OnePlus Ace 6 vs. OnePlus 12R: A Detailed Performance and Value Showdown

The OnePlus Ace 6 and 12R represent distinct approaches to the mid-to-high range smartphone market. The Ace 6 arrives with the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite, promising raw power, while the 12R focuses on delivering a well-rounded experience with the established Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and a larger battery. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing peak performance and fastest charging, the OnePlus Ace 6 is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset offers a significant leap in CPU and GPU capabilities. However, the OnePlus 12R provides excellent value with its strong Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 performance and superior battery life, making it ideal for everyday users.

PHONES
Phone Names OnePlus Ace 6 OnePlus 12R
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 18, 26, 28A, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2025, October 272024, January 23
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, October 30Available. Released 2024, February 06
Body
BuildGlass front (Crystal Shield Glass), glass back, aluminum alloy frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame, glass back
Dimensions163.4 x 77 x 8.3 mm (6.43 x 3.03 x 0.33 in)163.3 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
Weight213 g (7.51 oz)207 g (7.30 oz)
Display
ProtectionCrystal Shield GlassCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1272 x 2800 pixels (~450 ppi density)1264 x 2780 pixels (~450 ppi density)
Size6.83 inches, 113.3 cm2 (~90.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 111.7 cm2 (~90.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, PWM, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HDR Vivid, 800 nits (typ), 1800 nits (HBM)LTPO4 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1600 nits (HBM), 4500 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 830Adreno 740
OSAndroid 16, ColorOS 16Android 14, up to 3 major Android upgrades, OxygenOS 15
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM
Main Camera
Dual50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 112˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm-
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple-50 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@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS, OIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.4, 23mm (wide), 1/3", 1.0µm16 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, LHDC 55.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB 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, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging120W wired, 120W UFCS, 55W PPS, 18W PD, 18W QC, 58% in 20 min, 100% in 43 min Bypass charging100W wired, 100% in 26 min
TypeSi/C Li-Ion 7800 mAhLi-Ion 5500 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, SilverIron Gray, Cool Blue, Electric Violet, Sunset Dune
ModelsPLQ110CPH2609, CPH2585, CPH2611
PriceAbout 310 EUR€ 410.84 / $ 399.95 / £ 649.00
SAR-1.19 W/kg (head)     0.82 W/kg (body)

OnePlus Ace 6

  • Significantly faster processor with Snapdragon 8 Elite
  • Ultra-fast 120W charging with UFCS/PPS support
  • Potential for superior camera performance

  • Potentially shorter battery life due to higher power consumption
  • May run hotter under sustained load

OnePlus 12R

  • Excellent battery life (14:32h active use)
  • Fast 100W charging
  • Strong performance from Snapdragon 8 Gen 2

  • Less powerful processor compared to Snapdragon 8 Elite
  • May not be ideal for the most demanding gaming or content creation tasks

Display Comparison

The OnePlus 12R boasts a measured peak brightness of 1181 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Ace 6’s display specifications are not provided, it’s reasonable to expect a comparable brightness level given its flagship positioning. The 12R’s panel is likely a high-refresh-rate AMOLED, contributing to smooth scrolling and animations. Without knowing the Ace 6’s panel technology, it’s difficult to assess potential differences in color accuracy or viewing angles, but both are expected to deliver vibrant visuals typical of OnePlus devices.

Camera Comparison

Detailed camera specifications for both devices are limited. However, given the market positioning, the Ace 6 likely features a more advanced camera system. The focus should be on the main sensor size and aperture. Without this data, it’s difficult to make a definitive comparison. Image processing algorithms will also play a crucial role, and OnePlus typically delivers consistent results in this area. The 12R will likely offer a reliable camera experience, but the Ace 6 has the potential to capture more detailed and dynamic images.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The OnePlus Ace 6’s Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm) utilizes Oryon V2 Phoenix cores, offering a significant architectural advantage over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) in the 12R. The Ace 6’s CPU configuration (2x4.32 GHz + 6x3.53 GHz) promises substantially higher single-core and multi-core performance. While the 8 Gen 2 is no slouch (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3, etc.), the 3nm process and Oryon architecture of the 8 Elite should translate to better thermal efficiency and sustained performance under heavy load. The Ace 6 is likely to excel in demanding tasks like video editing and high-end gaming. The 12R, however, will provide a very smooth experience for most users.

Battery Life

The OnePlus 12R shines in battery life, achieving an active use score of 14:32h. This suggests excellent power efficiency from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and optimized software. The Ace 6, while featuring incredibly fast 120W charging (100% in 43 minutes), may sacrifice some battery life for its higher performance. The 12R’s 100W charging (100% in 26 minutes) is still remarkably fast, but the Ace 6’s UFCS and PPS support offer greater charging flexibility. The Ace 6’s bypass charging feature is also a plus, allowing for cooler operation during charging.

Buying Guide

Buy the OnePlus Ace 6 if you are a demanding gamer, content creator, or power user who needs the absolute fastest processing speeds and the quickest recharge times. Buy the OnePlus 12R if you prioritize all-day battery life, a consistently smooth experience, and a more balanced feature set without sacrificing significant performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Elite in the Ace 6 get noticeably hotter than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the 12R during extended gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 8 Elite's 3nm process aims for improved thermal efficiency, its higher performance ceiling means it *can* generate more heat under sustained load. The Ace 6 likely employs advanced cooling solutions, but the 12R's 8 Gen 2 will generally run cooler, potentially leading to less throttling over very long gaming sessions.
❓ How much of a real-world performance difference will I see between the Oryon V2 cores in the Ace 6 and the Cortex cores in the 12R for everyday tasks like browsing and social media?
For typical daily usage, the performance difference will be minimal. Both phones are incredibly fast and will handle everyday tasks with ease. The benefits of the Snapdragon 8 Elite's Oryon cores become more apparent in demanding applications like video editing, 3D rendering, and graphically intensive games.
❓ Is the 120W charging on the Ace 6 significantly more convenient than the 100W charging on the 12R, considering the 43-minute full charge time?
While 120W is faster on paper, the difference in real-world charging time (43 minutes vs. 26 minutes) isn't massive. The 120W charging on the Ace 6 is more beneficial for quick top-ups, while the 100W on the 12R still provides a very rapid charge. The Ace 6's UFCS/PPS support offers broader compatibility with chargers.