It’s never a bad time to invest in your personal growth and well-being. If expanding your knowledge base is important to you, but you often find yourself short on time, the Headway app is a good place to start. Headway takes big ideas from best-selling books and delivers them in short, bite-size snippets designed to help you achieve growth, productivity and happiness. StackSocial is offering lifetime subscriptions to Headway for just $50 for a limited time, making it ultra affordable to get started.
Headway serves up 15-minute summaries of nonfiction books, with recommendations based on your needs and goals. It’s designed to help people with packed schedules pick up noteworthy lessons from top-selling titles. Normally, a lifetime subscription to the app costs $300, but you can get it now for $50 for a single user. That’s an 83% discount.
A wide variety of the best nonfiction books have been boiled down into summaries with key insights and tips. You can dive into multiple topics, including productivity, self-growth and happiness, and you can customize the app based on your recommendations. There are also audio summaries for folks who want to learn on the go or prefer to digest information in audio form. If you want to share the app with a partner or friends, there’s a plan for two users available for $110, or you can get a family plan with four users for $150, which saves you over $1,050 compared with the usual price. We don’t know how long this offer will last, so we recommend making your purchase sooner rather than later.
If you do go for a Headway subscription, pair it with one of these headphone and earbuds deals so you can use the app even when out and about. You might even want to kick your productivity up a notch with these helpful to-do list apps, so you can get the most out of your learning and self-improvement journey as you grow.
If I had to choose between Apple Music and Spotify, I’m certainly on the side of Apple Music.
Not knocking Spotify, but I prefer Apple Music for several reasons: I like how Apple Music looks and feels — it fits neatly in with the rest of my Apple devices — and its high-res streaming is solid.
Still, there’s one big thing I wanted that Spotify has had forever and Apple Music has always lacked: collaborative playlists.
My Apple Music library is filled with playlists that I share with my friends and family, but unlike with Spotify, there’s never been a way for me to collaborate on those same playlists.
That is, until now.
Apple released iOS 17.3 on Monday, which brings several new features to the iPhone, including better protection from phone theft, new wallpapers for Black History Month, AirPlay hotel support — and of course, collaborative playlists on Apple Music.
If you want to share in on the fun of creating playlists with others, here’s everything you need to know. For more, check out how to download iOS 17.3 and all the new features on iOS 17.3.
How to create a collaborative playlist in Apple Music
In Apple Music, either create a playlist or go to one of your existing playlists, and in the top-right part of the screen, you should see a new icon with a person icon and plus sign — this is the button to make your playlist collaborative.
Tap it, and in the pop-up that appears, hit Start Collaborating so that anyone with the link to your playlist can edit and reorder songs. You can also toggle on the option to approve collaborators, in case the link is shared with any unintended parties.
Once you turn your playlist collaborative, the share sheet will appear and the Apple Music playlist link will be copied to your clipboard. You can then paste the link elsewhere or share it via text message, email or AirDrop, for example.
At the top-right of your playlist, there will be a new icon, with multiple people icons, indicating that the playlist is collaborative. Each song in the playlist will also have a user icon next to it, so that you know which person has added which song to the playlist.
When you play a song from a collaborative playlist and have it in full-screen, you’ll see the name of the person that added the song to the playlist, and you also have the option to react to the song with an emoji, like you would with a text in the Messages app. The emoji will then appear next to the song title; if you tap it, you’ll see who reacted with the emoji.
If you tap the collaborative playlist icon again, you can copy the playlist link to your clipboard, bring up a QR code that another person can scan with their phone camera to access the playlist, approve or deny collaborators and stop the playlist from being collaborative.
While you’re here, check out the iOS 17.2 features you should know about.
Netflix is making more changes to its subscription offerings and will completely phase out its cheapest basic ad-free option. The streaming giant announced the news in its letter to shareholders on Tuesday, saying it will begin with the UK and Canada in the second quarter. After increasing the price from $10 to $12 per month for existing subscribers, Netflix is eliminating the plan altogether for all members.
