While some rumours are suggesting that the new Galaxy S24 Ultra series will be released in mid-January or early in January, the OnePlus 12 is expected to be unveiled on December 5 and will be globally available by January 24. Both smartphones are going to have updated specs and features such as top-performing chipsets, lots of AI-powered features, brighter displays, and upgraded cameras. Let’s dive into the deep details of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs OnePlus 12 and see which smartphone outshines the other.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs OnePlus 12 – Specs At a Glance
Compared to their predecessors, both the OnePlus 12 and the Galaxy S24 Ultra show incremental improvements rather than radical changes. In fact, these smartphones continue the trend of evolutionary updates in the series of flagship smartphones.
Feature | OnePlus 12 | Galaxy S24 Ultra |
---|---|---|
Display | Curved Sides | Flat Sides, Titanium Design |
Display Resolution | 1440 x 3412 pixels (Better Resolution) | 1200 x 2860 pixels |
Screen To Body Ratio | ~ 93.01% (Fewer Bezels) | 89.12% |
Weight | 239g | 233 g (Lighter) |
Thickness | 8.53 mm | 8.6 mm |
CPU Clock Speed | 3.2 GHz | 3.3 GHz (Faster Clock Speed) |
RAM | 12 GB | 12 GB |
Storage | 256 GB | 256 GB |
Storage Type | UFS 4.0 | UFS 4.0 |
3.5mm Headphone Jack | NO | USB Type-C |
Water Resistance | Yes, 1.5 m up to 30 min | Yes |
Face Unlock | YES | YES |
Fingerprint Sensor | Yes, In Display | Yes, In Display |
Bluetooth | Yes, v5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | Yes, v5.3 |
Release Date | December 5, 2023 (Expected) | January 17, 2024 (Expected) |
Display Expectations
The OnePlus 12 is expected to feature a spacious 6.82-inch display with a crisp QHD+ resolution and the standard LTPO 3.0 technology. This tech enables the phone to smoothly adjust the screen refresh rate from 1 to 120Hz. This gives you an overall enhanced scrolling experience and potentially conserves battery power in certain situations.
However, a particularly captivating feature of the OnePlus 12’s display is its remarkably high peak brightness. Early reports suggest the phone can reach approximately 2,600 nits, ensuring excellent visibility in daylight and making it well-suited for displaying HDR content.
For the Galaxy S24 Ultra, we’ll continue to enjoy the similar 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display seen in previous Galaxy Ultra flagships. The display has a 3080 x 1440 pixel panel with a sharp 500ppi and is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2. Samsung’s flagship phone screens are known for their exceptional contrast, vibrant colors, and overall color accuracy, and we anticipate that Samsung will maintain this high standard.
Brightness plays a significant role in the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s features too. It’s expected to surpass its predecessor, reaching approximately 2,500 nits of brightness, a level comparable to what the OnePlus 12 is projected to achieve.
Both phones will incorporate ultrasonic fingerprint scanners integrated into their displays, along with face unlock technology.
OnePlus 12 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
---|---|---|
Screen-to-Body Ratio | ~ 93.01% | ~89.12% |
Type | Color LTPO 2.0 AMOLED (1B Colors) | Colour Dynamic AMOLED 2X (1B Color) |
Aspect Ratio | 20.5:9 | 20.5:9 |
Glass Type | Corning Gorilla Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus Plus |
PPI | 550 PPI | 463 PPI |
Notch | YES, Punch Hole | YES, Punch Hole |
Touch | YES | YES |
Display Shape | Curved Display | Curved Display |
Other Display Features | Always-on Display, HDR10+, 2,600 nits (typ), 900 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak) | Always-on Display, HDR10+, 2,500 nits OLED screen |
Size and Design
In terms of design, we expect the OnePlus 12 to closely resemble its predecessor, the OnePlus 11. The external appearance won’t see many changes, as OnePlus appears to have found a design style it’s comfortable with and is sticking to. The design language shared between the OnePlus 11, OnePlus 10 Pro, and OnePlus 9 Pro is well-established, featuring aluminium frames and Gorilla Glass on both the front and back. It’s reasonable to anticipate a similar design approach for the OnePlus 12.
