Expected release date and what we want to see

Up to date, October 12, 2023 (6:45 AM ET): We’ve up to date this OnePlus 12 rumor hub with obvious show specs from a dependable leaker.

Authentic article: OnePlus has thrown us a number of curveballs over the previous few years. Most not too long ago, the corporate launched the OnePlus 11 and concurrently introduced it might not launch a OnePlus 11T. It additionally will not make Professional fashions (which suggests no OnePlus 11 Professional is on the way in which). This was attention-grabbing if you keep in mind that, in 2022, the corporate launched a OnePlus 10 Professional and a OnePlus 10T and didn’t launch a OnePlus 10! It’s all a bit wacky. Regardless, the OnePlus 12 is what we’re wanting towards subsequent, however what can we anticipate?

Under, we’ve rounded up all of the credible OnePlus 12 rumors we’ve seen thus far. We even have some hypothesis primarily based on the historical past of the corporate’s launches. On the finish, we even have a number of issues we hope to see, even when we haven’t heard any rumors about them but.

Will there be a OnePlus 12?

Regardless of the beforehand talked about curveballs, OnePlus has constantly launched a brand new flagship numbered system yearly because it began. The identify and variety of gadgets would possibly change just a little right here and there, however there’s at all times a brand new quantity, so we’re very sure a OnePlus 12 is coming in 2024.

In 2023, OnePlus ultimately launched a OnePlus 11R with restricted availability (principally in India). The telephone reduce some corners in comparison with the OnePlus 11 but in addition acquired some stunning quality-of-life enhancements, making it fairly the thrilling telephone for its worth bracket. Provided that these are the one two telephones within the 11-series launching this 12 months, it’s affordable to anticipate an “R” telephone in 2024, as effectively. In truth, we have already got a design leak for the OnePlus 12R, so it’s almost assured.

In fact, it’s too early for OnePlus to announce or tease something associated to its slate of 2024 smartphones. For now, we’re simply working on the truth that we at all times see a brand new yearly flagship and usually an “R” system, so the 2024 OnePlus lineup in all probability gained’t be any totally different.

• OnePlus 9 sequence: March 23, 2021
• OnePlus 10 Professional (China): January 11, 2022
• OnePlus 10 Professional (World): March 31, 2022
• OnePlus 11 (China): January 4, 2023
• OnePlus 11 (World): February 7, 2023

Previous to 2022, OnePlus launched its newest flagship telephone throughout one occasion. In 2022, although, it began doing two occasions: one for China and one for its different world markets. The OnePlus 10 Professional China launch occurred first, and the worldwide launch got here virtually three months later. In 2023, OnePlus repeated this technique for the OnePlus 11.

Now that we’ve had two years of this, we really feel fairly sure that OnePlus will do the identical factor in 2024. As such, you need to anticipate an early OnePlus 12 launch occasion for China, with the worldwide launch to comply with some weeks and even months later.

A leak supplied by dependable tipster Yogesh Brar claimed OnePlus would possibly launch the telephone in China someday in December 2023. Leaker Max Jambor corroborated a December 2023 launch window for China in a tweet on July 13. Brar later reiterated a December 2023 launch in China however added that the worldwide launch might occur in February. So it appears increasingly possible that we might see the OnePlus 12 debut earlier than the 12 months ends with a Q1 launch in world markets.

In saying so, long-time tipster Max Jambor has refuted Brar’s options of a February launch, asserting that the OnePlus 12 will truly launch globally in January. So customers outdoors China would possibly get the system even sooner than anticipated.

Curiously, there have been near zero variations between the China model of those telephones and the worldwide variants. In different phrases, the one factor we gained’t know concerning the OnePlus 12 once we get to the second launch is how a lot it is going to price. Specs, design, digital camera options, and many others., will all be confirmed on the China launch. Meaning you’ll have the ability to begin off 2024 figuring out just about every thing there may be concerning the OnePlus 12 — even if you happen to gained’t have the ability to formally purchase it till January, February, and even March.

What specs and options might the OnePlus 12 have?

