In this comparison, we’ll take a look at the duo of new flagship smartphones Apple iPhone 12 and OnePlus 8T. Which of the two will appeal to you more? Will it be the wide range of cameras and the smooth Android system from OnePlus, or will you rather appreciate the ecosystem and high performance of the smartphone from Apple?
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How will they fare in a direct comparison of the most important features? We’ll try to find the answer in this comparison article, which starts right now.
*The camera comparison information and comparison photos were taken from the website xda-developers.com
Technical specifications: iPhone 12 vs. OnePlus 8T
| iPhone 12 | OnePlus 8T | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm | 160.7 x 74.1 x 8.4 mm |
| Weight | 164 g | 188 g |
| Material used | Glass-Aluminum | Glass-Aluminum |
| Display | Super Retina XDR OLED / 6.1" | Fluid AMOLED / 6.55" |
| 1170 x 2532 px 19.5:9 | 1080 x 2400 px 20:9 | |
| Density 460 ppi / Brightness 625 nits | 402 ppi pixel density | |
| Ceramic Shield | Gorilla Glass 5 | |
| FaceID facial recognition (no fingerprint sensor) | Optical in-display fingerprint sensor | |
| LED notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Processor | Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (7 nm+) |
| Graphics | Apple GPU chip | Adreno 650 |
| 4G LTE band support B20 | Yes | Yes |
| Primary camera | 12 MPx | 48 MPx Sony IMX586 |
| Aperture f/1.6 | sensor size 1.4 µm | Aperture f/1.7 | sensor size 0.8 µm | |
| PDAF focusing | Optical stabilization | PDAF focusing | Optical stabilization | |
| 4K 60 fps video | 4K 60 fps video | |
| Secondary cameras | 12 MPx ultra-wide | aperture f/2.4 | 13 mm | 16 MPx ultra-wide | aperture f/2.2 | 14 mm |
| - | 5 MPx macro sensor | aperture f/2.4 | |
| - | 2 MPx depth sensor | aperture f/2.4 | |
| Front camera | 12 MPx (+ SL 3D sensor) | 16 MPx |
| Aperture f/2.2 | HDR | 1/3.6" | Aperture f/2.4 | Auto-HDR | 1/3.06" | |
| SD card | No | No |
| 3.5 mm jack | No | No |
| Infra port | No | No |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Radio | No | No |
| Battery | Li-Po 2815 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Fast charging 20 W | Fast charging 65 W | |
| Wireless charging – 15W | Wireless charging – No | |
| Enhanced durability | IP 68 | No |
Design & display panel
This year, the Apple iPhone 12 has undergone a major design overhaul. Its side aluminum edges are matte, while the back is made of glossy tempered glass, following the look of the previous generation. This time, however, the smartphone’s edges are sharper and more angular. The iPhone also adds improved water and dust resistance with an IP 68 certification.
OnePlus 8T offers the same glass-and-aluminum build. So the back panel can easily become a magnet for fingerprints or other grease if you choose to use the smartphone without a protective case.
The iPhone’s display comes with a 6.1″ diagonal. It’s a Super Retina HDR OLED panel with a resolution of 1170 x 2532 pixels, an aspect ratio of 19.5:9, and a resulting sharpness of 460 ppi. At the top there’s a wide notch with 3D sensors for FaceID, and it also features ceramic glass that’s more resistant to drops.
The OnePlus 8T features a Fluid AMOLED panel with a 6.55″ diagonal, a resolution of 1080 x 2400, an aspect ratio of 20:9, and a resulting sharpness of 402 ppi. Gorilla Glass 5 protection is included, along with a cutout for the front camera. Face unlock here isn’t as precise as on the iPhone, but OnePlus offers a fingerprint reader integrated under the surface of the display.
Performance: the 5 nm chipset is extremely powerful
When it comes to performance, you’re getting a pair of flagship processors. Apple officially introduced for its iPhone 12 a new 5 nm six-core chip, the Apple A14 Bionic, which is also complemented by a graphics chip. This smartphone can handle demanding multitasking as well as graphically intensive gaming titles.
