The OnePlus 12R is the first R-series phone to get a wider release. Like its predecessors which also belong to OnePlus’s entry-level flagship line, the OnePlus 12R is a more affordable version of the OnePlus flagship of the year, which in this case is the OnePlus 12.
While the OnePlus 12R is a no-brainer for OnePlus fans who are not willing to spend so much on the more expensive OnePlus 12, it doesn’t mean it is without rivals. One of its key rivals is the Google Pixel 7a, and if you are wondering which phone to buy, here are five reasons why the OnePlus 12R is the better choice.
The OnePlus 12R (preorder for $499 on Amazon) and the Pixel 7a (curr. $478 on Amazon) are powered by older generation chipsets – the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for the OnePlus 12R and the Tensor G2 for the Pixel 7a. However, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is miles ahead of the Tensor G2 when it comes to performance, thanks to having a more powerful CPU and GPU. In addition, the OnePlus 12R is available with up to 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage while the Pixel 7a is available in a single configuration with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
The Pixel 7a’s 6.1-inch screen may be enticing to those who like compact smartphones, in contrast to the large 6.78-inch panel of the OnePlus 12. Notwithstanding, the latter has a better screen. Unlike the Pixel 7a which has a 90 Hz 1080 × 2400 OLED display, the OnePlus 12R’s screen is a 4th generation LTPO AMOLED panel with a 120 Hz dynamic refresh rate and 1264 × 2780 resolution. It also has a peak brightness of 4500 nits, Dolby Vision support, and a feature called Aqua Touch that can differentiate between water droplets and a user’s fingers. OnePlus has also settled for Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for protection whereas the Pixel 7a’s screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 3.
Considering the size of the OnePlus 12R, it is not surprising that it has a larger battery capacity. Under its glass back is a 5,500 mAh battery while the Pixel 7a has a significantly smaller 4,385 mAh battery capacity. In addition, the OnePlus 12R supports 100 W fast wired charging (80 W for the US version); and according to OnePlus, a full charge takes just 26 minutes. In contrast, the Pixel 7a charges at a measly 18 W via wired charging, taking over 2 hours for a full charge. It takes even longer if you opt to use a wireless charger, as it maxes out at 7.5 W.
The Pixel 7a launched with Android 13, and will receive 3 OS upgrades (up to Android 16) and 5 years of security updates (up to 2028). On the other hand, the OnePlus 12R which arrives almost a year after the Pixel 7a, ships with Android 14. OnePlus also promises 3 OS upgrades but 4 years of security updates for its R-series smartphones, which means the OnePlus 12R will be updated through to Android 17 and will receive security updates until 2028.
While several other manufacturers, including Google, have stopped shipping their phones with a charger, that isn’t the case with OnePlus. So unlike the Pixel 7a which doesn’t come with a charger, you get one in the box of the OnePlus 12R. It could be a 100 W SUPERVOOC Power Adapter or a SUPERVOOC 80W Power Adapter depending on the region of purchase.
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