OnePlus isn’t very in step with what it presents with its flagship smartphones. For instance, it lastly acquired on board with wi-fi charging with the OnePlus 8 sequence however then dropped it with the OnePlus 11. Likewise, it has launched high-end digital camera {hardware} after which deserted it, and forked out for official IP scores earlier than stopping that follow. As such, there are a number of wildcards surrounding the OnePlus 11 launch.

The OnePlus 9 appeared quite a bit totally different when in comparison with the OnePlus 8. Likewise, the OnePlus 10 Professional appeared nothing just like the OnePlus 9 Professional. The OnePlus 11 did look quite a bit just like the OnePlus 10 Professional, however the query is: will OnePlus stick to at least one design language or change it up once more for the OnePlus 12?

Dependable leaker Steve ‘OnLeaks’ Hemmerstoffer and SmartPrix revealed renders of the OnePlus 12 on July 12. These photos (seen above) are primarily based on a prototype and counsel OnePlus is sticking to the identical design language because the OnePlus 11. Save for what seems to be a periscope zoom digital camera on the backside of the digital camera island. In saying so, we additionally get a center-aligned punch-hole cutout this time slightly than a left-aligned cutout. We are able to additionally make out an alert slider right here, which ought to please long-time OnePlus customers.

It’s value noting once more that these photos are primarily based on a prototype slightly than 3D CAD designs as is normally the case for Hemmerstoffer. So it’s attainable the ultimate design appears very totally different.

In September, we had been handled to a couple extra renders obtained by OnLeaks and MySmartPrice. These renders are primarily based on real-life photos of pre-production models.

In contrast to the earlier renders, these photos present a tool and not using a periscope zoom lens. OnePlus could have determined to return to having a telephoto lens. There additionally seems to be an unknown element sitting with the cameras within the digital camera bump’s fourth spot.

Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station additionally claimed that the OnePlus 12 can be out there in a white shade variant, including that it might have a shiny glass again.

In the meantime, we’ve additionally seen some leaked renders of the India-exclusive variant, the OnePlus 12R:

The 12R will possible in the reduction of on a number of specs to maintain the worth down. Most notably, we anticipate the 12R to launch with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. That’s state-of-the-art as we speak, however the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will possible debut with the OnePlus 12, so the 12R will likely be a era behind.

The most recent OnePlus numbered flagship at all times comes with the most recent Qualcomm 8-series chipset. In 2024, we’d anticipate to see the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 grace the OnePlus 12. To see the rest can be a seismic shift of OnePlus’ smartphone technique, so that is as certain a wager as any. A leak (through Smartprix and tipster OnLeaks) seems to substantiate the handset will get the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.

We’ve already seen some leaked details about the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Reportedly, the SoC might have a brand new core setup in a 1+3+2+2 configuration. This implies you’ll be able to anticipate one large core, 5 medium cores, and two little cores. Primarily, this could make the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 extra highly effective than its predecessor and extra succesful concerning multi-core benchmarks. Nevertheless, how it will improve real-world use is a thriller for now.

Exterior of the SoC, OnePlus hardly ever downgrades specs from earlier fashions. In line with the Smartprix leak, we may very well be in retailer for 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of storage primarily based on the UFS 4.0 normal. It’s possible we’ll additionally see an 8GB RAM variant with 128GB of inner storage. The leak additionally claimed the battery may very well be 5,400mAh and provide a wired charging pace of 100W (50W wi-fi). It additionally seems a charger will likely be included within the field, making OnePlus one of many few remaining holdouts with this follow.

The show needs to be certainly one of its star options with a excessive decision and pixel density. Brar claims that the show may very well be a 6.7-inch QHD OLED display screen with a refresh fee of 120Hz. In distinction, the Smartprix leak says it is going to be a 120Hz 6.7-inch AMOLED show with 2K decision and LTPO show expertise.

Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station posted extra obvious OnePlus 12 show specs on October 12. The tipster claimed that the telephone would have a 6.82-inch 120Hz LTPO show made by Chinese language agency BOE. They added you can anticipate a 3,168 x 1,440 decision, as much as 2,600 nits of peak brightness, and a couple of,160Hz PWM dimming. Both means, this implies that the OnePlus 12 display screen will likely be greater than initially thought.

