OnePlus has made a significant mistake regarding the storage hardware of the OnePlus 12R, causing some backlash despite it being one of the best smartphones of 2024. The issue arises from OnePlus falsely advertising the phone as equipped with a UFS 4.0 storage module, when in reality, it uses the older and slower UFS 3.1 standard.
OnePlus President and Chief Operating Officer, Kinder Liu, acknowledged the error in an official statement, mentioning that the OnePlus 12R was fully tested using UFS 3.1 storage. However, this statement may not alleviate the disappointment of buyers who were attracted to the idea of flagship-tier memory features on a budget-centric phone.
Liu’s statement advises affected buyers to reach out to official OnePlus support channels, but it doesn’t specify if any compensation, such as cash or store credits, will be provided.
This incident isn’t the first time a smartphone brand has faced such backlash. Previously, Samsung and Apple were fined by an Italian watchdog for intentionally slowing down older phones, a practice known as planned obsolescence.
Despite OnePlus admitting to the marketing mistake, the company could still face legal consequences if a buyer decides to take legal action over claims of misleading advertising. Additionally, the performance difference between UFS 3.1 and UFS 4.0 storage modules is significant, making it a notable issue for affected consumers.
UFS 4.0 offers improved performance, power efficiency, and data security compared to UFS 3.1. It boasts faster sequential read and write speeds, enhanced power efficiency, and better protection for sensitive on-device data. These improvements contribute to a smoother user experience and faster operation of various tasks on the device.
While the OnePlus 12R remains a capable smartphone despite the use of UFS 3.1 storage, the discrepancy between the advertised and actual storage standard slightly tarnishes an otherwise excellent release from the company.