OnePlus 12 Review: 8.7/10 - Flagship Value King Returns
We may earn a commission from links on this page Learn more
At no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases; we also participate in the eBay Partner Network (EPN). See our full disclosure.
At a Glance
The OnePlus 12 delivers 95% of the ultra-premium flagship experience at 70% of the price.
Prices last checked June 2026
Overview
The OnePlus 12 is a return to form for the company, delivering genuine flagship hardware at a price that undercuts the competition by several hundred dollars. With the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, a brilliant LTPO AMOLED display co-developed with BOE, and a Hasselblad-tuned camera system, it competes directly with the Galaxy S24 Ultra and Xiaomi 14 Ultra - while costing significantly less. It’s not perfect - IP65 instead of IP68 and no Qi2 wireless charging are notable omissions - but for sheer value, nothing in the 2024 flagship class touches it.
Design & Build
The OnePlus 12 adopts a refined design language with a large circular camera housing on the back, a curved Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front, and an aluminum frame. The Flowy Emerald finish has a subtle marbled texture that catches light beautifully, while the Silky Black option is more understated. At 220 grams and 9.2mm thick it’s not a lightweight, but the weight distribution is even and the curved back makes it comfortable to hold. The alert slider returns on the left edge - a OnePlus hallmark that power users appreciate. IP65 water resistance means it can handle rain and splashes but not submersion, which is a step behind the competition.
Performance
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM delivers blistering performance across the board. Geekbench 6 scores of 2,203 single-core and 6,511 multi-core put it in the top tier, and sustained gaming performance is excellent thanks to a large vapor chamber cooling system. Genshin Impact at max settings maintains a steady 58-60 fps even after 30 minutes of play. OxygenOS 14 (based on Android 14) is smooth and clean with minimal bloatware, and OnePlus has committed to 4 major OS updates and 5 years of security patches. The 5400 mAh battery is the largest in any current flagship - it easily lasts a full day and a half, and the 100W wired charging fills it from 0-100% in just 26 minutes.
Features
The 6.82-inch BOE X1 AMOLED display is one of the best in the business, with a peak brightness of 4,500 nits in HDR and excellent color accuracy (99.5% DCI-P3 coverage, Delta E < 1). The LTPO technology scales from 1 Hz to 120 Hz seamlessly and supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+. The Hasselblad-tuned triple camera system delivers improved color science and natural skin tones thanks to the 13-channel spectral sensor. The 64MP periscope telephoto (OmniVision OV64B, 1/2-inch sensor) with 3x optical zoom (up to 120x digital, 6x in-sensor crop) is a standout performer in good light. The 50MP main sensor (Sony LYT-808, 1/1.43-inch, f/1.6 with OIS) captures detailed shots with excellent dynamic range. The 48MP ultrawide (Sony IMX581, f/2.2, 114-degree FOV) doubles as a macro camera. Wireless charging at 50W (proprietary, not Qi2) takes 55 minutes for a full charge, and reverse wireless charging at 10W is handy for topping up earbuds. The 5400 mAh battery powers through a full day and a half of heavy use, and the included 100W SUPERVOOC charger fills 0-100% in 26 minutes (1-50% in 13 minutes).
Pros
- Flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 + 16GB RAM for under $800 undercuts Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra by $500
- 5400 mAh battery is the largest of any 2024 flagship; 100W SUPERVOOC charges 0-100% in 26 minutes
- 6.82-inch BOE X1 AMOLED hits 4,500 nits peak and Delta E < 1 color accuracy
- Hasselblad color tuning and 13-channel spectral sensor produce natural, consistent skin tones
- Alert slider returns for hardware-based ringer/mute control
Cons
- IP65 rating means no submersion resistance - rivals offer IP68 for sand and pool protection
- No Qi2 wireless charging standard; proprietary 50W requires OnePlus-specific charger for full speed
- 64MP periscope telephoto (OV64B) falls behind Galaxy S24 Ultra’s 10x optical zoom at extreme ranges
- Curved screen edges still produce occasional accidental palm touches in landscape gaming
- No microSD expansion; 256GB base may be tight for heavy media users
Verdict
The OnePlus 12 delivers 95% of the ultra-premium flagship experience at 70% of the price. If you can live without IP68 and the absolute best telephoto camera, this is the smartest flagship buy of 2024.