The streamer dropped its Basic ad-free plan for new subscribers in the US and UK in July 2023 and followed up with a price increase for those who were grandfathered into the subscription last October. The price was bumped up to $12 per month for existing customers around the world.
With the new change this year, subscribers will have three plans to choose from: Basic with Ads ($7 per month), ad-free Standard ($15.50 a month) or Premium ($23 per month). If you want to share your account with someone outside your household, there’s an optional extra member fee of $8 per month. Netflix’s ad-based plan is one of its most popular — and cheaper than rivals Disney Plus and Hulu — but we’ll note not every title is available to stream on the plan. You must upgrade to access certain TV shows and blockbuster movies.
The streaming service cited its entertainment value and highlighted its expanding video games lineup and live sports programming. After testing the live streaming waters with a comedy special and golf tournament, Netflix is diving deeper into live sports. It will stream a tennis match between Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz this March, and the media giant just inked a deal with the WWE. Starting January 2025, wrestling fans in the US, UK, Canada and Latin America can watch live Monday Night Raw matches on the platform, with additional regions to come. Netflix will also be the destination for international subscribers who want to watch Smackdown, WrestleMania and other popular WWE content.
Be sure to check out our coverage on Netflix’s games and what ad-based subscriptions offer across the streaming universe.
The pressure is on English Premier League side Chelsea as they look to come back from a goal down against Championship outfit Middlesbrough in this Carabao Cup semifinal, second leg clash at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea missed a host of chances in the first leg at the Riverside Stadium, and were made to pay. Hayden Hackney’s first half strike for Boro was the difference between the two teams coming into this decisive second meeting.
Full-back Isaiah Jones and midfielder Jonny Howson are both doubtful for Middlesbrough, while Christopher Nkunku’s absence through injury leaves Armando Broja as the only recognized striker available to Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino.
Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch the game live wherever you are in the world.
Chelsea vs. Middlesbrough: When and where?
The Carabao Cup semifinal second leg between Chelsea and Middlesbrough takes place at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, Jan. 23. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. local time in the UK (3 p.m. ET, 12 p.m. PT in the US; and 7 a.m. AEDT on Wednesday, Jan. 24, in Australia).
How to watch the Chelsea vs. Middlesbrough EFL Cup semifinal online from anywhere using a VPN
If you find yourself unable to view the game locally, you may need a different way to watch the game — that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.
With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. So if your internet provider or mobile carrier has stuck you with an IP address that incorrectly shows your location in a blackout zone, a VPN can correct that problem by giving you an IP address in your correct, nonblackout area. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.
Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.
Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals taking place right now.
Livestream the Chelsea vs. Middlesbrough game in the US
Tuesday’s Carabao Cup semifinal, second leg is streaming exclusively live in the US on ESPN Plus.
Livestream the Chelsea vs. Middlesbrough game in the UK
Live broadcast rights for the Carabao Cup semifinal in the UK are with Sky Sports. Tuesday’s match will be shown on its Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football channels. If you already have Sky Sports as part of your TV package, you can stream the game via its Sky Go app, but cord-cutters will want to get set up with a Now account, and a Now Sports membership, to stream the game.
Livestream the Chelsea vs. Middlesbrough game in Canada
If you want to stream the EFL Cup live in Canada, you’ll need to subscribe to DAZN Canada. The service has exclusive broadcast rights to this match as well as every UEFA Champions League and Europa League match this season.
Livestream the Chelsea vs. Middlesbrough game in Australia
Football fans Down Under can watch the EFL Cup on streaming service beIN Sports, which has exclusive broadcast rights to this tournament in Australia this season.
Quick tips for streaming the Carabao Cup using a VPN
With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming this cup clash may vary.
If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.
The Apple TV is one of the best streaming devices we’ve tested, and it comes in a couple of different configurations, too. But as great as it is, there is one area where it absolutely lets itself down. I’m talking about the terrible remote, and while the latest generation of the Siri Remote is better than those that came before it, it’s still too small and easy to lose. Now, you can replace it with a much better product and save some money at the same time.
That better option is the Function101 Apple TV remote, a product that would normally sell for $30 but is yours today for just $25 as part of StackSocial’s latest discount. That’s a 16% saving, but it’s one that isn’t going to hang around for long, so be sure to get your order in soon.
