OnePlus usually makes good phones that are strong and not too expensive. They call them "flagship killers" because they have top features but cost less than other top phones. Recently, they launched the OnePlus 12 series.
The regular OnePlus 12 costs more now, about ₹65,000. This puts it in competition with expensive phones like the iPhone 15 and Samsung Galaxy S24. But, the OnePlus 12R is still trying to be a "flagship killer." It starts at ₹39,999, which is more affordable.
The OnePlus 12R has some good improvements.
It has a new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, a bigger battery (5,500mAh), and a better screen.
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I used the OnePlus 12R for about 20 days to see how it works in real life.
💡Table of Content
➥ Battery ➥ Camera ➥ Software ➥ Display ➥ Decision
➥ Look and sense
The OnePlus 12R looks similar to older OnePlus phones, but it still feels nice with its rounded camera and glass back. It's got strong glass on the front for protection. Even though it has a big screen, it's easy to hold because of its curved edges.
But the glass back can be slippery and gets smudged easily, so it's smart to use the cover it comes with.
One cool change is that it now has an IR blaster on top. And the handy Alert slider has been moved to the left side.
➥ Performance
The big change in the OnePlus 12R is it now uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, which was also used in top phones like the Samsung Galaxy S23 and OnePlus 11 last year. It's not the absolute fastest chip anymore, but it still gives a great experience without needing to spend extra for a top-end phone.
With 16GB of RAM, this phone feels really smooth to use and handles everything easily, from browsing the web to playing demanding games like Call of Duty and BGMI on the highest settings. It doesn't get too hot or drop frames during long gaming sessions, which is impressive.
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The phone's RAM management is also good, keeping apps running in the background without any issues for a long time.
It did well in benchmark tests like Antutu and Geekbench, with scores showing it's a solid performer.
OnePlus clarified that the 256GB version of the OnePlus 12R actually uses UFS 3.1 storage, not UFS 4.0 as they initially said during the launch.
➥ Battery
The new OnePlus 12R has a much better battery compared to previous models. It now has a really big 5,500mAh battery, the largest ever in a OnePlus phone. This, combined with a more efficient chip inside, means the phone stays on for a long time. In my experience, it consistently lasts for 8-9 hours of use.
Luckily, OnePlus hasn't followed the trend of some other top-end phones. The OnePlus 12R still comes with a really fast charger in the box. They say it can charge the phone from 0 to 100% in about 25 minutes, and based on my tests, that's pretty accurate.
➥ Camera
The OnePlus 12R has a not-so-good camera compared to the OnePlus 12. The 12R uses a 50MP Sony IMX890 sensor, but it's a bit better because of the improved Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip. The OnePlus 12 has a 50MP LYTIA 808 sensor with Hasselblad branding.
In good light, both phones take nice, detailed photos with natural colors. But in low light, the 12R is okay but has some glare issues. The lack of a telephoto camera is noticeable, and the digital zoom options aren't as good as a real zoom. The 2x zoom is decent, but the 5x zoom isn't useful except for reading distant text.
The 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens is surprising with good results in good lighting, but in low light, it loses some color and detail. The 2MP macro camera is not very useful, just a gimmick.
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The 32MP selfie camera on both phones is good in both good and low light, capturing detailed images with natural skin tones.
➥ Software
The OnePlus 12R uses OxygenOS, based on Android 14. However, it gets updates for three years and security patches for four years, not like the OnePlus 12, which promises four years of updates. So, the OnePlus 12R will only get updates up to Android 17.
Apart from that, the software on the OnePlus 12R is like other OnePlus phones, similar to regular Android but with some cool features. For example, you can make one app run at a faster speed. There aren't many apps already on the phone, except for Netflix and OnePlus apps. But you can remove or turn them off in the Settings.
➥ Display
The new OnePlus 12R has a bigger and better screen compared to its previous version. It's a 6.78-inch display with improved brightness and support for HDR 10+ and Dolby Vision. This means you can use the phone easily, even in bright sunlight.
OnePlus kept the curved display for both the 12R and the pricier OnePlus 12, but it works well. The larger curved screen, which doesn't accidentally react to touches, makes tasks like watching YouTube or using the phone outdoors hassle-free.
➥ Other features
The OnePlus 12R has good protection against water and dust with an IP64 rating. It can handle splashes and rain but shouldn't be fully submerged. The phone features Aqua Touch for a smooth experience with wet screens, but this may not always work perfectly.
It has powerful stereo speakers that stay clear even at high volume. The 5G connectivity and call quality on the OnePlus 12R are reliable.
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The in-display fingerprint sensor is quick and accurate, even outperforming the one on the OnePlus 12. Face Unlock works well, even in low-light situations. Overall, the OnePlus 12R offers solid performance and security features.
➥ Decision
The OnePlus 12R is a good phone overall. It has a fast processor and a good camera, plus improvements like a bigger battery, a larger display, and water resistance.
But, there are some downsides. It doesn't have a special zoom lens, and the 2MP macro camera might not be handy. Also, it gets less software support than other OnePlus phones. The price difference between the 128GB and 256GB versions doesn't make much sense, especially since the more expensive one doesn't have faster storage.
The OnePlus 12R is a good deal, especially the 128GB version. It's a strong choice for a phone under ₹40,000, though the iQOO Neo 9 Pro launching soon might offer tough competition.
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