
The smartphone industry is constantly changing, with companies vying to provide the most value for money. OnePlus, which is famous for its flagship killers, has again surprised technology lovers with a huge price cut on the OnePlus 12R. Now priced at only ₹18,000, this phone comes loaded with premium features at an affordable price. But is it really the best flagship bargain? Let's see.
OnePlus 12R keeps the company's tradition of offering high-end designs at affordable prices. It has a premium aluminum frame and glass back, imparting to it the sense of being as costly as pricier flagship phones. The ergonomic design also ensures easy grip even for prolonged usage.
Its best feature is the 6.78-inch AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. This results in a more immersive experience overall, with richer colors and smoother scrolling. Netflix, gaming, or just surfing the web, the screen never fails.
Under the hood, the OnePlus 12R is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, which is a processor that is used by the majority of high-end flagship smartphones. It is simply unthinkable to obtain a phone with this chipset for ₹18,000!
For gamers who use mobiles, the OnePlus 12R is a fantasy phone at this price. A high refresh rate screen, fast GPU, and efficient cooling make for smooth gameplay without overheating.
With HyperBoost Gaming Mode, BGMI, Call of Duty, and Genshin Impact games are played without any frame drops or lag. Haptic feedback and dual stereo speakers are also there to enhance gaming.
OnePlus devices have consistently featured balanced camera performance, and the 12R is not an exception. It comes equipped with a 50MP Sony IMX890 sensor, which is the same as that in certain high-end flagship phones.
50MP main sensor – Clear and detailed shots, even under dim light
8MP ultra-wide-angle lens – Wide-angle shots with good color accuracy
2MP macro lens – Acceptable close-up photos
16MP front-facing camera – Good selfies with AI augmentation
The night mode and AI image processing further augment low-light photography, and this is a great camera phone at its price.
Battery life is among the OnePlus 12R's biggest selling points. It has a 5,500mAh battery, which will easily last you a whole day with extensive usage. Whether you're gaming, streaming, or working, you won't be reaching for the charger all that often.
But the clincher here is the 100W SUPERVOOC charging. The battery goes from 1% to 100% in 25 minutes using this technology! That's quicker than many flagships, and that's perfect for heavy users.
The largest reason that OnePlus enthusiasts enjoy OnePlus phones is OxygenOS, and the OnePlus 12R includes OxygenOS 13, which is built on Android 13.
What makes it unique?
Bloat-free interface
Smooth gestures and animations
Periodic software updates
Better RAM management for fast performance
Unlike other brands that clutter their phones with useless apps, OnePlus does not, and this provides a smooth and enjoyable user experience.
The best flagship phone in this price range is likely the OnePlus 12R. It outperforms the majority of its low-cost flagship rivals thanks to its class-leading performance, gorgeous screen, fast charging, and excellent camera hardware.
Why You Should Buy It:
Flagship-grade Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
120Hz AMOLED screen for a premium touch
100W fast charging – goodbye battery panic
OxygenOS provides a seamless, bloat-free experience
Premium design that feels and appears costly
Skip Reasons:
No official IP rating for water resistance
No wireless charging
If you desire a flagship experience at an affordable price, the OnePlus 12R at ₹18,000 is an easy choice. It's a hard-to-resist deal that's worth every penny, providing everything a power user could want without spending a fortune.