The remote is much more chunky than Apple’s, which means it’s easier to find and less likely to slide between the cushions on your sofa. It also has all the buttons you’re going to want, including a menu button, navigation arrows and a whole slate of buttons for media playback control.
The Function101 remote works with all Apple TV and Apple TV 4K boxes and will also work with most modern TV sets. The only thing worth being aware of is the lack of a Siri button, but if we’re being honest, that isn’t all that big of a deal. Sorry, Siri.
If the bad remote has been the one thing holding you back from investing in an Apple TV, be sure to check out our collection of the best Apple TV deals before you rush out and get one.
Netflix has struck a new, exclusive deal to bring WWE’s flagship show Raw and other live shows and events to its subscribers starting in January 2025, the company announced Tuesday.
WWE Raw is the number one show on USA Network, with 1600 episodes and 17.5 million unique visitors per year. Netflix will also be home to WWE’s other weekly programs like SmackDown and NXT. WWE live events outside the US, including WrestleMania, Summer Slam and Royal Rumble, will also be exclusively available on Netflix.
The deal is reportedly valued at more than $5 billion, per The Hollywood Reporter. Netflix subscribers in the US, Canada, the UK and Latin America will have access to the shows initially, with more regions and territories to be added over time. The deal is described as “long-term.”
The new partnership marks Netflix’s newest foray into live events, particularly with sports. Its first-ever live sporting event, The Netflix Cup, was held in late 2023, where it brought together some of the most well-known athletes from Formula 1 and pro tennis to compete in a unique golf tournament.
Leaning into live sports programming is an ongoing trend in the streaming space. Services such as Max, Prime Video, Paramount Plus and Peacock are including access to live football, basketball, soccer, golf and international sporting events on their on-demand platforms. In some cases, subscribers must pay an additional fee to watch live sports (Max, for example, will charge $10 per month for its B/R sports add-on), but in other cases, it’s included with the plan. It is unclear whether Netflix plans to raise its prices again or if WWE content will only be accessible on certain subscriptions, but members can expect to see even more in the live sports category.
Netflix subscriptions are available starting at $7 per month in the US.
Samsung already makes some of the best TVs we’ve tested and this model, the Samsung S95C 55-inch 4K OLED TV just so happens to be one of our favorites in terms of great quality on-screen colors. But we all know that buying a great TV can be expensive unless you’re lucky enough to find a deal — and right now is your chance to do just that.
Amazon would normally sell this TV for around $2,198 but if you order yours today you’ll pay just $1,798 — its best price to date — for a TV that has proven popular among owners and reviewers alike. The TV features Samsung’s Infinity One design which means that it’s impossibly thin and sleek which makes it the perfect TV for placing on a wall.
Once mounted viewers will enjoy the Quantum HDR OLED Plus display with support for 120Hz content. The Game Motion Plus feature also goes up to 144Hz when you connect a PC. In terms of connectivity, buyers can expect to find four HDMI inputs with two USB ports as well as the usual Ethernet and RF ports. An optical digital audio output is also available for connecting to a soundbar.
As great as all of that sounds, the Samsung S95C won’t be for everyone. If that includes you we would suggest checking out our collection of the best OLED TV deals before placing an order anywhere else. We update that list regularly to make sure that you won’t miss out on a great deal on all of the biggest brands.
If you’re looking to upgrade your laptop, but need something that will work well without busting your budget, you won’t want to miss this deal. Right now Best Buy has knocked the cost of the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 to just $400 — that’s a 50% discount on its usual $800 price. But you’ll need to act soon if you’re interested. This offer expires tonight, Jan. 23, at 11:59 p.m. CT, so be sure to get your order in soon if you want to score one at this price.
This Lenovo laptop offers a solid 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage, along with a 15.6-inch IPS touchscreen with 1,920×1,080 full high-definition resolution. It also comes equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 5000 Series Pro processor, which means not only can this laptop can handle surfing the web and streaming your favorite content, but it should allow for plenty of multitasking, along with some creative projects and even basic gaming. It’s not going to compete with the pricier, premium models out there, but it’s a solid choice for budget buyers needing a little more power.
