OnePlus is following up last year’s OnePlus 11 with the creatively named OnePlus 12. Yet the more interesting story from the launch event was the second handset, the OnePlus 12R.
The “R” designation is one familiar to OnePlus’ Indian community. It signifies a second handset that looks to deliver much of the potential of the main handset in a more affordable package. The Indian market has enjoyed this tier of OnePlus for the last three years, and it has helped OnePlus take second place in the Indian 5G market, just behind Samsung.
With the OnePlus 12R, OnePlus is bringing the potential of the “R” package to a global market.
This means that the handset is not going to win out in a “Specifications Top Trumps” to find the biggest number in a smartphone… apart from possibly the battery; at 5500 mAh, it’s one of the larger batteries out there and is going help with the OnePlus 12R’s endurance.
There is a cost to that—while OnePlus retains its fast charging capabilities, it has removed wireless charging from the 12R. No doubt, it helps with keeping the bill of materials low and is a good example of how the 12R can reach the reduced price point. OnePlus community members with long memories will remember this approach.
They’ll also remember the iconic OnePlus three-way alert slider and be happy that this still features, and they’ll be happy that OnePlus’ reluctance to include official IP ratings has been upended with confirmation that the 12R comes with an IP65 rating.
Otherwise, the OnePlus 12R feels a little bit familiar… notably in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 16GB of memory and 256 GB of storage, the curved display, and the offset circular camera island. It feels remarkably like last year’s OnePlus 11 specifications and design.
OnePlus originally styled itself as a “flagship killer,” offering high specifications at an affordable price. The OnePlus 12R is an interesting nod to the age-old brand identity.
Now read my review of the OnePlus 11…
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