Samsung Galaxy S24 FE vs. OnePlus 12R: The battle of budget flagships
by Roland Udvarlaki · Android PoliceMade for the fans
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
The Galaxy S24 FE – Fan Edition – brings flagship features at a more affordable price. It has a vibrant and large display, an aluminium frame, and a capable camera setup. It’s a great device for those who do not want to spend over $1,000, as it offers everything you need in a compact and affordable package.
Pros
- Vibrant and colorful display
- Great performance
- Improved cameras
Cons
- Slow charging
- Expensive
Budget flagship
OnePlus 12R
The OnePlus 12R might no longer have an up-to-date chipset, but it’s still plenty powerful to tackle demanding games and multiple apps simultaneously. It has a large, colorful display, a solid camera setup, and even support for fast charging, making it an excellent budget flagship at a reasonable price.
Pros
- Beautiful display
- Flagship performance
- Fantastic battery life
Cons
- Average cameras
- Not fully waterproof
Picking up a phone under $1,000 is easier than ever. The market is flooded with fantastic budget devices that offer long-term software support, flagship-level experiences, and most of the features found on premium smartphones. The Galaxy S24 FE is one of those devices, offering a true Galaxy S24 experience at a more affordable price tag.
OnePlus has also offered budget flagships for a while, and the OnePlus 12R still holds its ground in late 2024 as one of the best budget phones. It has a shorter support window compared to Samsung, but it makes up for it with a few additional enhancements, such as a larger battery, faster charging, and a brighter display.
Price, availability, and specs
The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is available at most shops and carriers, as well as directly through Samsung. The base model features 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, retailing for $650. The new Fan Edition comes in four colors: Graphite, Gray, Blue, and Mint.
The OnePlus 12R is available via Amazon, Best Buy, and OnePlus’ online store. The base model features 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, retailing for $500. The 16GB/256GB model usually retails for $600, but it can often be found at a more reasonable $500–$550 price tag. The 12R comes in Cool Blue and Iron Gray colors.
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE OnePlus 12R SoC Samsung Exynos 2400e Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Display type AMOLED, 120Hz LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz Display dimensions 6.7" 6.78", 19.5:9 Display resolution 1080 x 2340 2780 × 1264 RAM 8GB 8GB or 16GB LPDDR5X Storage 128GB or 256GB 128GB or 256GB Battery 4,700mAh 5,500mAh Charge speed 25W 80W wired (100W international) Charge options USB-C wired, Qi wireless USB-C SuperVOOC wired Ports USB-C USB-C 2.0 SIM support Dual SIM (Nano SIM and eSIM) Dual Nano-SIM Operating System Android 14 and One UI 6.1 Android 14 with OxygenOS 14 Front camera 10MP, f/2.4 16MP Rear camera 50MP, f/1.8, OIS main; 12MP, f/2.2 ultrawide; 8MP, f/2.4 3x telephoto 50MP, f/1.8 main; 8MP, f/2.2 ultrawide; 2MP, f/2.4 macro Cellular connectivity 4G LTE, 5G (sub-6 and mmWave) Sub-6 5G, LTE Wi-Fi connectivity Wi-Fi 6E Wi-Fi 7 Bluetooth Bluetooth 5.3 Bluetooth 5.3 Dimensions 77.3 x 162.0 x 8.0mm 163.3 x 75.3 x 8.8mm Weight 213g 207g IP Rating IP68 IP54 Colors Blue, Graphite, Gray, Mint, Yellow Cool Blue, Iron Gray
Read our review
Review: The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is one step away from greatness
It faces stiff competition
2:43
Read our review
OnePlus 12R review: A real flagship killer for $500
A phone that packs all the power you need for the price you want to pay
Design
Flagship-grade design and feel
Both the Galaxy and OnePlus phones are reminiscent of their flagship counterparts – that is, they offer similar looks and features on the inside and outside. The Galaxy S24 FE is reminiscent of the Galaxy S24 series, while the OnePlus 12R borrows a lot from the OnePlus 12.
The Galaxy features a Gorilla Glass Victus+ front and back and an aluminum frame, while the OnePlus 12R packs the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front, glass on the back, and the same aluminum frame. The Galaxy has an IP68 rating, while the 12R is rated lower at IP64. In theory, the Galaxy fares better when it comes to dust and water, but the OnePlus should still hold up for casual users.
Both phones feel premium and comfortable in the hand and have similar dimensions. However, the Galaxy is a bit wider and thinner, while the OnePlus 12R manages to shed some weight compared to the S24 FE; the Galaxy also measures 162 x 77.3 x 8mm against OnePlus’ 163.3 x 75.3 x 8.8mm. The 5-gram difference between the two is negligible at best, but this still puts the OnePlus 12R ahead of Samsung by a small margin.
When it comes to the camera and other button placements, you’ll likely be disappointed to find that both phones wobble on a table thanks to their protruding camera islands. It’s nothing we haven't seen before, but you’ll likely want to apply a case if you occasionally find yourself using your phone on a flat surface.