Whether you’re staying productive or connecting with friends, you’ll appreciate the built-in HD webcam for video calls, which comes with a privacy shutter and smart noise canceling to combat any background noise in your environment. It also has Dolby Atmos speakers for quality sound. With up to 10 hours of battery life per charge, you can get a lot done. It weighs in around 3.5 pounds, so it is a little heavier than some models out there, but it’s also just 0.7 inches thick, which makes it a little more portable when you’re on the go.
If this Lenovo isn’t quite what you’re looking for, be sure to check out our roundup of the best laptop deals happening now for more bargains.
If you’d like to buy a new TV, then one of the best brands is Samsung, and more specifically, the Q60 lineup is pretty well-priced while packing a ton of features under the hood. While the deal we’ve found today is on the Q60C, the Q60B has appeared on our list of best TVs, so you know the TV on offer today is in good company. In fact, you can grab it now from B&H Photo for just $448 instead of the usual $648 using the automatically applied coupon. Just be aware that the deal ends tonight, so grab it as soon as you can.
There’s a lot to love about the Q60C. If you’re a sports fan, you’ll be happy to know that it has HLG HDR, a standard that a lot of sports broadcasters use. Combine that with the solid 50-inch size, and you get an immersive experience that makes this an ideal Super Bowl TV. Unfortunately, the base refresh rate is only 50Hz, but at least it has motion-smoothening technology if you’d like to go that route.
On the other hand, if you prefer watching older shows and films, the Q60C comes with a Quantum Processor chip that can help upscale your content up to 4K, although the end result will depend a lot on the source material. Luckily, it does come with HDR 10 Plus if you want to watch modern content, and with the Tizen smart TV platform, you have access to all your favorite streaming apps.
So, if you’re looking to score a new TV, then this is probably one of the best deals you’re going to find this week in terms of bang for your buck, so grab it while it still lasts. Otherwise, if this still doesn’t tickle your fancy, check out some of these other great TV deals.
Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission.Reviews ethics statement
Andrew LanxonEditor At Large, Lead Photographer, Europe
Andrew is CNET’s go-to guy for product coverage and lead photographer for Europe. When not testing the latest phones, he can normally be found with his camera in hand, behind his drums or eating his stash of home-cooked food. Sometimes all at once.
CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.Read how we test products and services.
OnePlus 12
7.8/10 CNET Score
7.8/ 10 SCORE
OnePlus 12
Pros
Extremely powerful processor
Stellar battery life
Hyperfast charging
Big, vibrant display
Cons
Disappointing camera performance
Rivals offer longer software support
The OnePlus 12 is packed with potent tech from its supercharged processor to its glorious screen. In my time testing it, I found its battery life is great and it charges in lightning-fast time. It’s a phone that works hard to justify its flagship title. But then it needs to, as its $800 starting price (with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage) makes it more expensive than last year’s OnePlus 11. The higher-end model I reviewed (16GB RAM, 512GB storage) comes in at a princely $900.
At a time when purse strings are still tight and competition from rivals is fierce, upping the price of its phones is a risky strategy for OnePlus. In the UK, things are worse, with the top-of-the-line model costing 999, or 150 more than the fully maxed-out OnePlus 11. A direct currency conversion of OnePlus 12’s $900 price comes out to 708 at the time of writing, or about 850 including tax. That’s a 150 premium, making this phone a very different value proposition for UK shoppers.
In the US, it still manages to undercut its chief rival, Google’s Pixel 8 Pro, which starts at $999 ( 999) with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. In some ways, the OnePlus 12 punches harder than the Pixel, with better processor performance and, in my testing, better battery life. But the Pixel 8 Pro has a generally better camera, and it gets at least seven years of software and security updates, easily besting the OnePlus 12’s four years of software and five years of security updates.
I also prefer the Pixel’s software. Overall, it’s tough to choose between them, but it comes down to what you want from your phone. If you’re a keen photographer, go for the Pixel. More into mobile games? The OnePlus is for you.
