Hands-On With the Affordable, Powerful, and Stylish OnePlus 12R

Those of us who don't need the highest-end specification for our phones should take a good look at OnePlus' newest midrange phone, the OnePlus 12R. It provides a pretty great user experience for a lot less scratch than its fancier brother, the OnePlus 12, without feeling like a budget phone.

The unit I got to try is a lovely light blue color ("cool blue" in marketing speak) that draws the eye when it's on a table or countertop. The camera array on the back of the device looks similar to the 12's Hasselblad collaboration but includes lesser camera specs than the more expensive model.

I was able to try the 12R out over a couple of weeks, and honestly, it feels like a premium phone. I have no complaints about its functionality; it has all the apps and games I could want and runs just fine compared to the OnePlus 12. For $300 less, at that.

The OnePlus 12R (163.3 x 75.3 x 8.8mm) is negligibly smaller than the OnePlus 12 (164.3 x 75.8 x 9.2mm), with an incrementally smaller display, too (OnePlus 12: 6.82", 19.8:9, OnePlus 12R: 6.78", 19.5:9). It's super hard to tell which phone is which if I'm not looking at the colors, though. They feel essentially the same in my hand.

It doesn't feel as slippery to hold, either, even though it doesn't have the matte finish like the OnePlus 12. I'm less inclined to hide the pretty cool blue color behind a case as I am the higher-end model.

OnePlus 12R Camera

The OnePlus 12R has a 16 MP rear camera (as opposed to a 32 MP one on the 12), a 50MP, f/1.8 main camera (the 12 boasts a f/1.6), an 8MP, f/2.2 ultrawide lens (as compared to a 48 MP ultrawide), and a 2MP, f/2.4 macro lens. The OnePlus 12 has a 64MP, f/2.6, OIS, 3x telephoto lens that the 12R lacks.

In use, though, the 12R takes perfectly fine photos to post on Insta or videos to TikTok and Facebook. Or send it to your friends. You might miss the telephoto lens if you're always trying to zoom in, of course, and the macro lens isn't anything special, either. Still, the 12R's photos are completely fine for non-professional shots.

The Snapdragon Gen 2 chipset on the 12R is no slouch, even though it's one generation behind the chip in the OnePlus 12. It still makes good use of the 8GB or 16GB RAM on the device (the 12 has either 12 or 16GB standard). Scrolling still feels fluid, apps launch quickly, and games run pretty well.

Gaming and Charging on OnePlus 12R

Running Genshing Impact or Diablo Immortal, both demanding games, felt almost exactly the same as on the higher-spec OnePlus 12 or my iPhone 15 Pro Max. I did notice a little stuttering in busy areas of Diablo Immortal, but that could also have been a network issue. Games launch quickly and look fantastic on the display.

That screen is super bright at 4500 nits, making it easy to see and use in all lighting conditions, just like the one on the OnePlus 12. The resolution is a little lower on the 12R, but my eyes don't really see much of a difference. The 12 boasts a 3168 x 1440 resolution, while the 12R comes in with a 2780 × 1264 resolution.

Wireless charging is the most obvious missing feature here, and if you absolutely require it, you'll want to look at the OnePlus 12. The main way I charge my phones is with a wire (you can plug them in while using them much more easily than you can with wireless charging solutions), so this isn't a huge loss for me. The OnePlus 12R offers the same super-fast 80W charging as the OnePlus 12, making it a trivial thing to plug into USB-C and the provided wall charger for a quick, serious charge before heading out. I was able to go from a 0% charge to 55% within 15 minutes. That's a real advantage.

The OnePlus 12R provides Bluetooth 5.3 (the 12 offers Bluetooth 5.4, but who even knows what the difference here is), while both models provide Wi-Fi 7, 5G LTE, and dual nano sim slots.

OnePlus 12R Is a Great Deal

OnePlus will give you at least $100 off the 12R for any phone you trade in, regardless of condition. Better trade-ins can net you up to $450 off, too. If you want the just-released OnePlus Buds 3, you'll get a $30 off coupon when you purchase the 12R, as well. Students get an additional 10% off the 16GB model, and there's financing available, too, via the OnePlus website.

It's not hard to recommend the OnePlus 12R as a phone that's perfectly good for most people. Not everyone needs the highest-end phone for their day-to-day lives. We want to take decent photos to send to our friends and family, play a game or two, and keep in touch with the people we care about.

The OnePlus 12R does all that with ease and all for a budget-friendly price. What more can you ask for?