OnePlus 12R Review: Solid phone with good value for money!
Today we are reviewing the OnePlus 12R smartphone. It debuted alongside the OnePlus 12, offering a more budget option at $500. While it comes with a slightly lower price tag compared to its sibling, it still promises to deliver a solid smartphone experience with a good quality-to-price ratio. But does it live up to this promise in practice? Let’s delve into our OnePlus 12R review to find out.
OnePlus 12R: Video Review
| Specs | OnePlus 12R |
| Display | 6.78 inches, LTPO4 AMOLED, 120Hz, 1264 x 2780 pixels, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 4500 nits (peak) |
| CPU | Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 740 |
| Memory | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM |
| Memory Card slot | No |
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, color spectrum |
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| OS | Android 14, OxygenOS 14 |
| Rear Camera | 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 8 MP, f/2.2, 112˚ (ultrawide), 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro) |
| Front Camera | 16 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.0µm |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| GPS | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS |
| NFC | Yes |
| Battery | 5500 mAh, non-removable |
| Charging | 100W wired, 1-100% in 26 min (advertised) |
| Dimensions | 163.3 x 75.3 x 8.8 mm (6.43 x 2.96 x 0.35 in) |
| Weight | 207 g (7.30 oz) |
| Protection | IP64, waterproof and dustproof |
| Colors | Iron Gray, Cool Blue, Electric Violet |
OnePlus 12R: Design
The OnePlus 12R is an elegant and sophisticated addition to the OnePlus lineup, with familiar design elements. Drawing inspiration from its predecessors, the OnePlus 12R boasts the signature rectangular parallelepiped shape with gently rounded corners and edges, reminiscent of the OnePlus 11 from the previous year.
The hallmark of OnePlus’s high-end smartphones, the circular photo block on the back, houses three powerful lenses alongside a flash, all arranged in a “hob” format. While the color scheme softens the hob effect, the rest of the back, crafted from a black plastic with a subtle sheen, maintains the brand’s identity while offering a modern twist.
Constructed with an aluminum frame and a glass screen, the OnePlus 12R exudes a premium feel, although some elements, such as the Alert Slider, are crafted from plastic. Despite this slight departure, the device retains its practicality, with the Alert Slider seamlessly allowing users to switch between ringtone, vibrate, or silent mode with ease, albeit with a minor play in its dimensions.
Flip the 12R smartphone over to reveal a large 6.78-inch screen with sleek curved edges. The selfie lens is conveniently placed at the top center of the panel, and the edges are neither too thin nor too thick.
With dimensions measuring 163.3 x 75.3 x 8.8 mm, the OnePlus 12R maintains a sizable yet manageable profile, while its weight of 207 grams provides a substantial feel without being cumbersome. Furthermore, boasting an IP64 certification, the device offers robust protection against dust and water splashes from all directions, while the Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 ensures durability and resilience against daily wear and tear.
Usage
The OnePlus 12R offers a balanced blend of ergonomic design and innovative unlocking methods. While the edges feature subtle rounding, they maintain sufficient protrusion to provide a secure grip, preventing accidental slips. Although the back surface tends to be somewhat slippery, its sandy texture offers just enough grip to instill confidence without sacrificing comfort.
Notably, the button placement may pose challenges for users with smaller hands, with the volume down button positioned higher than on its predecessor, and the volume up button potentially positioned too high for easy access. However, the power button’s placement beneath the thumb ensures convenient access.
The OnePlus 12R’s dimensions may prove cumbersome for some pockets, underscoring its substantial footprint. Unlocking the device presents two efficient options: facial recognition, which configures swiftly and unlocks with remarkable speed, and a responsive fingerprint sensor that showcases OnePlus’s advancements in biometric technology.
When laid flat, the device allows for comfortable text input and touchscreen manipulation up to two-thirds of the way down. However, its stability may be compromised, as it exhibits slight shaking during use.
Display
The device’s screen boasts an expansive 6.78-inch diagonal with a resolution of 2780 by 1264 pixels, resulting in a crisp pixel density of 450 pixels per inch (PPI). With a screen-to-body ratio of 94.2%, the OnePlus 12R maximizes display real estate while maintaining a compact form factor. Sporting a 19.8:9 aspect ratio, the screen strikes a balance between verticality and width, offering an immersive viewing experience.
