Introduction
The OnePlus brand was brought up to the peak in the smartphone space due to high-flying, performance-packed devices offered at very competitive prices. Their latest additions, the OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 12R, just slam on to the continuation of that tradition. While both phones pack a wallop in terms of specifications and the introduction of modern features, there is a distinct reason some users may prefer one over the other.
We are going to deep dive into the specifications of OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 12R to help you get a hold of which one will be the best for you.
Design and Build
The OnePlus 12 and 12R designs are so modern and productive, with the best craftsmanship ever seen. The OnePlus 12 has a glass finish on the backside and comes in matte frosted form to give it a smooth look, coupled with no fingerprints or smudges. The OnePlus 12R, on the other hand, goes for a glossy finish, hence the shininess. Both of them, though, sport an aluminum frame to make them strong and solid.
Display
Yet the display has to be one of the most talked-about features in both devices. That of the OnePlus 12 stands at a 6.7-inch Fluid AMOLED that carries a resolution of 3216 x 1440 pixels—all at a refresh rate of 120Hz. That ensures very sharp visuals with vibrant colors and smooth scrolling. The display of the OnePlus 12R is a bit low-profile at 6.55 inches and a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels.
This means that, although the OnePlus 12R display is a little smaller and less sharp, it still provides great visuals right out of the box, with deep blacks and radiant colors.
Performance
The OnePlus 12 will be powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, currently one of the most advanced chipsets available for Android smartphones.
This is coupled with up to 12GB RAM provision; this guarantees the OnePlus 12 high performance in a varied functionality. From graphics-intensive gaming to smoothly switching between a variety of apps and using productivity tools, the OnePlus 12 does it easily.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is crafted to do high-performance tasks efficiently. Therefore, in the OnePlus 12, one would have a phone fully able to stand the claim of top performance robustly. On the forums, the OnePlus 12R sports a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888.
This processor is now a generation behind compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, but still—no slouch. Complemented further by its maximum 8GB screen front, the OnePlus 12R is poised to be a champion at handling minimal, day-to-day tasks and light gaming. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 doesn't have as many legs in comparison to the newer generations, but on a general level, it handles most apps just fine.
Having to compromise a bit on the bleeding edge of performance in favor of balance and reliability, the OnePlus 12R goes on to hit the sweet spot for a lot of users.
It offers very responsive performance with a good balance that must meet the majority of users' requirements. In raw performance, that's where the difference would be found: with the newer processor in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and higher RAM capacity, the OnePlus 12 is most suitable for power users. Although less fancy, the OnePlus 12R still outperforms in your typical dailies and with light gaming; thus, it's quite a bargain for the money.
Camera
When it comes to photography, the setup in its cameras is more advanced on the OnePlus 12 than the 12R. The OnePlus 12 boasts a three-sensor setup: a 50MP main sensor, a 48MP ultra-wide sensor, and an 8MP telephoto sensor, which is pretty well adequate in capturing almost every kind of photographic shot possible out there.
This is a 50MP main sensor, which grabs in for a lot of detail and produces heavily lifelike photos; the 48MP ultra-wide sensor captures extensive landscapes, while the 8MP telephoto sensor captures far subjects clearly.
This will help in enabling a camera system adaptive to varied shooting scenarios when enthusiasts are trying out different genres of photography. Compared to this, the OnePlus 12 comes with dual, very powerful lenses: a 48MP main sensor and a 16MP ultra-wide sensor. This setup can still get the job done quite well and yield extremely nice images, but what it doesn't offer is the extra telephoto lens available on the 12.
This might just be off-putting for those who want to catch subjects farther than that without distortion in the image's resolution. In that regard, while the dual camera system on the OnePlus 12R is quite well-suited for photography every day and produces great results in pretty much all scenarios, it doesn't offer the flexibility that the OnePlus 12's triple-camera setup does.
Actually, the OnePlus 12 best recommended for users who are end-consumers increasingly prioritizes features on advanced photography, looking for a more dynamic camera experience. Comparatively, OnePlus 12R holds its ground pretty well on photography but is more attuned to anyone looking for a reliable camera for their daily work.
