OnePlus buyer's guide: everything you need to know in 2024

If you're in the market for a new smartphone but want to distance yourself from Apple and Samsung, let us introduce you to OnePlus! Combining cutting-edge technology with sleek designs, OnePlus has been leading the charge in the smartphone industry since its launch in 2013.

In this guide, we'll explore everything you need to know about OnePlus, including the new OnePlus phone and other latest releases for 2024. Keep reading to see what OnePlus has to offer!


In this blog:


An introduction to OnePlus

With its "Never Settle" philosophy, OnePlus has carved out a niche by offering premium devices at competitive prices. From flagship smartphones to top-tier wearables, OnePlus continues to impress with its commitment to delivering powerful performance and cutting-edge features without the hefty price point.

OnePlus currently offer a selection of smartphones, tablets and wearables. With a loyal fanbase and a reputation for innovation, OnePlus is fast becoming a force to be reckoned with in the mobile and tech industry.

Latest OnePlus releases

Wondering what exactly OnePlus offers in terms of tech? Here are the latest releases from the 2024 OnePlus launch:

OnePlus 12

@mattmoniz OnePlus 12 Unboxing & First Look! #oneplus #oneplus12 #unboxing ♬ 7am – RMT

The OnePlus 12 is arguably the best OnePlus phone on the market right now, offering powerful performance and incredible camera capabilities.

Starting at £849 and increasing to £999, the OnePlus 12 is by far the most expensive flagship model OnePlus has released. The cheaper model comes in Flowy Emerald and offers 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, while the more expensive option comes in Silky Black and has 16GB RAM and 512GB storage.

You'll find a 6.82-inch 2K 120Hz Pro XDR display on the OnePlus 12 with advanced LTPO for brighter, more vibrant visuals. This model also comes with Aqua Touch technology for smoother swiping. You can choose between charging this device wirelessly or via the charging cable too.

The OnePlus 12 features the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and runs on the latest version of OxygenOS 14 based on Android 14, making it one of the most powerful Android smartphones to date. It has an IP65 rating, meaning it can withstand low-pressure water jets and is protected from total dust ingress.

In terms of the camera setup, you'll get a 4th Gen Hasselblad camera system featuring three lenses: 50MP (f/1.6) wide, 64MP (f/2.6) periscope telephoto with 3x optical zoom and 48MP (f/2.2) ultra-wide. On the front of the OnePlus 12, you'll find a 32MP (f/2.4) selfie shooter.

OnePlus has added its largest VC cooling system yet to the OnePlus 12 for improved heat dissipation efficiency. You'll also find a huge 5400mAh battery that will last you the whole day and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for added protection from accidental drops.

OnePlus 12R

@zenmaruu Unboxing Oneplus 12R in Cool Blue ✧˚ ༘ ⋆。˚☁️🩵 Omg! Just got the new gaming flagship phone from @OnePlus and I'm obsessed🥹✨ In today's video, I'm just making an unboxing so we all can fully appreciate these stunning designs and amazing color~🩵But a little spoiler – the performance of this phone as amazing as this blue color👀✨ Gonna play Genshin in next video! Stay tuned for part 2! #oneplus #oneplus12r #oneplusfamily #gadgets #tech #smartphone #kawaiisetup #kawaiidesksetup #kawaiidesk ♬ original sound – Zenmaru

For those who like the look of the OnePlus 12 but can't justify spending almost £1000 on a phone, OnePlus have released the 12R model. The OnePlus 12R is essentially a budget-friendly version of the 12, keeping the fan-favourite features and switching out the lesser desired ones to make the model cheaper.

Priced at £649, you can buy the OnePlus 12R in only one colour and storage size: Iron Grey with 16GB RAM and 256GB of storage. The OnePlus 12R makes up for the limited colour and storage options with its massive 5500mAh battery. This is the biggest battery to ever go into a OnePlus smartphone and offers ultra-fast 100W SUPERVOOC charging to give you up to two days' worth of charge in just 26 minutes!

