The OnePlus 12R doesn't just look nearly identical to the OnePlus 12; it also includes many of its best features. You get the same excellent AMOLED display, the rapid 100-watt fast charging, and the largest battery on any OnePlus phone. Keep on reading our OnePlus 12R review to see how it performs in the real world.
OnePlus 12R Price
The OnePlus 12R essentially offers the core experience of the OnePlus 12 but at a more affordable price of just Rs 39,999. Of course, there have been some budgetary trims to hit that price point.
It doesn't have wireless charging or the Hasselblad-tuned cameras that the OnePlus 12 boasts, and it runs on a chipset from the previous generation.
But here's the thing— these trade-offs aren't really deal-breakers, and if you can overlook them, the OnePlus 12R could very well be the budget friendly powerhouse you've been searching for.
OnePlus 12R Unboxing
Here's a comprehensive breakdown of what you'll find in the retail package when you purchase the OnePlus 12R:
- OnePlus 12R Smartphone: The centerpiece of the package.
- 100W SUPERVOOC Power Adapter: Provides rapid charging capabilities, ensuring your device gets powered up quickly.
- Type-A to C Cable: Facilitates connectivity and charging with the included power adapter or other compatible devices.
- Quick Start Guide: Offers essential information to get you started with your new OnePlus 12R, ensuring a smooth setup process.
- Welcome Letter: A personal touch from OnePlus, greeting you to the family and highlighting the company's commitment to its users.
- Safety Information and Warranty Card: Important details about the device's safe usage and the warranty terms provided by OnePlus.
- Logo Sticker: A small token allowing you to showcase your OnePlus brand loyalty on your laptop, smartphone case, or anywhere you like.
- Screen Protector (pre-applied): Ensures your device's display remains scratch-free right from the moment you unbox it.
- SIM Tray Ejector: A handy tool for easily accessing the SIM card tray, making it simple to insert or swap SIM cards.
- Protective Case: Offers immediate protection for your OnePlus 12R against drops, bumps, and scratches.
- OnePlus RCC Card: A unique addition that provides information about the OnePlus Red Cable Club, offering exclusive benefits to members.
OnePlus 12R Design & Utility
The OnePlus 12R takes its design cues from the OnePlus 12, sporting the same overall dimensions and that circular camera module that kinda melts into the aluminum frame on the side.
I'm also a big fan of this 'cool blue' colour. Its reflective glass back not only looks great but also offers a firmer grip compared to the OnePlus 12's matte exterior, though it's a bit of a magnet for fingerprints.
Now, OnePlus has mixed things up a bit by switching the placement of the volume buttons and alert slider on both the OnePlus 12 and 12R, placing the volume buttons on the right edge alongside the power button, and moving the alert slider to the left.
This might require a bit of getting used to for existing users, but I find this new layout more intuitive and easier to navigate. At the bottom of the phone, you'll find a USB Type-C port and the speaker grille.
This, along with a second speaker at the top, provides a pretty solid stereo sound experience. Additionally, there's an IR blaster on the top, allowing you to control various smart devices around your home.
Upfront, the 12R has a curved display, framed by impressively thin bezels, and it's shielded by Gorilla Glass Victus 2. It also comes with a pre-applied screen guard, though its quality isn't the highest, and I'd suggest opting for a tempered glass protector instead.
As for water resistance, the OnePlus 12's IP65 rating already drew some criticism, and the 12R goes a bit lower to IP64. This means it can handle a splash or two but it lags behind phones like the Pixel 7a and Galaxy A54, which come with stronger IP67 ratings.
OnePlus 12R Display
The OnePlus 12R sports a 6.78-inch AMOLED ProXDR display, featuring a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and 2780 x 1264 pixels resolution. That's slightly smaller and less resolution-heavy than the OnePlus 12, but the 12R stands out by being one of the first smartphones to incorporate the latest LTPO 4 technology.
