Best OnePlus phones 2024
OnePlus has plenty of standout options if you're in the market for a new phone.
OnePlus started out in 2014 with the OnePlus One, and it is now a major phone manufacturer that sells its devices in over 30 countries. The company makes a wide variety of phones with flagships and budget options. You can even get a OnePlus folding phone. We've used all the phones OnePlus released, including the terrific OnePlus 5, the OnePlus 7 Pro and its motorized camera system, and more recently the OnePlus 12, 12R, and Open.
So when it comes to OnePlus's extensive device portfolio, I know what I'm talking about. This is the best time to switch to OnePlus; the manufacturer is doing all the right things in the flagship and budget segments, and its phones are a legitimate alternative to what Samsung has to offer — particularly in North America, where other Chinese brands like Xiaomi, OPPO, and Vivo don't have an official presence.
If you're interested in seeing what the company has to offer, these are the best OnePlus phones you can buy right now.
At a glance
Best overall
Best overall
The OnePlus 12 is a remarkable phone that ticks all the right boxes in 2024. It has a stunning design, one of the brightest screens of any phone today, the latest internal hardware, a massive battery with ultra-fast charging, and a versatile camera package that's on par with the best Android phones.
Best foldable
Best foldable
The OnePlus Open changes the paradigm for foldables. Thanks to a sleek design that's thinner and lighter than anything Samsung has to offer, the Open is amazing to use. The best part is that the crease is nearly invisible, and you get the best cameras on a foldable yet. If you're using a Samsung foldable right now, you'll need to upgrade to this one.
Best value
Best value
OnePlus is selling the OnePlus 12R globally this time, so if you're looking to maximize value, this is the phone to get. The OnePlus 12R has a similar design as the flagship model, same bright panel, and while you miss out on Hasselblad integration, it still takes fantastic photos.
Best mid-range
Best mid-range
The Nord 4 is a terrific mid-range option to consider. It has considerable upgrades over its predecessor, and it is faster in daily use. You also get a premium design, larger battery, IP65 rating, and the phone will get long-term updates.
Best on a budget
Best on a budget
The latest in OnePlus' affordable Nord series, the N30 offers some stellar internal hardware, all-day battery life, and a sleek design that just looks good. The camera leaves a little to be desired, and there's only one OS update planned, but at this price, you're getting some incredible value.
Still going strong
Still going strong
The OnePlus 11 continues to be a standout choice in 2024, offering a vibrant AMOLED panel, powerful hardware, terrific cameras, and long-term software updates.
Best overall
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The OnePlus 12 sets a new standard for OnePlus. The phone uses the same fundamentals as the OnePlus 11, but you get a slightly modified design that looks even more enticing than last year, and the Flowy Emerald variant in particular looks stunning. The gorgeous green hue combined with the svelte design makes the phone stand out, and I really like the changes to the camera island this year.
The camera island has the same broad aesthetic as last year, but it has the same color as the rest of the back, and there are rings around the individual camera modules, highlighting the sensors. It looks cleaner and more elegant, and gives the phone a lot of character. On that note, the alert slider is intact, and it has been moved to the left of the phone.
Another design change I like is that the front camera cutout is now centered; this was a point of annoyance in previous years, so it's good to see that the cutout is now in the same location as every other Android phone. The OnePlus 12 feels fantastic to hold and use, and this may just be one of the best phone designs of 2024.
You know you're getting great hardware with OnePlus, and the OnePlus 12 is running the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 along with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage with the base version. There's also a 16GB/512GB model available if you need more storage, and you get all the latest connectivity radios, and high-res audio codecs.
The screen is also among the best of any phone today, with the device able to go up to an insane 4,500 nits in HDR content. Another exciting change is that you can play games at 120fps, and while the games I tested were still limited to 60fps, this should change with a software update.
But the main reason you'll want to buy this phone is because of the cameras. The OnePlus 12 has the best camera package of any OnePlus device to date, and it comes close to the Pixel 8 Pro in challenging scenarios. That just wasn't possible in the past, and while the OnePlus 11 also had a good imaging system, the OnePlus 12 has considerable upgrades across the board. If you've been using OnePlus phones for a while now, you will see a massive difference when switching to the OnePlus 12.
On the subject of upgrades, the OnePlus 12 also gets 50W wireless charging in addition to the usual 100W charging tech, and this makes the phone that much more versatile. There's more good news on the battery side of things; you get a 5400mAh battery that lasts noticeably longer, and I easily got a day and a half between charges.