The distinctive ring switch from earlier OnePlus models will be making a comeback, but this time, it’s positioned on the left side of the phone, a departure from its usual location.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is set to adopt titanium, similar to the recent iPhone 15 Pro series. The upcoming Samsung flagship may feature a slightly flatter design compared to previous Galaxy models, with predominantly flat sides. The overall aesthetics of the Galaxy lineup will be same, including prominent camera rings at the back and the inclusion of the S Pen.
In terms of colors, the OnePlus 12 is expected to be available in at least three options: matte silver, black with a faux leather finish, and an intriguing green with a marble texture. For the Galaxy S24 Ultra, expect color choices like Black, Gray, Violet, and Yellow, with the possibility of exclusive colours on Samsung.com, as usual.
Regarding ports, both devices are anticipated to maintain the status quo with USB Type-C ports at the bottom. Notably, there won’t be any audio jacks or microSD card slots included.
As for the box contents, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is expected to feature a slim box without a charger. In contrast, there’s an expectation that OnePlus will uphold its tradition of including a fast charger in the box, enhancing the overall value for users.
OnePlus 12 | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
---|---|---|
Size | 6.73 inches, 1440 x 3412 pixels, 144 Hz | 6.8 inches, 1200 x 2860 pixels, 144 Hz |
Dimensions | 164.6 x 73.5 x 8.3 mm | 79 x 162.3 x 8.6 mm |
Bezel less | YES | |
Weight | 239g | 233g (Lighter) |
Camera
The camera capabilities are expected to be a significant focus in the OnePlus 12 vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra comparison, especially given that the Galaxy S23 Ultra is currently recognized as the best overall camera phone. Samsung is rumoured to enhance this benchmark with upgrades to the main camera sensor and telephoto lens.
One rumour suggests that the Galaxy S24 Ultra might adopt a 1-inch sensor for its main camera, aiming to capture more light for brighter images. In terms of the telephoto lens, there’s talk of replacing one of the 10MP lenses with a 50MP lens featuring a 5x optical zoom. While this falls short of the current 10x zoom, the higher resolution could result in sharper shots.
On the other hand, the camera specs for the OnePlus 12 have been officially confirmed by OnePlus. The device will boast a 50MP main camera, a 50MP ultrawide shooter, and a 64MP telephoto lens with a 3x optical zoom. Continuing their collaboration with lens specialist Hasselblad, OnePlus may introduce improvements in colour calibration and image brightness.
OnePlus 12 | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
---|---|---|
Front Camera | Punch Hole 32 MP f/2.2 (Wide Angle) with Screen Flash | Punch Hole 12 MP with Screen Flash |
Rear Camera | 108 MP f/1.8 (Wide Angle), 48 MP f/2.4 (Telephoto), 50 MP f/2.2 (Ultra Wide) with autofocus, Video Recording: 8K, 4K, 1080p | 200 MP f/1.8 (Main), 12 MP f/2.2 (Ultra Wide), 50 MP (5x Periscope), 10 MP (Telephoto) with autofocus, Video Recording: 4K, 1080p |
Front Video Recording | 1080p @ 30 fps FHD | 1080p |
Flash | Yes, Dual LED | Yes, LED |
Other Features | Hasselblad Camera for Mobile, Digital Zoom, Auto Flash, Face detection, Touch to focus | Digital Zoom, Auto Flash, Face detection, Touch to focus |
Battery Life and Charging
Both the OnePlus 11 and Galaxy S23 Ultra excel in battery life, earning spots on our best phone battery life list with impressive results—OnePlus 11 lasting 13 hours and 10 minutes, and Galaxy S23 Ultra lasting 12 hours and 22 minutes.
Expectations for the OnePlus 12 and Galaxy S24 Ultra are high, mainly due to the improved power management of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. There are discussions about battery enhancements for both phones, with the OnePlus 12 rumoured to have a larger capacity battery, and the Galaxy S24 Ultra exploring a new stacked battery design for increased power density.
Charging speeds will be a key consideration. The OnePlus 11’s 80W wired charging significantly outpaces the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s 45W charging (which goes up to 100W in regions with different voltage standards). Rumours suggest the OnePlus 12 will maintain similar wired charging speeds, while earlier speculations about the S24 Ultra’s 65W charging have been dismissed.