Basically, the screen on this phone offers even more dynamic refresh rate adjustments, switching between 60, 72, or 90Hz and ramping up to 120Hz for rapid scrolling while also dropping as low as 1Hz for enhanced battery efficiency.
It’s a bit odd why the more expensive OnePlus 12 didn't receive LTPO 4 while the 12R did, but I guess that's one of the unique perks of opting for the OnePlus 12R.
Beyond the advanced LTPO capabilities, the display itself is sharp as heck, boasting excellent colours and great viewing angles. It also gets Dolby Vision and HDR 10+ credentials, so it's perfect for enjoying content on streaming platforms.
It even matches the OnePlus 12 with a crazy high peak brightness of 4500 nits, ensuring the screen is more than bright enough for clear visibility even in bright daylight…
OnePlus has also introduced a feature they're calling 'Aqua Touch,' aimed at making the screen less susceptible to interruptions caused by raindrops.
The idea is that you'd be able to use the phone's display smoothly, even when it's wet, avoiding any accidental touches. However, in my experience, it didn't perform as seamlessly as OnePlus suggested. Hence, I'd advise not to depend too much on this feature
Also Watch: OnePlus 12 Review
OnePlus 12R Camera
The OnePlus 12R gets a triple camera setup on the back, featuring a 50MP main sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and unfortunately, a 2MP macro camera instead of a dedicated telephoto lens.
The main camera does the bulk of the work, capturing appealing shots in good lighting conditions. Colours are vibrant, details are sharp and exposure is well balanced in most of the photos I took.
There’s a fair amount of natural depth of field without the portrait mode, but even when you turn it on, you can get some really nice images with accurate edge detection. Even in low-light situations, the main camera holds its own, delivering generally crisp details and minimal image noise.
The 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens gets the job done, and there’s not a huge difference in color rendition between it and the main lens, but the details at the edges of the frame can appear a bit soft.
It’s a shame that there’s no telephoto lens onboard, especially since even cheaper phones are offering one these days. Instead, the camera app provides toggles for 2x and 5x zoom levels, achieved by digitally cropping into the image from the main lens. The 2x zoom holds up decently well, thanks to the 50-megapixel resolution providing ample room for cropping, but things can get a bit fuzzy at 5x zoom.
When shooting videos with the rear camera, the 12R lets you record in 4K at 60fps. The quality is pretty good, though it won't blow you away. I noticed that the videos look a bit overexposed and the dynamic range isn't as wide as some might hope.
The electronic image stabilization could be stronger too, so expect a slight shake when walking. However, the detail in the videos is sharp, and noise is hardly an issue. All in all, it does a decent job for everyday video capture.
The front camera on the OnePlus 12R packs a 16MP sensor, and when you're out and about in good light, it does a pretty solid job. HDR can be a bit aggressive, but you end up with pics that are sharp and full of detail.
When it comes to video, the front camera has EIS to keep things smooth, letting you film up to 1080p at 30fps. It's decent, but having the option to shoot in 4K would've been a welcome addition, especially for the price.
OnePlus 12R Specifications & Performance
The OnePlus 12R runs on the older Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, but it's still plenty powerful. It scores high on benchmark scores and performs even better in day-to-day usage.
App switching is seamless, multitasking is a breeze, and it handles graphic-heavy games like Genshin Impact as well as any phone in the 40,000 Rupees price segment. I also didn't notice any overheating issues during gaming; the phone's back warmed up just a bit, but nothing alarming, indicating efficient heat management.
This comes down to a couple of key reasons: first, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset does an excellent job at keeping things cool. Second, there's this new VC Cooling System that uses a dual-vapor chamber design to help the phone stay at a comfortable temperature, even when you're gaming for long stretches.
Now, I've been doing all my testing on the 16GB RAM and 256GB storage model but I'd wager that even the 8GB RAM version performs just as good in its price range.
That being said, I do have to point out something important. When OnePlus first launched the 12R, they said the 256GB model would have the super fast UFS 4.0 storage. The website even said the same thing. Turns out, that’s not actually the case .
