Oneplus 12 vs iPhone 15: which phone wins

When it comes to the ever-changing environment of smartphones, the OnePlus 12 and the iPhone 15 stand out as representations of the ethos and technological prowess of their respective businesses. In spite of the fact that both smartphones have slick looks and impressive technology, they take very different approaches to the user experience and innovation.

This is a pleasant change from the trend of AI-driven features, as the OnePlus 12 offers a user experience that is both simplified and strong. The OnePlus 12 is distinguished by its concentration on performance efficiency and minimalist software. In contrast, the iPhone 15 demonstrates Apple’s dedication to developing cutting-edge technology by incorporating significant enhancements such as the ability to interact with Dynamic Island and advanced camera capabilities.

When consumers are weighing their alternatives, they need to evaluate whether they would rather prioritize the iPhone 15’s novel features and ecosystem integration or the streamlined functionality and extended battery life of the OnePlus 12. An individual’s tastes regarding performance, user interface, and ecosystem compatibility are ultimately the most important factors to consider when selecting between these two flagship devices.

Oneplus 12 vs iPhone 15 Comparison Table

The OnePlus 12 and the iPhone 15 are cutting edge smartphones, but they have different environments and features. Which one you choose depends on your personal preferences when it comes to running systems, how well they work with other devices, how well the camera works, and how they look.

Oneplus 12 vs iPhone 15: Design

The iPhone 15 is a basic flagship phone that is a bit on the small side. It fights with Android flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S24. The OnePlus 12 is bigger than the iPhone 15 and has some more advanced tech and features, but it costs about the same as other entry-level flagship phones. That puts the OnePlus 12 in the same league as other phones.

Android users who want something similar to a high-end top phone like the Samsung Galaxy S24+ will like it. People who are thinking about getting an entry-level model like the Galaxy S24 but want something with more features for the same price may also be interested in the OnePlus 12. This is only true if they are willing to go with a lesser-known brand like OnePlus.

If you care about phone size, it’s not hard to decide between the OnePlus 12 and the iPhone 15. People who want a device that fits more comfortably in their pocket will like the 6.1-inch iPhone. People who believe that bigger is better will like the OnePlus screen. In terms of how they look, the phones are very different. Apple brought back sharp edges with the iPhone 12 series, and the iPhone 15 keeps them.

It also has the familiar square camera lens. With its soft, rounded sides and unique back camera that has four sensors in a circle, the OnePlus 12 stands out. These phones are very different and are made for different types of people. The only thing that links them is that they cost about the same.

Oneplus 12 vs iPhone 15: Display

The iPhone 15 has a 6.1-inch OLED screen that is dynamic and has a resolution of 2556 x 1179 pixels and a frame rate of 60Hz. Apple screens almost never let people down, and the iPhone 15’s screen is just as good as the Pro series’, though it has a slower frame rate. The OnePlus 12 has a bigger 6.82-inch edge-to-edge AMOLED panel with a resolution of 3168 x 1440 and a refresh rate that can be set to 120Hz. Lots of people might be ready to call it a day after seeing that big difference.

Putting aside concerns about size, the OnePlus display is better. It has a higher resolution, more pixels per inch (510 P vs. 461 PPI), and a faster refresh rate, which makes it more like the iPhone 15 Pro Max. It also has a face that looks much cleaner than the iPhone, which has a notch and bigger bezels that make it look a bit old-fashioned.

Oneplus 12 vs iPhone 15: Software

That being said, the OnePlus 12 and its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor run Android 14 and a very light version of OnePlus OxygenOS 14. This software setup is one of the cleanest and most like stock Android that you can get these days, except for Google Pixel devices. In the end, I think that the majority of Android users will enjoy this device’s experiential side. Some bold iPhone users might also enjoy it.

When it came out, the iPhone 15 came with iOS 17. It just got the iOS 17.1 update, which adds some new features and fixes some major bugs. The first change is that the AirDrop upgrade that lets transfers happen even when the sender and receiver are not in the same room is now enabled and turned on by default. With this feature, your iPhone can switch between a Bluetooth and peer-to-peer WiFi link, which is essentially what AirDrop is, and a mobile data connection. But the cell link isn’t as fast, so don’t be surprised if the speed of the transfer slows down when you’re not in range.

Because of iOS 17.1, you can now pick a folder in your gallery and have the phone randomly arrange the pictures inside it. You can then choose from a folder that only has pictures instead of having to go through your whole gallery and pick out photos one by one. You can change how you look on a call recipient’s screen, which is one of the cool new features of iOS 17 that many users are sure to enjoy. You can pick a picture or an emoji and change how the whole thing looks.

Oneplus 12 vs iPhone 15: Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the OnePlus 12 makes it a powerful phone, even though it’s not the first to have Qualcomm’s newest, best mobile CPU. Response times are tight for even the most basic tasks, like scrolling through the interface and starting apps. The OnePlus 12’s 120Hz refresh rate also helps because it makes all movements look smoother.

