Flagship phones in 2021 are all about raw power, and most of that can be attributed to the hardware packed under the hood. The likes of Qualcomm and MediaTek battle for the honours, but there is RAM, and flagship phones packing 12GB RAM grab the headlines for their theatrics. Many people feel that 12GB RAM is overkill for a smartphone, and currently, it might be right. However, if you buy a phone to last you for a couple of years, having extra headroom is always preferable as you cannot upgrade it in the future. So, these are some of the top phones you get with 12GB RAM in India.
Things to consider when buying a 12GB RAM phone
Do you need that much power?: Phones with 12GB RAM sound exciting but let’s be honest, do we need 12GB RAM for our daily usage? Phone makers have to market their products with different selling points. And right now, 12GB RAM sounds a lot better than 6 or 8GB RAM. So, before you pull the plug, consider whether you need this much RAM or not.
12GB RAM promises heavy multi-tasking: If you are a heavy user and like to push the boundaries of performance, 12GB RAM is a worthy consideration in a phone. With devices now carrying a 120Hz refresh rate display, powerful games deserve all the hardware love they can get. And that’s where you end up justifying the high RAM count. It also makes sense to get a 12GB RAM phone if you are planning on keeping the phone for a couple of years and do not follow the yearly upgrade cycle.
Best 12GB RAM phones to buy in India
1. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
We start our list with the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra – one of the first high-end flagships to launch earlier this year. The 12GB RAM variant of this device offers 256GB internal storage, which is further expandable as well, giving you a lot of space to store photos, 4K videos, and more data. The 5G variant that launched in India comes with the Exynos 2100 octa-core chipset, and combined with 12GB RAM, it is a flagship powerhouse in the truest sense.
You will get top-end performance with this hardware combo, no matter whatever you throw at it. The device features a large 6.8-inch Quad HD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The main 108MP quad rear sensor delivers top-notch images. And with the 5,000mAh battery in tow, you don’t run out of juice quickly. Buyers called it one of the best phones to buy this year, going up against the likes of Google Pixel and Apple iPhone in this price range.
2. OnePlus 10 Pro
If you’re in the market for a flagship smartphone, the recently launched OnePlus 10 Pro could be a great choice. And as is the case with most flagships, the OnePlus 10 Pro packs top-of-the-notch specs. You get a Hasselblad-powered camera system, the bleeding edge Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 mobile platform, and a 120Hz 6.7-inch Fluid AMOLED LTPO 2.0 display. In terms of design, you get a premium unibody package with balanced weight distribution throughout. The main camera island houses a 48MP shooter with optical image stabilization, an 8MP telephoto lens, and a 150-degree field of view 50MP ultra wide-angle sensor for stunning photography. The phone also supports 4K 120 fps video recording. The front of the phone gets a 32MP front camera for beautiful selfies. Additionally, you also get a range of filters and camera modes to improve your photography experiences such as Dual-View Video, Movie Mode, Xpan Mode, Super Stable, Video Nightscape, Video Portrait, Video HDR, Focus Tracking, Timelapse, and more. This variant of the OnePlus 10 Pro gets 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM for faster performance. The phone runs Oxygen OS based on Android 12 and is one of the best all-rounder flagship smartphones you can currently get on the market.
3. iQOO 9 Pro
The flagship iQOO 9 Pro packs Snapdragon️ 8 Gen 1 SoC for impressive performance in gaming as well as daily apps. You get a 6.78-inch 2K AMOLED (LTPO2) display with a 120Hz high refresh rate along with 500nits of peak brightness. The phone runs on Funtouch 12 based on Android 12 and gets a 50MP GN5 Gimbal main camera sensor with a 16MP portrait and 50MP wide-angle camera. You also get modes like Super Night Mode, Stabilisation 2.0, and Fisheye Wide Angle to meet your various photography needs. You get a 4,700mAh battery with 50W wireless charging and 120W wired charging support with the FlashCharge technology. There is a large 3D ultrasonic fingerprint sensor for easy and efficient phone unlocking. You also get 300Hz of touch sampling rate and dual stereo speakers for immersive sound. The iQOO 9 Pro weighs about 200 grams and has a thickness of 8.8mm. This variant gets 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Users like iQOO 9 Pro for its impressive performance, good battery life, and build quality. If you’re in the market for an impressively performing smartphone, you cannot go wrong with this one.
4. iQOO Z6 Pro 5G
iQOO Z6 Pro 5G is a power-packed device that is great for gaming and movie-watching. It comes with a big 6.44-inch AMOLED display with a 2404 × 1080p (FHD+) resolution for crips and vivid visuals. The display also refreshes at 90Hz and can peak up to 1,300 nits brightness for impressive sunlight legibility. It also gets HDR10+ certification and an Eye Care certification to protect your eyes. It packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G processor at the core, which is paired with a whopping 12GB RAM for fluid gaming. Moreover, it comes with a 32923mm² VC Liquid Cooling system to reduce the overall device temperatures while gaming with its 8-Component Efficient Cooling System. Further, it also packs a 4D Game Vibration with Linear Motor for excellent haptic feedback. iQOO Z6 Pro 5G has a 4,700mAh battery, which charges at 66W FlashCharge speed for quick recharge times. Optics-wise, it gets a 64MP main camera with Super Night Mode for an excellent photography experience.
