The OnePlus 12R strikes a balance between flagship features and mid-range pricing, offering powerful performance with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, a smooth 120Hz display, and an impressive battery life. While it excels in speed and efficiency, some compromises in camera capabilities and premium features keep it firmly in the mid-range category.

Design and Display

The device sports a 6.78-inch LTPO4 AMOLED display (2780 x 1264 pixels) with 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision support. Available in Iron Gray and Cool Blue, it features an aluminum frame and glass back with IP65 rating. The innovative Aqua Touch technology detects water drops on screen. While impressive, it lags behind the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE’s Dynamic AMOLED 2X display in color accuracy.

Operating System

Shipped with OxygenOS 14, based on Android 14, the phone offers a clean interface with the new Trinity Engine for improved performance. It is already eligible for an upgrade to Android 15-based OxygenOS 15. With the promise of three years of OS updates since the first launch, it competes well with Pixel 7a’s update policy but falls short of Samsung’s four-year commitment.

Processor

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset delivers flagship-level performance, supported by an advanced dual vapor chamber cooling system. While powerful, it faces tough competition from the Pixel 8’s Tensor G3 chip in AI capabilities.

Camera

The triple rear camera setup features a 50MP main sensor (f/1.8, OIS), an 8MP ultra-wide (f/2.2, 112-degree FOV), and a 2MP macro lens. The front houses a 16MP selfie camera. The primary sensor captures detailed, vibrant images in good lighting. However, it falls behind the Pixel 7a’s computational photography capabilities, especially in low light. The ultra-wide lens, while serviceable, can’t match the iPhone SE’s color consistency, and the macro lens feels more like a specification checkbox than a useful tool. Video recording at 4K/60fps is stable thanks to OIS and gyro-EIS, although the iPhone SE still leads in video quality. Portrait mode performance is decent but lacks the refined edge detection of Samsung’s mid-range offerings. Night photography, while improved from previous models, still trails behind competitors in the same price range. The OnePlus 13R features a significantly upgraded camera system with improved sensors and image processing, resulting in better image quality across all lenses, including superior low-light performance and enhanced video capabilities.

RAM and Storage

Options include 8GB/128GB and 16GB/256GB configurations with UFS 3.1 storage. No expandable storage is available, unlike some competitors offering microSD support.

Sound

Stereo speakers provide clear audio output, although they lack the depth of the iPhone SE’s speakers. The phone supports Dolby Atmos for enhanced audio experience.

Battery

The 5,500mAh battery with 100W SUPERVOOC charging outperforms most competitors in its price range, offering excellent endurance and rapid charging capabilities.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Exceptional performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
• Impressive 120Hz AMOLED display
• Outstanding battery life with fast charging
• Clean, customizable OxygenOS
• Premium build quality with IP65 rating

Cons

• Subpar ultra-wide and macro cameras
• No wireless charging
• Limited storage expansion options
• Missing advanced camera features
• Fingerprint-prone blue variant

Market Buzz

User reviews highlight strong performance and value proposition, with particular praise for the display and battery life. Camera limitations and missing premium features are common criticisms, although overall satisfaction remains high.

Pricing

• 8GB RAM + 128GB Storage: ₹39,999
• 16GB RAM + 256GB Storage: ₹42,999

Final Verdict

The OnePlus 12R delivers exceptional value with flagship-level performance and display quality, although camera limitations and missing premium features reflect its mid-range positioning in the Indian market.