OnePlus is gearing up for its next step in the field of the so-called flagship killer smartphones. The company will launch the OnePlus Ace 3 pretty soon. The company confirmed today that the new cost-effective flagship will debut on January 4, 2024, in China. The new smartphone will reach India next Thursday at 2:30 PM local time in China. The company started to share some teasers about the smartphone. It will launch as OnePlus 12R alongside the OnePlus 12 in global markets on January 23, 2024.
OnePlus Ace 3 Launches on January 4 – Design Confirmed
The OnePlus Ace 3 will be a toned-down flagship when compared to the OnePlus 12. For example, the device will come with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 instead of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 that powers the latest flagship.
In addition to the launch date, OnePlus also teased the upcoming Mingsha Gold color for the OnePlus Ace 3. Thanks to the images, we can spot some of the details in the smartphone’s design and the features coming with it. For example, the device will be equipped with a metal frame. The phone’s design will be similar to the OnePlus 12 5G which also confirms OnePlus’ intent to launch it as the OnePlus 12R in international markets.
According to OnePlus, the OnePlus Ace 3 comes with a gold melting glass process for the Minghsa Gold color option. This technology is superior to the existing metallic finish but also increases the cost of the smartphone.
Pricing And Key Specifications
The teaser of the OnePlus Ace 3 also confirms that the power button and volume rockers are on the right side of the device. OnePlus will also keep the alert slider on the left side of the smartphone. OnePlus also confirmed that the new device will ship with a BOE X1 Screen with a 1.5K resolution.
Gizchina News of the week
Thanks to a China Telecom listing, we know that the new smartphone will cost about CNY 3,299 ($462) for the base variant with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of Storage. There will also be variants with 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of Storage and 16 GB of RAM with 1 TB of Internal Storage. These variants are likely priced at CNY 3,699 ($518,50) and CNY 3,999 ($560). The listing states that sales will go on from January 31. However, this is likely a placeholder date as the announcement is happening much earlier on January 4.
The OnePlus Ace 3 will debut in China on January 4. The device will hit the global stage on January 23 as the OnePlus 12R and will launch alongside the flagship OnePlus 12 5G. The OnePlus 12R 5G will debut in Black and Blue color options. Right now, there is no confirmation if this Gold color option will reach the market outside India.
OnePlus 12 Specifications Recap
To recall, the OnePlus 12 launched earlier this month with the all-new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. The handset packs a 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED screen with a 120 Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and up to 4,500 nits of peak brightness. The panel is covered with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and has a centered punch-hole design.
In addition to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the phone has up to 24 GB of RAM and 1 TB of Internal Storage. It runs Android 14 with ColorOS 14 running atop. The global variant will run OxygenOS 14 just like the OnePlus 12R (OnePlus Ace 3).
In terms of optics, the OnePlus 12 brings a 50 MP main camera with OIS and dual-pixel PDAF. There is also a 64 MP periscope telephoto shooter with 3x optical zoom. The phone has a 48 MP ultrawide snapper with f/2.2 aperture and a 32 MP selfie shooter. The device has the Hasselblad Tuning with Color Calibration.
The OnePlus 12 has Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi 7, NFC, IR Blaster, and a 5,400 mAh battery with 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. The phone has an IP65 rating which makes it waterproof and dustproof.
The OnePlus Ace 3 / OnePlus 12R will share a similar design, however, it will be toned down in some areas to justify its lower price.
