Expected release date and what we want to see

Up to date, October 11, 2023 (3:05 AM ET): We’ve up to date this OnePlus 12 rumor hub with up to date digicam data from a trusted leaker.

Unique article: OnePlus has thrown us a variety 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 implies no OnePlus 11 Professional is on the best way). This was attention-grabbing once you do not forget 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 trying towards subsequent, however what can we anticipate?

Under, we’ve rounded up all of the credible OnePlus 12 rumors we’ve seen to date. 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 persistently launched a brand new flagship numbered system yearly because it began. The identify and variety of gadgets would possibly change somewhat right here and there, however there’s all the time 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 cellphone lower some corners in comparison with the OnePlus 11 but in addition received some stunning quality-of-life enhancements, making it fairly the thrilling cellphone for its value bracket. On condition that these are the one two telephones within the 11-series launching this 12 months, it’s affordable to anticipate an “R” cellphone in 2024, as nicely. In reality, we have already got a design leak for the OnePlus 12R, so it’s practically 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 all the time see a brand new yearly flagship and often 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 (International): March 31, 2022
• OnePlus 11 (China): January 4, 2023
• OnePlus 11 (International): February 7, 2023

Previous to 2022, OnePlus launched its newest flagship cellphone throughout one occasion. In 2022, although, it began doing two occasions: one for China and one for its different international markets. The OnePlus 10 Professional China launch occurred first, and the worldwide launch got here nearly 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 observe some weeks and even months later.

A leak supplied by dependable tipster Yogesh Brar claimed OnePlus would possibly launch the cellphone 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 may occur in February. So it appears an increasing number of possible that we may see the OnePlus 12 debut earlier than the 12 months ends with a Q1 launch in international markets.

In saying so, long-time tipster Max Jambor has refuted Brar’s strategies of a February launch, asserting that the OnePlus 12 will truly launch globally in January. So customers exterior 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 in regards to the OnePlus 12 after we get to the second launch is how a lot it is going to price. Specs, design, digicam options, and so forth., will all be confirmed on the China launch. Which means you’ll have the ability to begin off 2024 figuring out just about all the pieces there may be in regards to the OnePlus 12 — even should you gained’t have the ability to formally purchase it till January, February, and even March.

What specs and options may the OnePlus 12 have?

OnePlus isn’t very in step with what it affords with its flagship smartphones. For instance, it lastly received 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 digicam {hardware} after which deserted it, and forked out for official IP rankings earlier than stopping that follow. As such, there are a variety of wildcards surrounding the OnePlus 11 launch.

The OnePlus 9 appeared rather a lot 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 rather a lot just like the OnePlus 10 Professional, however the query is: will OnePlus stick to 1 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 digicam on the backside of the digicam island. In saying so, we additionally get a center-aligned punch-hole cutout this time quite 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 quite than 3D CAD designs as is often the case for Hemmerstoffer. So it’s attainable the ultimate design appears to be like very totally different.

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

Not like the earlier renders, these photos present a tool with out 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 digicam bump’s fourth spot.

Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station additionally claimed that the OnePlus 12 could be obtainable in a white coloration 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 value down. Most notably, we anticipate the 12R to launch with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. That’s state-of-the-art in the present day, however the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will possible debut with the OnePlus 12, so the 12R might be a technology behind.

The newest OnePlus numbered flagship all the time comes with the latest Qualcomm 8-series chipset. In 2024, we’d anticipate to see the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 grace the OnePlus 12. To see anything could be a seismic shift of OnePlus’ smartphone technique, so that is as positive 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 may have a brand new core setup in a 1+3+2+2 configuration. This implies you possibly can anticipate one huge 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 relating to multi-core benchmarks. Nonetheless, how it will improve real-world use is a thriller for now.

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

The show needs to be one in all its star options with a excessive decision and pixel density. Brar claims that the show might be a 6.7-inch QHD OLED display 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. Both means, anticipate OnePlus to spare no expense right here.