OnePlus 11 and 12 pricing
Phone, RAM + storage
US price
UK price
Australian price
OnePlus 11, 8GB + 128GB
$700
729
NA
OnePlus 11, 16GB + 256GB
$800
799
AU$1,399
OnePlus 12, 12GB + 256GB
$800
849
Converts to AU$1,640*
OnePlus 12, 16GB + 512GB
$900
999
Converts to AU$1,930*
*Australian prices for the OnePlus 12 have yet to be announced. These conversions are from the UK price, which like in Australia includes 20% VAT.
A familiar design
Visually, the OnePlus 12’s design doesn’t stray far from the OnePlus 11’s. It features an almost identical circular camera unit set into a curving glass back with a glossy aluminum frame. The 12’s glass back is frosted now though, with my green review model featuring a wavy pattern that I rather like. It’s good to hold, with a solid, luxurious feel that I think is more premium than the slippery glossy back of the OnePlus 11.
That said, I took the phone to the pub and several of my friends thought that it looked, and felt, like “the plasticky laminate coating found on cheap kitchen work surfaces in student housing.” Like anything, aesthetics are subjective, so maybe try to check one out in the flesh before spending your cash.
I like that the volume buttons have been moved to the same side as the power button, which makes them easier to use with one hand, while the characteristic OnePlus toggle switch now occupies its own spot on the left side. The front glass is Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, and the back is made from toughened Gorilla Glass 5. The phone is IP64-rated to keep it safe from spilled drinks or if you take calls in the rain.
Using the phone when it’s raining should be a bit easier too, as the phone’s screen has been designed to recognize touch inputs, even when wet. I sprinkled the screen with tap water and while it was noticeably less accurate than when dry, it was still usable, with almost no incorrect inputs recognized. I tried sprinkling a similar amount of water onto the screen of my iPhone 15 Pro Max and found it to be almost unusable. A win for the OnePlus here.
An incredibly bright, vibrant display
At 6.82 inches, the OnePlus 12’s display is big enough to give you plenty of room for videos and mobile games, while its high resolution means that all content is pin-sharp. Colors are extremely vibrant too, doing justice to all the colorful Netflix shows or neon-toned mobile games you could want.
It has a variable refresh rate from 1 to 120Hz to give better performance during more intense tasks like gaming, and OnePlus says it’s the brightest display ever on a phone, with a whopping 4,500-nit peak brightness. Theoretically, that makes it brighter than the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and about twice as bright as the iPhone 15 Pro Max. But those are lab-based figures. Side by side, the difference between the iPhone and OnePlus 12 isn’t that big. There is a difference, however, and there’s no question that the phone is exceptionally bright, which makes it great for outdoor use.
Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor
The OnePlus 12 runs the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 3 chip at its core, backed up by either 12GB or 16GB of RAM (as reviewed). As the most cutting-edge chip from Qualcomm, it’s safe to expect it to be something of a powerhouse, but OnePlus also boasts that its “Trinity Engine” optimizes the CPU, RAM and storage for a faster and more stable experience.
Often these claims are best taken with a pinch of salt, but the OnePlus 12 does feel extremely swift in use. The action RPG Genshin Impact played at maxed-out settings with incredibly smooth 60-frames-per-second gameplay with absolutely zero lag or stuttering seen at any point. Battle royale shooter PUBG was also buttery smooth. Ditto for racer Asphalt 9: Legends.
OnePlus 12 performance compared
OnePlus 125,066Galaxy S24 Ultra4,415iPhone 15 Pro Max4,193
Note: Longer bars equal better performance
On 3DMark’s Wild Life Extreme graphics benchmark, it beat both the new Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max’s scores. In fact, its score was the second highest I’ve ever seen on that test, beaten only marginally by the new Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro, which is also powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
General navigation around the phone and multitasking is extremely zippy and, in fact, I struggled to find anything that seemed to slow it down at all. Clearly, the combo of potent chip and software optimization is doing its part. OnePlus reckons that the bigger benefit is that it will remain smooth over time, even as your phone fills up with apps and files. I’ve only had the phone a week, so this is something I’ll have to continue testing over the coming months.
