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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 16, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerOnePlus 12 vs Apple iPhone 17 Air
OnePlus 12 vs Apple iPhone 17 Air: which is the right fit? We cover performance, value, and use cases to make the call easier.
Ratings: 4.6★ vs 4.9★
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OnePlus 12
★4.6
(78)•Amazon
Operating System:Android
Software Support:4 generations of Android OS upgrades; 5 years of security updates
Processor:Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform
Graphics:Qualcomm Adreno 750
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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)
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Comparison: OnePlus 12 vs Apple iPhone 17 Air
OnePlus 12
★4.6(78)Amazon
Apple iPhone 17 Air
★4.9(13)Best Buy
| Criterion | OnePlus 12 | Apple iPhone 17 Air |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.6(78)Amazon | ★4.9(13)Best Buy |
Operating System | Android | iOS |
Software Support | 4 generations of Android OS upgrades; 5 years of security updates | Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades |
Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform | Apple A19 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine) |
Graphics | Qualcomm Adreno 750 | Apple 5-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro) |
RAM | 12GB / 16GB LPDDR5X | 12 GB (LPDDR5X) |
Storage | 256GB / 512GB (UFS 4.0) | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (NVMe) |
Display Size | 6.82" (measured diagonally from corner to corner) | 6.6" (6.55" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less) |
Screen Type | LTPO AMOLED ProXDR Display | Super Retina XDR OLED |
Resolution | 3168 x 1440 pixels (QHD+), 510 ppi | 2736 x 1260 pixels (460 ppi) |
Refresh Rate | 1–120Hz (Dynamic) | Up to 120 Hz (ProMotion adaptive 1-120Hz); Always-On display |
Peak Brightness | 4,500 nits (Peak) / 1,600 nits (HBM) | 1000 nits max (typical); 1600 nits peak (HDR); 3000 nits peak (outdoor); 1 nit minimum |
Main Camera | 50MP Wide (Sony LYT-808, f/1.6, 23mm equiv), PDAF, OIS | 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 | 48MP Ultra-Wide (Sony IMX581, f/2.2, 114° FOV) | No dedicated Ultra Wide camera (functionality limited to panoramic stitching via software) |
Telephoto Camera | 64MP Periscope Telephoto (OmniVision OV64B, 3x optical, f/2.6); OIS | No dedicated telephoto lens; 12MP 2x Telephoto enabled by 48MP Fusion sensor (52 mm, f/1.6), sensor-shift OIS |
Optical Zoom | 3x Optical Zoom; 6x In-Sensor Zoom | 1x, 2x optical-quality zoom steps (2x optical zoom range) |
Digital Zoom | Up to 120x Ultra Res Zoom | Up to 10x |
Video Recording | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps | 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 | 32MP Front (Sony IMX615, f/2.4, 21mm equiv) | 24MP Center Stage (f/1.9), autofocus with Focus Pixels, 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps |
Battery | 5,400 mAh (Dual-cell 2,700 mAh, non-removable) | 3150 mAh (Li-ion); Up to 26 hours video playback (20 hours streamed) |
Wired Charging | 80W SUPERVOOC (US 110V limitation); 100W in 220V regions; Charger included | USB-C; Up to 50% charge in ~30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher |
Wireless Charging | 50W AIRVOOC; 10W Reverse Wireless Charging | MagSafe up to 25W (with 30W+ adapter); Qi2 up to 25W; Qi up to 7.5W |
Connectivity | 5G (Sub6/mmWave); Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be); Bluetooth 5.4; NFC; IR Blaster | 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 Type-C 3.2 Gen 1 | USB-C connector with USB 2 speeds (up to 480 Mb/s); Native DisplayPort output |
Durability | IP65 (Dust tight; Water jet resistant - not submersion proof); Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (front) | 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 | 6.47" x 2.98" x 0.36" (164.3 x 75.8 x 9.15 mm) | 6.15" x 2.94" x 0.22" (156.2 x 74.7 x 5.6 mm) |
Weight | 7.76 oz (220 g) | 5.82 oz (165 g) |
Biometrics | Optical In-display Fingerprint Sensor; Face Unlock | Face ID |
