OnePlus is shaking things up this 2024 and decided to finally bring its R models to more markets like the Philippines. That’s we now get to review the new OnePlus 12R.
Enthusiasts know that this model is a rebranded OnePlus Ace 3, which was exclusive to the Chinese market. However, fans and readers in markets like the Philippines see it as a slightly downgraded flagship from last year, the OnePlus 11.
So, in our OnePlus 12R review, we’ll try to clarify the identity of this sub-flagship smartphone and see if its controversial price tag is indeed too much or justified.
OnePlus 12R Specs
- Android 14, OxygenOS 14
- Dual SIM, Dual standby
- 6.78-inch 2.8K LTPO4 OLED display, 2780 x 1264 pixel resolution, 450ppi
- 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, Dolby Vision, HDR10+
- Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
- 3.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 octa-core processor
- SUPERVOOC S Charging Management Chip
- 8GB/16GB RAM
- Adreno 740 GPU
- 512GB UFS 4.0 internal storage, non-expandable
- 16-megapixel front camera
- 50-megapixel (IMX890, 1/1.56-inch, OIS) + 8-megapixel (ultra-wide) + 2-megapixel (macro) rear cameras, LED flash
- IP64 dust and water resistant
- Under-display fingerprint scanner, Face unlock
- Stereo speakers, No headphone jack
- HSPA+, 4G LTE, 5G
- WiFi 7, dual-band
- Bluetooth 5.3
- GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
- NFC
- USB-C
- Dimensions: 163.3 x 75.3 x 8.8mm
- Weight: 207g
- Colors: Cool Blue, Iron Gray
- 5,500mAh non-removable battery, 100W SUPERVOOC wired charging
Design and Build Quality
The OnePlus 12R looks the same as the OnePlus 11 and even the current flagship, the OnePlus 12. It has that distinct large camera island in the back and a huge, curved OLED screen on the front.
It has a sturdy aluminum frame with a matte texture that keeps it clean from fingerprint marks and smudges.
The OnePlus 12R is available in two color options, both of which I was able to test out. The Cool Blue model looks more eye-catching, but the shiny surface is a fingerprint magnet.
Meanwhile, the Iron Gray model is slightly more muted and simple, but actually looks more interesting when you look closely.
It has a brushed metal look with minuscule glitters that make the whole rear panel glimmer as it reacts to light. The best part is, it stays clean from fingerprint marks — perfect for no-case users.
For durability, the OnePlus 12R feels like a robust and well-built phone. I didn’t use a case during our time with it, primarily because, sadly, it didn’t come with one. Thankfully, it didn’t get any nicks or scratches. However, the pre-applied screen protector easily got marks on it.
The actual screen behind the protective film should do a better job at handling light scratches. After all, it’s the latest Gorilla Glass Victus 2 from Corning. I highly suggest to replace the plastic film with a tempered glass if you want it to be more protected.
The 12R stayed firm and rigid when I did a couple of light bend tests. It is also IP64 dust and splash-resistant, so it should withstand minor water splashes like rain.
It also feels incredibly nice and comfortable to hold. It’s quite thick at 8.8mm, but that meant it’s more ergonomic in the hands, especially with the curved sides in the front and back. It is also reasonably weighty at 207g, but that’s probably because of its massive battery.
Taking a tour, we have a large 6.78-inch OLED screen on the front, with the aforementioned smooth curves on the sides, and a punch hole for the 16-megapixel camera. Bezels are not the thinnest, but still look sleek.
We have the noise-isolating mic on the top, together with the IR blaster and a hole for the stereo speaker.
The left side has OnePlus’ signature Alert Slider, which is still as grippy and tactile as ever. Sliding it up and down is pretty smooth.
On the right, you can spot the volume controls and the lock/power switch. They are not the most satisfying buttons I’ve tested but still clicky and well-made.
The bottom has the USB-C port, primary speakers and microphone, and a SIM tray that can hold two nano SIM cards.
On the back, we have the famous camera island, which houses the sensors in a 2×2 layout. The first one is the main sensor, next to it is the ultra-wide, while below them are the macro and a flicker/color sensor. The LED flash is on the top left corner.
OnePlus also added ridges on the bezel of the camera island, reminiscent of professional lenses and expensive watches. Nice touch.
Overall, the OnePlus 12R is a well-built and comfortable device. The design might be the same as its siblings, but it’s something I actually appreciate as it meant that OnePlus spent its time wisely by polishing what was already working great instead of starting again from scratch by coming up with a completely new design. The company will probably refresh the design in the next generation.
Display and Sound Quality
The OnePlus 12R has a very packed display. What we have here is a 6.78-inch AMOLED Pro XDR screen that uses an LTPO 4.0 panel. It has a sharp 2780 x 1264 resolution, 450ppi, 1000Hz touch response rate, 2160Hz PWM dimming, 4500 nits of peak brightness under HDR10+, HDR Vivid, and Dolby Vision.
You can fine-tune the screen color modes and color temperature in the settings. You can also adjust the eye comfort and sleep features, as well as enable the anti-flicker features. Enable the Nature Tone Display to use a special ambient sensor that will match the screen’s temperature to your surroundings.