OnePlus has confirmed wireless charging for the OnePlus 12, a feature absent in the OnePlus 11. There are also rumours of fast wireless charging speeds. For context, the Galaxy S23 Ultra offers wireless charging at 15W.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | OnePlus 12 | |
---|---|---|
Battery Size | 4800 mAh, Li-Po Battery | 5000 mAh, Li-Po Battery |
Battery Type | Non-Removable Battery | Non-Removable Battery |
Fast Charging | Yes, 100W Super Flash Charge | Yes, 45W Fast Charging |
Wireless Charging | Yes, 50W Wireless Flash Charge | Yes, 25W |
Reverse Charging | Yes | Yes, 10W |
Performance
In terms of performance, you can expect minimal differences in speed and processing power between the OnePlus 12 and Samsung Galaxy S24. OnePlus has confirmed that its new flagship will use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip introduced by Qualcomm in October, and indications suggest that the Galaxy S24 Ultra will likely follow the same. While other Galaxy S24 models might feature an Exynos 2400 chipset in certain regions, the Ultra variant is expected to exclusively use Qualcomm silicon.
Both the OnePlus 11 and Galaxy S23 Ultra had the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, with Samsung’s version optimized for better performance. If history repeats itself with the OnePlus 12, it could have a performance edge, providing similar performance at a potentially lower cost and supporting up to 24GB of RAM. Contrary to rumours, a speculated increase to 16GB of RAM for the Galaxy S24 Ultra has been refuted.
Samsung aims to differentiate its performance through an emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI). The Galaxy S24 lineup is expected to be the first to benefit from this focus, featuring AI-driven capabilities like on-device translations, generative text assistance, and image generation tools. While there haven’t been many rumours about AI features in the OnePlus 12, Samsung might leverage this aspect to establish a notable feature gap between the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the OnePlus 12.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | OnePlus 12 | |
---|---|---|
OS | Android v13 | Android v13 |
Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen3 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen3 |
GPU | Adreno GPU | Adreno |
IP Rating | IP68 | IP68 |
Browser | YES | YES |
Sensors | Accelerometer, Gyro, Proximity, Compass, Color Temperature Sensor, RGB Sensor, Qualcomm Sensor Core, SAR Sensor | Accelerometer, Gyro, Proximity, Compass, Color Temperature Sensor, RGB Sensor, Qualcomm Sensor Core, SAR Sensor |
GPS | Yes with A-GPS, Glonass | Yes, with dual-band A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, Positioning System |
Audio Quality and Haptics
OnePlus executive Li Jie has highlighted the company’s emphasis on enhancing the behind-the-scenes features that may not grab major headlines but significantly impact the user experience in the OnePlus 12. This focus raises expectations for improvements in audio capabilities and haptic feedback, contributing to an enhanced overall user experience.
Similarly, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is expected to follow the same, building upon the robust foundation set by its predecessors in the Galaxy flagship series. Past Galaxy models have already shown exemplary audio quality and haptic feedback, consistently ranking among the top performers in these aspects.
Price
While the exact pricing for both phones is unknown, it’s evident that the OnePlus 12 is expected to be more budget-friendly than its counterpart. Examining the price difference between their predecessors suggests that this trend is likely to continue.
The OnePlus 11 starts at $699, making it $100 cheaper than Samsung’s entry-level Galaxy S23. (While the Galaxy S23 FE is available for less, it uses an older chipset and makes compromises for the lower price.) On the premium end, the Galaxy S23 Ultra begins at $1,199, resulting in a $500 gap between the two phones.
While the OnePlus 12 is introducing some premium features that might lead to a price increase, it is expected to remain significantly more affordable than the Galaxy S24 Ultra, even if the starting price shifts.
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and OnePlus 12, are expected in December 2023 and January 2024. Despite having substantial information about the OnePlus 12 and detailed rumours regarding the Galaxy S24 Ultra, it is early to determine the superior phone in a direct comparison. The ultimate verdict for OnePlus 12 vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra can only be reached after their release, testing, and reviews, likely in early 2024.
However, certain trends are apparent based on current knowledge. The OnePlus 12 appears focused on delivering premium features in a cost-effective device, while Samsung continues to emphasize camera and AI advancements. Consumer preferences between the more affordable OnePlus option and the feature-rich S24 Ultra will depend on the successful execution of promises by each phone maker.