As for the OnePlus 8T smartphone, it comes with the current flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor made using 7 nm+ technology. It’s paired with the Adreno 650 graphics chip. Again, this smartphone is very powerful and handles multitasking well, but in benchmark tests it falls significantly behind the iPhone 12 model.
Camera: Neither lets you down
The biggest difference in the specs may come right down to photography capabilities. Apple offers a main 12 MPx sensor, complemented by a 12 MPx ultra-wide sensor. You also get a dual-LED flash, support for 4K video (60 fps), and a 12 MPx front camera with 3D sensors for Face ID.
On the left you’ll see photos from the OnePlus 8T, while on the right are photos from the iPhone 12.
On the other hand, the OnePlus 8T offers up to four rear cameras. There’s a main 48 MPx sensor, plus a 16 MPx ultra-wide sensor, but also a 5 MPx macro sensor and a 2 MPx depth sensor. It doesn’t miss out on 4K video (60 fps) and a 16 MPx front camera.
Photos in good sunny lighting are high quality on both devices, but in automatic mode OnePlus also shoots up to 12 MPx resolution. The iPhone wins with natural, true-to-life colors, while OnePlus delivers slightly sharper and more detailed photos.
On the left again, you’ll find shots from the OnePlus 8T, and on the right, the iPhone 12.
However, the difference shows more in worse lighting, where the Apple smartphone has a slight edge. The wide-angle sensor provides a sufficient field of view in both cases, and OnePlus also uses a depth sensor. But on the video front, the iPhone is still on top, thanks to a better dynamic range and image stabilization.
Software: Android vs. iOS
The key difference—and practically the main decision point—in this pair of smartphones comes down to software. While OnePlus includes the standard Android 11 system with a mild graphical skin called OxygenOS, Apple has its own operating system, iOS. Even with only 4 GB of RAM, it’s enough for fast performance.
The closed nature of iOS 14 is the main benefit—or compromise—for a potential user. The operating system already offers various widgets and app organization features, along with new graphical elements. The biggest advantage in this case is communication with other Apple devices and systems like iPadOS and MacOS. Here, Apple truly stands out.
However, if you choose OnePlus and an open Android system with a wide range of customization options, we recommend using trusted Google apps and services that can help you with lots of syncing and backing up your data. Both smartphones are also very fast, with plenty of RAM storage capacity.
Battery: 2815 mAh vs. 4500 mAh
Just like there’s a difference in RAM memory, the key difference is also noticeable in the battery. While the iPhone includes a battery with a total capacity of 2815 mAh, OnePlus offers almost double the capacity at around 4500 mAh.
When it comes to device battery life with 5G connectivity, the higher-capacity smartphone comes out on top. OnePlus 8T handled roughly 12 hours of usage in testing, while the iPhone reported running out in less than 10 hours. With 5G turned off—meaning 4G / LTE connection only—both devices’ battery life stayed around 12 hours (with an additional 20% buffer).
A welcome bonus for the iPhone, besides improved durability, is support for wireless charging up to 15W and wired charging up to 20W. On the other hand, OnePlus offers very powerful 65W wired charging, but it does not include wireless charging.
Price and availability of the smartphones
As for the price and availability of these devices in our market, local sellers offer these smartphones in official Slovak distribution. The Apple iPhone 12 model price starts at 899 € / 1067 USD and up.
The price of the OnePlus 8T starts already from 629 € / 746 USD. If you want to save more, the OnePlus smartphone is also available from international sellers for as low as 500 € / 593 USD. If you’re interested in buying, you can find the best deal with us.
Final verdict: iPhone 12 vs. OnePlus 8T
Both of these smartphones offer their future users multiple benefits, but also possible trade-offs. The core choice here is the operating system, followed by syncing your data.
Apple dominates communication across multiple products in its own ecosystem. However, if you want to save money and go for a more affordable Android smartphone, the OnePlus 8T is a very good choice, with a Fluid AMOLED display, flagship-level performance, and a quad rear camera setup.
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