Tech Blog #142 | OnePlus 12 - Worthy consideration..

Last year's OnePlus 11 was a good device, but it had some downgrades from the prior OnePlus 10 Pro, like lack of wireless charging and IP ratings. So, OnePlus had heard those comments and answered back to the customers with the OnePlus 12. Let's take a look at it..

The OnePlus 12 has a sleek and premium design that prioritizes durability and a modern aesthetic. It has a thickness of 9.2 mm and a weight of 220 grammes, presenting a substantial yet manageable build. It is made with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for the front and Gorilla Glass for the back, as well as an aluminium frame, and provides a sturdy build quality as well as protection against scratches and minor impacts. Furthermore, the IP65 rating ensures resistance to water and dust, increasing its durability for daily use.

The 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED display on the OnePlus 12 provides vibrant visuals and a superior viewing experience. Its impressive 2.5K resolution (510 ppi density) ensures sharp and detailed imagery. The screen has an adaptive refresh rate of 1-120 Hz, which allows for seamless transitions and smooth scrolling while saving battery life by adjusting the refresh rate based on content. Support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. It has a maximum brightness of 4500 nits (typical), 1600 nits (HBM), and an impressive peak brightness of 4500 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in bright outdoor conditions. Furthermore, an Always-on Display feature provides easy access to important information even when the device is locked.

The OnePlus 12 is a beast, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. Its octa-core processor, in conjunction with the Adreno 750 GPU, ensures smooth graphics rendering and powerful gaming capabilities. In terms of memory and storage configurations, the device provides a number of options to meet the needs of a wide range of users. It is available in 256GB with 12GB RAM, 512GB with 16GB RAM, and a top-tier configuration of 1TB with 16GB RAM. The use of UFS 4.0 technology allows for faster data read/write speeds, which improves overall performance and app loading times. This large storage capacity and RAM configuration provide plenty of room for multimedia, apps, and seamless multitasking without sacrificing speed or efficiency.

The OnePlus 12 features a sophisticated camera setup designed in collaboration with Hasselblad, a well-known imaging brand. Its rear camera configuration is as follows.
Primary camera : A 50 MP wide-angle lens with a focal length of 23mm and a sensor size of 1/1.4". This camera features multi-directional PDAF and OIS, ensuring detailed and stabilised shots even in low-light situations.

Telephoto Camera: This camera has a 64 MP periscope telephoto lens with a focal length of 70mm and supports 3x optical zoom and up to 6x lossless magnification. It has PDAF and OIS for sharp, detailed zoom shots.

Ultrawide Camera: A 48 MP ultrawide lens with a focal length of 14mm and a field of view of 114 degrees. It has PDAF for precise capture of large landscapes and group shots.

Hasselblad Colour Calibration rounds out the camera setup, which supports a variety of functions. The OnePlus 12 can record videos in 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60/240fps, and 1080p@30/60/240fps, ensuring high-quality video recording at various resolutions and frame rates.

The OnePlus 12 comes with a powerful dual-cell 5,400mAh battery, the largest battery in a OnePlus device to date. The device has extremely fast wired charging capabilities, with speeds up to 100W. It promises a quick charge from 1% to 100% in about 26 minutes. The OnePlus 12 adds up to 50W of wireless charging support. This feature allows for a charge from 1% to 100% in about 55 minutes. Furthermore, the phone supports 10W reverse wireless charging, allowing users to charge other compatible devices wirelessly. These charging features provide users with a variety of options for quickly charging their device, catering to a variety of charging needs throughout the day.

The OnePlus 12 supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, an IR blaster, USB Type-C 3.2, and stereo speakers with 24-bit/192kHz audio for improved sound quality.

In China, the 12/256GB model costs CNY 4,299 ($607), while the 24GB RAM and 1TB storage variant costs CNY 5,799 ($818). Pre-orders are currently being taken in China, with open sales beginning on December 11. The global launch date is expected, with suggestions pointing to January 24 or 23, depending on the market.

The OnePlus 12 is expected to be a high-performance flagship, with an impressive array of features, top-tier specifications, and strong performance in both hardware and software. I think it bwill be able to deliver well for OnePlus drawing missed fans to the brand again.