Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus offered the first official glimpse of its next flagship killer – the OnePlus 12R – on Wednesday. The company also revealed that the R-series model will be launching beyond India and China for the first time, in Europe and North America.
In media images, the OnePlus 12R can be seen flaunting a fresh new design in two color variants – a cool blue inspired by the sea and a sophisticated gray inspired by melted iron. Both feature a smooth matte-metallic frame and the trademark Alert Slider now relocated to the left edge.
According to OnePlus, shifting the position of the iconic slider allowed its engineers to incorporate an advanced integrated antenna system. This helps enhance network performance significantly during intensive tasks like multiplayer gaming.
By bringing a more affordable yet power-packed R-series phone to Western markets this year, OnePlus is responding to user demand for an optimized gaming device at a competitive price point.
Previous R-series models like the OnePlus 9R and OnePlus 10R have been limited to Asian markets so far. But with gaming becoming more graphic-intensive worldwide, the company sees an opportunity to take on rivals by expanding the 12R globally.
While OnePlus is expected to pack the 12R with top-notch internals like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, the focus remains on delivering a fast and smooth software experience. Leaked images point to a major design overhaul as well featuring a curved display and glass-metal sandwich build.
By taking a dig at brands launching multiple variants of their flagships, OnePlus reaffirmed its commitment to optimizing hardware and software in tandem. With an excellent price-performance proposition, the OnePlus 12R seems primed to shake up the premium smartphone landscape worldwide when it launches soon.