Extras | Hasselblad Camera for Mobile; Alert Slider; Aqua Touch; Trinity Engine | Apple Intelligence support; Camera Control button; Action button; Dynamic Island; Dual eSIM (US models); Emergency SOS via satellite; Crash Detection; Roadside Assistance via satellite |
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OnePlus 12
Rating:★4.6(78)Amazon
Operating System:Android
Software Support:4 generations of Android OS upgrades; 5 years of security updates
Processor:Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform
Graphics:Qualcomm Adreno 750
RAM:12GB / 16GB LPDDR5X
Storage:256GB / 512GB (UFS 4.0)
Display Size:6.82" (measured diagonally from corner to corner)
Screen Type:LTPO AMOLED ProXDR Display
Resolution:3168 x 1440 pixels (QHD+), 510 ppi
Refresh Rate:1–120Hz (Dynamic)
Peak Brightness:4,500 nits (Peak) / 1,600 nits (HBM)
Main Camera:50MP Wide (Sony LYT-808, f/1.6, 23mm equiv), PDAF, OIS
Ultra-Wide Camera:48MP Ultra-Wide (Sony IMX581, f/2.2, 114° FOV)
Telephoto Camera:64MP Periscope Telephoto (OmniVision OV64B, 3x optical, f/2.6); OIS
Optical Zoom:3x Optical Zoom; 6x In-Sensor Zoom
Digital Zoom:Up to 120x Ultra Res Zoom
Video Recording:8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps
Front Camera:32MP Front (Sony IMX615, f/2.4, 21mm equiv)
Battery:5,400 mAh (Dual-cell 2,700 mAh, non-removable)
Wired Charging:80W SUPERVOOC (US 110V limitation); 100W in 220V regions; Charger included
Wireless Charging:50W AIRVOOC; 10W Reverse Wireless Charging
Connectivity:5G (Sub6/mmWave); Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be); Bluetooth 5.4; NFC; IR Blaster
USB:USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1
Durability:IP65 (Dust tight; Water jet resistant - not submersion proof); Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (front)
Dimensions:6.47" x 2.98" x 0.36" (164.3 x 75.8 x 9.15 mm)
Weight:7.76 oz (220 g)
Biometrics:Optical In-display Fingerprint Sensor; Face Unlock
Extras:Hasselblad Camera for Mobile; Alert Slider; Aqua Touch; Trinity Engine
✓ Pros:
- • Excellent value proposition with top-tier specs at a competitive price
- • Massive 5,400mAh battery paired with very fast 80W wired and 50W wireless charging
- • High-quality Hasselblad camera system with a versatile 3x periscope zoom
- • Extremely bright QHD+ LTPO display (4,500 nits peak)
- • Includes useful enthusiast features like an IR blaster and the Alert Slider
✗ Cons:
- • IP65 rating is inferior to the industry-standard IP68 (not rated for submersion)
- • Curved screen edges can be prone to accidental touches despite rejection algorithms
- • US wired charging is capped at 80W (vs 100W global) due to voltage differences
- • OxygenOS has moved visually closer to ColorOS, which may deter purists
- • Large and heavy device (220g) can be cumbersome
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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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)
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Which one is better?
Overall, Apple iPhone 17 Air delivers better satisfaction. OnePlus 12 is still a quality option with specific strengths worth considering.
Who should buy each?
Choose OnePlus 12 if:
- You want Excellent value proposition with top-tier specs at a competitive price, Massive 5,400mAh battery paired with very fast 80W wired and 50W wireless charging
- Rating: 4.6★ (78 reviews)
Choose Apple iPhone 17 Air if:
- You prefer Thinnest iPhone ever (5.6mm) featuring a premium Titanium chassis, 120Hz ProMotion display finally arrives on non-Pro tier
- Rating: 4.9★ (13 reviews)
Conclusion
OnePlus 12 and Apple iPhone 17 Air are both solid choices. Match the strengths above to your budget and workflow to make the best call.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
OnePlus 12 excels if you value excellent value proposition with top-tier specs at a competitive price. Apple iPhone 17 Air is better if you prioritize thinnest iphone ever (5.6mm) featuring a premium titanium chassis. 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.
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