OnePlus 12 review

Versatile triple camera on the back, nice selfies too

The OnePlus 12 has three cameras on its back - a 50MP primary one, a 48MP ultrawide, and a 64MP telephoto for 3x optical zoom. For purposes practical, it's the same setup as that on the OnePlus Open and Oppo Find N3 foldables, and those we've already reviewed and more or less loved.

The primary camera uses the LYT-808 sensor, whereas the bendy models above have the LYT-T808 - according to Sony, the two sensors are twins, and we've already given up trying to dig out specifics and whether both or just one uses a stacked architecture. It's reported as 50MP, has a 1/1.4" optical format, and its pixel pitch is 1.12µm. A stabilized lens with a 23mm equivalent focal length and an f/1.6 aperture completes the picture.

The ultrawide camera relies on a 48MP Sony IMX581 1/2.0" sensor with 0.8µm pixels. It is coupled with a 14mm f/2.2 lens. Autofocus is available, enabling exaggerated perspectives for nearby subjects as well as a macro mode.

The telephoto camera uses a high-res 64MP OmniVision OV64B 1/2.0" sensor with 0.7µm pixels. The periscope lens' focal length is equivalent to 70mm and the aperture is f/2.6. It's this camera's close-focusing capability that is more intriguing than the ultrawide's, we think.

The 32MP selfie camera is based on the Sony IMX 615 1/2.74" sensor with 0.8µm pixels and a Quad-Bayer filter. The lens has a 21mm focal length and an f/2.4 aperture, and the focus is fixed.

Daylight photo quality

In broad daylight, the main camera captures delightful photos. We're getting excellent detail, rendered naturally without looking overprocessed, and there's no noise to speak of. Dynamic range is nicely wide - much appreciated in the turbulent weather we've been having - and you get excellent development at the extremes, but also great global contrast.

The auto white balance is generally reliable, though we did get a bit of yellowish-greenish tinges in some outdoor scenes - it's subtle and nowhere near prominent enough as to be an issue, but there was somewhat of a pattern. We have no complaints when it comes to saturation - we're getting pleasingly vibrant hues that don't go overboard. Skin tones also look nice on the OP12.

Daylight samples, main camera (1x)

The 2x zoom shots sourced from the main camera are good, but not wow-level good. The detail is okay, but once you've seen the vivo X100 Pro's 2x images, the bar is set too high for the OP12 to clear.

Daylight samples, main camera (2x)

Daylight 2x comparison: OnePlus 12 • vivo X100 Pro

The OnePlus comes into its own when zoomed in to 3x. We already praised this camera on the Find N3 and it's about as good here, delivering sharp and detailed images. OnePlus went with a bit more contrast on this one than what we'd like but it could also be a case of us trying to hard to find fault with an otherwise excellent camera.

Daylight samples, telephoto camera (3x)

One of this camera's main virtues is its ability to focus relatively close, allowing you to fill the frame with small subjects in great detail. Not to be confused with the 'Macro' mode that uses the ultrawide camera.

Daylight samples, telephoto camera (3x)

While that can get you seemingly tighter framing, you'll be trading off actual detail, throwing shadows on your subject, and getting distorted perspectives. We'd prefer the telephoto's results.

'Macro' samples

A quick look at some 6x zoom shots reveals that the OP12 does a good enough job with subjects both far and near. It's not quite up there with the dedicated 6x shooter on the Find X7 Ultra, but the detail is still alright and you get the tighter frame's benefits for metering and, indirectly, perspective.

Daylight samples, telephoto camera (6x)

Daylight 6x comparison: OnePlus 12 • Oppo Find X7 Ultra

The OnePlus 12's ultrawide camera is solid, without being exciting. It delivers good detail with minimal grain. Dynamic range is pretty great in these, once again, trying times for any camera - those are the most expressive skies we've had in a while and they aren't easy to capture. Colors are usually very likeable as well, though some outdoors scene can look a bit desaturated - that's one pale 'joy'.