Battery life and charging
Battery life and the ability to hold charge with ease mean a lot to any user of a smartphone, and that is something the OnePlus 12 does pretty well in—nothing much different from the OnePlus 12R in certain ways. The OnePlus 12 has a powerful 5000mAh battery, ensuring users can conduct heavy usage for a full day without the need for a top-up.
The supported form of wired charging is up to 80W, whereas the cellphone has features of 50W of wireless charging—a cable-free convenience. Such technologies will bring the combination of battery capacities and fast-charging technologies into users' experiences, making the OnePlus 12 stand out as a top pick for people keen on quick and efficient recharging.
In contrast, the inner side of OnePlus 12R mounts a 4500mAh cell slightly less in capacity. That's still substantial and yields very good battery life, but may not last quite as long as the OnePlus 12 in that kind of usage.
While it does support 65W wired charging, the OnePlus 12R will top up just a tad slower than the OnePlus 12's 80W rate. Moreover, this OnePlus 12 brother model harbors no kind of wireless charging, which may be a slight inconvenience to individuals who desire the convenience that comes with wirelessly topping up their devices.
Even though both perform quite well, in terms of battery capacity and recharging choices, the OnePlus 12 could just move ahead by a hair. The OnePlus 12R remains very much compelling to anyone whose ears aren't tickled by wireless charging along with what is a market leading battery to begin with.
Software
Both the OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 12R run on OxygenOS, which is just another custom version of Android made by OnePlus. OxygenOS has garnered much attention for its near-stock Android experience with the addition of various customization options. It is known for its clean and intuitive interface, and it's why many Android fans love it. Near-stock Android, with more customization options to individualize how the interface looks. Fast and responsive, the system is designed to improve the user experience with less bloatware and a focus on performance and usability.
Both the OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 12R are supposed to receive periodic updates of their software to meet both the feature and security obligations that demand emergence. OnePlus's commitment to timely updates means that users can expect improvements and new features to be rolled out as they become available. This supports the longevity of the devices, qualifying them as a worthy investment for the user who desires a phone that will deliver top-notch performance over the years.
To sum up, both the OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 12R are beneficiaries of that well-reputed OxygenOS, and assuring smooth and user-friendly experiences for the users. That said, the difference in software between the two models may be infinitesimal, considering that they come with more or less the 86 % same amount of functions and update coverage.
Price and Availability
OnePlus 12:
The OnePlus 12 is really going to be in that price tier bracket of flagship, where it costs between AED 1,815 and AED 2,200. It is going to be in that bracket for a reason: the device is premium, holding top-tier specifications and features.
The OnePlus 12 comes with a beautiful 6.7-inch Fluid AMOLED display that hosts a screen resolution of 3216 x 1440 pixels and a refresh rate of 120Hz, which brings on board clear visuals and smoothness for an immersive view. It comes under the hood with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor to run intensive tasks seamlessly.
This processor is coupled with up to 12GB of RAM, allowing for smooth multitasking and swift app launches.
The OnePlus 12 camera system comprises a triple arrangement of 50 MP as the main sensor, 48 MP for the ultra-wide, and an 8 MP telephoto sensor, designed to ensure reliability during photo sessions. They are together very flexible toward photography, from wide landscapes to photos of a remote object with great clarity.
The device goes on to support 8K video recording, making it supremely revered in the eyes of videophiles. The battery endurance still comes high, packing just 5000mAh, while the device comes with 80W wired charging and 50W wireless charging, making sure the user is super quick in being juiced up and well-connected throughout the day. Advanced features on the OnePlus 12 will include 5G connectivity and in-display fingerprint sensors, rounding out its suite of high-end offerings.
OnePlus 12R:
All this costs AED 1,836 for the OnePlus 12R, hence bearing a way cheaper price tag than the sibling model, OnePlus 12. But cheap in price, features the OnePlus 12R, which offers a great deal for the users due to strong performance and many features. All this comes in with a smaller 6.55-inch AMOLED display with 2400 x 1080-pixel resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate.
It is not as high-res and does not refresh quite as fast as the OnePlus 12 display, but it's also bright with vivid colors and fluid visual elements—perfect for the common user.
In terms of performance, the OnePlus 12R is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, one generation below the included Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, thus providing some really decent performance with day-to-day use and gaming.