Category Context
The OnePlus 12 stands apart from rivals like the Galaxy S24 Ultra and Xiaomi 14 Ultra by offering Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 performance at a starting price of $799 - $500 less than Samsung’s $1,299 ultra flagship. Its 5400 mAh battery is the largest in any 2024 flagship, and 100W wired charging is significantly faster than the S24 Ultra’s 45W. The Hasselblad partnership sets it apart from Xiaomi’s Leica and Samsung’s in-house tuning with a natural, less-processed color profile. The trade-offs - IP65 vs IP68, no Qi2, and a capable but not class-leading 64MP periscope at the longest zoom ranges - are reasonable sacrifices for the savings, positioning the OnePlus 12 as the value-oriented flagship for buyers who want top-tier performance without paying the ultra-premium tax.
Sources
- OnePlus 12 Official Specs - oneplus.com
- OnePlus 12 Review - TrustedReviews - trustedreviews.com
- OnePlus 12 - Wikipedia - wikipedia.org
- OnePlus 12 Full Specifications - GSMArena - gsmarena.com
Where to Buy
Check current pricing on eBay or Amazon.
Prices last checked June 2026. Pricing and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change.
📊 Comparison: OnePlus 12 vs. Competitors
| Specification | OnePlus 12 | Galaxy S24 Ultra | Google Pixel 9 Pro | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $799 | $1299 | $999 | $1199 |
| SoC | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | -- | -- | -- |
| RAM | 12GB/16GB LPDDR5X | 12GB LPDDR5X | 16GB | 8GB |
| Storage | 256GB/512GB UFS 4.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Display | 6.82-inch 1440x3168 LTPO AMOLED, 120 Hz, 4500 nits peak | 6.8" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, QHD+, 120Hz LTPO | 6.3" LTPO OLED, 1280x2856, 120Hz | 6.7" LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz ProMotion |
| Camera | 50MP main (LYT-808) + 64MP periscope 3x + 48MP ultrawide | -- | -- | -- |
| Battery | 5400 mAh, 100W wired / 50W wireless | 5000mAh | 4700mAh | 4422mAh |
| Chipset | -- | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (3.39 GHz prime core) | Google Tensor G4 | -- |
| Main Camera | -- | 200MP + 12MP ultrawide + 10MP 3x tele + 50MP 5x tele | 50MP f/1.68 + 48MP ultrawide + 48MP 5x telephoto | 48MP f/1.8 + 12MP ultrawide + 12MP 5x tetraprism telephoto |
| Build | -- | Titanium frame, Gorilla Glass Armor | -- | Grade 5 titanium, Ceramic Shield, IP68 |
| Software | -- | 7 years OS + security updates | -- | -- |
| Front Camera | -- | -- | 42MP | 12MP TrueDepth |
| Protection | -- | -- | IP68 | -- |
| Chip | -- | -- | -- | Apple A17 Pro (3nm) |
How We Rate Products
Every product on ComfyTechCheck is scored on a 1 to 10 scale based on a structured evaluation framework. We assess products across five core criteria:
- Performance (30% weight): Speed, responsiveness, and real-world capability in its category.
- Build & Design (20% weight): Material quality, ergonomics, and aesthetic appeal.
- Features (20% weight): Breadth and usefulness of included functionality.
- Value (20% weight): Price-to-performance ratio relative to direct competitors.
- Battery Life or Reliability (10% weight): Endurance testing for portable devices, or long-term dependability for stationary gear.
Scores are assigned by our editorial team after hands-on testing or extensive research using verified user reports, expert analysis, and technical specifications. The weighted average produces the final rating you see on each review. This methodology is inspired by established consumer review standards from organizations such as Consumer Reports and Which?, adapted for the tech product categories we cover.
For a detailed breakdown of our full research and review process, visit our How We Rate page.