The software still has its quirks, but it is stable, and you don't miss out on any major features. Ultimately, the OnePlus 12 is a terrific showcase, and if you're looking to upgrade this year, it is an easy recommendation.
Best foldable
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
If you're ready to switch to a foldable, the OnePlus Open should be at the top of your list. This is technically OnePlus's first foldable, but it was manufactured in collaboration with OPPO, so it uses all the learnings gained from the Find N series over the last two years. The result of that is the foldable is better than what you get with Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 5.
Let's start with the hinge. The Open has a smoother hinge that's easier to use, and it closes fully flat. But its biggest differentiator is that there is no visible crease. I don't mean that the crease is invisible, but in daily use, you don't notice it at all. That wasn't the case when I used the Z Fold 5, and if anything, Samsung has the most visible crease of any foldable I used. With the Open, you just get a large inner screen that's a delight to use, and a big part of that is down to the seamless crease that doesn't get in the way.
Also, the size is ideal. The Open is smaller and a lot lighter than the Galaxy Z Fold 5, and the leather back makes it easy to hold. I also like the matte texture on the sides, and overall, it's clear that a lot of attention went into the design of the foldable. On that note, the camera housing at the back is unmissable, and you get a terrific imaging system that's on par with the best foldables.
Scratch that — these are the best cameras you'll find on a foldable today. The software also has a lot of extras that let you take full advantage of the flexibility of the foldable form factor, and while I noted several software issues in my OnePlus Open review, those have all been rectified.
I also need to mention the outer screen, because it is just right. It isn't tall and narrow like what you get on the Galaxy Z Fold 5, and for most tasks that take less than five minutes, I found myself just using the cover screen, only switching to the inner screen to write emails, browse, or stream content.
Ultimately, the OnePlus Open is a groundbreaking foldable, and it beats the Galaxy Z Fold 5 in all meaningful areas while still somehow being more affordable. Nice one, OnePlus. There's a new OnePlus Open Apex Edition that's worth checking out if you want a striking shade of red and 1TB storage.
Best value
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
I've always maintained that OnePlus was making a mistake by not launching the R series globally. Looks like someone at the brand was listening, because the device is available globally this time around. That's good news, because the OnePlus 12R delivers the best features of the OnePlus 12 at a significantly lower price.
The OnePlus 12R has the same gorgeous design as the OnePlus 12, and while earlier models used polycarbonate designs, it now has a glass back and aluminum mid-frame, giving it much better structural rigidity. You also get the same insane AMOLED panel up front that goes up to 4,500 nits in HDR content, and it is a joy to use.
It may not have the latest silicon, but the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 has more than enough power left over, and I didn't see any slowdowns whatsoever in the two weeks I used the OnePlus 12R. The 5500mAh battery is the largest on any OnePlus phone, and it easily lasts a day and a half without breaking a sweat — you can average two days between charges with medium use.
The camera is on par with the OnePlus 11, and while you don't get the Hasselblad extras, it still manages to take standout photos in just about any situation. The only issue in this area is that the auxiliary cameras aren't anywhere as good as the main camera; the 8MP wide-angle is decent enough in daylight, but it doesn't measure up in low-light scenarios, and the 2MP macro lens doesn't do anything useful at all.
The only other issue is that the OnePlus 12R will get three Android OS updates — one less than the standard model. If that isn't an issue, then the phone has the best value in OnePlus's 2024 portfolio.
Best mid-range
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Nord 3 was a much-needed upgrade in the series, and the latest OnePlus Nord 4 takes it up a notch. The new design language is refreshing, and the mix of aluminum and glass gives it a great in-hand feel that you don't get from many phones in this segment. There's very little fault to be found here, as we also stated in our Nord 4 review.
Even though it's cheaper than the Nord 3 it replaces, OnePlus has given the Nord 4 some notable upgrades. The phone is now IP65 rated, making it properly dustproof. The battery is also larger at 5,500mAh, and charging speeds have gone up to 100W. In our testing, we easily managed to use it for a day and a half before it needed a charge. The display has the same size and specs, except for a higher brightness rating. The 120Hz AMOLED panel is vibrant with punchy contrast and colors.