Digital Chat Station posted a complete OnePlus 12 leak on August 22, however two hitherto-unseen options are “high-frequency dimming” (presumably PWM dimming) for the display screen and as much as 24GB of RAM. The sooner SmartPrix leak mentions 16GB of RAM, so 24GB can be a significant improve. In saying so, we aren’t holding our breath for this top-end variant to be out there outdoors China.

OnePlus tends to change up its technique concerning cameras with each new 12 months. Though the configuration of cameras stays comparatively fixed — main, ultrawide, telephoto, and typically a fourth — the sorts of sensors and the star options of these sensors differ wildly. For instance, the OnePlus 10 Professional had a crazy-wide ultrawide digital camera that was virtually a fisheye lens. OnePlus used software program trickery to “unwarp” the picture, however the outcomes weren’t tremendous spectacular and prevented it from turning into one of many 12 months’s finest digital camera telephones. The corporate deserted this lens type for the OnePlus 11, choosing an ultrawide with a standard discipline of view — whereas concurrently dropping the sensor high quality of this lens considerably.

Will the OnePlus 12’s digital camera be one other cost-cutting affair, or will the corporate lastly step up and provide flagship-level {hardware}? One rumor means that the telephoto might get a major improve. Within the Brar leak talked about earlier, it’s believed that the telephone might have a 50MP predominant sensor, 50MP ultrawide, and a 64MP periscope lens. Nevertheless, Smartprix alleges that the telephone gained’t have a periscope lens, however a 64MP telephoto lens. In the meantime, the entrance digital camera is claimed to be a 32MP lens. This association may very well be an enormous step up from what we’ve seen beforehand on OnePlus flagships.

Essentially the most detailed digital camera leak got here through Weibo tipster Digital Chat Station on October 11. The tipster mentioned the telephone can be outfitted with a 50MP IMX966 predominant digital camera, a 48MP ultrawide lens, and a 64MP 3X periscope digital camera (f/2.5, OV64B). Try the screenshot under.

We’re curious to see outcomes from the periscope digital camera because it follows a components adopted by OPPO and HUAWEI. That’s, a comparatively short-range periscope digital camera mixed with a high-resolution sensor. This might provide respectable low-light outcomes in comparison with 5X cameras, however we’ll want to attend and see.

No matter {hardware}, you’ll be able to anticipate a continued partnership with Hasselblad, as OnePlus has made a large deal of that over the previous few years. This partnership brings Hasselblad’s signature shade science to OnePlus telephones.

• OnePlus 8 Professional (2020): $899
• OnePlus 9 Professional (2021): $969
• OnePlus 10 Professional (2022): $899
• OnePlus 11 (2023): $699

The OnePlus 11 landed at a stunning worth of simply $699. Though it lacked the phrase “Professional” in its identify, OnePlus assured us that it’s the top-of-the-line firm flagship for 2023. In contrast with the earlier Professional-level telephones, the OnePlus 11 was tons of of {dollars} cheaper.

Clearly, the corporate wanted to make monumental sacrifices to land that worth level (wi-fi charging, an IP score, a high-quality ultrawide digital camera, and many others.). The query is whether or not or not OnePlus discovered this to be efficient. The corporate doesn’t ceaselessly launch gross sales numbers for its telephones, so we don’t know how effectively the OnePlus 11 bought in comparison with older OnePlus telephones of its pedigree.

In different phrases, it’s attainable OnePlus noticed nice success with the OnePlus 11, and the OnePlus 12 will land at the same worth level with comparable sacrifices to get there. Alternatively, it’s attainable the OnePlus 11 didn’t promote effectively in any respect, and OnePlus will return to a better worth level with fewer sacrifices on the OnePlus 12. Given the rumor that the corporate is toying with a periscope telephoto lens, we’re leaning towards a major worth enhance. Nevertheless, that’s simply hypothesis for now.

Judging from what we all know thus far, the OnePlus 12 is prone to look quite a bit just like the OnePlus 11 however function a greater processor and, probably, a greater digital camera system. If these two issues are essential to you and also you’re a die-hard OnePlus fan, then sure: you need to watch for the 2024 launch.

