2024 was a powerful 12 months for OnePlus – each the principle collection and the Nord line introduced some actual winners. Nevertheless, there have been a couple of embarrassing hiccups and worse, the corporate’s future technique could lead on it down the mistaken path.
Winner: OnePlus 12
With two exceptions, the OnePlus 12 is a good performer on all duties. It has an exquisite display, wonderful battery life and quick charging, stable efficiency and a digital camera that impressed with selfies and video stabilization. The IP65 ranking is subpar for a flagship and daylight video high quality may use some work.
These issues apart, the OnePlus 12 stood up properly to the likes of the Galaxy S24 Extremely, regardless of being cheaper (though as of late the OnePlus flagships usually are not precisely low-cost).
OnePlus 12
The cellphone already acquired the OxygenOS 15 replace with plenty of AI options (AI Retouch, AI Notes) and a number of UI enhancements. Nevertheless, OnePlus updates are one thing that we need to speak about in a separate part.
Winner (?): OnePlus 12R
The corporate’s “flagship killer” days are lengthy behind it now, but it surely nonetheless gives premium fashions constructed to a extra inexpensive spec, telephones just like the OnePlus 12R. It scales again the capabilities and worth in comparison with the 12 and nonetheless arrives at an alluring formulation.
It additionally has an amazing show and a class-leading battery life with quick (if wired-only) charging. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 was higher than simply about any mid-range chip all through 2024 and OnePlus gave it ample cooling for lengthy classes.
The principle digital camera did an amazing job, however the 8MP fixed-focus ultra-wide digital camera was not so nice (although it did carry out higher than anticipated at midnight). The larger situation is the shortage of a telephoto digital camera. The standard of daylight movies may have been higher too. Take a look at our OnePlus 12 vs. 12R submit for extra particulars on how the R-phone stacks up towards its pricier sibling.
OnePlus 12R
You could be questioning why there’s a query mark within the heading. A few of you already know, but it surely is probably not the difficulty you’re considering of. The 12R was the primary R-series cellphone to be offered within the US and it met an surprising impediment – it didn’t work on Verizon. This was cleared up in a couple of days and was embarrassing, however not that a lot of a problem ultimately.
A much bigger mistake was that OnePlus marketed the 256GB 12R as having UFS 4.0 storage, whereas it really used the slower UFS 3.1. Finally, OnePlus supplied a full refund to all consumers of the 256GB 12R.
Loser: OS assist
Final 12 months, OnePlus introduced that the OnePlus 11 will obtain 4 OS updates and 5 years of safety patches. We have been hoping that it will lengthen that with the launch of the 12 however no such luck. In truth, OnePlus doubled down and defined why solely 5 years of assist is sweet sufficient.
In brief, OnePlus COO Kinder Liu argued that even when the software program is stored updated, the {hardware} will now not be adequate to make use of. “When our rivals say their software program coverage will final seven years, do not forget that their cellphone’s battery could not,” stated Liu.
We ponder whether OnePlus will rethink that place, now that it guarantees 4 years of battery well being (i.e. the battery will hold a minimum of 80% of its capability after 4 years of standard use). That is in collaboration with CATL, by the best way.
Winner: OnePlus Nord 4
The OnePlus Nord 4 introduced again fond recollections of when aluminum unibodies have been the method to construct a premium cellphone. Don’t get us mistaken, we recognize that at this time’s wi-fi charging and a thousand wi-fi connectivity choices work higher with a glass again. We simply like to see some selection.
OnePlus Nord 4
And the Nord 4 delivered with a cool look (the Mercurial Silver specifically is a stunner), wonderful battery life (a 5,500mAh battery helps rather a lot with that), quick charging and… properly, okay, it’s wired-only charging, however it’s 100W charging. Anyway, the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 proved to be a wonderful performer, although we didn’t really feel like we bought the very best out of the 120Hz show. The digital camera may have been higher too.
Nonetheless, its distinctive appears and good pricing made the OnePlus Nord 4 one of many highlights of 2024.
Loser: OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite
And whereas its modern sibling is a winner, the OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite fell into the losers class. Did OnePlus actually use the Snapdragon 695 for 3 generations of CE Lite? Sure, sure it did. And thoughts you, that chip was already outdated when it was featured on the 2022 CE2 Lite.
To be honest to the cellphone, it did considerably enhance on the show from the Nord CE3 Lite, battery life and the IP ranking have been higher too. Even the digital camera had a small however considerable enchancment (particularly the video stabilization). Nevertheless, lacking out on an ultra-wide digital camera and having chipset-related limitations (like 1080p @ 30fps video seize) have been a serious disappointment.
OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite
The OnePlus Nord CE4 fixes most of the complaints we’ve got concerning the Lite – a robust Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset, sooner UFS 3.1 storage, a digital camera with 4K video seize and an ultra-wide lens and even a much bigger 5,500mAh battery. It does lose the three.5mm headphone jack, but it surely retains the microSD slot.
Sadly, the Nord CE4 is offered solely in India, so it doesn’t get a piece of its personal. And if it did, it will have been within the losers class too – it will have been higher if OnePlus made the CE4 the worldwide mannequin and never bothered with the CE4 Lite in any respect.
Loser: OnePlus Open
That is much less concerning the cellphone – this 2023 mannequin really holds up fairly properly – however concerning the lack of a follow-up. The Open launched in late 2023 and there’s no sequel in sight. Sometimes, we hear rumors concerning the Open 2, but it surely’s clear that it is going to be a 2025 launch.
What occurred? We don’t know. Insider information means that the Oppo foldable that may have been the idea of the Open 2 was shelved (the Open was based mostly on the Oppo Discover N3), however that doesn’t fairly reply the query. Is it tech points or extra financial – not sufficient gross sales or not sufficient revenue? Once more, we don’t know.
OnePlus Open
Nevertheless, the foldable market is heating up and OnePlus may not need to lose that market phase. And what about flip foldables? There’s nothing official but, however rumor has it {that a} so-called OnePlus V Flip is anticipated in Q2 2025.