Image sharpener and video color boost features are also here. You can also adjust the screen resolution between 2376 x 1080 and the native 2780 x 1264 for better power efficiency. The screen refresh rate can be set to Standard (60Hz) or High (120Hz), which means it’s not adaptive like the OnePlus 11. You can also assign particular apps to run on a specific refresh rate.
Display quality, as expected, is great. HD streaming and Dolby Vision worked well on platforms like Netflix, making visuals more appealing to the eyes. The high refresh rate was also felt and the sharpness is more than enough.
Outdoor visibility is also not an issue and the Nature Tone Display worked seamlessly, which I appreciate as someone with sensitive eyes.
For audio, the stereo speakers match the impressive screen. Volume is loud without being ear-tingling, the treble is crisp and the bass is beefy for a powerful sound. Stereo separation is also audible.
OnePlus also highlights the 12R’s Dolby Atmos features with Spatial Audio that works both wired and wirelessly.
Hardware and Performance
The OnePlus 12R is powered by the last generation’s flagship chip, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, with an Adreno 740 GPU, 16GB of RAM and 256GB of non-expandable storage. For the price, and considering that there’s only one variant available, I was already expecting at least 512GB of storage.
OnePlus 12R Benchmark Scores
It may not have the latest flagship chipset in the market today, but it’s still one of the most powerful processors for a smartphone. So, it’s no surprise that it crunches day-to-day tasks without breaking a sweat; whether it’s web browsing, shooting content, video calls, and running multiple apps at once.
Gaming performance was also great. Genshin Impact, one of the most demanding mobile games around, was smooth under Medium settings. If visual quality is your top priority, you can dabble with High and Highest settings but expect frame drops here and there.
PUBG Mobile and Mobile Legends had no issues under Ultra, Farlight84 under Extreme, Call of Duty Mobile under Max settings, and Asphalt 9 under High-Quality settings. However, I did notice the device started to warm up after an hour of playing under Performance Mode. Fortunately, it wasn’t hot enough to throttle and cause frame drops to interrupt the gaming experience.
| Game | Graphics Settings |
| Call of Duty: Mobile | • Graphics Quality: High • Frame Rate: Max |
| Farlight84 | • Graphics Quality: Extreme • Frame Rate: Extreme • Resolution: Medium |
| PUBG Mobile | • Graphics Quality: Medium • Frame Rate: Ultra |
| Genshin Impact | • Graphics Quality: Medium (Default) |
| Mobile Legends: Bang Bang | • Graphics Quality: Ultra • Frame Rate: High • HD Mode: On |
| Asphalt 9: Legends | • Graphics Quality: High • Frame Rate: High • HD Mode: On |
Software and User Interface
The OnePlus 12R runs on Android 14-based OxygenOS with the new Trinity Engine that brings new features and design elements that make it faster and smoother.
OxygenOS, as you already know, is identical to ColorOS from OPPO, OnePlus’ sister company. As I’ve said in the past, it’s one of the best interfaces in the market as it feels polished, has the right sizes for the icons and fonts, and has features that are easily accessible.
There are a bunch of customization features to choose from. You can pick between AOD wallpapers, adjust the fonts, app icons, and UI theme colors, and customize the look of Quick Settings.
You can also enable Edge Lighting with three colors to choose from. It lights up the two edges of the screen, even when the screen is off, whenever you receive notifications.
For better multitasking, the OnePlus 12R has a Split View function, which you can access by a 3-finger swipe up within an app.
Floating Bar is also here to give you quick access to commands and apps of your choosing anywhere you are in the interface. Also here are Kids Mode, Simple Mode, and Zen Space.
Gesture navigations are smooth and comfortable to use, but the traditional three-button navigation is still here if you want to use it. The one-handed mode can be easily accessed for better reachability.
For those worried about storage, the OnePlus 12R almost doesn’t have any bloatware and unnecessary apps that take up space. Only 20.3GB is reserved for the System and 3.61GB for the Others. Still, this one should have at least 512GB already, considering most midrange smartphones right now come with 256GB.
Virtual RAM expansion, surprisingly, is not enabled by default, unlike in most devices today. In case you feel like the 16GB of RAM is still not enough, you can use the feature to borrow 4GB, 8GB, and 12GB from the storage and convert it into virtual RAM. During our time with the device, I didn’t find the need to use it.
For biometrics, the in-display fingerprint scanner on the OnePlus 12R worked fast and reliably during our tests not unless, of course, your finger or the screen is wet. You can also choose between seven different animations to customize its look.
I find that the face unlock was faster in unlocking the device. Simply pull it up to your face and it’s unlocked and ready for you, even if your face is slightly off the camera’s angle. You may enable both options, though, so there’s not need to choose one over the other.
HyperBoost is also here, which is a gaming window you can access while playing games. It shows real-time CPU and GPU stats, fps counter, and lets you choose between three power modes: Balanced Mode, Low Power Mode, and Pro Gamer Mode.
There are also shortcuts to block notifications and calls, touch and network optimizations, screenshot or screen recording, voice changer and game filters, and more.
