OnePlus Prices Latest Flagship and More Affordable Model for US Market. OnePlus has just announced the pricing and availability details for its latest flagship smartphone, the OnePlus 11, as well as a new more affordable model called the OnePlus 12R, for the US market. The Chinese tech company is aiming to appeal to both premium smartphone shoppers and those looking for a great value with these two new releases.
Overview of OnePlus 11 and 12R Smartphones
The OnePlus 11 serves as the company’s flagship device for 2023, succeeding last year’s OnePlus 10 Pro. It sports a cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, high-resolution 6.7” QHD+ AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, improved camera array led by a 50MP main sensor, ultra-fast charging that can deliver a day’s power in 10 minutes, and the latest OxygenOS 13 based on Android 13.
The OnePlus 12R slots in as a more affordable alternative at $499 unlocked. It makes some sacrifices to hit that lower price point, including a less powerful MediaTek Dimensity 8100 Max chipset, 6.7” FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED screen, lower resolution 48MP main camera, and slower charging. However, it retains 5G connectivity, a large battery, excellent software experience, and premium design.
OnePlus 11 Pricing and Availability
The OnePlus 11 will start at $699 for the 8GB/128GB model. There is also a step-up 16GB/256GB configuration priced at $799. It will be available unlocked directly from OnePlus online and at Amazon.
OnePlus is staggering the release slightly, with the 8GB/128GB variant launching February 16th, while the higher memory version doesn’t arrive until March 2nd. This mirrors Apple’s approach with the iPhone 14 models last fall.
Buyers will be able to choose between Eternal Green and Titan Black color options.
More Affordable OnePlus 12R Also Coming Soon
In addition to the flagship OnePlus 11, the company announced details around its new OnePlus 12R model designed to appeal to shoppers wanting a more affordable 5G device.
The OnePlus 12R will retail for $499 unlocked with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. There is also a 12GB/256GB model for $599. It will only be offered in a matte black colorway.
This phone will launch alongside the base OnePlus 11 on February 16th, so buyers won’t have to wait if they want the cheaper 12R right away.
How Pricing Compares to Competition
OnePlus has always positioned itself as an affordable flagship killer brand. However, prices have slowly crept up over the years as specs improved and 5G connectivity was added.
The $699 starting price for the OnePlus 11 is $100 more than last year’s 10 Pro retailed for. But it still comes in $200 cheaper than the $899 Samsung Galaxy S23 and $300 less than the $999 iPhone 14 Pro. This makes it a relatively good value compared to other high-end flagships.
As for the OnePlus 12R, its $499 unlocked cost competes directly with mid-range models like the $449 Pixel 6a and $499 Nothing Phone 1. The excellent performance from the MediaTek Dimensity 8100 Max chip makes the 12R a particularly enticing option at this price point.
Hands On First Impressions of New Phones
OnePlus seeded some early OnePlus 11 and 12R review units to press and influencers ahead of the launch. Here is what some of the hands on first impressions are saying about these upcoming smartphones:
- Great flagship specs for less – The OnePlus 11 gets you the latest Qualcomm silicon, fast UFS 4.0 storage, sharp 2K 120Hz display, 80W charging, and capable camera hardware for $300 less than an iPhone 14 Pro Max or Galaxy S23 Ultra.
- Excellent value prospect with 12R – The Dimensity 8100 Max inside the cheaper 12R outperforms something like a Snapdragon 778G for the same $499 price. You get a phone that doesn’t feel like a budget compromise.
- Familiar design language – OnePlus has iterated on the sandwich glass styling introduced with the 10 Pro. The 11 and 12R don’t look radically different compared to earlier models, but do look and feel premium.
- OxygenOS remains fast and clean – The software is arguably as big of a selling point as the hardware. OxygenOS offers a user experience that feels optimally tuned for speed and simplicity.
- Camera performance needs more evaluation – While the OnePlus 11 and 12R have great specs on paper, the true camera performance remains to be definitively evaluated in full reviews. OnePlus has struggled here in the past.
OnePlus Aims to Regain US Market Share
OnePlus make a big splash when it first broke onto the US smartphone scene in 2018 with the OnePlus 6. For years, it was the go-to recommendation for an affordable flagship device with great performance and clean software.
However, the brand’s market share dropped in 2021 and 2022 as prices rose while the user experience stagnated. Established players like Apple and Samsung further cemented their dominance last year in the premium segment.
With these new releases timed before the upcoming Samsung S23 launch, OnePlus is clearly trying to regain some of the momentum it has lost in recent times. The OnePlus 11 and 12R represent a renewed focus on delivering great specs and software at reasonable prices.
If early impressions ring true, the OnePlus 11 in particular could be a hidden gem among 2023 Android flagships. It retains familiar OnePlus strengths while substantially improving the camera experience. Meanwhile, the 12R has the potential to be the mid-range phone to beat if performance lives up to its spec sheet.
Outlook for Rest of 2023 OnePlus Lineup
OnePlus typically staggers its smartphone launches throughout the year, starting with an initial flagship reveal like this followed by periodic T model updates and also Nord branded mid-range options.
Based on their historical release cadence, we can expect to see the following additions to the OnePlus lineup later in 2023:
- OnePlus 11T – An iterative update to the OnePlus 11 flagship that may bring a slightly faster Snapdragon chip and other minor enhancements in the summer timeframe.
- OnePlus 11T Pro – A potential higher-end flagship with extras like faster wired charging, sharper display, increased camera megapixels, and telephoto optical zoom lens to debut in Fall 2023.
- OnePlus Nord N40 – Next affordable addition to the Nord mid-range family, likely coming sometime in July or August 2023.
- OnePlus Nord N40 Pro – A specced up Nord model to release alongside the standard N40 or in the October timeframe with better SoC, improved cameras, and faster charging.
Of course, this is just speculation based on past release patterns. OnePlus may mix up their plans in 2023. However, we can expect the brand to continue their two-pronged approach of attracting premium flagship buyers and more budget-conscious customers all year long.
Final Thoughts on the OnePlus 11 and 12R
OnePlus is still fighting to prove it can play with the big boys in the ultra-competitive US smartphone arena in 2023. The new OnePlus 11 and 12R show a doubling down on the core brand identity of offering great performance and user experience for less money than the Samsungs and Apples of the world.
The OnePlus 11 in particular presents a tantalizing value proposition of delivering 90-95% of the premium flagship experience for 75% of the usual flagship cost. For certain shoppers, saving $300 while still getting the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, stunning QHD+ 120Hz screen, fast charging, and excellent software will be hugely appealing.
Meanwhile, the OnePlus 12R has a good chance to emerge as the mid-range Android phone to unequivocally recommend if its performance lives up to the stellar Dimensity 8100 Max specs. OnePlus has always thrived when they can get enthusiasts and critics buzzing about an affordable dark horse contender.
Of course, while the early leaked impressions seem positive, we’ll have to wait for full reviews to verdict on the battery life, camera performance, software polish, and real world speeds. But if OnePlus can stick the landing with these two models catering to different budgets, they could finally reverse the downward sales momentum in the critical US smartphone market.
