← Back to Smartphones
2026 comparison
Updated Jan 7, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerApple iPhone 17 Air vs OnePlus 12R
You'd expect Apple to dominate,. So if you want a phone that can keep up with your binge-watching, the OnePlus 12R is a no-brainer.
📱 Display: 6.6" vs 6.78"🔋 Battery: 3150 mAh vs 5500 mAh⚖️ Weight: 5.82 oz vs 7.30 oz
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Apple iPhone 17 Air
★4.9
(13)•Best Buy
Operating System:iOS
Software Support:Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades
Processor:Apple A19 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine)
Graphics:Apple 5-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro)
Check Amazon Price→
OnePlus 12R
★4.3
(23)•Amazon
Operating System:Android
Software Support:3 major Android OS upgrades; 4 years of security updates
Processor:Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform
Graphics:Qualcomm Adreno 740
Check Amazon Price→
Key spec differences
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
Winner= clear advantage
Spec
Apple iPhone 17 Air
OnePlus 12R
Display2 specs
Display SizeKey
Apple iPhone 17 Air
6.6" (6.55" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less)
OnePlus 12R
6.78" (measured diagonally from corner to corner)Winner
Refresh Rate
Apple iPhone 17 Air
Up to 120 Hz (ProMotion adaptive 1-120Hz); Always-On display
OnePlus 12R
1–120Hz (Dynamic)
Performance3 specs
ProcessorKey
Apple iPhone 17 Air
Apple A19 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine)
OnePlus 12R
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform
RAMKey
Apple iPhone 17 Air
12 GB (LPDDR5X)
OnePlus 12R
8GB / 16GB LPDDR5XWinner
Storage
Apple iPhone 17 Air
256GB / 512GB / 1TB (NVMe)
OnePlus 12R
128GB / 256GB (UFS 3.1)
Camera2 specs
Main CameraKey
Apple iPhone 17 Air
48MP Fusion (26 mm, f/1.6), sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP)
OnePlus 12R
50MP Wide (Sony IMX890, f/1.8, 24mm equiv), PDAF, OISWinner
Ultra-Wide Camera
Apple iPhone 17 Air
No dedicated Ultra Wide camera (functionality limited to panoramic stitching via software)
OnePlus 12R
8MP Ultra-Wide (Sony IMX355, f/2.2, 112° FOV)
Battery2 specs
Battery CapacityKey
Apple iPhone 17 Air
3150 mAh (Li-ion); Up to 26 hours video playback (20 hours streamed)
OnePlus 12R
5,500 mAh (Dual-cell 2,750 mAh, non-removable)Winner
Wireless Charging
Apple iPhone 17 Air
MagSafe up to 25W (with 30W+ adapter); Qi2 up to 25W; Qi up to 7.5W
OnePlus 12R
N/A (Not supported)
Design2 specs
Weight
Apple iPhone 17 Air
5.82 oz (165 g)Winner
OnePlus 12R
7.30 oz (207 g)
Dimensions
Apple iPhone 17 Air
6.15" x 2.94" x 0.22" (156.2 x 74.7 x 5.6 mm)
OnePlus 12R
6.43" x 2.96" x 0.35" (163.3 x 75.3 x 8.8 mm)
Software1 specs
Operating System
Apple iPhone 17 Air
iOS
OnePlus 12R
Android
Connectivity1 specs
Connectivity
Apple iPhone 17 Air
5G (sub-6 GHz only, no mmWave) using Apple-designed modem; Gigabit LTE; Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO; Bluetooth 6.0; Ultra Wideband (Second-generation); Thread networking technology; NFC with reader mode
OnePlus 12R
5G (Sub6); Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC; IR Blaster
+Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Expand
Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Comparison: Apple iPhone 17 Air vs OnePlus 12R
Apple iPhone 17 Air
★4.9(13)Best Buy
OnePlus 12R
★4.3(23)Amazon
| Criterion | Apple iPhone 17 Air | OnePlus 12R |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.9(13)Best Buy | ★4.3(23)Amazon |
Operating System | iOS | Android |
Software Support | Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades | 3 major Android OS upgrades; 4 years of security updates |
Processor | Apple A19 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform |
Graphics | Apple 5-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro) | Qualcomm Adreno 740 |
RAM | 12 GB (LPDDR5X) | 8GB / 16GB LPDDR5X |
Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (NVMe) | 128GB / 256GB (UFS 3.1) |
Display Size | 6.6" (6.55" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less) | 6.78" (measured diagonally from corner to corner) |
Screen Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | AMOLED ProXDR Display with LTPO 4.0 |
Resolution | 2736 x 1260 pixels (460 ppi) | 2780 x 1264 pixels (1.5K), 450 ppi |
Refresh Rate | Up to 120 Hz (ProMotion adaptive 1-120Hz); Always-On display | 1–120Hz (Dynamic) |
Peak Brightness | 1000 nits max (typical); 1600 nits peak (HDR); 3000 nits peak (outdoor); 1 nit minimum | 4,500 nits (Peak) / 1,600 nits (HBM) |
Main Camera | 48MP Fusion (26 mm, f/1.6), sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP) | 50MP Wide (Sony IMX890, f/1.8, 24mm equiv), PDAF, OIS |
