Apple iPhone 15vsOnePlus 12
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
OnePlus 12 wins
Verdict
OnePlus 12 wins 4 of 5 categories — our overall pick
OnePlus 12 is the overall winner, 4 / 5 — display is its standout. At USD 699, it's also the most affordable of this group.
- OnePlus 12 takes Performance — led by ram (12 GB).
- OnePlus 12 takes Display — led by refresh rate (120 Hz).
- OnePlus 12 takes Camera — led by telephoto (Yes).
- OnePlus 12 takes Battery — led by battery (5,400 mAh).
- Too close to call between Apple iPhone 15 and OnePlus 12.
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose Apple iPhone 15 if you want…
No decisive wins in this matchup.
Choose OnePlus 12 if you want…
- Choose OnePlus 12 if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 2,000,000 pts vs 1,300,000 pts.
- Choose OnePlus 12 if you want more apps open at once — 12 GB vs 6 GB.
- Choose OnePlus 12 if you want more room for photos and apps — 256 GB vs 128 GB.
- Choose OnePlus 12 if you want a bigger screen — 6.82 in vs 6.1 in.
- Choose OnePlus 12 if you want a sharper screen — 510 ppi vs 460 ppi.
- Choose OnePlus 12 if you want smoother scrolling — 120 Hz vs 60 Hz.
- Choose OnePlus 12 if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 4,500 nits vs 2,000 nits.
- Choose OnePlus 12 if you want sharper selfies — 32 MP vs 12 MP.
- Choose OnePlus 12 if you want true optical zoom — Yes vs No.
- Choose OnePlus 12 if you want better video quality — 94 pts vs 93 pts.
- Choose OnePlus 12 if you want a better camera — 143 pts vs 141 pts.
- Choose OnePlus 12 if you want longer battery life — 5,400 mAh vs 3,349 mAh.
- Choose OnePlus 12 if you want faster charging — 100 W vs 20 W.
At a glance
- Apple iPhone 15
- OnePlus 12
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Best price now
Full record
Every spec, side by side — winners get a check and a proportional bar. Ties share the badge.
Performance score
Approximate benchmark score of the chipset — higher is faster for apps, games and AI.
Chipset
The processor inside — shown for reference, never decides a winner.
RAM
More RAM keeps more apps alive in the background.
Storage
Base onboard storage for photos, apps and media.
Screen size
Diagonal screen size — bigger is better for media, smaller is easier to hold.
Pixel density
Sharpness of the screen — above ~400 ppi looks crisp.
Refresh rate
How smooth scrolling and motion feel. 120 Hz is the modern standard.
Peak brightness
Peak brightness in sunlight — higher stays readable outdoors.
Main camera
Resolution of the primary rear camera — photo quality is judged by the Camera quality score, not megapixels.
Selfie camera
Resolution of the front camera.
Telephoto
A dedicated zoom lens for distant subjects without quality loss.
Video score
Composite video rating — stabilisation, 4K/8K support and colour.
Camera score
Composite camera quality from independent testing — how good the photos actually are.
Battery
Battery capacity — higher generally lasts longer.
Charging speed
Wired charging speed — higher refills faster.
Wireless charging
Whether the phone charges wirelessly.
Price
Typical MSRP in US dollars — lower is better value.
Which one should you buy?
Apple iPhone 15
Choose Apple iPhone 15 if price matters most. It costs USD 699, the lowest price in this group.
OnePlus 12
Choose OnePlus 12 if display matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 699.
Pros & cons
Apple iPhone 15
- Cheapest modern iPhone
- Dynamic Island + USB-C
- Solid 48 MP camera
- 60 Hz display
- A16 chip is aging
- Slow 20 W charging
OnePlus 12
- Fast chipset
- 5,400 mAh + 100 W
- Bright display
- Cameras trail rivals
- Curved screen
- OxygenOS changes