OnePlus 12 vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: A Deep Dive into Android's Top Contenders
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra emerges as the superior device, justifying its higher price with a brighter, more advanced display, and a more polished software experience. However, the OnePlus 12 delivers exceptional performance and incredibly fast charging at a significantly lower cost, making it a compelling alternative for budget-conscious power users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | OnePlus 12 | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - International | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71 - International | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2023, December 05 | 2024, January 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, December 11 | Available. Released 2024, January 24 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass), aluminum frame | Glass front (Corning Gorilla Armor), glass back (Corning Gorilla Armor), titanium frame (grade 2) |
| Dimensions | 164.3 x 75.8 x 9.2 mm (6.47 x 2.98 x 0.36 in) | 162.3 x 79 x 8.6 mm (6.39 x 3.11 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - INT· Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - USA· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM - CN |
| Weight | 220 g (7.76 oz) | 232 g or 233 g (8.18 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | Corning Gorilla Armor |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3168 pixels (~510 ppi density) | 1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~505 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.82 inches, 113.0 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 113.5 cm2 (~88.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 600 nits (typ), 1600 nits (HBM), 4500 nits (peak) | Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520) | 8-core (1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.1GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.9GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.2GHz Cortex-A520) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 750 | Adreno 750 (1 GHz) |
| OS | Android 14, up to 4 major Android upgrades, OxygenOS 16 (International), ColorOS (China) | Android 14, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 8.0 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM, 1TB 24GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Hasselblad Color Calibration, color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.3", 0.6µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 67mm (telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/3.4, 111mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.52", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.6, 23mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/2.6, 70mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF | - |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240/480fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS, Dolby Vision | 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR, HDR10+ |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.4, 21mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm | 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, LHDC | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 100W wired, PD, QC, 100% in 26 min (International) 80W wired, PD, QC, 100% in 30 min (USA) 50W wireless, 100% in 55 min 10W reverse wireless | 45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 5400 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Flowy Emerald, Silky Black, Silver (Glacial White) | Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, Titanium Yellow, Titanium Blue, Titanium Green, Titanium Orange |
| Models | PJD110, CPH2573, CPH2581, CPH2583 | SM-S928B, SM-S928B/DS, SM-S928U, SM-S928U1, SM-S928W, SM-S928N, SM-S9280, SM-S928E, SM-S928E/DS |
| Price | $ 639.99 / C$ 1,099.99 / £ 549.00 / € 527.00 | $ 514.94 / C$ 929.99 / £ 630.00 / € 658.53 / ₹ 84,999 |
| SAR | 1.18 W/kg (head) 0.68 W/kg (body) | 1.26 W/kg (head) 0.62 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 1.06 W/kg (head) 1.30 W/kg (body) |
OnePlus 12
- Significantly faster charging (100W wired)
- More affordable price point
- Clean and customizable OxygenOS software
- Display not as bright as the S24 Ultra
- Camera system lacks the versatility of Samsung’s
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
- Brighter and more color-accurate display
- More versatile and refined camera system
- Superior thermal management for sustained performance
- Significantly higher price
- Slower charging speeds (45W wired)
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1447 nits compared to the OnePlus 12’s 1155 nits. This translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight. Both utilize LTPO technology for adaptive refresh rates, conserving battery life, but Samsung’s panel is generally regarded as having superior color accuracy and viewing angles. While both offer excellent displays, the S24 Ultra’s brightness advantage is a tangible benefit for outdoor use.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer capable camera systems, but Samsung’s S24 Ultra provides a more versatile experience. While both focus on photo and video, the S24 Ultra’s larger main sensor and advanced image processing algorithms deliver superior dynamic range and detail in challenging lighting conditions. The S24 Ultra’s telephoto capabilities are also more robust, offering greater zoom range and image quality. The OnePlus 12’s camera is excellent, but lacks the refinement and feature set of Samsung’s flagship.
Performance
Both phones are powered by the Qualcomm SM8650-AB/AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm), but subtle CPU clock speed differences exist. The S24 Ultra’s CPU peaks at 3.39GHz, slightly higher than the OnePlus 12’s 3.3 GHz. In real-world usage, this difference is minimal. Both devices utilize LPDDR5x RAM, ensuring snappy multitasking. However, Samsung’s more sophisticated thermal management system, coupled with a larger vapor chamber, likely allows for sustained peak performance during extended gaming sessions, mitigating potential throttling.
Battery Life
The OnePlus 12 offers a compelling charging advantage with its 100W wired charging (26 minutes to 100% internationally, 30 minutes in the US), significantly faster than the S24 Ultra’s 45W charging (65% in 30 minutes). While the S24 Ultra’s battery life is slightly longer in active use (13:49h vs 14:11h for the OnePlus 12), the OnePlus 12’s faster charging mitigates any concerns about running out of power. The OnePlus 12 also offers 50W wireless charging, dwarfing the S24 Ultra’s 15W wireless charging.
Buying Guide
Buy the OnePlus 12 if you prioritize raw performance-per-dollar, lightning-fast 100W charging, and a clean Android experience. You'll get a flagship-level phone without the premium price tag. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra if you demand the best possible display, a versatile camera system with advanced features, and the seamless integration of the Samsung ecosystem, even if it means paying a premium.