The OnePlus 12 runs on Android 14, with OnePlus’ Oxygen OS laid over the top. I quite like the interface — it’s neat and easy to operate. Android novices are just as well catered to here as experienced Android veterans. OnePlus offers four years of software updates and an additional fifth year of security updates. That’s the same as on the OnePlus 11 and, while that was decent then, companies like Google and Samsung now offer seven years of support.
Longer support periods mean your phone will be safer to use over time, which is better for you and better for the planet. While five years isn’t bad, it’s still disappointing not to see OnePlus try to up its game here, and it’s a key way that the phone lags behind the competition.
More annoying still is that OnePlus has given longer support to the OnePlus 12 than it has the cheaper OnePlus 12R, which gets one year less of both software and security support. It’s a frustrating stance to take here, as it suggests that sustainability is a premium offering reserved only for shoppers who can afford it.
Notable by its absence, though, is any major push for generative AI on the OnePlus 12. AI features have been big parts of Google’s Pixel phones for several generations now, and AI was a major part of Samsung’s launch for the Galaxy S24 series. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip powering the OnePlus 12 is even designed with AI skills in mind. Yet, OnePlus hasn’t spoken about AI, and there are no notable generative AI-based features baked into the software.
Personally, I find this a refreshing stance from the company. I haven’t found any AI features on other phones (like the wallpaper generator on the Pixel 8 Pro) to be especially useful, and I’m pleased that OnePlus hasn’t jumped on a bandwagon here, adding redundant features simply so that it can boast that it has them. Perhaps I’ll be singing a different tune for the OnePlus 13.
OnePlus 12: Powerful Performance With Room to Step Up
The other aspect to OnePlus’ software optimizations is power efficiency, which — together with the capacious 4,500-mAh battery (dual 2,700-mAh batteries) — allows the OnePlus 12 to deliver excellent battery life. After an hour of streaming a YouTube video on Wi-Fi at max brightness, the phone hadn’t dropped below 100%. After a second hour, it still showed as 100%, and it was only after the third hour that it dropped to 95%, which is one of the best efforts I’ve seen on this test.
By comparison, the Galaxy S23 Ultra dropped from full to 95% after the first hour and went down to 82% after the third hour. Similarly, the iPhone 15 Pro Max had dropped to 87% remaining after three hours of streaming. Even after almost an hour of intense gaming at max settings, the OnePlus 12’s battery had dropped only 10%.
In short, I’m very impressed with the phone’s power management, and I’m confident you’ll easily be able to get a full day of even demanding use. With more cautious use, you could probably get most of the way through a second day for those occasions when you forgot to give it a charge overnight.
If you do happen to need to top the juice up, the phone’s fast-charging makes that a super quick task. In the US, the OnePlus 12 supports 80-watt fast charging, which should take the phone from empty to full in a little over 30 minutes. My UK model takes that even further, with 100-watt wired charging allowing for a full recharge in 26 minutes, or from empty to half full in only 11 minutes.
Fast charging is one of my favorite battery innovations in any phone, as it means you don’t need to worry quite as much about your battery running out later in the day. If you’re heading out for a big night out and forgot to charge your phone, you can just give it a quick boost while you wait for your Uber to arrive and it’ll keep you going for hours.
The phone also has wireless charging — something not seen on the OnePlus 11 — which supports up to 50-watt speeds, as long as you can find a compatible high-speed wireless charger.
Disappointing cameras
OnePlus phones have typically offered excellent processor performance but only OK imaging skills, and that’s very much the case here. The OnePlus 12 comes with three rear cameras. They include a 50-megapixel main camera with a larger image sensor and wide f1.6 aperture, a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera and a 32-megapixel telephoto camera with a 3x optical zoom.
In daylight, shots from the main camera are decent. Exposure is generally good, there’s plenty of detail to be seen, and colors are mostly quite accurate.
There’s less color shift when you switch between main and ultrawide lenses too, which was something I found to be a particular problem on the last model.
