It is January 2024, and OnePlus has marked its tenth anniversary with a device that returns the brand to its ‘flagship killer’ roots, but with a luxury finish. The OnePlus 12 is a 220g technical powerhouse that has abandoned the compromises of the previous few years, reintroducing wireless charging and a top-tier telephoto lens. In the UK, it has arrived as the ‘smoothness king,’ featuring a stunning ‘Flowy Emerald’ glass back with a marbled texture that mimics the darting channels of a river.
The technical headline is the ‘ProXDR’ display. This 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED (3168 x 1440) reaches a staggering, industry-leading 4,500 nits of peak brightness, ensuring perfect visibility even in the brightest sunlight. Under the hood, it is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, managed by the new ‘Trinity Engine’ to ensure consistent frame rates and instant app launching. The camera system, developed with Hasselblad, features the new Sony LYT-808 ‘Pixel Stacked’ sensor and a 64-megapixel periscope telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.
Connectivity is cutting-edge with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and the return of 50W ‘AIRVOOC’ wireless charging. The 5,400 mAh battery is one of the largest in its class, supporting 100W SUPERVOOC wired charging that can hit a full charge in just 26 minutes. It also features ‘Aqua Touch,’ a technical innovation that allows the screen to remain fully responsive even when covered in raindrops, a perfect addition for the UK climate. The OnePlus 12 is a masterclass in value-driven engineering; it is a fast, bright, and incredibly long-lasting device that proved OnePlus is once again a top-tier contender.