Daylight samples, ultrawide camera (0.6x), 12MP

Low-light photo quality

Low-light photos out of the phone's primary camera are superb. With auto Night mode action in Photo mode, they have excellent exposure and nicely wide dynamic range - tonal extremes are well developed giving you great detail at both ends. Mixed lighting doesn't bother the auto white balance at all and the OP handles all sorts of torture, while also maintaining saturation despite the lower light levels.

Low-light samples, main camera (1x)

The 2x zoom shots have more of an upscaled look in the dark than they did during the day. So while the global properties remain on par with the 1x photos, detail is more on an 'okayish' level.

Low-light samples, main camera (2x)

We'll quickly summon up the vivo X100 Pro once again to show you that proper high-quality 2x results are possible.

Low-light 2x comparison: OnePlus 12 • vivo X100 Pro

Zooming in further, the OnePlus 12 takes nice 3x photos with its telephoto camera. It's not the widest dynamic range and exposure could use a bit of a boost to reveal the shadows better - you can do it in post without much negative impact, but it's just one extra step. Detail is great in the well-lit areas, and there's a good deal of it in the shadows too, if you make the effort. No real issues with color here either, though there's a hint of too much orange with certain street lights.

Low-light samples, telephoto camera (3x)

At 6x, the OnePlus 12 does a solid job if you limit your appraisal to viewing on the phone's display or on a PC at fit to screen magnification. Viewing things on a pixel level does reveal less than ideal detail. That said, the fact that we're even talking about 6x low-light shots means they're very much usable.

Low-light samples, telephoto camera (6x)

The Find X7 Ultra's advantage at 6x is undeniable, its dedicated camera delivering noticeably better sharpness and definition. That shouldn't be interpreted so much as a fault of the OP, though, it's just that the Oppo is that extra bit better.

Low-light 6x comparison: OnePlus 12 • Oppo Find X7 Ultra

The OnePlus 12's ultrawide doesn't disappoint either. It captures well exposed images, with wide dynamic range and very good detail across all tones. Colors are lively and white balance is dependable.

Low-light samples, ultrawide camera (0.6x)

Selfies

Selfies on the OnePlus 12 are captured in 32MP and it's one of the better implementations of a camera with that nominal resolution. While both facts remain true - 32MP is too much for a selfie and there's not true 32MP worth of detail here - we do get an extra level of definition on our mugs, for better or worse. White balance is on point and colors are generally likeable, if a bit more muted than what we'd like.

Selfie samples

Video recording

The OnePlus 12 can record video up to 4K60 with its three rear cameras, and you also get the option to shoot in 8K24 on the main one. The selfie camera can do 4K30, but there's no 60fps mode for it in any resolution. There is always-on electronic stabilization available across all four cameras. The default codec is h.265, but you can opt out of it and go for the older and less efficient h.264. Dolby Vision capture is an option too, up to 4K30 on the main and tele cameras on the back.

Daylight videos captured on the OnePlus 12 are generally good, but not really top of the class from any of its cameras. Detail is average to good on the main camera, and that more or less describes the telephoto's output, while the ultrawide is more on the better side of average in its own context. Dynamic range is okay on all three, though we feel like the main camera overexposes by, say, half a stop. All three exhibit a tendency for green/yellow color shifts and that was pronounced in both the balcony samples and the walk-in-the-park stabilization test.

Speaking of stabilization, that's one area where it's almost all praise. On the main camera and the ultrawide there's no jelloing, no focus hunting, and virtually no walking shake. Pans are smooth and footage can pass for tripod-mounted if you're just pointing the phone in one direction. The telephoto is a bit more jittery, but not too bad either.

In low-light, the main camera produces good footage, if still a little brighter than most - but in this case that's hardly a negative. Dynamic range is actually pretty great, detail is okay, colors are on point. The ultrawide and the telephoto have more limited dynamic range and can be a little too dark in the shadows. The ultrawide's footage is generally decent nonetheless, while the telephoto is more in the 'passable' category.

Check out the playlist below with daylight, low-light and handheld samples.