The camera app is straightforward to use. You can easily switch to the lens you want to use and access different camera features.
Like ColorOS, it uses Google Keyboard by default, which is our preferred keyboard. It’s comfortable to type on, has quick access to emojis and gifs, and can be easily customized with different colors and layout.
Cameras
One of the key differences of the OnePlus 12R over the flagship series is the lack of Hasselblad camera tech and telephoto lens. Still, the shooters have been pretty good for a sub-flagship device.
What we have here is a 50-megapixel Sony IMX890 sensor with optical image stabilization, an 8-megapixel IMX355 ultra-wide with a 112-degree field-of-view, a 2-megapixel macro lens with a 4cm minimum focus distance, and a 16-megapixel selfie snapper.
I had no complaints about the daylight shots of the 50-megapixel main camera. Colors pop while still being realistic, contrast is expressive, details remain sharp even if you crop in, and the dynamic range is handled well even if there’s a very bright window.
Low-light images looked equally impressive as the colors still looked appealing and the details were kept as much as possible. However, it suffers from the expected blurry subjects if they are moving. Contrasts are also a bit off in some indoor scenarios.
Portrait shots looked clean with nice edge detection creating a believable shallow depth-of-field effect.
While it lacks a telephoto lens, the sharp main camera is still capable of doing 2x (48mm equivalent), 5x (120mm), and up to 20x (480mm) of digital zoom.
Shots under 2x zoom looks relatively clean, even at 5x. The quality of the 20x zoom will depend on how far the subject is. But in our tests, subjects are still fairly visible as long as it’s only a couple of meters away.
For the price, I was expecting a better sensor than the 8-megapixel one for the ultra-wide lens.
On the upside, the OnePlus 12R managed to make the most out of this sensor, unlike other phones with the same 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera. Sharpness is enough, colors are almost as good as the main camera, and even low-light shots held up very well. Barrell distortion is also barely noticeable.
Photos from the 2-megapixel macro camera are also better than the other phones I’ve seen with the same sensor. It looks sharper and detailed, which actually makes it usable for social media posts.
Selfies from the 16-megapixel selfie camera look nice. Skin tones looked accurate and detailed, and low-light photos are passable. The portrait mode also does a good job of isolating the foreground.
Battery and Charging
The OnePlus 12R has a beefy 5,500mAh battery, versus the 5,000mAh capacity we see on other flagships. It is paired with OPPO’s 100W SUPERVOOC fast charging. Unfortunately, it lacks wireless charging.
Battery life, as expected, is quite stellar. In PCMark’s battery loop test, it lasted for 18 hours and 23 minutes before dropping to 20%. To give you an idea, the average score I get is around 14 hours, with about 19 hours being the longest.
In real-world use, I was able to play games for about four hours and then watch 1080p YouTube videos for around 10 hours. That’s a total of around 13 hours and 55 minutes of continued use until the battery completely runs out. Pretty impressive.
The 100W SUPERVOOC charger doesn’t seem to come with the retail unit, which resulted in a thinner box. What’s included is OnePlus’s signature red USB-C to USB-A cable. However, they did ship an extra box that comes with the 100W SUPERVOOC adapter and its own USB-C cable. Check with your retailer if the unit already comes with this freebie.
Unsurprisingly, the 100W adapter was able to charge the device in just about half an hour fully. See the full charging test below:
- 15mins: 0-54%
- 25mins: 89%
- ~30mins: FULL
Verdict
To answer our question earlier, is the OnePlus 12R’s worthy of its asking price of Php43,990? Well, that depends on how much you value the brand and if you’re willing to pay the premium for it. Last year’s OnePlus 11 16GB/256GB was priced at Php49,990, so this one’s a bit cheaper when compared heat-to-head.
The real OnePlus 12 16GB/512GB flagship now costs Php63,990, which is undeniably a massive price increase in just a 1 year span. While that model offers all the bells and whistles, the OnePlus 12R is just as good for the most part.
Although the price is slightly higher for a sub-flagship smartphone, it’s a nice compromise over actual flagship devices, which now cost at least Php60,000 to Php80,000.
The OnePlus 12R offers an outstanding flagship-level performance, a capable main camera, a killer display, and good pair of speakers. It also has a bigger battery than most flagships today, paired with speedy charging.
While almost everything about it is good, it lacks the complete experience that a true flagship phone offers, which includes a proper ultra-wide camera, telephoto lens, wireless charging, and a more modern processor.
But if you really want that flagship experience without the ludicrous price tag, and you don’t mind the inevitable minor compromises, the OnePlus 12R is a solid option.
OnePlus 12R pricing and availability in the Philippines
The OnePlus 12R with the sole 16GB/256GB model retails for Php43,990 in the Philippines. You can get it at the official OnePlus store in Shopee, Lazada, and in OnePlus kiosks and authorized retailers nationwide.
Pros
- Comfortably thick design
- Impressive display and speakers
- Snappy performance
- Good main camera performance, day or night
- Long battery life with fast 100W charging
Cons
- Low-resolution ultra-wide camera
- No telephoto lens
- No wireless charging
- 256GB instead of 512GB
- Expensive price tag