Ultra-Wide Camera | No dedicated Ultra Wide camera (functionality limited to panoramic stitching via software) | 8MP Ultra-Wide (Sony IMX355, f/2.2, 112° FOV) |
Telephoto Camera | No dedicated telephoto lens; 12MP 2x Telephoto enabled by 48MP Fusion sensor (52 mm, f/1.6), sensor-shift OIS | N/A (No dedicated telephoto lens) |
Optical Zoom | 1x, 2x optical-quality zoom steps (2x optical zoom range) | N/A (Digital zoom only) |
Digital Zoom | Up to 10x | Up to 20x |
Video Recording | 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps; Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps; Action mode up to 2.8K at 60 fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
Front Camera | 24MP Center Stage (f/1.9), autofocus with Focus Pixels, 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps | 16MP Front (f/2.4, 24mm equiv), Fixed Focus |
Battery | 3150 mAh (Li-ion); Up to 26 hours video playback (20 hours streamed) | 5,500 mAh (Dual-cell 2,750 mAh, non-removable) |
Wired Charging | USB-C; Up to 50% charge in ~30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher | 80W SUPERVOOC (US 110V limitation); supports 100W in 220V regions |
Wireless Charging | MagSafe up to 25W (with 30W+ adapter); Qi2 up to 25W; Qi up to 7.5W | N/A (Not supported) |
Connectivity | 5G (sub-6 GHz only, no mmWave) using Apple-designed modem; Gigabit LTE; Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO; Bluetooth 6.0; Ultra Wideband (Second-generation); Thread networking technology; NFC with reader mode | 5G (Sub6); Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC; IR Blaster |
USB | USB-C connector with USB 2 speeds (up to 480 Mb/s); Native DisplayPort output | USB Type-C 2.0 |
Durability | IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes); Ceramic Shield 2 front; Grade 5 Titanium alloy frame (internal aluminum structure); Ceramic Shield back | IP64 (Dust tight; Water splash resistant); Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (front) |
Dimensions | 6.15" x 2.94" x 0.22" (156.2 x 74.7 x 5.6 mm) | 6.43" x 2.96" x 0.35" (163.3 x 75.3 x 8.8 mm) |
Weight | 5.82 oz (165 g) | 7.30 oz (207 g) |
Biometrics | Face ID | Optical In-display Fingerprint Sensor; Face Unlock |
Extras | Apple Intelligence support; Camera Control button; Action button; Dynamic Island; Dual eSIM (US models); Emergency SOS via satellite; Crash Detection; Roadside Assistance via satellite | Alert Slider; Dual Stereo Speakers; Dolby Atmos; HyperTouch; Aqua Touch |
| Pros |
|
|
| Cons |
|
|
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. | Check Price on Amazon→ | Check Price on Amazon→ |
Apple iPhone 17 Air
Rating:★4.9(13)Best Buy
Operating System:iOS
Software Support:Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades
Processor:Apple A19 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine)
Graphics:Apple 5-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro)
RAM:12 GB (LPDDR5X)
Storage:256GB / 512GB / 1TB (NVMe)
Display Size:6.6" (6.55" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less)
Screen Type:Super Retina XDR OLED
Resolution:2736 x 1260 pixels (460 ppi)
Refresh Rate:Up to 120 Hz (ProMotion adaptive 1-120Hz); Always-On display
Peak Brightness:1000 nits max (typical); 1600 nits peak (HDR); 3000 nits peak (outdoor); 1 nit minimum
Main Camera:48MP Fusion (26 mm, f/1.6), sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP)
Ultra-Wide Camera:No dedicated Ultra Wide camera (functionality limited to panoramic stitching via software)
Telephoto Camera:No dedicated telephoto lens; 12MP 2x Telephoto enabled by 48MP Fusion sensor (52 mm, f/1.6), sensor-shift OIS
Optical Zoom:1x, 2x optical-quality zoom steps (2x optical zoom range)
Digital Zoom:Up to 10x
Video Recording:4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps; Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps; Action mode up to 2.8K at 60 fps
Front Camera:24MP Center Stage (f/1.9), autofocus with Focus Pixels, 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps
Battery:3150 mAh (Li-ion); Up to 26 hours video playback (20 hours streamed)
Wired Charging:USB-C; Up to 50% charge in ~30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher
Wireless Charging:MagSafe up to 25W (with 30W+ adapter); Qi2 up to 25W; Qi up to 7.5W
Connectivity:5G (sub-6 GHz only, no mmWave) using Apple-designed modem; Gigabit LTE; Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO; Bluetooth 6.0; Ultra Wideband (Second-generation); Thread networking technology; NFC with reader mode
USB:USB-C connector with USB 2 speeds (up to 480 Mb/s); Native DisplayPort output
Durability:IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes); Ceramic Shield 2 front; Grade 5 Titanium alloy frame (internal aluminum structure); Ceramic Shield back