We ran all the usual synthetic speed tests and found that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is pretty good at graphics processing. With an average of 117 frames per second on the 3DMark Wild Life Unlimited test, it proved to be very fast. Apple chose to put the same chipsets in all of its iPhones last year, even the ones that aren’t Pro models. The A16 Bionic (4 nm) chip in the iPhone 15 is new.

It was first used in the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max in 2022. It’s hard to tell the difference between how the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 14 from last year feel in your hand. The A16 Bionic is a little faster than the other one. When we used the phone, we had no problems at all. It was easy to do everything and get around the interface.

Oneplus 12 vs iPhone 15: Battery life

The line has been known for its long battery life for a while now, and the OnePlus 12 is no different. With its 5,400 mAh battery, I can be sure that it will last me all day at work without needing to be charged. Most working days, I see it at about 25% of its full capacity. There’s no doubt that it’s better than what I get from other phones, but it will really show how durable it is when it’s put through proper standard testing. There are 3,349mAh in the base iPhone 15, while there are only 3,227mAh in the base iPhone 14. In our battery tests, that extra 122mAh gives you 30 minutes more of power.

To see how long the battery lasts, we turn the screen all the way up and stream HD video over Wi-Fi until the phone dies. This test proved that the iPhone 15 can play videos for 16 hours, just like Apple says it can. It’s only an extra half-hour longer than the iPhone 14, but we’ll take it. The OnePlus 11 5G ran for 11 hours and 13 minutes, the 15 Pro Max for 20 hours and 15 minutes, the Galaxy S23 for 13 hours and 12 minutes, and the Pixel 7 for 12 hours and 10 minutes. No two phones were exactly the same.

Oneplus 12 vs iPhone 15: Camera

The back camera setup on the OnePlus 12 is very similar to that on the OnePlus Open. It has the same 50-megapixel Sony LYT-808 Type 1/1.4 image sensor with an aperture of f/1.6 as the Open. Unless you’re shooting in Hi-Res mode, pixel binning is always used to make 12.5-megapixel pictures (23mm equivalent). Once more, OnePlus won’t let you shoot in RAW at full quality, so you’ll have to deal with the binned image. The 64-megapixel OmniVision OVB64 telephoto may be the best in the bunch. It has a 3x optical zoom (equal to 70mm), and it’s clear that both OnePlus and Hasselblad worked hard to make it better. The shape is like a periscope, and you can use it in most of the camera modes, even Action mode, which I’ll talk about later.

When it came to the 48-megapixel ultra-wide (14mm equivalent), OnePlus stuck with a Sony IMX581 image sensor that was used in the OnePlus 11. The only thing that’s different is how the software on board handles the pictures you take. The 114-degree field of view and f/2.2 lens stay the same. There is also a macro mode that can be used when you are very close to a subject, which is shown by an icon on the screen.

The basic 15 and 15 Plus offer less camera functionality, but all four iPhone 15 models have the same 48MP main camera sensor, which is good. Smartphone camera sensors are often binned by four to produce 12MP images from 48MP sensors. Apple thinks differently. A full 48MP snap is blended with a 12MP binned photo to create a 24MP image. The objective is to keep fine detail from the full pixel count with brighter low-light results from a binned photo. iPhone 15 users can store HEIF or jpeg photographs, but not ProRAW like the 15 Pro and Pro Max.

Despite lacking a telephoto lens, the iPhone 15’s camera can take 2x “optical” zoom images this year. Apple does this by shooting with the sensor’s 12MP core sensor and refining it with software. Apple claims this method produces 2x photos as clear as those produced via a 2x lens. The second rear sensor is a 12MP f/2.4 ultra-wide. This 0.5x wide-angle shooter is perfect for street and indoor photography and captures enormous panoramas. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus lack the optical telephoto camera and ultra-wide camera that support macro photography.

Which is right for you?

Given the features and equal starting price, the iPhone 15 is impossible to recommend unless you’re set on iOS. Wireless charging and other upgrades make the OnePlus 12 seem like a premium handset for the same price. If you like Android and want a bigger phone, the OnePlus 12 is a good value.

If, like many people globally, you like iOS, the iPhone 15 is the best option. It’s also a good choice for smaller phone users, especially since Apple has discreetly discontinued the iPhone Mini. With its powerful hardware, it should last for years as a daily user. It’s still affordable at a time when many flagship phones cost over $1,000, especially with all the iPhone 15 offers.

Oneplus 12: The good and The bad

On the other hand, the OnePlus 12 is a reliable phone that is in a difficult position. It has the performance, but it does not have the features that are offered by its high-end competitors.

iPhone 15: The good and The bad

When the light is favourable, the iPhone 15 is capable of capturing footage that is rock-steady, with no noticeable jitter and outstanding details.

Questions and Answers