OnePlus has launched its next flagship phone, the OnePlus 12 in China. We also expect the Android smartphone to debut in this country in the coming months. While the new flagship is being touted as having promising hardware upgrades over the OnePlus 11 (test), the OnePlus 12 seems to be on everyone’s lips in China for a different reason: the device’s poor build quality.
The OnePlus 12 suffers from major manufacturing flaws
On the Chinese social network Sina Weibo Users point out that their OnePlus 12 devices are poorly handled. Some have shared smartphone photos showing clear gaps between the panels and the frame. Additionally, some have noticed that there is an excessive amount of adhesive used in some areas of the device that is still sticking out.
However, even more bizarre is user FIGO_2023’s post, which shows a dead baby beetle stuck between panels. But it gets worse: the user also discovered a hair that was clearly stuck between the camera panel and the back cover.
OnePlus 12 users in China have reported visible gaps in their phone’s panels and frame. / © Weibo.com/u/1713487140
The problem seems to center around the external mounting hardware, especially the joints and gaps between the curved back and the camera plate and body. Aside from visible contaminants, the gaps don’t seem to affect the device’s overall handling, and that’s enough to compromise the IP65 dust and water rating.
The OnePlus 12 appears with a dead bug and hair on the joints and gaps in the panel. / © Weibo.com/u/1287140245
The debacle also caught the attention of Xiaomi CEO Lu Weibing, who spoke out and offered his thoughts, although he did not directly refer to OnePlus. The CEO added that they concluded that OnePlus has “more flexible” quality control compared to Xiaomi’s budget Redmi brand.
Will the same issue also affect global models of the OnePlus 12 phone?
So far, not all OnePlus 12 users have reported the same issues with the build quality of their devices. Meanwhile, OnePlus is yet to make an official statement. However, we have already seen that some Oppo customer services addressed customer complaints immediately.
Whether the same fate awaits OnePlus 12 buyers in global markets is still unknown. But since the issue has already surfaced, OnePlus will likely have a reasonable amount of time to iron things out in manufacturing before the OnePlus 12 becomes available globally. According to rumours, the OnePlus 12 will be launched on January 23, 2024, that is, a month from now.
Do you want to buy the OnePlus 12 next year? What do you think of the reports about the poor build quality of the OnePlus 12 phone? We look forward to reading your thoughts in the comments section.
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