabilities include:
- 8K at 24fps
- 4K at 60fps with EIS
- Super stable mode for action shots
The camera app is intuitive, and the Pro Mode gives manual control over shutter, ISO, and focus for enthusiasts.
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OnePlus 12 battery life and charging
Battery life is another area where the OnePlus 12 shines. With a 5400mAh battery, the phone easily delivers 6-8 hours of screen-on time, lasting a full day and then some under moderate to heavy use.
Charging is as impressive as ever:
- 100W SUPERVOOC wired charging – 0 to 100% in ~26 minutes
- 50W AIRVOOC wireless charging – 0 to 100% in ~55 minutes
- 10W reverse wireless charging
The OnePlus 12 also includes a smart charging engine that adjusts the charging pattern at night to preserve battery health over time.
Connectivity and Extras
The OnePlus 12 doesn’t skip on connectivity. It supports:
- 5G (SA/NSA), with global band compatibility
- Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
- Dual SIM and eSIM support in select regions
- NFC and IR Blaster
The in-display fingerprint sensor is fast and accurate. Haptics are improved with the upgraded X-axis linear motor—tight, crisp feedback when typing or gaming.
Stereo speakers are loud, well-balanced, and support Dolby Atmos. Audio through wireless earbuds benefits from the latest codecs, making the experience immersive.
Pros and Cons
| Pros: | Cons: |
| 1. Top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 performance 2. Gorgeous 2K AMOLED display with LTPO 3. Flagship-level camera setup 4. Ultra-fast wired and wireless charging 5. Excellent build quality and software experience | 1. IP65 rating isn’t full waterproofing 2. No microSD slot or headphone jack 3. Slightly heavier than competitors 4. Limited carrier availability in some countries |
Pricing and Value for Money
The OnePlus 12 starts at $699 for the base 12GB/256GB variant and goes up to $799 for the 16GB/512GB version. In select markets (e.g., India and China), pricing is even more competitive.
Compared to rivals like the Galaxy S25 Ultra ($1,200) and iPhone 16 Pro Max ($1,399), the OnePlus 12 offers 90% of their features at nearly half the price.
For those who want flagship performance without the flagship price tag, the OnePlus 12 is one of the best value propositions of 2025.
Final Verdict
The OnePlus 12 is a triumphant return to form for the company that coined the term flagship killer. With elite hardware, refined software, incredible display tech, and blazing fast charging, it checks all the boxes for most users be it power users, gamers, or camera enthusiasts.
While it has minor shortcomings such as the lack of full IP68 waterproofing and a few software quirks it’s still an easy recommendation in its price class.