Nio Phone 2 vs OnePlus 12R: A Deep Dive into Performance, Charging, and Value

The Nio Phone 2 arrives as a newcomer wielding Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, aiming to disrupt the established flagship market. It directly challenges the OnePlus 12R, a well-regarded device offering a previous-generation Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 alongside a focus on rapid charging and sustained performance. This comparison dissects the key differences to determine which phone best suits your needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing raw processing power and future-proofing, the Nio Phone 2 is the clear winner thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. However, the OnePlus 12R delivers exceptional value with its 100W charging and impressive 14:32 hour active use battery life, making it the more practical choice for everyday users.

PHONES
Phone Names Nio Phone 2 OnePlus 12R
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 421, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2024, July 272024, January 23
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, July 27Available. Released 2024, February 06
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame, glass back
Dimensions163.9 x 77.5 x 8.5 / 8.6 / 8.7 mm163.3 x 75.3 x 8.8 mm (6.43 x 2.96 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight209 / 214 / 226 g (7.37 oz)207 g (7.30 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1440 x 3168 pixels (~510 ppi density)1264 x 2780 pixels (~450 ppi density)
Size6.82 inches, 113.0 cm2 (~89.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 111.7 cm2 (~90.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak)LTPO4 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1600 nits (HBM), 4500 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 750Adreno 740
OSSkyUI 2.0Android 14, up to 3 major Android upgrades, OxygenOS 15
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, Ring-LED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple48 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.6, 65mm (periscope telephoto), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2.6x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.3, 14mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1/1.95", 0.8µm, PDAF50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 112˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, OIS, HDR10+4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR, panorama
Single12 MP, f/2.5, (wide)16 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.0µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Lossless5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), GLONASSGPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging80W wired, PD3.0, QC4 50W wireless 10W reverse wireless100W wired, 100% in 26 min
TypeLi-Po 5020 mAhLi-Ion 5500 mAh
Misc
ColorsSpace Blue, Moonlight Silver, Pine Green, Golden Sand, Nebula Red, EPeditionIron Gray, Cool Blue, Electric Violet, Sunset Dune
ModelsN2301CPH2609, CPH2585, CPH2611
PriceAbout 820 EUR€ 410.84 / $ 399.95 / £ 649.00
SAR-1.19 W/kg (head)     0.82 W/kg (body)

Nio Phone 2

  • Latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for top-tier performance
  • 50W Wireless Charging offers convenience
  • Potential for advanced camera features (based on flagship positioning)

  • 80W wired charging is slower than OnePlus 12R
  • Battery life is currently unknown and potentially lower than 12R

OnePlus 12R

  • 100W SuperVOOC charging for incredibly fast top-ups
  • Excellent 14:32h active use battery life
  • Proven Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 performance

  • Uses a previous-generation chipset
  • May not offer the same level of future-proofing as the Nio Phone 2

Display Comparison

While both devices utilize 4nm chipsets, display details are limited for the Nio Phone 2. The OnePlus 12R boasts a measured peak brightness of 1181 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. Without comparable data for the Nio Phone 2, it’s difficult to assess its outdoor performance. The OnePlus 12R’s panel likely employs LTPO technology, enabling variable refresh rates for improved efficiency, a feature we expect to see in flagship devices, but cannot confirm on the Nio Phone 2.

Camera Comparison

Context data lacks camera specifics for both devices. Given the Nio Phone 2’s flagship positioning, we anticipate a more sophisticated camera system with larger sensors and advanced image processing. However, without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is impossible. The OnePlus 12R likely features a capable camera setup, but its image processing style may lean towards more saturated colors, a common OnePlus trait. We’d need to analyze sample photos to determine which phone delivers more accurate and pleasing results.

Performance

The Nio Phone 2’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, built on a 4nm process, represents a significant leap over the OnePlus 12R’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. The 8 Gen 3’s CPU configuration – 1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4, 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720, 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720, and 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520 – offers improved single-core and multi-core performance compared to the 12R’s 1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710, and 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive user experience. However, the 8 Gen 2 in the OnePlus 12R is still a powerhouse, and its thermal management, combined with the 4nm node, should prevent significant throttling during extended gaming sessions.

Battery Life

The OnePlus 12R shines with its 100W wired charging, capable of a full charge in just 26 minutes. This is significantly faster than the Nio Phone 2’s 80W wired charging. The 12R also boasts an impressive 14:32h active use battery score, indicating excellent endurance. While the Nio Phone 2 offers 50W wireless and 10W reverse wireless charging, the OnePlus 12R’s faster wired charging and proven battery life provide a more convenient and reliable experience for most users.

Buying Guide

Buy the Nio Phone 2 if you demand the absolute best performance for demanding tasks like video editing, high-end gaming, or AI applications, and are willing to potentially trade off some battery endurance. Buy the OnePlus 12R if you prioritize all-day battery life, incredibly fast charging, and a balanced experience without sacrificing significant performance, all at a potentially lower price point.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Will the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the Nio Phone 2 get noticeably hotter than the 8 Gen 2 in the OnePlus 12R during prolonged gaming?
While the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is more powerful, it also generates more heat. The Nio Phone 2 will likely require a more robust cooling system to prevent throttling during extended gaming sessions. The OnePlus 12R’s 8 Gen 2, while less powerful, is known for its efficient thermal management, potentially leading to more consistent performance over longer periods.
❓ How does the 80W charging on the Nio Phone 2 compare to the 100W SuperVOOC charging on the OnePlus 12R in real-world usage?
The OnePlus 12R’s 100W charging is significantly faster, achieving a full charge in 26 minutes. The Nio Phone 2’s 80W charging will take longer, likely around 40-45 minutes for a complete top-up. This difference is substantial for users who frequently need to quickly recharge their devices.
❓ Does the Nio Phone 2 support the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard, and if so, how does it benefit users compared to the Wi-Fi 6E likely found in the OnePlus 12R?
While not explicitly stated, given the Nio Phone 2's flagship status and the 8 Gen 3 chipset, it's highly probable it supports Wi-Fi 7. Wi-Fi 7 offers significantly faster speeds and lower latency compared to Wi-Fi 6E, benefiting users with demanding network needs like 8K streaming, online gaming, and large file transfers, *provided* they have a Wi-Fi 7 router.