The OnePlus 12 Series has finally made its way to India. While the OnePlus 12 features the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, the OnePlus 12R continues the flagship killer legacy of the company at an aggressive price. Both devices come with the new ProXDR AMOLED display and support for 100W fast charging.
However, with a price difference of Rs 25,000 between the two models, the OnePlus 12R looks much more appealing than the OnePlus 12. Let’s find out which OnePlus flagship is the perfect fit for you.
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OnePlus 12R Beats the OnePlus 12 With Price
The OnePlus 12 is priced at Rs 64,999 for the base model with 12GB+256GB storage, while the OnePlus 12R starts at just Rs 39,999 for the 8GB+128GB base model. Although the elder sibling brings several upgrades such as a higher resolution screen, a better camera setup, and support for wireless charging, the starting price of the OnePlus 12R is enough to entice some users.
In fact, OnePlus 12R is the cheapest phone in the market with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, which is still one of the fastest processors among Android devices. From what it brings to the table, the OnePlus 12R is a steal deal for its price, considering that we already have the iQOO 12 with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 at just Rs 52,999, which makes the OnePlus 12 look a little expensive.
OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 12R: The Differences
It is no doubt that the OnePlus 12 is ahead of the OnePlus 12R from a specifications perspective. Starting with the display, although both devices share the same ProXDR AMOLED technology, the OnePlus 12 gets a 2K resolution screen, while the OnePlus 12R is limited to 1.5K. But both phones support the new Rain Touch feature, which allows you to use your device even when the screen is wet.
The biggest change between the two smartphones is at its core, where the OnePlus 12 comes with the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, while the OnePlus 12R has the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 from last year. The performance difference between the two chips is almost 30%, which may affect the longevity of your device if you are planning to use it for more than 3 years.
If you switch devices every two years, then the OnePlus 12R will serve you well without any lags. Anything longer than that, then you should start looking at the OnePlus 12.
OnePlus 12 gets a Hasselblad-powered camera setup, whereas the OnePlus 12R misses out on these special optics. The OnePlus 12 features a 50MP primary camera with OIS, which is powered by the latest Sony LYT-808 sensor. The telephoto lens is a 64MP OmniVision OV64B sensor with support for 3x optical zoom and OIS, while the ultrawide lens is a 48MP sensor.
In contrast, the OnePlus 12R has a 50MP primary camera backed by the Sony IMX890 sensor, with support for OIS. While this sensor has a good reputation, the Sony LYT-808 on the OnePlus 12 is far superior. The other two cameras on the OnePlus 12R are no match for its OP12 either, as it only gets an 8MP ultrawide lens and a 2MP macro shooter. Coming to the selfie camera, the OnePlus 12 gets a higher resolution 32MP sensor, compared to the 16MP shooter on the 12R.
If cameras are a priority for you, then spending the premium for the OnePlus 12 is a wise choice.
Other than these changes, the OnePlus 12 and 12R are quite similar to each other. The top model gets a 5400mAh battery, while the flagship killer gets a 5500mAh battery. Both models support 100W SuperVOOC fast charging. The OnePlus 12 has a slight advantage as it has additional support for 50W wireless charging.
Both phones come with the OnePlus signature alert slider, stereo speakers, 5G connectivity, in-display fingerprint scanners, and splash resistance against water. They also feature the same Oxygen OS 14 based on the latest Android 14 version. OnePlus will provide 4 years of software updates to both phones.
OnePlus 12 or OnePlus 12R: Which One Should You Buy?
Practically, the difference between 2K resolution and 1.5K resolution is not that much. As both phones share the same ProXDR display technology with Rain Touch support, the screen in itself is a hard factor to consider in making your purchase decision. You will get an equally good visual experience on both, the OnePlus 12 and the OnePlus 12R.
The biggest differentiating factor between the two is the camera setup. If you are a camera enthusiast, the OnePlus 12 is the better fit for you as it gets an improved primary camera and a telephoto lens that can produce better portrait images than the OnePlus 12R. The Hasselblad optics also improve the overall picture quality on the top model.
If you plan to use the phone for more than 3 years, the OnePlus 12 is an ideal choice as it comes with a 30% faster chipset. If these two factors do not bother you, then the OnePlus 12R is an ideal choice as it has a much better price-to-performance ratio, than the OnePlus 12. Afterall, the younger sibling is still a flagship phone.
Is the OnePlus 12R Better than the OnePlus 11?
The OnePlus 11 is actually closer to the OnePlus 12 than the OnePlus 12R. Although both devices share the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, the OnePlus 11 again beats the OnePlus 12R with an enhanced camera setup and a higher resolution screen.
For comparison, the OnePlus 11 also sports a Hasselblad-powered camera setup. It comes with a 50MP primary camera with OIS, a 32MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom, and a 48MP ultrawide lens. This setup is much better than the triple rear cameras on the OnePlus 12R, which lacks a telephoto lens. However, the selfie camera on these two devices is similar at 16MP.
The OnePlus 11 currently retails for around Rs 55,000 in India, which is still significantly higher than the OnePlus 12R. However, OnePlus is expected to reduce the price of its flagship from last year, as the new OnePlus 12 has now been released. Until then, the OnePlus 12R offers better value for your money, while the OnePlus 11 will give you a better camera setup.
OnePlus 12: Specifications
Display: 6.78-inch ProXDR LTPO AMOLED screen, QHD+ resolution of 3168 x 1440 pixels, 120Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
Software: OxygenOS 14 based on Android 14
RAM and Storage: 12GB/16GB LPDDR5X RAM, 256GB/512GB UFS 4.0 storage
Rear cameras: 50MP primary with OIS (Sony LYT-808 sensor), 64MP periscope lens with 3x optical zoom and OIS (OmniVision OV64B sensor), 48MP ultrawide lens (Sony IMX581 sensor), Hasselblad Setup
