OnePlus 12 vs. Samsung Galaxy S24+: Flagship face-off

OnePlus excels in hardware, whereas Samsung stands out in software

If you’re in the market for a flagship Android smartphone under Rs 1,00,000 in 2024, the recently released OnePlus 12 and Galaxy S24+ deserve your attention. Despite not carrying the “Pro” label, both smartphones boast premium design, top-tier specifications, and the latest software experience. However, there is a significant price gap between the two. Let’s compare OnePlus’s latest flagship with the Samsung Galaxy S24+.

Design: Upholding the heritage of their forerunners

The OnePlus 12 (review) and the Samsung Galaxy S24+ exhibit distinctive designs. Although they inherit traits from their predecessors, subtle yet significant changes distinguish them.

Both smartphones, the OnePlus 12 and the Samsung Galaxy S24+, adopt a glass-metal sandwich design. The OnePlus 12 showcases a curved display and back panel, while the Galaxy S24+ opts for a more understated, practical flat display and frame, reminiscent of the iPhone 15.

Regarding water and dust resistance, the Galaxy S24+ surpasses the OnePlus 12 with its IP68 rating. Both phones incorporate Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for protection. The OnePlus 12 offers extra features such as an alert slider and an IR blaster, providing additional advantages. Their distinct design IDs make it easy to identify the brand from a distance.

Display: Two different takes

As previously noted, the OnePlus 12 not only features a curved display but also boasts a slightly larger 6.82-inch screen, whereas the Galaxy S24+ has a 6.7-inch display. Both phones incorporate LTPO technology, allowing for a variable refresh rate ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz, and provide QHD+ resolution, making them among the most high-resolution smartphone displays available.

Given the varied executions, some may perceive the OnePlus 12 as a more upscale smartphone, while others might favor the flat display of the Galaxy S24+. It’s noteworthy that installing a screen protector on a flat display is simpler compared to a curved one. Additionally, gamers may find the Galaxy S24+’s flat display to be an added advantage.

Camera: Flagship grade cameras

The OnePlus 12 and Samsung Galaxy S24+ sport triple camera setups at the rear. The OnePlus 12, with its distinctive Hasselblad branding and periscope-type zoom lens, stands out, while the Galaxy S24+’s three individual cameras emphasize practicality. The OnePlus 12 features a 50 MP wide-angle lens, a 48 MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 64 MP telephoto lens. Similarly, the Galaxy S24+ includes a 50 MP primary wide-angle lens, a 12 MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 10 MP telephoto lens. For selfies, the OnePlus 12 integrates a 32 MP camera, while the Galaxy S24+ opts for a 12 MP shooter. Both phones support up to 8K video recording with the primary cameras and 4K video recording with the selfie cameras.

The camera performance of these smartphones relies on software tuning, and it is anticipated that the Galaxy S24+ will have a slight advantage over the OnePlus 12’s camera setup in real-world scenarios.

Performance: Different platforms

The OnePlus 12 runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, while the Galaxy S24+ is equipped with the Exynos 2400 SoC in India. Both, being built on flagship processors, are expected to deliver excellent performance and provide a premium smartphone user experience. Both phones come with the Android 14 OS, each featuring a different skin. The OnePlus 12 includes OxygenOS 14, while the Galaxy S24+ features OneUI 6.1.

Even for power users, these devices are expected to excel in tasks such as gaming and video editing. The OnePlus 12 is committed to receiving four major OS upgrades, whereas the Galaxy S24+ will enjoy the industry’s highest level of software support, spanning seven years.

Galaxy S24+ has an edge over OnePlus 12 in AI

The Galaxy S24+, driven by AI, introduces various generative AI features, including live call translation and transcription, wallpaper generation, image editing, and a recently introduced feature called Circle to Search, which became available on the Google Pixel 8 series. While some of these features leverage on-device AI capabilities, others rely on the cloud. However, despite having the necessary hardware, the OnePlus 12 currently lacks any on-device generative AI capabilities.

Battery: OnePlus takes over Samsung

The OnePlus 12 boasts not only a larger 5,400 mAh battery but also supports rapid 100W charging and 50W fast wireless charging. In contrast, the Galaxy S24+ features a notably smaller 4,900 mAh battery with support for 45W fast charging and 15W wireless charging. The combination of the larger battery and faster charging capabilities is expected to give the OnePlus 12 an advantage over the Galaxy S24+ in both battery life and charging speed.

Verdict: Phones with different character

The OnePlus 12 currently stands out as the finest non-foldable phone produced by the company. On the other hand, while the Galaxy S24+ may not be the pinnacle of Samsung’s offerings, it undeniably ranks among the best from the South Korean tech giant. The hardware on the OnePlus 12 is unquestionably more impressive than that of the Galaxy S24+, yet the software experience on the Galaxy S24+ excels, particularly with the inclusion of advanced Galaxy AI features.

If you seek a smartphone with state-of-the-art hardware, the OnePlus 12 is a solid choice. However, if you prioritize software and aspire to explore the latest generative AI features on a smartphone, the Galaxy S24+ is the ideal option.