5. OnePlus Nord 2T 5G
OnePlus Nord 2T 5G is a worthy upgrade to its predecessor – the OnePlus Nord 2 5G. The device comes with a 6.43-inch (AMOLED) FHD+ 90Hz display and has Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection for scratch and drop resistance. The display further has an HDR10+ certification for popping visuals. The device gets a 50MP Sony IMX766 main sensor and a 32MP Sony IMX515 front camera for selfies. OnePlus has added filters such as AI Scene Enhancement, AI Highlight Video, Slow-motion captures, Dual-view Video, Nightscape, and Retouching to elevate the overall photography experience. Under the hood, the device runs the powerful Mediatek Dimensity 1300 processor for powerful performance. There is a 4,500mAh battery with 80W SuperVOOC charging. You also get an in-display fingerprint scanner for easy authentication. The phone also has dual stereo speakers and AI haptics and runs on the Oxygen OS 12.1 for a feature-packed and fast software experience.
6. iQOO 9 SE 5G
The iQOO 9 SE is yet another feature-packed and powerful 12GB RAM smartphone on this list. The smartphone is powered by the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor and is fully compatible with the next-generation 5G network. Further, the smartphone uses Intelligent Display Chip to push higher frame rates and rich, popping colours in your favourite game titles. The smartphone also includes MEMC technology to produce smoother images and offers SDR to HDR support for higher-quality video rendering. There is a 6.62-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display with HDR10+ certification and 1,300 nits peak brightness. And it comes with an SGS Eye Care Display certification and SGS Seamless certification for a great visual experience. Further, the device includes dual stereo speakers and a 4G Game Vibration Engine with Linear Motor for a great gaming experience. It also has a Liquid Cooling System and 300Hz Touch Sampling Rate. There is a 48MP OIS main camera with Extreme Night Vision and Pro-Sports Mode for a versatile and immersive photography experience.
7. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G is the flagship to choose if you want a no-compromise 2022 flagship experience. It comes with the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset at the core, which is paired with 12GB RAM for fluid multitasking and gaming performance. It has a 6.8-inch AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate for ultra-smooth visuals. The device is layered with Gorilla Glass Victus+ at the front and rear for extra durability from scratches and accidental drops. The IP68 rating also protects the device from water and dust. It also gets S-Pen support to let you easily take notes. The smartphone sports a 108MP high-resolution Night Photography Pro-Grade camera at the back with a 40MP high-resolution front camera for selfies. The front camera gets AI brilliance and a Super Night Solution to help capture clear and detailed selfies. Lastly, it packs a 5,000mAh battery with fast-charging capabilities for quick juice-up times.
8. OnePlus 10T 5G
The OnePlus 10T is a well-rounded flagship offering from OnePlus. And If you want a value flagship in 2022, this device should be on your list. It ships with a 6.7-inch FHD+ 120Hz Fluid AMOLED display and has support for HDR 10+, sRGB, Display P3, and 10-bit colour depth. You further get display features such as Image Sharpener, Video Color Enhancer, Bright HDR Video mode, Screen Color Pro Mode, and more for immersive image rendering capabilities. Software-wise, the OnePlus 10T 5G runs the latest Android 12 OS with a custom- and feature-rich OxygenOS layer on top. Processing is handled by the power-efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 for performance as well as battery life when needed. The handset includes a massive 4,800mAh battery for a long-lasting backup on a single charge. And if it ever drops too low, you can quickly juice up the battery in a matter of minutes with the fast 150W SuperVOOC charger. You get a 50MP main Sony IMX766 OIS camera and a 16MP front camera for excellent photography. Lastly, it includes an in-display fingerprint sensor for fast authentication.
9. Xiaomi 12 Pro 5G
The flagship Xiaomi 12 Pro is yet another 12GB RAM smartphone on the market that is packed to the brim. This smartphone comes with a 6.7-inch WQHD+ 120Hz smooth AMOLED display with AdaptiveSync Pro for excellent image reproduction. The display is further A+ certified by DisplayMate and has Dolby Vision and HDR10+ certification for immersive, vibrant, and popping visuals. At the heart, the device runs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor for fluid gaming and has a large 2900mm² vapour chamber to dissipate excess heat while gaming for smooth game rendering. It has Quad Dolby Atmos stereo speakers tuned by Harman Kardon for a theatrical sound immersion. Further, it gets Hi-res certification as well. The device has a 4,600mAh battery with 120W HyperCharge wired charging and 50W wireless turbocharging as well as 10W reverse charging support. This one also has an in-display fingerprint scanner and comes with up to 3 years of major Android upgrade promise and up to 4 years of security patches. The photography is handled by a 50MP + 50MP + 50 MP triple rear camera and a 32MP selfie camera.
10. OnePlus 9R
OnePlus 9R is one of the best OnePlus mid-range smartphones that you can buy, and to top it off, it comes at an affordable price point. It packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G processor with the Qualcomm Adreno 650 GPU to give you a smooth performance in daily tasks and games. You get a 6.55 inches Fluid AMOLED display with a 120Hz of refresh rate, that offers smooth motions in everything from apps to games. The 65W Warp Charger gets the 4,500mAh battery juiced up in a jiffy. The phone runs Android 11 with the OxygenOS skin on top. On the back, you get a 48MP quad-camera setup with a 16MP ultra-wide angle lens and a 5MP macro and 2MP monochrome sensor. The front has a 16MP selfie camera that clicks good-looking portraits. This variant of the OnePlus 9R packs 12GB of RAM for fluid multitasking and fast UFS 3.1 256GB of storage. There is an under-display optical fingerprint sensor for easy phone unlocking, and you also get stereo speakers for an immersive sound experience. If you’re in the market for a OnePlus phone that offers the right combination of performance and functionality, this may be the one you want to get.
