Since the release of OnePlus 12, many questions are being raised regarding its brightness. The OnePlus 12 is known for its high peak brightness, around 4,500 nits. However, some users on Twitter and other social platforms have called it a gimmick. To find out the truth, we conducted our own brightness test comparing the OnePlus 12 to its predecessor, the OnePlus 11, and the Samsung S23 Ultra.
Our tests used a lux meter to measure the brightness of all three smartphones. Despite OnePlus promising an update to increase the normal brightness of the OnePlus 12 from 600 nits to 800 nits, which has already been rolled out in China, we went ahead with our current settings. The OnePlus 12 offers three brightness modes: Normal, High, and Peak Brightness. Through our testing, both at home and abroad, we aimed to understand how these devices perform in real-world scenarios.
Indoor Brightness Comparison
Indoors, with white wallpaper and manual brightness settings, the OnePlus 12 showed higher brightness levels than the OnePlus 11 and Samsung S23 Ultra. The OnePlus 12 reached 1,130 nits, the OnePlus 11 reached 685 nits, and the Galaxy S23 Ultra reached 690 nits. However, when playing HDR videos, the S23 Ultra outperformed the others, demonstrating Samsung’s better color reproduction and brightness optimization for video content.
Outdoor Brightness Comparison
Outdoor tests were conducted in direct sunlight with auto brightness enabled. Here, Samsung’s Extra Brightness feature available on the S23 Ultra played an important role. This feature increases brightness beyond manual settings when Adaptive Brightness is enabled. Under these conditions, the S23 Ultra reached an impressive 1,800 nits, exceeding its peak brightness rating. The OnePlus 12 reached 1,300 nits, and the OnePlus 11 was closer to 1,000 nits.
Final Verdict
Our tests showed that indoors, without playing videos, the OnePlus 12 actually delivers better brightness. However, when it comes to outdoor visibility and video playback, Samsung’s S23 Ultra takes the lead due to its extra brightness feature and better optimization for HDR content. The OnePlus 12’s claimed peak brightness of 4,500 nits remains questionable, as our testing methods could not verify these figures.
We have a video for the test dedicated to the brightness of the OnePlus 12.
