a high-end mobile phone that does not cross the 1,000 euro mark to shake up the market

The OnePlus 12 has already arrived in Europe. The brand’s new high-end mobile arrives retaining some of the best features of its predecessors, and renewing other sections such as the camera or the battery to try to offer one of the best Android experiences on the market.

And this also concerns its price, since, in addition to being a device that has absolutely everything you ask for in a high-end mobile, it does for a price that does not exceed 1,000 dollars (969 dollars) in its basic version. The prices of the best cell phones from other brands (not counting foldables) cross this barrier, such as Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max, with a price of 1,469 dollars; the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, priced at 1,409 dollars; the Xiaomi 14 Ultra at 1,499 dollars or the Honor Magic 6 Pro at 1,299 dollars. The Google Pixel 8 Pro is one of the smartphones closest to the price of the new OnePlus mobile, since it costs 1,099 dollars.

The OnePlus 12 is undoubtedly one of the best and most recommended phones in the premium segment of the market right now. Its battery is one of the points in which it stands out the most, but perhaps The best thing is that the other sections don’t collide., and they maintain a very good level which means that they have practically no points against them. At EL ESPAÑOL – El Androide Libre we have been testing this mobile for a few weeks and we have been pleasantly surprised by its balance.

A recognizable design

Although it may not be one of the deciding factors in purchasing a mobile phone, at the high end the design and the experience it offers in hand are very important. In this sense, the company has opted for what it knows works and has chosen to keep the same lines as in the OnePlus 11although with some changes that improve the experience.

One of the most notable changes that was made was to locate the front camera in the center of the upper part of the screen, which we believe not only favors the aesthetics but also the usability of the mobile. This way the view of notifications starts on the edge and the hole in the screen is less invasive.

There are also changes to the back, although they are subtle, since the circular module is kept aligned to the left, which matches the aesthetic of the device very well. The flash is located outside the circumference of the module, which houses its four rear cameras and the Hasselblad badge. The feel of the back is quite soft and comfortable, and does not retain fingerprint stains, but it is true that it can slip a little in certain situations.

On the right side are all the buttons, while on the left there is only the Alert Slider, one of the most differential features of the brand’s mobile phones. It is a switch with which you can put your cell phone in silent or vibrate mode easily and without even having to turn on the screen. It is a success that the brand retains this characteristic. It doesn’t have a headphone jack, so you’ll need to connect them via USB Type C if you want to use them via cable.

Great power and software

Mobile phones are at a point where high-end power is assured with virtually any processor in the same segment, even if it’s from last year. However, the company has opted for one of the best we’ll see this year: the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.

This is a processor that can handle absolutely any app or game you throw at it. The performance is exceptional, and is perfectly complemented by the multitasking experience offered by its 16 GB of RAM. It’s one of those premium phones that can boast both raw power and efficiency, so if you need a powerful device, it’s ideal.

Its software, Oxygen OS 14 running on Android 14, is also responsible for its smooth operation. Even though it has moved away from the Oxygen we knew years ago, it is still a very good diaper. It evolves quickly and although it offers many options, it does not overwhelm the user with dozens of services and applications.

And the fact is that, from the factory, it has the basic applications to move the system, in addition to some additions that we also find on OPPO mobiles, such as O Relax or Zen Space. It should be noted that, Since the phone has infrared, it includes an app to use it as a remote control.. They can be uninstalled at any time, so they are not annoying, quite the contrary, since the user can delete them if they do not want to use them, although, personally, I find them to be very interesting functions.

Very good screen

The device panel is no slouch in terms of processor and design, and we have already told you that we really like it. It is a slightly large smartphone, with a screen size of 6.82 inches. It is OLED technology

which highlights the colors and offers a great experience, also partly thanks to its 2K resolution, although this will have to be activated from the settings.

It has a little curvature on the edges which is barely noticeable, but occasionally causes some shadows to appear, but beyond that the experience watching movies and series has been very good. HAS several modes so everyone can choose how they want to see the colorsin addition to having some adjustments to make any video smoother and with better resolution, which can improve the experience in some cases.

Its 120Hz refresh rate can be configured to be variable and save battery. In games it moves particularly well and any type of content will be seen crisply and clearly. Brightness is one of its strong pointsand it’s one of those phones that’s impossible not to see, even in the sun, so we were happy in that sense.

Of course, if special value is given to the panel, it is one of the suitable mobile phones in the premium segment, with the only drawback of curvature. In the rest of the sections it is undoubtedly highly recommended, on a par with other somewhat more expensive devices.

Amazing battery

There is no doubt that the battery is one of the most important elements of any mobile phone, and in a high end, It is appreciated to have a great deal of autonomy. After all, thanks to its power, good screen and excellent camera, it is a type of device that you love and want to use.

This, for many users, ends up leading to increased usage and consumption, so the more autonomy it can offer, the better. In this case, the OnePlus 12 can boast of an incredibly competent battery and can perfectly last two days or even more. When the device is in use, its 5,400 mAh battery holds up very well, even during heavier tasks like downloads and gaming.

It’s one of those devices with which you can forget to look at the battery level and how it’s working, and that speaks volumes in its favor compared to other phones in its segment

. It can even be difficult to unload the entire device in a single day, which speaks volumes about its optimization.

Its fast charging is not to be outdone, far from it. He has a 100 W power per cable —with the charger included in the box—, which means it can be fully charged in just over half an hour, a good figure considering the large amount of battery it has. Its 50W wireless charging will also prevent the process from taking too long.

Its camera stands out

OnePlus has maintained its alliance with Hasselblad for this OnePlus 12. Its photographic section is made up of three sensors. The main, 50 Mpx, the telephoto, 64 Mpx and the wide angle, 48 Mpx. All demonstrated very good performances.

The camera app continues its good line with available options such as cinema mode or the possibility of choosing the depth effect in portrait mode. At night, it is no slouch, and like a good high-end mobile, it obtains excellent results despite low lighting.

In this case it is capable of taking very good photos, both day and night, highlighting its good results with the main camera. The level of detail is very good and the photographs They usually reflect the color shown in realityalthough there are times when it is permissible to decorate the image a little to make it more attractive.

Even when zooming with the telephoto lens, the photos it takes can boast of being very good and easily competing with high-end smartphones that cost more. In addition to having excellent performance, one of the best on the market, in the automatic mode of its cameras, it has other options that allow you to get the most out of it, such as Master mode.

I buy it?

Without a doubt, the OnePlus 12 is one of the most recommended premium Android phones. It is an ideal device for those who appreciate a large screen and great power, whether for work or for gaming, where it also performs very well.

Your dashboard 6.82 inches It offers plenty of size and quality to be able to enjoy games, films, series, documentaries and even just use the device in the sun, where it brings out its good brightness levels. The 2K resolution makes watching any type of content a pleasure, and the variable refresh rate will adapt its smoothness to every situation.

It should also be mentioned that the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3added to its lightweight software, makes its operation very smooth and offers a great feeling of speed, which is why it is highly recommended both for gaming and for working on heavy tasks.

Its price, which is one of the most important factors when evaluating your purchase, is lower than most of its competitors. Costs 969 dollars in Europe in its basic versionand, of course, if you’re looking for a high-end phone that stands out in everything, this is a purchase that will be difficult to regret, since it starts with less money than some of its main competitors.