OnePlus 12 Review: The Return Of The Flagship Killer
OnePlus has always delivered great software and a wonderful user experience, and the OnePlus 12 maintains this tradition. While OnePlus’ OxygenOS 14 (built on top of Android 14) shares code, design, and features with Oppo’s ColorOS, it still looks and feels like OxygenOS used to before merging with ColorOS. Basically, it remains quick and polished, without straying too far from stock Android.
OnePlus 12 Software And User Experience
Moreover, OxygenOS offers helpful customizations, without relying on AI gimmicks. For example, there’s Zen Mode, which encourages you to minimize distractions by temporarily disabling your phone. What’s more important, however, is that OnePlus is promising four years of OS upgrades and five years of security updates, so the OnePlus 12 will likely be useful for several years before getting recycled.
We’re also glad to report that our OnePlus 12 review unit shipped with minimal bloatware. Besides Google’s familiar apps and some helpful OnePlus apps (like a file manager, game mode, and voice recorder), it only came with a single pre-installed third-party app – Netflix – which can easily be uninstalled.
OnePlus 12 Pricing And Competition
Here in the US, the OnePlus 12 is available unlocked from OnePlus, Amazon, and Best Buy in Silky Black for $799 (12/256GB) and in Silky Black or Flowy Emerald for $899 (16/512GB). Preorders start Jan 23 and open sales begin Feb 6. OnePlus is also offering a permanent $100 trade-in credit with any phone in any condition, and $100 off the 16/512GB configuration, bringing the price down to just $699.
The OnePlus 12’s main competitors are Google’s Pixel 8 Pro ($999), Samsung’s Galaxy S24+ ($999) / S24 Ultra ($1299), and Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro ($999) / 15 Pro Max ($1199). If you’re a gamer, the RedMagic 9 Pro ($649) and ROG Phone 8 ($1099) are also worth considering. For those living abroad, check out the recent Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-equipped flagships from Xiaomi, Oppo, Realme, and IQOO.
OnePlus 12 Review Summary
Between last year’s OnePlus Open and this year’s OnePlus 12, it’s clear that OnePlus is back on track. The company’s return to making no-compromise, value-focused flagships is a welcome and refreshing change in strategy, and we’re here for it. Starting at just $799, the OnePlus 12 brings superb value to the flagship segment, alongside a gorgeous display, excellent cameras, and outstanding battery life.
We also like the OnePlus 12’s quality speakers, blazing performance, fast wired and wireless charging, and great software. Still, there’s room for improvement. The marble-like glass finish on our Flowy Emerald review unit is a miss in our opinion, and we’d prefer a proper IP68 rating, along with support for mmWave 5G. But those are minor quibbles. Ultimately, we highly recommend the OnePlus 12, and it deserves our Editor's Choice award.
The flagship killer is back, baby.
