OnePlus 12R review

OnePlus hasn’t provided a pair of worldwide flagship cellphone choices for the reason that OnePlus 9 Professional and OnePlus 9 in 2021. Additionally in that yr, the OnePlus R-series made its debut, supplying a stripped again and extra inexpensive flagship expertise to chose Asian markets.

These two historic occurrences converge within the OnePlus 12R, which is the primary time that the model’s keenly priced R-series has been provided globally. Whereas the OnePlus 12 provides you a nearly compromise-free expertise, the 12R will get you many of the means there for £200 much less.

An preliminary look would counsel that it is a return to the Professional/non-Professional double act in all however identify. In follow, the OnePlus 12R affords an analogous bundle to final yr’s OnePlus 11, with a number of upgrades that nod to the passage of time and a few downgrades that allow a less expensive value level.

Design & Construct

• Barely thicker than OnePlus 11
• Alert slider as welcome as all the time
• Bumped as much as IP65

The OnePlus 12R seems to be and feels an terrible lot just like the OnePlus 11. It’s one other bigger cellphone that feels deceptively slender, due to the selection to curve the longer edges on each the entrance and the again of the cellphone. Flat screens are typically extra sensible, however the curvaceous method definitely seems to be good.

It’s truly a fraction thicker than final yr’s mannequin at 8.8mm, and in addition a few grams heavier at 207g. However it nonetheless feels good and glossy, definitely in comparison with all these blocky flat-edged telephones on the market looking for to emulate Apple’s iPhone design.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

We additionally get the return of the OnePlus 11’s distinctive digicam module design, although it doesn’t fairly soften into the aspect body so seamlessly right here. There’s a transparent seam, although your eye will seemingly be drawn away from this by the putting ridged round ring that encompasses the three digicam sensors and flash.

My check unit is the Iron Grey mannequin, which adopts a charcoal tone with a brushed, barely grainy-looking metallic end. It seems to be trendy and is pleasant to the contact, but it surely’s not the grippiest materials on the earth. The opposite color on provide is Cool Blue, which seems to be to be far shinier and possibly no much less easy.

OnePlus has truly upgraded sure components of the OnePlus 12R’s design in comparison with final yr’s pricier mannequin. The show is roofed in more durable Gorilla Glass Victus 2 – an enchancment from Victus – whereas the physique is IP65 rated fairly than IP64. It’s nonetheless not the IP68 that we’ve come to count on from our flagship telephones, but it surely’s extra proof against water than the OnePlus 11 at any fee, and it feels extra acceptable right here than within the $799/£849 OnePlus 12.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

The left fringe of the cellphone packs the model’s signature alert slider, which may manually flick you between silent, vibrate, and loud modes. It’s as welcome right here as all the time, although nonetheless has the annoying quirk of opening the ‘Discover in web page’ search subject while you use it when looking the online in Chrome.

One different noteworthy exterior addition from the OnePlus 11 is an IR blaster on the highest edge. Utilizing the pre-installed IR Distant app, I used to be ready to make use of the OnePlus 12R to manage my historical Denon stereo. Having damaged the unique distant management a couple of decade in the past, this proved genuinely helpful, although I believe that mine is a reasonably area of interest case in nowadays of sensible and multi-room audio system.

Display screen & Audio system

• 6.78-inch AMOLED
• 1-120Hz dynamic refresh fee
• Dolby Imaginative and prescient and Dolby Atmos

The OnePlus 12R’s show is a formidable piece of equipment. At 6.78-inch, it’s a bit greater than the OnePlus 11 equal, and it utilises upgraded LTPO 4.0 panel know-how to flit between 1 and 120Hz extra effectively.

OnePlus has scaled again the decision a bit from the OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 11, each of which pack 2K screens. Nevertheless, it hasn’t regressed all the way in which again to 1080p. Somewhat, we get a decision that some producers have taken to calling ‘1.5K’.

This decision of 2780 x 1264 falls between FHD+ and QHD+, and appears to me to be a wonderful compromise. You continue to get a pleasant sharp picture with a crisp pixel density of 450 ppi, however with much less of the useful resource hogging methods of a full 2K show.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Color accuracy is really wonderful, and I discovered it to be particularly pleasing as soon as I flipped it from Vivid to Pure mode. It will get good and shiny, too, with OnePlus quoting a peak brightness of 4500 nits in HDR eventualities and 1600 nits in open air circumstances. With autobrightness turned off, I recorded a most brightness of 787 nits, which is extraordinarily spectacular.

One fascinating addition ties in neatly with that improved IP65 score. Aqua Contact boosts display responsiveness within the rain, although with out full IP68 safety I nonetheless discovered myself hesitant to place this to the check.