The OnePlus 12R has a slightly older Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor when compared to the OnePlus 12, but the performance speeds will still be just as impressive. You'll notice that the OnePlus 12R is a little smaller when it comes to the display; it has a 6.78-inch 120Hz ProXDR display with the same advanced LTPO and Aqua Touch technology. You'll also find the same VC cooling system on the OnePlus 12R as the OnePlus 12.

When it comes to the camera setup, you'll get a 50MP (f/1.8) wide lens, an 8 MP (f/2.2) ultra-wide lens and a 2 MP (f/2.4) macro lens on the rear of the phone. On the front, you'll find a 16MP (f/2.4) selfie camera.

The IP rating and charging features have been reduced to keep costs lower, so you won't be able to use wireless charging with the OnePlus 12R and will have to be a bit more careful around water. It has an IP64 rating, meaning it's protected from total dust ingress and water spray.

While this model lacks a few of the premium features of the 12, the OnePlus 12R is the best OnePlus phone for those on a budget!

OnePlus Buds 3

@danielsinfilms Unboxing the OnePlus Buds 3! #oneplus #oneplusbuds #oneplusbuds3 #earbuds #wirelessearbuds #unboxing ♬ original sound – Daniel Sin

The OnePlus Buds 3 is a great set of midrange earbuds for those who want better quality than the Nord range without paying the hefty price of the Buds Pro series.

For £99, you'll get dual dynamic drivers with Basswave Enhancement technology and hi-res audio with LHDC 5.0 for a crisper, clearer sound. You'll also get up to 49dB adaptive noise cancellation!

These OnePlus earbuds have touch volume control and an IP55 rating, meaning they are protected from limited dust ingress and low pressure water jets. You'll get up to 10 hours of playback from the earbuds themselves and up to 44 hours of playback in the earbuds and case combined.

If you're a big fan of wireless charging, you might be disappointed to hear that these OnePlus earbuds are wired charging only, but you shouldn't let that put you off them! You can also pick between two colour options: Metallic Grey and Splendid Blue.

OnePlus Watch 2

@danielsinfilms Unboxing the OnePlus Watch 2! Which features a battery life of up to 100 hours in Smart Mode. Powered by Wear OS. #oneplus #onepluswatch #onepluswatch2 #smartwatch #oneplussmartwatch #unboxing ♬ original sound – Daniel Sin

Looking for a new smartwatch? OnePlus has got you covered there too! The OnePlus Watch 2 is the newest OnePlus smartwatch to hit the market, featuring a 1.42-inch AMOLED display with a sapphire crystal front.

Priced at £299, this smartwatch has Bluetooth and wifi connectivity, however it doesn't offer cellular connectivity. The battery life is quite impressive, offering up to 100 hours of battery life when in Smart Mode.

This OnePlus smartwatch model sports a Snapdragon W5 chipset with dual frequency GPS, 32GB ROM and 2GB of RAM. You'll notice enhanced sports tracking and an IP68 rating, meaning it can withstand up to 1.5m for up to 30 minutes. It's currently available in Black Steel or Radiant Steel in 46mm.

Still to be released

Since we're still in the first half of 2024, it's likely we'll see a few more OnePlus products released later in the year. While there aren't too many rumours spreading so far, it sounds like OnePlus will release another foldable phone and their next line of Nord devices.

The OnePlus Nord models are midrange smartphones, so we're expecting to see smaller price tags compared to the OnePlus 12. While you can find the Nord 3 in stores right now, leaks suggest that the next Nord series will skip the 4 altogether and be named Nord 5 instead. We expect there to be a OnePlus Nord 5, OnePlus Nord CE 5 and a OnePlus Nord CE 5 Lite to match the previous Nord range. Since last year's Nord models were released in July, rumours suggest that OnePlus will drop their Nord 5 range in July 2024.

We're also expecting a successor to last year's OnePlus One foldable phone, the OnePlus Open 2. There's not much yet known about this device, although we expect OnePlus to release the phone later this year in October. As we know, foldable phones are on the pricey side, so the OnePlus Open 2 will no doubt cost a pretty penny!


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