The hardware is more powerful too thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 SoC, making this a superb phone for mobile gaming. The camera specs haven't changed much, but the main 50MP sensor captures delightful images, just like its predecessor. The biggest problem is that it's not officially sold in the U.S., which is a crying shame as it's hight-time OnePlus retired the Nord N30 5G.
Best budget pick
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Nord N30 isn't the most exciting OnePlus phone, but it is a good option if you want a budget device. Coming in at just $249, it goes up against the likes of Motorola and Nokia's offerings in this category, and you get a 120Hz panel as well, albeit one with an LCD screen.
That said, the device is built to cost, and that is evident when you use it. It is powered by the Snapdragon 695, and you get 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Although it isn't as fast as the OnePlus 11, it is still serviceable in daily use, and does a good job with most games. There's a 108MP camera at the back, and again, it is decent enough in this segment — it doesn't excel in low-light conditions, but in most outdoor situations with decent lighting, it delivers usable shots.
You don't get as many software updates either, and that more than anything else is the biggest limitation with the N30. Still, there's a 5,000mAh battery that lasts a day and a half with ease, and you even get a microSD slot.
Still going strong
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The OnePlus 11 continues to be a fantastic choice if you want to get your hands on a OnePlus phone. What makes it stand out is that it has upgrades that were traditionally limited to the Pro models — like a vibrant QHD+ AMOLED panel with 120Hz refresh — but at the same time, you get a great overall value. It's this value that makes the device such a strong contender; it undercuts the likes of the Pixel 8 Pro while still offering a versatile camera package, terrific internals, and a large battery with 100W charging tech.
I used the OnePlus 11 quite a bit, and I think the company did a magnificent job with the design. The device is sleeker than most of its rivals and has an excellent in-hand feel, and the camera housing at the back immediately grabs attention. The Titan Black model has a great texture at the back, and overall, there isn't much that the phone doesn't get right on the design side of things.
The hardware is another area where you'll find a lot of positives. With a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 under the hood and 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage for the base version, the OnePlus 11 ticks all the right boxes, and it is one of the fastest phones I used. While the software situation over the last two years meant that recent OnePlus phones couldn't take full advantage of all the hardware prowess — they were buggy out of the box — that isn't an issue here. OxygenOS 14 on the OnePlus 11 is stable, and the interface is fluid in daily use.
How to choose
Upgrade your phone with OnePlus
Why you can trust Android Central
OnePlus makes some of our favorite Android phones with competitive offerings across a wide range of budgets. OnePlus stands out mainly for its hardware offering specs that are often better than the competition without letting the price balloon out of control too much. While traditionally, software support hasn't been a OnePlus strength, things have gotten a lot better with its most recent phones with the OnePlus 12 even getting five years of security updates with four OS updates planned.
If you've been thinking about trying out a folding phone, the OnePlus Open is one of our favorites with gorgeous displays and fast charging. Notably, the OnePlus Open has one of the best camera systems ever put in a folding phone, so you don't have to give up picture quality for a big screen.
Overall, the OnePlus 12 is our top pick thanks to its powerful SoC, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, an excellent display, and impressive cameras. This phone has a large battery at 5,400mAh, and it can charge faster than most other phones with up to 100W supported on wired and 50W wireless. If you're looking for one of the most powerful Android phones available with plenty of software support, the OnePlus 12 is a great pick.
Do you need a flagship phone?
Flagship phones are the best of the best available and are made to show off what a company like OnePlus can build rather than focusing on the best value. The OnePlus 12 is impressive, but it's too expensive for a lot of people, and if you're looking to save, you're really not giving up all that much with OnePlus.
For example, the OnePlus 12R is a lot cheaper than the 12, but it doesn't sacrifice as much as you'd think. In fact, it's got the same snappy processor from the OnePlus 11 that still has plenty of speed for Android 14, with several years of updates planned.
Going even cheaper, the Nord N30 has 5G connectivity, and excellent battery life. It also keeps some budget phone favorites, the 3.5mm headphone jack and microSD card slot so you can get plenty of storage for your music without needing to spend a small fortune on decent bluetooth earbuds.
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Harish Jonnalagadda is Android Central's Senior Editor of Asia. In his current role, he oversees the site's coverage of Chinese phone brands, networking products, and AV gear. He has been testing phones for over a decade, and has extensive experience in mobile hardware and the global semiconductor industry. Contact him on Twitter at @chunkynerd.
- Roydon CerejoContributor