You get the same old OnePlus provision of twin stereo audio system within the earpiece and on the underside fringe of the cellphone, which stay loud and clear even at high quantity. They do lack the depth and house of a very top-end performer just like the iPhone 15 Professional, although. Dolby Atmos help can also be offered.

Specs & Efficiency

• Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
• 8/16GB of RAM
• 128/256GB storage

Whereas the OnePlus 12 will get the innovative Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the OnePlus 12R has to make do with final yr’s flagship chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Which means it primarily performs the identical because the OnePlus 11, particularly with the beneficiant 16GB of RAM on board on the assessment unit I examined.

We described the OnePlus 11 as an “extremely fast cellphone” in our assessment, and a yr has finished little to uninteresting those self same parts. For all of the efficiency advances led to by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the OnePlus 12R remains to be able to operating essentially the most demanding 3D video games (like Genshin Affect and Wreckfest) at silky easy body charges on high settings.

Certainly, whereas it’s no gaming cellphone, OnePlus has given the OnePlus 12R some gaming-focused consideration. There’s a big vapour chamber conserving issues cool, which signifies that you’ll get robust sustained efficiency. Within the 3DMark Photo voltaic Bay Stress Take a look at, which simulates high-end gaming efficiency over a sustained 20 minute interval, the OnePlus 12R maintained its stage in addition to a devoted gaming cellphone just like the Crimson Magic 9 Professional.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Away from uncooked efficiency, the OnePlus 12R is a well-equipped cellphone. The only mannequin out there within the UK comes with 256GB of UFS 4.0 reminiscence (another areas get a 128GB mannequin utilizing slower UFS 3.1 reminiscence). Elsewhere there’s help for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3.

OnePlus 12R Benchmarks

Our common suite of benchmark outcomes suggests a slight edge for the OnePlus 12R over the OnePlus 11, however that may seemingly be put right down to the show being much less pixel-packed.

That may additionally clarify why the 12R falls behind a cellphone just like the Galaxy S23 on such ‘on display’ checks, because the latter pairs the identical chip with a much less demanding FHD+ show. All in all, I feel the OnePlus 12R strikes a pleasant stability.

Cameras

• Similar robust most important sensor as OnePlus 11
• First rate leads to all lighting
• No Hasselblad enhancements

OnePlus has introduced the identical most important 50Mp Sony IMX890 sensor throughout from the OnePlus 11. This can be a decent-sized 1/1.56-inch sensor that has turn into an occasional choose for flagship telephones that wish to get flagship-approximating photographic outcomes when the finances is stretched, or when the producer’s priorities lie elsewhere like with the Asus ROG Cellphone 8.

Backed by OIS, the OnePlus 12R is ready to seize good pictures in respectable lighting, and completely sufficient pictures even in lesser lighting circumstances. The daylight pictures that I captured have been moderately pure, packing an appropriate quantity of element and color depth.

Regardless of the shared parts, nonetheless, it’s not fairly the match for the OnePlus 11’s most important digicam. There’s none of digicam associate Hasselblad’s enhancements on board right here, that means you don’t get the corporate’s punchy color science, its pleasing digicam UI, or its customized taking pictures modes.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Extra consequential than it is a downgrade in the remainder of the digicam set-up. There is no such thing as a telephoto digicam this time round, that means any zoomed-in pictures will likely be crops from that succesful most important sensor. To this finish, I discovered that 2x pictures seemed fairly good, however that the noise actually began to encroach at 5x.

Out too goes the OnePlus 11’s 48Mp ultra-wide digicam, in favour of a extra humble 8Mp unit. It broadly captures the tone of the principle sensor (although it’s maybe a tad cooler), however clearly suffers by comparability relating to element and dynamic vary.

There’s additionally a 2MP macro digicam right here, but it surely’s undeserving of something greater than an compulsory point out. It’s a bit disappointing to see OnePlus resort to this space-filling, box-ticking element, to be sincere.

There’s a 16MP entrance digicam that captures sufficient selfies, although I discovered my pores and skin tones to be a bit smudgey and missing in texture, even with none of the same old freaky pores and skin tone-enhancing modes lively.

If you would like extra spectacular digicam know-how, then I counsel choosing the costlier OnePlus 12.

Battery Life & Charging

• 5500mAh battery for two-day energy
• 100W quick charging
• No wi-fi charging

Proper up there alongside its attractive show, by far the OnePlus 12R’s standout function is its stellar battery life.

With a larger-than-usual 5500mAh cell and a few robust optimisation work from OnePlus (and possibly additionally Oppo, which provides the bottom software program), I discovered that I used to be routinely in a position to get by two full days of reasonable utilization on a single cost.

