It’s become a lot harder in recent years to convince the average consumer that they need a new smartphone. That’s not only because the playing field has leveled out, with all devices seamlessly handling the same basic tasks, but also because the quest for new and noteworthy features feels like navigating a barren landscape.
Sure, AI elements and folding displays might show potential, but most of us are content with a phone that texts, calls and surfs the web without any fuss. The idea of upgrading to something only marginally better isn’t all that appealing. As the old adage goes: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
With that in mind, you might expect the new Oneplus 12 to be a bit dull given its lack of flashy features—the screen doesn’t fold and AI features are nowhere to be found. But as I’ve learned after weeks of use, it’s absolutely brilliant when it comes to the basics, from stellar battery life to fast charging speeds and dynamic processing power to a vibrant display. In these ways, it’s among the best smartphones I’ve used in years, checking all the baseline boxes like a true flagship should. And that just might be enough to make you wonder if it’s finally time for an upgrade.
With a starting price of $800 for the Oneplus 12 boasting 12GB of RAM, or a slightly heftier $900 for the 16GB version, it’s shaping up to be a sweeter deal compared to other flagship phones, including the Google Pixel 8 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. But the Oneplus 12 isn’t without its quirks. After weeks of thorough testing, here’s how it holds up as Android’s third-ranking smartphone.
Oneplus 12: Design
It’s A Looker
Taking design cues from its predecessor, the Oneplus 12 looks good from just about every angle. Its large, 6.8-inch Gorilla Glass Victus 2 display curves and falls over the edges where it meets aluminum side rails, and a matte-finished back improves grip. Available in Flowy Emerald and Silky Black, the green unit I received (that looks blue in flat light) features marbled-like striations that catch the eye and complement bits of glitter sprinkled throughout the camera cluster.
At 6.4 x 2.9 x 0.3 inches, the Oneplus 12 is tall and skinny, making it easy to hold and fit into pockets. Admittedly, I have a hard time reaching across the screen to the far upper corner without repositioning my hand, but this has been my experience with narrow phones for years. All of the buttons, including the relocated alert switch along the left side of the frame, are easy to reach.
Boasting a 3,168 x 1,440 resolution for a density of 510ppi, the screen features an adaptive refresh rate of 1Hz to 120Hz that changes depending on what you’re doing. This means you could, for example, stream 4K Netflix content at 60Hz before gaming at 120Hz. What’s more, it reaches a peak brightness of 4,500 nits that makes the screen incredibly bright and easy to read, even in direct sunlight. By comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra reaches 2,600 nits and the Google Pixel 8 Pro, 2,400.
Sadly, the good looks come at the cost of durability. The Oneplus 12 is IP65-rated, which isn’t as hard-wearing as the IP68-rated Galaxy S24 Ultra or Pixel 8 Pro. This means it should be fine if you drop it in water or expose it to a sprinkle, but don’t use it to kick off your underwater photography career.
I also have to knock Oneplus for maintaining curved edges on an otherwise great display. In my opinion, it’s an outdated move that’s more trouble than it’s worth: Suitable screen protectors are harder to find; my palm rests on the display when making distant gestures; and it leaves the screen more susceptible to damage if dropped. Let’s just go back to flat screens and sharp edges.
Oneplus 12: Features
Let’s Talk About The Battery
When it comes to the fundamental aspects of a smartphone, the conversation isn’t complete without a nod to the battery, and in the case of the Oneplus 12, superb is the word that comes to mind.
Featuring a 5,400mAh battery that’s divided into two cells and bigger than both the Samsung and Google handsets previously mentioned, the Oneplus 12 easily gets through a day of regular use. In my experience, the battery lasts up to 36 hours under normal use, and power saving mode can push that figure to over 48 hours with limited use. I’ve yet to quantify exactly how long a charge lasts, but as someone who regularly uses their phone to stream, text, call and scroll social media, I haven’t once wished the Oneplus 12 had better battery life. It just keeps going.
Of course, there will come a time when the phone needs a charge, but Oneplus’ proprietary SuperVooc 100W wired charging takes care of the task in mere minutes. Charging from 0 to 100% took only 37 minutes during testing, and a quick charge that adds a little extra juice (say you’re charging the battery from 20 to 50%) takes far less time. This comes in handy if you’re topping off the battery before, say, going for a run or leaving your base camp for the day at a big festival.
As handy as 100W wired charging can be, maybe you prefer wireless charging which, if you’ll recall, wasn’t an option on the Oneplus 11. Thankfully, the feature has returned to the Oneplus 12, which can handle up to 50W of power with Oneplus’ AirVooc charging stand. Let the record show that that’s faster than many phones can charge over a wired connection.
The Cameras Are Mostly Comparable
Once again, Oneplus has partnered with Hasselblad for its cameras, and the relationship reveals itself in amusing ways, both on the hardware and software side. For example, you’ll spot a polished Hasselblad logo on the camera, as well as in-app prompts that ask if you’d like to include an “exclusive Hasselblad watermark” on your photos.