Nevertheless, if you happen to’re not beholden to OnePlus and need a lot of the specs and options it presents, there are telephones out there as we speak that can satiate you. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely ($1199.99 at Samsung) remains to be one of the best Android telephone you may get. The one belongings you gained’t get with that telephone that you’d from a OnePlus 12 are ultra-fast wired charging speeds, a charger within the field, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. The Galaxy S23 Extremely will meet or exceed the OnePlus 12 in all different areas.

If Samsung isn’t your bag, the just-launched Google Pixel 8 Professional ($999 at Amazon) could be very thrilling. It has a slew of AI-based methods that the OnePlus 12 will definitely not have, to not point out a promise of seven years of software program assist.

The underside line right here is that we solely counsel people who refuse to change manufacturers wait round for the OnePlus 12. There are some wonderful telephones available on the market now that can provide loads of worth if you happen to’re OK leaving OnePlus behind.

OnePlus 12: What we need to see

Above, we’ve advised you all concerning the newest leaks, rumors, and historic information to counsel what we’ll possible see with the OnePlus 12. Under, we’ve a number of issues that we hope to see. Please word that these differ from leaks and rumors in that we’ve no proof these items are coming. We simply would love to see them occur.

It took six years for OnePlus to lastly launch a telephone with wi-fi charging: the OnePlus 8 Professional, which landed in 2020. After lastly getting the function, we misplaced it in 2023, because the OnePlus 11 lacks wi-fi charging, and we don’t anticipate every other flagship telephones from OnePlus this 12 months (no less than outdoors of the foldable telephone realm). It appears we’re proper again the place we as soon as had been, with shopping for a OnePlus telephone requiring the person to not care about wi-fi charging.

We actually hope this drawback goes away in 2024. All flagship telephones ought to include wi-fi charging — full cease. With sub-$500 telephones just like the Google Pixel 7a now having it and each trendy iPhone supporting it together with some great benefits of MagSafe, there can’t be any excuses anymore. Wi-fi charging could have been a pleasant perk a number of years in the past, but it surely’s more and more turn into a typical function. In the event you plan on proudly owning your OnePlus 12 for a few years, you’re going to need it to have the ability to cost wirelessly, both now or sooner or later.

Fortunately, early rumors counsel we are going to see wi-fi charging on the OnePlus 12, so we’re cautiously optimistic. We’ll be extra sure as we get nearer to the top of the 12 months.

Yearly, we anticipate the most recent OnePlus flagship digital camera expertise. And yearly, we stroll away barely dissatisfied. The closest we’ve gotten to a real win was the OnePlus 9 Professional. However even that telephone had a superfluous fourth lens (a 2MP monochrome sensor) that didn’t do a lot for the person in addition to rising the telephone’s worth. For no matter cause, OnePlus refuses to do what we truly need, which is to supply a triple-lens system with high-quality main, ultrawide, and telephoto sensors. No further lenses, no previous/sub-par {hardware}, and no bizarre gimmicks. Will 2024 give us what we wish?

We really hope the OnePlus 12 bucks this pattern. The truth that we’ve heard OnePlus may very well be testing a periscope telephoto lens is undoubtedly encouraging. Nevertheless, we’ve been burned so many occasions earlier than. We’re cautiously optimistic however not getting our hopes up too excessive for this one.

As with wi-fi charging, a full IP score was a factor we at all times wished from OnePlus and didn’t get till 2020 with the OnePlus 8 Professional. Ultimately, IP scores went away as effectively, with the OnePlus 11 missing it (no less than for the unlocked mannequin).

As soon as once more, as with wi-fi charging, a full IP68 score needs to be a typical for any flagship telephone. Getting this certification takes time and prices more cash, however skipping it isn’t an ample answer. That is particularly clear when even mid-rangers can no less than get IP67 scores, as is the case with the Pixel 6a and Pixel 7a. Even when OnePlus doesn’t need to fork out for an IP68 score for the OnePlus 12, it ought to no less than give us IP67.