Furthermore, the LTPO panel supports a dynamic refresh rate of up to 120 Hz, adjusting seamlessly between 1 and 120 Hz based on usage demands to optimize battery life. Certified for Dolby Vision, DisplayMate A+, HDR10+, and HDR Vivid, the screen delivers vibrant colors and impressive brightness, with a peak brightness of 4500 cd/m². However, the high brightness mode caps at 1600 cd/m².
Although the automatic brightness feature generally performs well, occasional discrepancies may arise, necessitating manual adjustments. Additionally, users should note that the default resolution may not maximize the screen’s potential, warranting customization to achieve optimal clarity and detail.
Software
The OnePlus 12R brings forth a compelling user experience, albeit with a slight concession regarding software updates. Offering three years of Android updates and four years of security patches, OnePlus falls short of its previous promises. In an era where competitors like Samsung and Google are extending their support, this decision might raise eyebrows among consumers. However, the inclusion of Android 14 and OxygenOS 14 interface brings a sense of freshness and continuity to the device’s software ecosystem.
Despite this drawback, the user interface remains familiar and detailed, though some settings may require a bit of exploration to locate. OnePlus’s signature Monet feature returns, allowing users to customize the interface’s colors based on their wallpaper, enhancing personalization options.
Moreover, the OnePlus 12R offers a plethora of customization features, ranging from quick settings icons to fingerprint animations and edge lighting. Users can even modify home screen icons and lock screen shortcuts, tailoring their experience to suit their preferences.
The device’s always-on display mode provides essential information at a glance, including time, date, battery status, notifications, and even current music playback. Users can customize this feature with various patterns, texts, images, animations, or clocks.
Multitasking is made effortless with features like split view and floating window mode, enabling users to run multiple applications simultaneously and even resize them as needed. The inclusion of Shelf mode offers quick access to essential shortcuts and widgets, streamlining navigation and enhancing productivity.
Additionally, the OnePlus 12R introduces a folder system reminiscent of MagicOS, optimizing screen real estate and facilitating efficient app organization. Despite the presence of a few pre-installed applications like Netflix and TikTok, OnePlus enhances the user experience with value-added features like the IR Remote app for controlling external devices, O Relax for relaxation and meditation, and Zen Space for fostering focus and productivity.
Furthermore, the device’s Widevine L1 DRM certification ensures compatibility with high-quality streaming services, while the “Video color enhancement” option enables HDR video playback for an immersive viewing experience.
OnePlus 12R: Performance
The OnePlus 12R doesn’t hold back when it comes to performance, boasting the formidable Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, Qualcomm’s powerhouse SoC for 2022/2023. While newer models have since emerged, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 remains a reliable and efficient choice, supported by a generous 16 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and an Adreno 740 GPU.
Benchmark results speak volumes about the device’s prowess, with impressive scores across the board:
- AnTuTu 10: 1261666
- AnTuTu CPU: 259485
- AnTuTu GPU: 602182
- PC Mark 3.0: 13899
- 3DMark Wild Life Extreme: 3676
Comparing performance with its counterparts, the OnePlus 12R holds its ground admirably, offering a compelling alternative to smartphones in a similar price range. While there may be slight differences compared to the OnePlus 12, the overall performance remains commendable.
In day-to-day usage, the OnePlus 12R excels with seamless app launches and swift multitasking capabilities. Gaming enthusiasts will also find delight in its performance, with the ability to play demanding titles like Fortnite and Genshin Impact at maximum graphics settings without encountering significant slowdowns.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, though slightly dated, continues to deliver impressive performance. To fully unlock its potential, users can activate “Pro Player” mode in the game settings and enable “High Performance” mode in the battery settings.
Storage-wise, the OnePlus 12R offers ample space with 256 GB of UFS 3.1 storage, although a variant with 512 GB would have been welcomed by users with higher storage demands.
To ensure optimal thermal management during intense usage, the device features a double steam chamber and a mechanical framework designed to reduce temperatures by up to 7°C and 1.5 to 2°C, respectively. While the smartphone may heat up during extended gaming sessions, it remains within acceptable limits, ensuring a worry-free experience for users.
Camera
The OnePlus 12R boasts a versatile camera setup, featuring four distinct sensors to cater to various photography needs:
Main Sensor: A 50 MP Sony IMX890 sensor with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), offering excellent color fidelity and sharpness. However, dynamic range management can sometimes result in underexposed dark areas, and corners may appear slightly blurry in some shots.
