OnePlus has recently found itself in hot water due to a significant mistake with the storage hardware of its flagship smartphone, the OnePlus 12R. Despite being one of the best smartphones of 2024, the 12R has faced criticism for falsely advertising the use of UFS 4.0 storage when it actually relies on the older and slower UFS 3.1 standard.
In an official statement, OnePlus President and Chief Operating Officer, Kinder Liu, acknowledged the error and highlighted the other impressive features of the OnePlus 12R, such as the Trinity Engine. However, this statement may not be enough to appease disappointed buyers who were attracted to the idea of flagship-tier memory capabilities on a budget-friendly phone.
While Liu suggests that affected buyers should contact official OnePlus support channels, it remains unclear if any form of compensation will be offered. This situation is not uncommon in the smartphone industry, as other major brands like Samsung and Apple have faced similar controversies in the past.
Turning our attention back to OnePlus, the company’s admission of erroneous marketing may still result in legal consequences if a buyer decides to take the brand to a consumer court for misleading advertising claims.
Despite the potential repercussions, it’s important to understand the significance of the difference between UFS 3.1 and UFS 4.0 storage. The performance gap between these two standards is substantial and should not be overlooked.
Why UFS 4.0 is a Big Deal
First and foremost, the performance figures of UFS 4.0 storage modules are impressive. Depending on the brand, sequential read and write speeds can reach up to 4,300MB/s and 4,000MB/s, respectively. These numbers are nearly twice as fast as those of UFS 3.1 storage chips.
In addition to raw speed, UFS 4.0 offers significant gains in power efficiency. Samsung claims that UFS 4.0 delivers a sequential read speed of up to 6.0 MB/s per milliampere (mA), which represents a 46% improvement over UFS 3.1. Furthermore, UFS 4.0 incorporates Advanced RPMB (Replay Protected Memory Block) to enhance data security, providing better protection for sensitive information like passwords and personal photos.
Functionally, UFS 4.0 speeds up app launches, reduces latency, and enables faster bootup times. It enhances the overall user experience by facilitating smoother transitions between apps and improving performance during tasks like rapid photo shoots or creating composite images.
While the OnePlus 12R is still a fast and capable smartphone, the use of UFS 3.1 storage instead of the originally advertised UFS 4.0 does tarnish the overall reputation of an otherwise excellent release from OnePlus.
It remains to be seen how OnePlus will address this issue and whether affected buyers will receive any form of compensation. In the meantime, it’s essential for consumers to be aware of the differences in storage standards and make informed decisions when purchasing smartphones.