Weibo tipster 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 and as much as 24GB of RAM. The sooner SmartPrix leak mentions 16GB of RAM, so 24GB could be a significant improve. In saying so, we aren’t holding our breath for this top-end variant to be obtainable exterior China.

OnePlus tends to change up its technique relating to cameras with each new 12 months. Though the configuration of cameras stays comparatively fixed — major, ultrawide, telephoto, and typically a fourth — the varieties of sensors and the star options of these sensors differ wildly. For instance, the OnePlus 10 Professional had a crazy-wide ultrawide digicam that was nearly 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 digicam telephones. The corporate deserted this lens model for the OnePlus 11, choosing an ultrawide with a standard subject of view — whereas concurrently dropping the sensor high quality of this lens considerably.

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

Essentially the most detailed digicam leak got here through Weibo tipster Digital Chat Station on October 11. The tipster mentioned the cellphone could be outfitted with a 50MP IMX966 fundamental digicam, a 48MP ultrawide lens, and a 64MP 3X periscope digicam (f/2.5, OV64B). Try the screenshot beneath.

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

No matter {hardware}, you possibly can anticipate a continued partnership with Hasselblad, as OnePlus has made an enormous deal of that over the previous few years. This partnership brings Hasselblad’s signature coloration 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 value 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 lots of of {dollars} cheaper.

Clearly, the corporate wanted to make huge sacrifices to land that value level (wi-fi charging, an IP ranking, a high-quality ultrawide digicam, and so forth.). The query is whether or not or not OnePlus discovered this to be efficient. The corporate doesn’t often launch gross sales numbers for its telephones, so we don’t know how nicely the OnePlus 11 offered 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 an analogous value level with comparable sacrifices to get there. Then again, it’s attainable the OnePlus 11 didn’t promote nicely in any respect, and OnePlus will return to a better value 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 big value enhance. Nonetheless, that’s simply hypothesis for now.

Judging from what we all know to date, the OnePlus 12 is more likely to look rather a lot just like the OnePlus 11 however characteristic a greater processor and, probably, a greater digicam system. If these two issues are necessary to you and also you’re a die-hard OnePlus fan, then sure: you need to await the 2024 launch.

Nonetheless, should you’re not beholden to OnePlus and need many of the specs and options it affords, there are telephones obtainable in the present day that may satiate you. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely ($1199.99 at Samsung) remains to be the most effective Android cellphone you will get. The one stuff you gained’t get with that cellphone 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 tips 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 of us who refuse to change manufacturers wait round for the OnePlus 12. There are some wonderful telephones in the marketplace now that may provide loads of worth should you’re OK leaving OnePlus behind.

OnePlus 12: What we need to see

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

It took six years for OnePlus to lastly launch a cellphone with wi-fi charging: the OnePlus 8 Professional, which landed in 2020. After lastly getting the characteristic, 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 (at the least exterior of the foldable cellphone realm). It appears we’re proper again the place we as soon as have been, with shopping for a OnePlus cellphone 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 change into a regular characteristic. In case 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’ll see wi-fi charging on the OnePlus 12, so we’re cautiously optimistic. We’ll be extra sure as we get nearer to the tip of the 12 months.

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

We actually hope the OnePlus 12 bucks this pattern. The truth that we’ve heard OnePlus might be testing a periscope telephoto lens is undoubtedly encouraging. Nonetheless, 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 ranking was a factor we all the time needed from OnePlus and didn’t get till 2020 with the OnePlus 8 Professional. Ultimately, IP rankings went away as nicely, with the OnePlus 11 missing it (at the least for the unlocked mannequin).

As soon as once more, as with wi-fi charging, a full IP68 ranking needs to be a regular for any flagship cellphone. Getting this certification takes time and prices extra money, however skipping it isn’t an enough answer. That is particularly clear when even mid-rangers can at the least get IP67 rankings, as is the case with the Pixel 6a and Pixel 7a. Even when OnePlus doesn’t need to fork out for an IP68 ranking for the OnePlus 12, it ought to at the least give us IP67.