A while back, we got word of what we might see with OnePlus’ upcoming phone, the OnePlus 12 – while it’s still yet to be announced, there’s been an abundance of leaks all over the internet, and at this point it’s safe to say that we have a better idea of what to expect, once OnePlus announces its next flagship handset.
Previously, we highlighted some of the leaks that have been posted online, and since then there have been some new developments, which shouldn’t come as a big surprise, especially given the frequency of consumer tech leaks and rumours nowadays. So what’s new with the OnePlus 12? Let’s take a look.
Launch Date
A while back, online tech tipster Yogesh Brar posted on Twitter saying that the OnePlus 12 is expected to have a December launch event, although no specific date was given. This date now seems to have been confirmed even more by a recent Twitter post from tech journalist Max Jambor, who likewise predicts a December release for the OnePlus 12.
If true, this would be a most interesting development given that the previous OnePlus devices launches were held in January (OnePlus 11), and March (OnePlus 10 and 9 series). At this point it still isn’t clear which regions might get the OnePlus 12 first, although it’s strongly believed that the December launch will be kept exclusive for Chinese markets, with North America seeing a 2024 release.
Internal Hardware and Cameras
As for what’s inside the phone, there have been rumours spotted on Chinese social networking site Weibo, which strongly suggest that the OnePlus 12 will come with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, a mobile SoC which still hasn’t been released or announced yet, but we have little doubt is currently in development at the time being. It wouldn’t be much of a surprise of course, especially given that OnePlus flagships always feature the latest high-end SoCs from Qualcomm.
The phone might also come with a triple-camera array on the rear, with a 50-megapixel main Sony IMX sensor, a 50-megapixel ultrawide lens, as well as a 64-megapixel periscope telephoto lens. Additionally, it looks like OnePlus will still retain the Hasselblad branding for the 12, at least for now. Previously, it was mentioned that the phone will come with a large 5,000 mAh battery, although newer intel suggests that the company might instead go with a larger 5,400 mah capacity. This would be a lot more ideal, especially if the 8 Gen 3 proves to be a power-hungry chip.
This then brings to mind the concern for faster charging speeds, especially given this larger capacity battery (if confirmed). If older leaks are to be believed, the OnePlus 12 might feature 150W fast charging speeds, a feature not offered on a lot of Android devices in the US. This has since been updated however, and it’s now thought that the phone will come with a more “conservative” 100W wired charging speed, with 50W wireless charging speeds. Nevertheless, both are still fast as far as most smartphones are concerned, and are a terrific feature.
External Design
In terms of design, it looks like OnePlus is taking some design cures from other companies such as Samsung and Apple, who have essentially reused flagship handset designs for a couple of generations now, as seen in the case of handsets like the iPhone 13 and 14, and the Galaxy S22 and S22 Ultra. As such, a recent batch of images from tech website Smartprix and OnLeaks show that the OnePlus 12 might end up looking familiar – a little too familiar, in fact.
The renders show a design that’s very reminiscent of the OnePlus 11, indicating that the 12 will resemble its older sibling in several visual aspects, such as the device’s rear panel. The OnePlus 12 is predicted to come with a very similar look to its predecessor, including the same circular styling of the camera module, as well as the off-centre placement on the back. The renders also show a curved display, something that we’ve seen on several OnePlus phones already, and it looks like the company will be using a 6.7-inch display, with 2K pixel resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate.
In other OnePlus news, the company is expected to launch its first-ever foldable soon. For those not in the know, the company confirmed back in March that it will be developing a foldable Android handset, and will be competing against the likes of Samsung and Google in the foldable market.
Going back to the OnePlus 12, the company’s next phone is certainly shaping up to be a terrific Android flagship, and there’s little doubt that brand loyalists and OnePlus fans have a lot to look forward to once it makes its debut.
