Technologies

OnePlus 12 Packs a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Processor, Wireless Charging, Hasselblad Camera

Wireless charging is back in OnePlus devices as the company rolls out its 2024 flagship phones.

The OnePlus 12 has already been announced in China, but the phone will soon be coming to the rest of the world. The company’s latest flagship phone will retail in the US, with preorders open today and open sales beginning on Feb. 7. We don’t yet know the pricing, but we expect it to be in line with the OnePlus 11 which cost $699/$799 at launch, depending on specification. International pricing and availability is yet to be confirmed, but $799 converts to roughly £630 or AU$1,205.

The base OnePlus 12 will come with 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM, while a higher-spec option will be available, coming with 512GB of storage and 16GB of RAM. Both devices are powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, with three rear Hasselblad-branded cameras including a 64-megapixel sensor that offers 3x optical zoom. The 6.82-inch display can reach a dazzling 4,500 nits of peak brightness. OnePlus also says it has class-leading cooling that’s designed to help manage processor heat during intense gaming.

There are two colors for the 12, called silky black and flowy emerald. The latter is a greenish hue with a wavy pattern inside its glass finish. While using the phone, the lines give off a sophisticated styling that suits a flagship device, though the glass finish is slippery.

In addition to 80-watt wired charging, which OnePlus says can take the phone from empty to full in around 30 minutes, the company has brought back wireless charging. It says the OnePlus 12 can charge at 50W speeds when paired with its proprietary AirVOOC charger.

OnePlus 12 and 12R Have an Elegant but Familiar Design

+10 more

See all photos

The device also supports the Qi standard, though it’s unclear if OnePlus has adopted the latest Qi2 standard. Qi2 allows for 15W wireless charging and uses magnets for proper alignment with accessories.

The OnePlus 12 is IP65-rated for water- and dust-resistance. OnePlus says its new device’s screen can be used in the rain, similar to OnePlus’ international Ace 2 Pro phone.

OnePlus staples are still there — including the alert slider, which is now on the left-hand side. There’s also a fingerprint sensor underneath the display for unlocking. Wi-Fi 7 support and Android 14 run underneath its latest version of Oxygen OS. OnePlus promises four years of major Android software updates as well as five years of bimonthly security updates.

OnePlus will sell its new phone at Amazon and Best Buy, but it doesn’t have a US carrier partner. The company does note that its phone is certified to work with the 5G networks offered by AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile. And the phone will be available directly from the OnePlus website.

OnePlus 12R

Launching alongside the flagship OnePlus 12 is the 12R. This model offers pared-back specs, including the older Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. It lacks the high-end camera specs of the standard 12. It does have a slightly larger 5,500-mAh battery, however, along with 80W fast charging. Its key features include the screen’s ability to be used when wet, 4,500 nits of brightness and software optimizations for smoother frame rates when gaming.

OnePlus has yet to confirm specific pricing for the 12R, but it’s expected to come at a lower price than the standard 12 when it goes on sale in February. If you’re looking for the best OnePlus has to offer, you’ll likely want to look towards the 12. But if you want solid all-round performance at a more affordable price, you may be better served with the OnePlus 12R — especially if photography prowess is less of a concern.

How these two phones stack up side-by-side remains to be seen. Check back for our full reviews when they launch.

OnePlus 12 vs. OnePlus 12R key specs

	OnePlus 12	OnePlus 12R
Screen size, ppi	6.84-inch, 525ppi	6.78-inch, 450ppi
Processor	Snapdragon 8 Gen 3	Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Camera	50mp main camera, 1/1.4-inch sensor; 64mp telephoto camera, 3x optical zoom Ultrawide camera	50mp main camera; Macro lens Ultrawide camera
Storage, RAM	Up to 512GB, 16GB	Up to 256GB, 16GB
Battery	5,400mAh	5,500mAh

Technologies

The Apple Watch Series 12 Could Bring Back a Throwback iPhone Feature

Everything we’ve heard so far about the rumored Apple Watch Series 12.

We’re hot off a busy March Apple launch with seven new products, including an iPhone 17E, updated MacBook Pros and a colorful MacBook Neo that’s about to rattle the Chromebook market. As we set our sights on the next big hardware launch, the Apple Watch Series 12 is already on the horizon.

While there haven’t been any concrete leaks yet, there’s plenty we can infer based on Apple’s past launches and typical release patterns. There are also a few lingering rumors that could finally land this year, including a possible nod to a long-removed but not forgotten iPhone feature.

Apple Watch Series 12 launch date

If there’s one thing Apple tends to keep consistent, it’s the timing of its fall hardware event, where it typically unveils its newest flagship iPhones and Apple Watch models.

Apple typically holds this event on the second Tuesday of September (usually the week after Labor Day). By that logic, Sept. 15 seems like the most likely candidate for Apple’s 2026 fall event. Because it lands a bit later in the month than in previous years, there’s also a slim chance Apple moves it up to Sept. 9 (Labor Day week), as it has before.

As in previous years, preorders would likely open on the Friday after the event, with availability following a week or so later (assuming no production delays).

Pricing and availability

Expect pricing for the new watches to stay roughly in line with the current Series 11 lineup, which starts at about $400 (42mm Wi-Fi model). Though price hikes aren’t completely off the table, with lingering tariff increases and the potential for supply chain issues.

How many Apple Watch models will we get?

A Series 12 is all but guaranteed — we’ve had a new Apple Watch model arrive every year since its launch. What’s less certain is whether Apple will refresh the entire lineup again this year. The Apple Watch SE and Ultra models don’t follow the same annual update cycle, and because both the SE 3 and Ultra 3 were refreshed in 2025, it’s less likely that Apple will update both again this year.

