OnePlus 12: Still a Powerhouse in 2025, Now $300 Off
▼ Summary
– The OnePlus 12 is a highly complete 2024 flagship phone with premium build, reliable performance, and the fastest wired and wireless charging speeds on the market.
– It deliberately prioritizes core phone features like charging, battery life, and performance over integrating headline generative AI services, which may appeal to users not focused on AI.
– The device improves upon previous OnePlus models by including previously omitted features like wireless charging, a better low-light camera, and an official IP rating, all at a competitive starting price.
– Its main shortcomings are a telephoto lens limited to 3x optical zoom with some quality issues and an IP65 rating that falls just short of the industry standard for water resistance.
– While new US tariffs on imports may increase smartphone prices, the OnePlus 12 is positioned as the best-value phone at its price point for its well-rounded features and carrier support.
Even in 2025, the OnePlus 12 remains a top-tier smartphone contender, especially now that a significant discount makes it an even more attractive proposition. While many competitors have raced to integrate generative AI, OnePlus took a different path with this model, focusing instead on core user experience. This approach resulted in a device that excels in the fundamentals: blistering charging speeds, all-day battery life, and smooth, reliable performance. For users who prioritize these tangible benefits over emerging AI gimmicks, this phone is a standout choice.
My appreciation for the OnePlus 12 stems from how it addresses the brand’s historical shortcomings. This is the most complete package the company has ever offered, finally including features like wireless charging, a competitive low-light camera, and an official IP rating, all at a very compelling price. Currently, the 512GB variant is available for a substantial $300 reduction, bringing its cost down to just $600.
Compared to its predecessor, the OnePlus 11, the improvements are immediately noticeable. The build quality feels more refined, with a polished, marble-like finish that sits comfortably in the hand thanks to subtly curved edges. The performance, driven by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, handles everything from intensive gaming to heavy multitasking without a hiccup. While its peak brightness spec is impressive, the real-world difference in outdoor visibility compared to rivals is more subtle than the numbers suggest.
One design change that takes some adjustment is the relocated alert slider. Moving it to the left side and requiring a toggle action makes switching between ring, vibrate, and silent modes less intuitive than before. Apart from this quirk, the overall industrial design is distinctive and premium, especially as other major brands have moved away from curved displays.
A notable absence at launch was a suite of proprietary generative AI tools. For many, this isn’t a drawback. After switching between this device and AI-heavy alternatives, I rarely found myself missing those assisted features. It’s worth noting that recent software updates have begun to bridge this gap, adding popular tools like Circle to Search and AI-powered photo unblur, bringing it closer to its competitors in that regard.
The camera system is largely excellent, with the primary 50MP sensor consistently capturing natural-looking colors and accurate lighting. However, the telephoto lens reveals some limitations. Capped at 3x optical zoom, it struggles with more distant subjects, often producing images that lack detail. The portrait mode can also falter with complex subjects, like intricate hairstyles, where edge detection for the bokeh effect isn’t always perfect.
Where the OnePlus 12 truly dominates is in battery life and charging. It houses a massive 5,400mAh battery that reliably delivers over a day and a half of use. More impressively, its charging technology is class-leading. The included 80W wired charger refuels the phone astonishingly fast, and its 50W wireless charging capability, though requiring a proprietary dock, outpaces the wired charging of many other flagship devices.
For its price, the OnePlus 12 offers an exceptionally well-rounded feature set, including broad 5G carrier support and a premium design. The compromises are fewer than ever, though the telephoto camera’s limitations and an IP65 rating that falls just short of the highest water resistance standard are points to consider. If these are acceptable trade-offs for you, this device is easy to recommend, particularly at its current discounted price.
(Source: ZDNET)
