Not just any other mobile phone, since the OnePlus 12R is the more enhanced variant of that “killing the flagships” philosophy that OnePlus became known as. The perfect blend of high-performance flagship grade, and usable for real world usage is exactly what we loved about the 12R that made it offer a premium spec for all but kill it in the price.
First Thoughts: No Bloatware in Premium Design
You know the build quality isn’t rag-tag with OnePlus 12R as soon as you open the box. The 3D curved edge of the screen simply melts into an anodized aluminum frame causing that premium in-hand feeling. The back comes in matte glass which not only helps it to resist fingerprints but has a nice lack-luster look too — no over-the-top camera bump or excess branding here
Feeling solid, the phone is 8.3mm thick and weighs in at only 207g. Alert slider, a long lost Honeycomb staple feature of the OnePlus ecosystem reappears allowing you to switch profiles in no time rather than perusing through settings. Fast and highly accurate in-display fingerprint reader as well as IR blaster (yes, it is something for controlling home appliances in many countries like mine) is a very nice addition
Refresh: Gentle, Vivid and Not Eye Straining
OnePlus Truly Shines on the Fluid AMOLED Fluid Display of 6.78″ in OnePlus 12R
It has 120Hz LTPO 4.0 adaptive refresh rate in a dynamic 1-120Hz range per content, so saves (greedy) battery without the slowness. Every scroll in socials or gaming is quite buttery as well.
Max Brightness: 4,500 nits (actual usage is around the ~1,600 nits and reading is still easy outside) 10-bit color depth with HDR10+ certification to provide vibrant accurate colors that you would get when streaming movies or editing photos. Also, the display is **so much less harsh using PWM dimming at **2160Hz
Performance: Flagship Performance, Optimized Efficiency
Running the quickest version of Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 **“, (a scorched earth version of what is currently found in last year’s top flagships) mean that the OnePlus 12R is able to multitask with the best of them, and games that would be black screens on other recently launched mid-range devices. It also comes with *up to 16GB LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB UFS 4.0 storage* so apps open like lightning, background processes are buttery.
The real muscle the 12R futzes with. Extremely capable in *gaming, brought console-level graphics courtesy of the Adreno 740 GPU and HyperBoost makes frame drops yearn in games such *as Genshin Impact* / Call of Duty Mobile. 3D cooling – Maintains a stable performance without the need for throttling.
All-day battery life Charge blinding-fast
Largest 5,500mAh battery in class The largest 5,500mAh battery in its class — usually lasting longer than a full day (and frequently until the second) with extreme use. For charging, there is 100W SuperVOOC which can bring the phone from 1% battery to full in 26 minutes — not wireless here (but quick enough that you probably won´t notice he recharged your phone) once more.
Unlike some of the competition, long-term battery health enhancements such as optimized overnight charging and high speed AI power management are supported by the AR series.
Cameras: Daniel Ellsberg Capable Not Gimmick
The 12R has moved from those pixel explosion three-camera systems to focus on real-world userabilityOnePlus helped:
- 50MP Sony IMX890 primary (OIS) – Very sharp and balanced images across most lighting conditions.
- 8 MP ultra-wide – Solid for landscapes but not nearly as good as the primary sensor
- 2MP- Close work with macro posting
With OIS + EIS stabilization for sharp video capture up to a 4K/60fps and in Night Mode its incapables to deliver dirty low-light shots as well. Not quite world-class level cameras like the OnePlus 12 or iPhone 15 Pros, but good enough for photography.
Software: Clean, Latent and Equipment Support
Drenched in OxygenOS 14 (based on Android 14), the 12R provides a nearly stock Android experience with intuitive OnePlus touches. The UI lacks bloatware but overcrowded with customization.
ProsStarting from the OS end, the OS provides 4 years of software updates and 5 years of security patches which is more than what one can find in any mid-range device.
Best value flagship of 2024 verdict
The OnePlus 12R is no longer just a cheaper OnePlus12—that’s a for-the-better in most cases. Instead, it carries the flagship experience roots (display and performance and battery) stripped of some of those luxuries that have inflated the industry cost and added nothing towards differentiation.
Who Should Buy For It?
- flag sue this is for you if a power user that wants the fastest flagship but who saves some *franking
Mobile Gamers: This is for anyone that wants long-term performance and a superbly built top-tier display. - comfy with software/long-term user who prefers stock firmware and battery life
Who Should NOT Get it?
- Photo Enthusiasts that must have the telephoto or Leica processing
- Wireless charging fanatics who use Qi pads.
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Final Thoughts
The OnePlus 12R stands out as a perfect flagship-midranger compromise in an overloaded market. That one prove that a premium experience is not only not exclusive to $1,000 Devices… but a well optimized device that keeps your priorities in check.
For those of you that want a phone that can do everything well in one go, the OnePlus 12R might well be your best phone under $600 in 2024.