Ultra-Wide-Angle Sensor: An 8 MP Sony IMX355 sensor with a wide 112° field of view. While it maintains good color consistency with the main sensor, it may suffer from underexposure and lack of pronounced HDR treatment in certain situations.
Macro Sensor: A 2 MP sensor focusing at 4 cm, though its usefulness is limited compared to a telephoto lens. Images from the macro sensor may exhibit poor definition, overly yellow colors, and duplicated background blurs.
Selfie Sensor: A 16 MP front-facing sensor capable of capturing decent selfies with good color reproduction, but may struggle with dynamic range management and detail recovery in low-light conditions.
While the OnePlus 12R’s camera setup offers satisfactory performance overall, certain aspects may fall short of expectations, particularly in low-light and night photography scenarios. The night mode may struggle to gather sufficient light, resulting in dark photos, especially when using the main sensor. The ultra-wide-angle sensor may suffer from digital noise and lens flares in low-light conditions.
On the other hand, portrait mode delivers satisfactory results with good skin tone reproduction and natural background blur, although some loss of detail may occur in certain areas.
For video recording, the OnePlus 12R supports 4K at 60 frames per second and offers a slow-motion mode capable of capturing footage at up to 480 fps in 720p resolution (and 240 fps in 1080p).
Audio
The OnePlus 12R offers an immersive audiovisual experience, complemented by Dolby Atmos compatibility for enhanced sound quality. While the absence of a headphone jack may inconvenience some users, the device supports wired audio through the USB-C port or wireless connectivity via Bluetooth 5.3.
Equipped with dual speakers, the OnePlus 12R ensures an immersive audio experience for multimedia consumption. However, there’s a notable volume disparity between the two speakers, which may create an imbalance when holding the phone horizontally, detracting from the overall audio experience.
Network
In terms of connectivity, the OnePlus 12R features a traditional dual nanoSIM slot setup, eschewing eSIM support. Essential connectivity features such as 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, and GPS are all present, ensuring seamless connectivity in various usage scenarios.
Calls
Audio calls on the OnePlus 12R deliver impressive clarity and natural sound reproduction, even in noisy environments. Wind noise suppression works effectively, while echo cancellation ensures clear communication in empty spaces. However, the audio output for media consumption falls short of expectations, with overpowering bass and lackluster treble performance, detracting from the overall audio quality.
Battery life
Powering the OnePlus 12R is a robust 5500 mAh battery, consisting of two 2750 mAh cells. With moderate usage, the device can last up to two days on a single charge, thanks to its efficient power management system. Even during intensive tasks such as gaming, the battery performance remains respectable, with minimal depletion over extended gameplay sessions.
The OnePlus 12R exhibits outstanding battery endurance, ranking among the top performers in its category. With a battery life of 15 hours and 27 minutes in simulated real-world usage scenarios, the device showcases its reliability and longevity.
The OnePlus 12R features SUPERVOOC technology, enabling ultra-fast charging capabilities of up to 100W. With this technology, the device theoretically achieves a full charge from 1% to 100% in just 26 minutes. Additionally, OnePlus claims that the battery capacity will remain above 80% even after approximately 1,600 charge cycles, ensuring long-term battery health.
OnePlus 12R: Conclusion
The OnePlus 12R earns a solid 4 out of 5 rating, thanks to its impressive overall performance and few notable shortcomings. While it may have some minor flaws such as the redundant macro sensor, darker-than-desired photos in certain conditions, and a slightly shorter update cycle compared to some competitors, these issues do not outweigh its many strengths.
One of the standout features of the OnePlus 12R is its stunning display. With a beautiful and well-defined LTPO screen that’s calibrated to perfection, users can enjoy a visually immersive experience that complements the device’s powerful performance. Whether it’s gaming or multimedia consumption, the OnePlus 12R’s display ensures an optimal viewing experience.
Speaking of performance, the OnePlus 12R excels in this aspect as well. Powered by a robust chipset, it handles all the latest games with ease and is future-proofed for years to come. Coupled with its efficient battery management, the device offers commendable battery life, further enhanced by its rapid charging capabilities.
Overall, the OnePlus 12R is a highly recommended device, offering a compelling combination of performance, display quality, and battery life.
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