Dimensions:6.15" x 2.94" x 0.22" (156.2 x 74.7 x 5.6 mm)
Weight:5.82 oz (165 g)
Biometrics:Face ID
Extras:Apple Intelligence support; Camera Control button; Action button; Dynamic Island; Dual eSIM (US models); Emergency SOS via satellite; Crash Detection; Roadside Assistance via satellite
✓ Pros:
- • Thinnest iPhone ever (5.6mm) featuring a premium Titanium chassis
- • 120Hz ProMotion display finally arrives on non-Pro tier
- • Powered by the A19 Pro chip with 12GB RAM for full Apple Intelligence support
- • Upgraded 24MP front camera for superior selfies and video calls
- • Excellent main camera performance with 2x lossless crop
✗ Cons:
- • High price for a single-camera system (no Ultra Wide or Telephoto lenses)
- • Battery life is shorter than the 'Plus' model it replaces due to thinness
- • USB-C port is limited to USB 2.0 speeds (480 Mb/s)
- • No mmWave 5G support (Sub-6 GHz only due to Apple modem restrictions)
- • No physical SIM tray (eSIM only in US)
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Check Price on Amazon→
OnePlus 12R
Rating:★4.3(23)Amazon
Operating System:Android
Software Support:3 major Android OS upgrades; 4 years of security updates
Processor:Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform
Graphics:Qualcomm Adreno 740
RAM:8GB / 16GB LPDDR5X
Storage:128GB / 256GB (UFS 3.1)
Display Size:6.78" (measured diagonally from corner to corner)
Screen Type:AMOLED ProXDR Display with LTPO 4.0
Resolution:2780 x 1264 pixels (1.5K), 450 ppi
Refresh Rate:1–120Hz (Dynamic)
Peak Brightness:4,500 nits (Peak) / 1,600 nits (HBM)
Main Camera:50MP Wide (Sony IMX890, f/1.8, 24mm equiv), PDAF, OIS
Ultra-Wide Camera:8MP Ultra-Wide (Sony IMX355, f/2.2, 112° FOV)
Telephoto Camera:N/A (No dedicated telephoto lens)
Optical Zoom:N/A (Digital zoom only)
Digital Zoom:Up to 20x
Video Recording:4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Front Camera:16MP Front (f/2.4, 24mm equiv), Fixed Focus
Battery:5,500 mAh (Dual-cell 2,750 mAh, non-removable)
Wired Charging:80W SUPERVOOC (US 110V limitation); supports 100W in 220V regions
Wireless Charging:N/A (Not supported)
Connectivity:5G (Sub6); Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC; IR Blaster
USB:USB Type-C 2.0
Durability:IP64 (Dust tight; Water splash resistant); Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (front)
Dimensions:6.43" x 2.96" x 0.35" (163.3 x 75.3 x 8.8 mm)
Weight:7.30 oz (207 g)
Biometrics:Optical In-display Fingerprint Sensor; Face Unlock
Extras:Alert Slider; Dual Stereo Speakers; Dolby Atmos; HyperTouch; Aqua Touch
✓ Pros:
- • Exceptional battery life (5,500mAh) with very fast 80W charging (US)
- • Flagship-grade 120Hz LTPO 4.0 display with extreme peak brightness
- • Strong performance from Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset at a lower price point
- • Includes IR Blaster and the signature OnePlus Alert Slider
- • Comes with a fast charger in the box
✗ Cons:
- • No wireless charging capabilities
- • Rated IP64 is lower than the standard IP68 found in most flagships
- • USB-C port is limited to slow USB 2.0 transfer speeds
- • No telephoto lens; relies on digital crop for zoom
- • Software support period (3 years OS) is shorter than top-tier competitors
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Check Price on Amazon→
Which one is better?
Grab the iPhone 17 Air if you need a premium build and a superior camera experience - it's worth it for the 48MP main camera.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Apple iPhone 17 Air if: you prioritize a sleek design with a titanium chassis, enjoy high-quality selfies with a 24MP front camera, or want long-term software support for over 5 years.
Choose the OnePlus 12R if: you need exceptional battery life for 2+ days, want fast charging to get back on your phone quickly, or enjoy gaming on a larger 6.78" display.
Conclusion
There is no wrong answer here. Focus on the features you will use daily and pick the model that aligns with them.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
Apple iPhone 17 Air excels if you value thinnest iphone ever (5.6mm) featuring a premium titanium chassis. OnePlus 12R is better if you prioritize exceptional battery life (5,500mah) with very fast 80w charging (us). Pick based on your budget and daily use.
+Is this an independent review?
Yes. We use affiliate links for monetization, but recommendations are research-driven and unbiased.
+Do newer models exist?
Check release timelines from the manufacturers and compare pricing before you buy. We refresh this page when major updates land.
Affiliate disclosure
PageBen uses Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This supports independent content for US shoppers.