If you would like some numbers to go along with that, I used to be in a position to take the cellphone off cost at simply after 8am, run by two full working days with a mixed 8 hours of display on time, and nonetheless be left with 20% within the tank at gone midnight on the finish of the second day.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

To be clear, this was with each the decision and refresh fee set to Excessive. If each have been set to regular, you’d be capable to count on much more life out of a single cost.

Speaking of charging, OnePlus has bundled in a 100W wired charger, identical to with the OnePlus 11. In my expertise, this was adequate to get the cellphone from empty to full in simply 27 minutes.

Sadly, OnePlus has additionally introduced the OnePlus 11’s wi-fi charging provision throughout. That’s to say, there isn’t any such factor. You’ll have to splash out for the OnePlus 12 if it is a significantly essential function for you. There’s all the time the Pixel 8 should you don’t wish to spend the additional cash on a totally wi-fi cellphone.

Software program & Apps

• Android 14
• OxygenOS 14.0
• 4 years of Android updates

The OnePlus 12R provides Android 14 straight out of the field, however the days of the model’s glossy ‘stock-on-steroids’ customized UI have sadly handed. What you’re getting now’s primarily a tweaked model of dad or mum firm Oppo’s ColorOS.

Disappointment apart, OxygenOS 14.0 isn’t a nasty expertise by any means. It’s practical, quick sufficient, and customisable. It simply isn’t as sharp or slick as Google’s inventory software program, nor these customized UIs that stick nearer to it (see Motorola, Asus, and Sony for particulars).

Jon Mundy / Foundry

The fashionable OnePlus/Oppo method includes huge, vibrant icons and toggles, with a barely charmless (however once more completely practical) drag-down notification pane.

On the optimistic aspect, the Settings menu isn’t fairly the labyrinth of rival efforts from Samsung and Xiaomi, and Oppo’s promise of 4 years of software program updates is respectable. Or no less than, it might have been in earlier years.

Google and Samsung has considerably spoiled issues for different producers with their seven-year guarantees. Nonetheless, most individuals most likely received’t have their telephones for longer than a number of years, whether or not by common put on and tear or as a result of they’re on an inclusive contract.

Value & Availability

The OnePlus 12R will go on sale on February 13, 2024, which is every week later than the OnePlus 12. Pre-orders can be found on the OnePlus web site on the time of writing.

Right here’s the costs for the cellphone:

• 8GB/128GB – $499 (not out there within the UK and Europe)
• 16GB/256GB – $599/£649/€699

These within the US can get an actual steal with the OnePlus 12R, with the cellphone ranging from simply $499. That’s a whopping $300 cheaper than the OnePlus 12, and $200 cheaper than the Pixel 8, which provides a superior digicam and software program expertise, in addition to wi-fi charging and IP68 certification, however an inferior show and battery life.

Within the UK, the one model you should purchase is the 16GB model. That’s £80 cheaper than the equally specced OnePlus 11 was laster yr, and £200 cheaper than the OnePlus 12 is that this yr. It’s additionally £50 cheaper than the Pixel 8.

The OnePlus 11 has additionally come down in value because it first launched, making this one other different – although it’s nonetheless costlier than the 12R. You may take a look at extra choices in our chart of the perfect smartphones in addition to greatest mid-range telephones.

Do you have to purchase the OnePlus 12R?

If the OnePlus 12R feels in any respect acquainted, that’s as a result of it intently resembles the OnePlus 11. It’s acquired a really acquainted design, the very same processor, and the exact same most important digicam.

Nevertheless, the 12R’s show – whereas technically a slight step again in sharpness – affords a fabulously shiny and colour-accurate image. The brand new cellphone’s battery life, in the meantime, is straight out of the highest drawer.

There’s nonetheless no room for wi-fi charging or true waterproofing, which is a disgrace, and the digicam system isn’t essentially the most versatile available on the market. If these issues matter to you, there’s a OnePlus 12 on the market with all the obligatory bells and whistles, albeit at the next value.

Whereas it’s simple to really feel underwhelmed with the OnePlus 12R and its combination of reheated and made-to-order components, there’s no denying it affords a compelling flagship-ish expertise that undercuts many rivals – particularly within the US.

Specs

• Android 14 with OxygenOS 14
• 6.68in, 1.5K, OLED, 120Hz, curved show
• In-display fingerprint sensor
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
• 16GB LPDDR5X RAM
• 256GB UFS 4.0 storage
• 50Mp, f/1.8 most important digicam
• 8Mp ultra-wide digicam
• 2Mp macro digicam
• As much as 4K @ 60fps rear video
• 16Mp front-facing digicam
• Stereo audio system
• Twin-SIM
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be
• Bluetooth 5.3
• 5500mAh battery
• 100W charging
• 163.3 x 75.3 x 8.8 mm
• 207g
• Launch colors: Iron Grey, Cool Blue