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

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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

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.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Writing that lacks substance
Answer: FLUFF

6A clue: Pencil in a cosmetics bag
Answer: LINER

7A clue: ___ acid (building block of proteins)
Answer: AMINO

8A clue: Partner of services, in economics
Answer: GOODS

9A clue: Small criticism
Answer: NIT

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Warning sign in a relationship, metaphorically
Answer: FLAG

2D clue: Fancy prom ride
Answer: LIMO

3D clue: SAG-AFTRA, for one
Answer: UNION

4D clue: Luxury fashion house headquartered in Rome
Answer: FENDI

5D clue: Ground coating on a cold morning
Answer: FROST

Technologies

Australians Flock to VPNs in the Wake of Online Age-Restriction Laws

App downloads for VPN services increase sharply as websites in Australia go behind age-restriction walls.

A new set of laws in Australia requiring adult websites and app stores to age-restrict content for those under 18, and requiring AI companies to restrict chatbot offerings from displaying certain types of sensitive or adult content to minors, is apparently driving many to download Virtual Private Network apps there.

Major adult sites have closed their virtual doors to those who aren’t age-confirmed in Australia, and these changes follow a nationwide ban on social media use by teenagers and young children that went into effect in December.

According to reports from Reuters, The Guardian and others, in response to the bans, downloads of VPN-related apps, which people can use to circumvent location-based restrictions, are sharply on the rise. According to Reuters, three of the 15 most downloaded free iPhone apps in the country were VPN-related as the new laws went into effect on Monday.

Lawmakers in some regions, including the US, are well aware that people use VPNs in this way. In states such as Michigan and Wisconsin, laws are being proposed to limit or outright ban VPN use. Wisconsin’s proposed law would require adult sites to block VPN traffic, while Michigan’s proposal would ban VPN use entirely in the state.

There is also a proposal in England under consideration to ban VPN use by minors. That proposal is currently under review.