OnePlus has actually apologised for the miscommunication, and now they are saying that both the 128GB and 256GB versions are just getting UFS 3.1 storage instead. So, if you were looking forward to snagging the OnePlus 12R for those speedy storage speeds, this might be a bit of a dissapointment.
OnePlus 12R Software
The OnePlus 12R features the same OxygenOS built on Android 14 as the OnePlus 12. Honestly, ever since OnePlus merged with Oppo, it's no longer my preferred Android interface, but it's still relatively clean and easy to navigate.
Also, just like the OnePlus 12, the 12R doesn’t come with all those fancy AI features that Google and Samsung are heavily emphasising on their premium smartphones. But, that should change soon as OnePlus has already started to roll out some AI features in China.
For now, though, in India and most other places, this device is sticking to the basics – it’s just a regular smartphone, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The biggest letdown with OxygenOS comes from OnePlus’s limited software support.
The 12R is on the schedule for just three years of OS updates and four years of security patches, taking it up to Android 17 and lasting until 2028. That’s dwarfed by Google and Samsung’s commitment to seven years of OS updates for their latest flagships, a policy rumored to be adopted by the upcoming Pixel 8a as well.
OnePlus 12R Battery Life
The OnePlus 12R shines in the battery department, boasting a hefty 5,500 mAh battery—that's 100mAh more than the OnePlus 12. This bump in capacity seems to counterbalance the slightly less efficient Snapdragon Gen 2 chip, but it's also a notable 10% increase over the OnePlus 11's battery size.
In practice, this meant the phone easily powered through more than a day on a single charge for me. Adding to its strengths, the OnePlus 12R comes with the well-known SuperVOOC charging technology. With the included 100W charger, you're able to fully charge the phone in just under 30 minutes.
What you won't find on the 12R, though, is wireless charging—a feature that returned with the OnePlus 12 this year. Sure, more features are always better, but if dropping wireless charging was necessary to keep the price down — and squeeze in an extra 500mAh of battery life — I'm cool with that compromise.
OnePlus 12R Review Verdict
The OnePlus 12R flagship phone offers a compelling package, offering a lot of bang for your buck without costing as much as the flagship OnePlus 12. It's got enough power under the hood for most folks, the battery keeps going strong, it charges super quick, and the camera is totally fine for everyday shots.
Just keep in mind that if you’re eyeing the full suite of features like the latest processor, wireless charging, and extended software support, you might want to lean towards the OnePlus 12.
But, if those extras aren’t deal-breakers and you’re after a reliable Android phone that’s kind to your budget, the OnePlus 12R is definitely worth a look.
OnePlus 12 Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Affordable Price Point: The OnePlus 12R offers a premium smartphone experience at a more accessible price, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious consumers.
- High-Quality AMOLED Display: With its 6.78-inch ProXDR screen featuring LTPO 4 technology, adaptive refresh rates, and high peak brightness, the display is ideal for various multimedia content.
- Powerful Battery with Rapid Charging: The inclusion of a large 5,500 mAh battery coupled with 100W SuperVOOC charging technology means the phone charges quickly and lasts longer.
- Competent Camera System: Despite some limitations, the triple camera setup with a 50MP main sensor captures vibrant and detailed images in various lighting conditions.
- Performance: Running on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, the OnePlus 12R delivers smooth and efficient performance, handling everything from daily tasks to graphic-heavy games like Genshin Impact.
Cons:
- Lack of Wireless Charging: Unlike its predecessor, the OnePlus 12R does not support wireless charging, which may disappoint some users.
- Limited Water Resistance: With an IP64 rating, the OnePlus 12R offers less protection against water and dust compared to some competitors.
- Storage Miscommunication: The initial claim of UFS 4.0 storage was retracted to UFS 3.1, leading to potential disappointment for those expecting faster storage speeds.
- Software Support: The promise of only three years of OS updates and four years of security patches falls short of the longer support periods offered by competitors like Google and Samsung.
Also Watch: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review