If Apple does add another model alongside the Series 12, the Ultra would be the more plausible candidate. Apple isn’t one to hold out on new features for its high-end models when warranted. Or if it follows the pattern set with the Ultra 2, the company might just roll out a new color model for the Ultra 3.

Design upgrades on the Apple Watch Series 12

There are rumblings of a redesign in the works, but given how sparse the chatter has been, my guess is we won’t see a major design overhaul this year. Expect the same silhouette, similar colors and materials. What could change: screen technology. A more energy-efficient display — potentially an improved LTPO panel with better brightness, as seen on the Series 10 — could help claw back some battery life without adding bulk.

Battery life and processor

The Series 11 and Ultra 3 got a significant battery bump over their predecessors: at least 6 hours more by Apple’s numbers and roughly an extra half day (or more) in my real-world testing. And the Ultra 3 also got charging speed worthy of its name, like its newer siblings. But there’s still a lot of room for improvement on both battery life and charging speed.

With no major clues hinting at bigger batteries yet, I’d bet we see more incremental gains (if any) on the Series 12. Improvements could come from better screen technology, software optimizations, and more efficient processors.

In theory, the processor name usually matches the watch number, suggesting an S12 chip this year. But since the Series 11 and Ultra 3 are still running on the previous year’s S10 chip, the next upgrade could technically be an S11, making this year’s naming a bit awkward.

New health features on the horizon

Apple has already dipped its toes into blood pressure monitoring with hypertension notifications on the Apple Watch (Series 10, Series 11 and Ultra 3). The feature alerts owners when it detects signs of abnormally high blood pressure, but it stops short of providing an on-the-spot read. This could be on the table for the fall of 2026.

Other wearable health companies like Omron and Med-Watch have proven that wrist-based blood pressure measurement is possible, though it’s not as reliable as a traditional cuff and may require new (bulkier) hardware to bring to the Apple Watch.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple has been testing the feature internally but has encountered accuracy issues. And even if Apple pulls it off for this year, it might measure only baseline trends similar to Samsung’s blood pressure feature on the Galaxy Watch 7 and Ultra (not supported in the US).

Glucose monitoring is another long-running rumor that’s on the table, but according to Gurman, it’s even further from a finished product than blood pressure and realistically wouldn’t appear before 2027.

Biometric authentication: Touch ID or Face ID?

Rumors of a camera on the Apple Watch have been around for a few years — not for selfies, but potentially for Face ID or AI-based image recognition.

Apple Intelligence on the iPhone introduced a visual search tool that uses the camera to identify objects and places in real time, and it might be a matter of time before this feature eventually makes its way to the wrist. Meanwhile, wearable-focused processors like Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips already support cameras and even livestreaming. Apple is known to use its proprietary chips, so it’s unlikely this would impact Apple’s timeline, but it shows the technology is there, and we may see it down the line on the Apple Watch. Just not this year, according to Bloomberg.

A more feasible near-term option could be Touch ID. Macworld recently spotted lines of internal code suggesting Apple has been experimenting with biometric authentication for the 2026 Apple Watch lineup. According to the report, the code references «AppleMesa,» which is Apple’s internal code name for a watch-based Touch ID. It’s still unclear whether the sensor would be integrated under the display, like we see on Android phones, or built into the side button or the Digital Crown.

Watch OS 27 wishlist

Now that Apple has standardized its operating system names to match the year ahead, you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure out that the next big update for the Apple Watch will be WatchOS 27.

With a major redesign already in the books (5 New Apple Watch Features Coming With WatchOS 26), we’re not expecting a dramatic visual change this time around, but there’s plenty on the wishlist, including better battery management tools and more customizable gesture controls. Apple could also expand Workout Buddy from metric-driven encouragement into more concrete training territory. This could bring it closer to what Samsung is trying with its AI-powered Running Coach.

Lastly, I’d welcome a more robust symptom tracker tied into the Vitals app similar to Oura Ring’s Symptom Radar that can flag early signs of illness.

Other Health app updates

The next version of WatchOS 27 could also bring changes to the Health app. According to a report from Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, Apple has been working on a top-secret initiative code-named Project Mulberry, aimed at revamping the Health app with an AI-powered health concierge that could unify your health, fitness, and medical data in one place.

However, the project has recently run into some obstacles. Bloomberg’s latest report suggests Apple has put the effort on hold (at least for this year). That still leaves room for improvement on the Health app front with a potential redesign to the main dashboard that would make spotting trends easier.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for March 10, #533

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for March 10, No. 533.

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Connections: Sports Edition features a lot of team names, but that doesn’t mean it’s an easy one to solve. If you’re struggling with today’s puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn’t appear in the NYT Games app, but it does in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Play ball!

Green group hint: Not front.

Blue group hint: Certain NFL player.

Purple group hint: They play at Smoothie King Center.

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: An AL Central player.

Green group: Words appearing before «back,» in football.

Blue group: Associated with Derrick Henry.

Purple group: New Orleans Pelicans.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is an AL Central player. The four answers are Guardian, Royal, Tiger and Twin.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is words appearing before «back,» in football. The four answers are corner, defensive, full and running.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is associated with Derrick Henry. The four answers are Heisman, King, Ravens and Titans.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is New Orleans Pelicans. The four answers are Bey, Fears, Murphy and Queen.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Tuesday, March 10

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for March 10.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? I’d just like to point out that the New York Times puzzle-makers love the 7-Across answer — they use it about every other week. Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.