It is aided by a memory of up to 8GB for the smotherer's possible multitasking experience. The camera system in the OnePlus 12R converges around a dual-setup sensor of 48MP and an ultra-wide sensor of 16MP. It doesn't feature a telephoto one like this, so it has no magnification ability like the OnePlus 12, but still it will deliver fine picture and video quality.
The OnePlus 12R is powered by a 4500mAh battery and a 65W wired super flash charger, just like the OnePlus 12, to enable convenient and fast charging of the device even on the go. However, it lacks wireless charging, a feature found on the more expensive model.
Conclusion
So, in brief, though five different market segments are being targeted by the OnePlus 12 and the OnePlus 12R, fully speaking, an entirely different set of strengths and weaknesses is dictated by those products, respectively.
The OnePlus 12 is meant to attract users who desire the very best in display, processor, and camera capabilities—all that today's advanced smartphone technology has to offer, and for that one would need to shell out a premium. With its long list of features and a high price, this model definitely doesn't fail in placing reason as an explanation as to why it's one of the flagship devices. In this regard, the OnePlus 12R is very balanced performance and price-wise.
This offers so many high-end features at a more approachable price that appeals greatly to the user who strongly performs but can't afford the ticket price of a flagship model. Either of these devices could help fit another piece of gear into your arsenal, depending on your individual needs and your budget at the time.
FAQs
1. Which display is better, of the OnePlus 12 or of the OnePlus 12R?
The display on the OnePlus 12 will definitely be better compared to that of the OnePlus 12R. It comes with a Fluid AMOLED display of 6.7 inches, with 3216 x 1440 pixels resolution and support for 120Hz refresh rate while displaying graphical elements and giving back more engaging without choppiness as much.
The OnePlus 12R also has a good display, only a bit smaller in size, with a 6.55-inch AMOLED display supporting a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels and running at a refresh rate of 90Hz. It would bring bright color and a somewhat smoother overall look to visuals, but the clarity and degree of refresh rate it can offer would not be as good as that of the OnePlus 12.
2. How does its camera differ from that of the OnePlus 12R?
It differs big time between the camera placements of the OnePlus 12 and 12R. Actually, the OnePlus 12 embraces a much more functional system, which includes a 50MP primary sensor aided by a 48MP ultra-wide and an 8MP telephoto camera that makes everything possible to be captured at will, including zoom and wide-angle shots.
Opposed to this, the OnePlus 12R is equipped with dual cameras: one 48MP main sensor and a 16MP ultra-wide image sensor. Not having any telephoto lens from the sibling series of the OnePlus 12, the quality of imaging and video recording are guaranteed in this device.
3. How the battery and charging occur in case of the OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 12R are a bit different?
While both phones support rounding-off charging, the main difference between the OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 12R lies in their battery sizes.
The OnePlus 12 sports a larger 5000mAh battery, configured for 80W wired and 50W wireless charging. On the OnePlus 12R, one finds a 4500mAh battery that allows for 65W fast contribution but no wireless filling. The large 4500mAh battery still makes quick work of refills on the OnePlus 12R.
4. Just how much can the OnePlus 12R really go against the OnePlus 12?
There are indeed some performance differences for both the OnePlus 12 and the OnePlus 12R.The latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 sits inside the OnePlus 12, supposedly with better performance and efficacy than the ones used in the OnePlus 12R with a Snapdragon 888.
Of course, the OnePlus 12 processors boast tremendous performance—inTerms of Loading up complex tasks to playing the most beastly AAA mobile games at herculean settings—with up to 12GB of RAM. But don't expect the OnePlus 12R to be super-powered with a Snapdragon 888 CPU, up to 8GB of RAM; all this is not going to make any difference against the OnePlus 12 anyway.
5. Which one gives better value for money?
In that respect, the OnePlus 12R offers much more, with a starting price of AED 1,836 and is supposed to do quite well concerning most features a high-end phone hosts but costs much less.
The OnePlus 12, however, is expected to start at a price of around AED 1,815-2,200. It'll sport top-of-the-line specs, with a few truly flagship features turned on, so it makes people who will pay top dollar for top-end tech costly. Hence, people will have to make choices based on budget versus desire for new features.