Display
Roughly the same size, but OnePlus offers higher brightness levels
The Galaxy S24 FE packs a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel. It tops out at 1,900 nits of peak brightness, which is plenty enough to consume HDR content on any streaming service and video platform. The OnePlus 12R has a slightly larger 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display, and both phones have HDR10+ and 120Hz refresh rates.
What sets them apart is OnePlus’ inclusion of Dolby Vision, and the much higher 4,500 nits of peak brightness, making it even better for consuming media wherever you are. That said, both phones will perform well for all of your daily needs, but video will look brighter on the OnePlus, giving it a small edge over the Galaxy.
Both phones have an under-display optical fingerprint sensor and a top-center punch-hole cutout for the camera. The bezels are slightly larger on the Galaxy S24 FE, but it’s not too bad by the current standards – and it still holds up when it comes to looks and overall feel, and size.
Software and performance
Samsung takes the lead with seven years of software support
Would you believe that Samsung was once one of the worst OEMs regarding device support? Times have changed, and Samsung has become one of the best. The company offers seven years of OS and security updates across its premium portfolio, and it even includes more affordable devices, such as the Galaxy S24 FE.
OnePlus, on the other hand, has gone from being one of the best to one that is doing only okay. The company still offers three years of OS support, but some updates can sometimes take a while to arrive. Given the lower price point, it’s not terrible, but we do wish the company upped its security and software focus a little.
The overall performance is roughly equivalent on these devices, although the OnePlus 12R offers a slight edge, despite it being on the older side. The Galaxy is powered by the Samsung Exynos 2400e chipset, while the OnePlus is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.
The two chips offer near identical performance in benchmarks and in real life when using apps or demanding games, and it's unlikely you’ll come across any major issues when playing on either phone.
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Mid-range phone with flagship features
Samsung has also been focusing on AI features, bringing the overall key-selling features to its more affordable lineup. The FE offers mostly the same features as its more premium counterparts, and the OnePlus 12R also brings a lot of goodies to the table.
In terms of user interface, both devices offer a layout and design that’s easy to get used to, and something that most people are already familiar with. If you want to completely personalize your device, Samsung will likely take the edge here. Still, OnePlus is also very flexible and minimalistic, offering options to personalize it to your unique needs and requirements.
Battery life
Slow and versatile charging versus fast wired charging
The Galaxy S24 FE packs a 4,700mAh battery that’s more than enough to get you through your day. We found that it can easily last a day on a single charge, although power users will likely have to top up to make it through the day.
The OnePlus 12R can last a bit longer thanks to its much larger 5,500mAh battery cell inside. We found that it can easily go for a full day, and even some power users can get the most out of it with ease. What’s helping OnePlus take the lead here is when it comes to charging. The phone supports 100W wired charging, which enables it to go from zero to 100% in about 30 minutes.
It doesn’t, however, support wireless charging, which is becoming more common for phones at the price range. The Galaxy S24 FE only comes with the aging 25W wired charging, which enables it to go from zero to 50% in 30 minutes, but it does at least offer 15W wireless, and even reverse wireless charging for accessories.
Camera
Fine is good-enough
During our review, we found that the Galaxy S24 FE and the OnePlus 12R took decent photos overall. They’re fine for the most part, capturing detailed photos in most lighting conditions with some asterisks. The caveat is that they won’t be as impressive as their flagship counterparts, especially in low-light conditions, but they’ll manage to take good enough photos and videos.
The Galaxy S24 FE packs a triple camera setup, consisting of a 50MP primary, a 12MP ultrawide, and an 8MP telephoto camera. The selfie camera is a 10MP sensor. The OnePlus 12R boasts a 50MP primary, an 8MP ultrawide, and a measly 2MP macro. It’s fair to say that the Galaxy has a more versatile camera when looking at the specs.
In terms of detail, both phones perform well for the most part, and there’s no noticeable shutter lag on either of these phones. Nighttime photos won’t be perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but they’ll capture the essence and most of the details with some noise. The color production is great too.
Which is right for you?
If you have a higher budget, and you’re looking for a phone that’ll last you seven years, there’s no denying that the Galaxy S24 FE offers immense value — even when you consider that it costs quite a bit more than the OnePlus 12R. It has a decent camera, a long-lasting battery life, and great performance. It has everything you need to take on any task, be it a graphics-intensive game, or using multiple apps side-by-side.
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is a great performer with a solid seven-year promised update window. It offers a lot of value for the money. It has an excellent, bright, colorful display, solid battery life, and great performance. It’s an excellent all-rounder for anyone looking for a Samsung Galaxy for a little less than the main lineup.
$640 at Amazon $650 at Best Buy $650 at Samsung
The OnePlus 12R is also an excellent, budget-oriented smartphone, and it stands out for its exceptional display, great build quality, and fast wired charging features. While it may fall behind in some areas, it makes up for it in others and is significantly cheaper than the S24 FE. If you need a phone that’ll hold up for the next few years and offers a solid performance and features, this is the way to go.
OnePlus 12R
The OnePlus 12R might not offer the same impressive level of software support or versatile camera array, but it can still sometimes outperform the Galaxy S24 FE thanks to its slightly older, but faster chipset. It has a beautiful display, a larger battery, and a significantly faster charging capability.