Galaxy S25+ • Unlocked vs OnePlus 12 • Unlocked

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus, released in early 2025, and the OnePlus 12, launched in late 2023, represent two distinct approaches to high-end Android smartphones. While both devices offer premium experiences, the Galaxy S25 Plus emphasizes a slightly newer hardware generation and extended software support, whereas the OnePlus 12 focuses on rapid charging and a large battery capacity. Both operate on the Android platform, with each manufacturer providing their custom user interface.

When considering the long-term usability of a smartphone, factors like software updates, physical resilience, and repairability play a significant role. The Galaxy S25 Plus and OnePlus 12 offer different commitments in these areas.

• Software Longevity: The Galaxy S25 Plus, released in February 2025, benefits from Samsung's policy of providing 7 years of OS and security updates, with support extending until 2032. The OnePlus 12, launched in December 2023, offers 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security updates. This difference means the Galaxy S25 Plus will receive software support for a considerably longer period.
• Physical Durability: The Galaxy S25 Plus features an aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both the front and back, along with an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. The OnePlus 12 also uses an aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for its display, but carries an IP65 rating, indicating a slightly lower level of water resistance compared to the S25 Plus.
• Repairability Aspects: While specific repairability scores can vary, the OnePlus 12's battery is rated to retain at least 80% capacity after 1,600 charge cycles, suggesting a focus on battery longevity. Information on the S25 Plus's battery cycle longevity is less detailed, but both devices are designed with modern smartphone repair considerations in mind.

Both the Galaxy S25 Plus and the OnePlus 12 are equipped with powerful internal components designed for demanding tasks, though they feature different generations of processing technology.

• Processing Power: The Galaxy S25 Plus is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, an octa-core processor operating at up to 4.47GHz, ensuring smooth performance for complex applications and multitasking. The OnePlus 12 utilizes the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which also delivers very high performance for gaming and everyday use. Users will experience rapid app loading and fluid navigation on both devices.
• Memory and Storage: The Galaxy S25 Plus comes standard with 12GB of RAM and offers storage options of 256GB or 512GB. The OnePlus 12 provides more flexible RAM configurations, starting at 12GB or 16GB, with some regions offering up to 24GB of RAM, alongside storage options up to 1TB. This higher RAM capacity on some OnePlus 12 variants could benefit users who frequently run many applications simultaneously or engage in intensive mobile gaming.
• Battery Performance: The Galaxy S25 Plus houses a 4900 mAh battery, which has demonstrated excellent endurance, lasting over 18 hours in some tests. It supports 45W wired charging and 15W wireless charging. The OnePlus 12 features a larger 5400 mAh battery, often providing up to two days of use for many users. It excels in charging speed with 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging.

The visual experience on a smartphone is largely defined by its display, and both devices offer high-quality screens with distinct characteristics.

• Display Technology and Resolution: The Galaxy S25 Plus features a 6.7-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display with a QHD+ resolution of 3120x1440 pixels, providing a sharp and vibrant viewing experience. The OnePlus 12 comes with a slightly larger 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED display, also with a QHD+ resolution of 3168x1440 pixels, offering comparable clarity.
• Brightness and Refresh Rate: Both phones boast high peak brightness levels, with the Galaxy S25 Plus reaching up to 2600 nits and the OnePlus 12 capable of up to 4500 nits in specific conditions. This ensures excellent visibility even in bright outdoor environments. Both displays also feature adaptive 120Hz refresh rates, allowing for smooth scrolling and responsive interactions while conserving battery life by adjusting the refresh rate down to 1Hz when static.
• Viewing Experience: The Galaxy S25 Plus maintains a flat display design, while the OnePlus 12 incorporates a curved display. Both offer HDR10+ support for enhanced contrast and color in compatible content. The OnePlus 12 also includes ProXDR technology for more accurate brightness adjustments.

Photography capabilities are a key differentiator for modern smartphones, and both the Galaxy S25 Plus and OnePlus 12 offer versatile camera systems.

• Rear Camera System: The Galaxy S25 Plus is equipped with a triple rear camera setup, including a 50MP wide-angle main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. It features Samsung's ProVisual Engine for enhanced image processing and AI capabilities. The OnePlus 12 also has a triple rear camera system, co-developed with Hasselblad, featuring a 50MP Sony LYT-808 main sensor, a 48MP ultra-wide, and a 64MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, capable of 6x in-sensor zoom.
• Photography Performance: The Galaxy S25 Plus delivers clean photos with good detail, wide dynamic range, and vibrant colors in daylight. Its low-light performance is generally good, with night mode improving detail and brightness. The OnePlus 12's main camera also captures rich colors, realistic dynamic range, and crisp detail, with its large sensor contributing to impressive low-light performance.
• Video Recording and Front Camera: Both devices support 8K video recording, with the Galaxy S25 Plus capable of 8K at 30fps and the OnePlus 12 at 8K at 24fps. The Galaxy S25 Plus features a 12MP front-facing camera with autofocus. The OnePlus 12 has a higher resolution 32MP front camera.