The most common complaints about the OnePlus 12's display center around poor display uniformity, especially at low brightness levels. Users report noticeable splotches, banding, and uneven patches on the screen, which become quite visible particularly in dark mode or when the screen is dimmed during phone calls. These uneven brightness and color uniformity issues are often described as parts of the display showing irregular dark or black spots, which do not disappear even after software resets or replacements. This problem is more pronounced in specific color profiles such as "Pro D65," while the "Natural" and "Vivid" modes tend to mask or slightly lessen the issue by being somewhat brighter. The underlying cause seems to be related to the quality of the OLED panels used and how the display handles extremely low brightness. Additionally, the fingerprint unlock feature dims the display and changes the color profile on the lock screen, which exacerbates the visibility of these display flaws during locked-screen calls or when the screen is dimmed.
Another frequent complaint is the curved nature of the display, which some users find problematic. The curved edges can create visibility issues outdoors when sunlight reflects off the screen edges, making parts of the display tougher to see or causing annoying debris and dust accumulation between the screen and phone case. While this is not universally disliked, users accustomed to flat screens are particularly critical of this design choice.
Color banding and what is described as "black crush" are also commonly mentioned issues. In natural color mode, dark areas on videos or images sometimes lose detail entirely, showing as solid black patches rather than gradations, whereas vivid mode retains more detail in shadows. Some users report blockiness in videos and color gradients that look lower quality than expected from a premium device. These issues appear to have some software components, as there have been minor improvements in some video and game performance with software updates, but there are still unresolved complaints about display quality in dark scenes.
The built-in screen protector included with the OnePlus 12 also receives negative feedback. It is described as "utter garbage" and detracts from the display experience by reducing clarity and touch responsiveness, though this is more of an accessory issue than a direct display fault.
Several users who have visited service centers to address these screen problems report a lack of satisfactory resolution. Service staff often claim that the device functions normally, but when users demonstrate the issues side-by-side with demo units or show detailed photographs, it becomes clear that the uniformity and color problems are indeed present. However, replacements are not guaranteed to be better, as the display flaws seem consistent across units.
In summary, the most commonly reported complaints about the OnePlus 12 display are:
- Poor display uniformity and visible splotches or banding at low brightness, particularly in dark mode or call screen.
- The Pro D65 color profile aggravates these uniformity issues.
- The fingerprint unlock dimming and color mode changes worsen display quality on the lock screen.
- Curved screen edges create visibility problems in sunlight and cause dust/debris buildup with cases.
- Black crush and color banding affect dark scenes in video playback, with better results in vivid mode.
- The included screen protector reduces display quality.
- Service centers do not always acknowledge or resolve these issues satisfactorily.