Quirky branding references aside, the Oneplus 12’s primary camera steals the show with a 50MP sensor at f/1.6 that flaunts optical image stabilization (OIS), an 85-degree field of view (FOV) and a 23mm equivalent focal length. The ultra-wide lens, meanwhile, boasts a 48MP sensor at f/2.2, with electronic image stabilization (EIS), a generous 114-degree FOV and a 14mm equivalent focal length. For those macro shots, it supports shooting at a close range of 1.4 inches. And for those zoomed-in moments, the telephoto lens adopts a periscopic design, featuring a 64MP sensor at f/2.6. Oneplus claims a staggering 120x capability with its Ultra Res Zoom.
The front facing camera features a 32MP sensor at f/2.4, and the phone can shoot in 8K resolution with the ability to record in Dolby Vision-enhanced HDR, though it’s safe to say most people won’t use the latter feature.
So how does the camera quality compare to the competition? Well, if you keep in mind the fact that I continue to reference “the basics” when referring to the Oneplus 12, then it will come as no surprise that the cameras are about average. Shots look good through most lighting conditions, but they don’t quite compare to the Samsung and Google flagship phones, which use AI to make photos look top-tier. That’s ultimately the price Oneplus has to pay for omitting AI, but I think it’s a choice most users can live with.
OxygenOS Is Good, But Not Great
Phone software is a subjective experience. What I find irritating, you may find inconsequential, and vice versa. Out of the box, the Oneplus 12 runs OxygenOS 14, a system based on Android 14 that I would describe as “okay.”
Boot up the phone for the first time and you’ll notice a good deal of bloatware, including a Oneplus Store app and a Oneplus Membership app. These are easy enough to disable or delete as you might expect, and all seems normal.
But as you start diving into menus and settings, the experience quickly becomes overwhelming. As opposed to a smooth skin like Samsung’s One UI that touches up Android 14 here and there, OxygenOS feels clunky and intrusive, almost as if it really wants to differentiate itself from Android. Gestures are more complex than they need to be, with different swipes opening the app drawer or the quick settings panel or the notification bar, and it’s difficult to understand where one gesture ends and another begins.
In other ways, OxygenOS wants you to ditch Android essentials altogether. For example, the system won’t let Google Photos serve as the default photo app, so if you’d like to review the photos you just took while in the camera app, you’ll have to exit the camera and navigate to Google Photos (or succumb to the Oneplus Photos app instead).
And it’s worth noting that while Oneplus promises four years of Android upgrades and five years of security updates, both Samsung and Google promise seven years of updates across the board with their latest respective launches. The user experience isn’t bad, but it isn’t smooth, either, especially if you’re used to stock Android.
Oneplus 12: Performance
Don’t Break A Sweat
The Oneplus 12 comes with 12GB of RAM, and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, though $100 more will net you an additional 4GB of RAM and twice as much storage (256GB to 512GB). As easy as it may be to knock the lack of AI and other flashy features, you’ll find no reason to pick apart the Oneplus 12’s performance.
Even after loading 20 different apps at once, it continues to handle tasks with ease. Rapidly firing the camera’s shutter button doesn’t cause any noticeable lag. Mobile games that rely on heavy graphics run without interruption. And CPDT benchmark scores prove comparable when compared to the rest of the industry’s top phones. Even a high-performance mode hidden within the power management settings removes limits on the processor, allowing you to run the phone as hard as it can handle. No matter what you throw at it, the Oneplus 12 doesn’t fold under pressure.
Beyond sheer processing power, I do want to point out the speaker quality—it’s average, which is unfortunate given that Oneplus added Dolby Atmos-equipped speakers. Under the right circumstances, music sounds crisp and clear, but as soon as you stray from that happy medium, the speakers sound tinny and empty. My advice: Stick to a pair of quality headphones if you want to hear audio the way it’s supposed to be heard.
Oneplus 12: Verdict
Brilliance In The Basics
Android has a quirky habit of embracing unique features with open arms, only to swiftly bid them farewell—IR blaster support, lockscreen widgets, Android Beam, the list goes on. It’s almost like these phones serve as a grand proving ground, testing the waters to decide which features are keepers and which ones should make a graceful exit.
More often than not, the departure doesn’t cause much of a stir. However, Oneplus is looking beyond what might work. Instead of loading up on features that might not quite hit the mark, the Oneplus 12 takes a different route. It zeros in on what really matters to users—the dazzling display, solid build quality, powerhouse processing, fast charging and a camera array that captures the essence of a moment. The company isn’t just throwing things at the wall to see what sticks; it’s crafting a smartphone experience focused on what we genuinely want, making the Oneplus 12 a stable standout in a world of experimentation.
My Expertise
When Forbes Vetted gear editor Cam Vigliotta isn’t testing the latest skiing poles or finding the best exercise bikes you can get for your home, he’s also testing out the latest smartphones. While he’s been using his trusty Google Pixel 5a since 2021, he still fills his free time with with reviews courtesy of award-winning tech editors and YouTube personalities who know the space well. Gadgets still cross his desk every day, often in the form of smartwatches, massage guns and assorted outdoor equipment. His work has appeared in REI Co-op’s Uncommon Path, Backpacker, Field Mag, GearJunkie and many more.
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