The OnePlus 12 (Review) is a great flagship smartphone that is often listed in lists of best budget flagship or best smartphone deals. This premium device has gone on sale on multiple occasions, offering some of the best value for its price. But the OnePlus 12 might not be that great of a deal right now, here’s why.
1. OnePlus 12: Only Worth it During Sales
As of right now, the OnePlus 12 is listed for just under Rs 60,000 in India around around $700 in the US. For this price, this smartphone is still a great phone, but its value truly shines during sales. Big discounts during sales periods or festive deals have driven sales for this smartphone. However, when it is closer to its original price tag, the deal isn’t so great. Especially in a market like India, the OnePlus 12 has many alternatives, which are easily the better deal.
2. Better Alternatives
A great example of a good alternative is the Realme GT 7 Pro. This is a next gen flagship grade model, which is currently on sale for just Rs 59,998 on Amazon. At this price, you’re getting a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, which is the latest processor from Qualcomm. For context, the OnePlus 12 packs last year’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. So you’re getting a newer chipset with more powerful performance, improved power efficiency, and more.
That’s not all, the OnePlus 12 launched with one of the biggest batteries in a flagship phone. But the Realme GT 7 Pro simply outclasses every older flagship phone with its massive 6,500mAh battery pack (5,800mAh cell in India). Realme built one of the most affordable Snapdragon 8 Elite phones. So the Realme GT 7 Pro is easily one of the best budget flagships.
3. OnePlus 13 Launch Imminent
While the OnePlus 13 made its debut in China back in October 2024, its global release is right around the corner. The OnePlus 13 recently visited GeekBench ahead of its January release. The official release date is still unclear but the January launch timeline is basically confirmed. With its launch, OnePlus will have a new true flagship phone with cutting edge specs and features.
This includes the Snapdragon 8 Elite, eco leather back, 2K+ display, Android 15, 50MP triple cameras with Hasselblad calibration, and a massive 6000mAh battery pack. If it launches for around the same price as the OnePlus 12, then it is undoubtedly the better deal. Rather, we can expect the OnePlus 12 to become more affordable after the OnePlus 13 drops. So it is best to wait for the OnePlus 13 announcement.
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