The 3x zoom lens captures zoomed-in shots with adequate detail, and even the 6x zoom can produce some good-looking images as long as you’re shooting in bright conditions. The 6x zoom does just digitally crop into images from the 3x lens, however, so there is a reduction in quality. It’s a shame not to see a longer optical zoom here as I love the 5x zoom lens on the Pixel 8 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
At night, performance significantly drops. Images from all lenses are surprisingly dark, with the ultrawide in particular producing extremely dark shots. I often preferred images taken on the OnePlus 11.
The optical zoom has been very hit or miss, with some shots looking OK, while others have come out with such mushy details that they look out of focus.
I’ve been rather surprised at the poor nighttime performance, as the wider aperture of the lens and the large sensor size should help it capture more light in darker conditions. And indeed in more low light rather than specifically night mode conditions, I did find the camera was able to take some good-looking images.
Overall, I’m underwhelmed by the cameras on the OnePlus 12. It’s definitely capable of taking some great shots, as long as you’re in good conditions, and those of you who maybe just want nice snaps of your family and friends will be well served. But it’s not up there with its flagship rivals, with its night mode shots in particular letting it down.
Should you buy the OnePlus 12?
The OnePlus 12 has plenty to justify its lofty price tag. It’s extremely powerful, its battery life is superb, and the vibrant, bright screen makes your games and videos pop. It’s also got a slick design that looks stylish yet still smart.
It’s a true flagship in many respects, but there are some things that hold me back from singing its praises completely. Chief among them is the camera, which really didn’t impress, especially at night. If photography is crucial to your mobile experience, it’s worth looking elsewhere.
And while its software support isn’t the worst around, I really hoped to see OnePlus extending its support period to match what both Samsung and Google are offering.
Still, if you’re looking for a high-performance Android phone for gaming, with a battery that’ll put up with real punishment, the OnePlus 12 is well worth a look.
How we test phones
Every phone tested by CNET’s reviews team is actually used in the real world. We test a phone’s features, play games and take photos. We examine the display to see if it’s bright, sharp and vibrant. We analyze the design and build to see how it is to hold and whether it has an IP-rating for water-resistance. We push the processor’s performance to the extremes, using standardized benchmark tools like GeekBench and 3DMark as well as our own anecdotal observations navigating the interface, recording high-resolution videos and playing graphically intense games at high refresh rates.
All the cameras are tested in a variety of conditions, from bright sunlight to dark indoor scenes. We try out special features like night mode and portrait mode and compare our findings against similarly priced competing phones. We also check out the battery life by using the phone daily as well as running a series of battery drain tests.
OnePlus 12 specs vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, Google Pixel 8 Pro, Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Undisclosed; Apple claims up to 29 hours of video playback (25 hours streamed)
Fingerprint sensor
Under display
Under display
Under display
None (Face ID)
Connector
USB-C
USB-C
USB-C
USB-C (USB 3.0)
Headphone jack
None
None
None
None
Special features
4,500-nit peak brightness; 4 years of software and 5 years of security updates; 80W wired charging (100W wired charging outside US); 50W wireless charging with fan dock; Wi-Fi 7; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass; Gorilla Glass 5 back glass
Titanium frame, 2,600-nit peak brightness; 7 years of OS and security updates; 5G (mmWave); IP68 water and dust resistance; wireless PowerShare to charge other devices; integrated S Pen; UWB for finding other devices; 45W wired charging (charger not included); Galaxy AI; Wi-Fi 7; Gorilla Glass Armor cover glass
5G (Sub 6 and mmWave); VPN by Google One; 7 years of OS, security and Feature Drop updates; front-facing camera has autofocus; 13W Qi wireless charging; 30W wired charging; USB-3.2 speeds via USB-C; IP68 dust and water resistance; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on front and back
We take into account additional features, like support for 5G, satellite connectivity, fingerprint and face sensors, stylus support, fast charging speeds, and foldable displays, among others that can be useful. And we balance all this against the price to give you the verdict on whether that phone, whatever price it is, actually represents good value. Though these tests may not always be reflected in CNET’s initial review, we conduct follow-up and long-term testing in most circumstances.
