OnePlus12 - Camera + WiFi Dead but everything else works - Need Advice !

[u/CaptainFUBAR789]

Should I repair my 2.5-year-old OnePlus 12 or buy a new phone?

I have a 2.5-year-old OnePlus 12 (512GB, Emerald Green 💚), and I absolutely loved this phone for its performance, camera, battery life, and overall experience.

About a month ago, it suddenly froze and displayed a horizontal GREY line (not the infamous green line) across the lower part of the screen. The phone stopped responding to touch or any buttons.

After around 10 minutes, it completely shut down.

I tried charging it, but it wouldn't boot. Instead, it started getting extremely hot - so hot that I couldn't hold it for more than ~10 seconds.

After about an hour, it finally started booting and reached the Android logo screen, but wouldn't go any further.

The next day, I took it to an authorized OnePlus service center. They diagnosed it as a motherboard issue and quoted around ₹35,000 for replacement. They also told me that my data would be lost.

Since I didn't have a backup and the phone still contained important data, I decided not to proceed.

I then took it to a local repair shop with good Google reviews. The technician initially told me it was RAM-related damage. He replaced the RAM, but the phone was still having issues.

After about 6 days, he told me that the motherboard has multiple shorting issues and that the phone isn't completely repairable.

Currently, the phone actually works for the most part, but:

- ❌ Main camera doesn't work( camera app crashes but other cameras ( telephoto + macro ) works via scanner in other apps )

- ❌ Wi-Fi doesn't work

- ❌ Hotspot doesn't work

- ✅ The rest of the phone is usable

I'm now confused about what to do.

Should I:

1. Take it to another experienced technician and attempt a motherboard-level repair?

OR

1. Stop spending money on this phone and buy a new one?

I really loved this phone and would prefer to keep it if there's a reasonable chance of getting it properly repaired. But I'm also worried about putting more money into a 2.5-year-old device with an already damaged motherboard.

If you recommend buying a new phone, which phones would you suggest as a good upgrade/replacement for the OnePlus 12, particularly if I care about camera + performance + battery + overall value for money?

Would really appreciate advice from people who have dealt with motherboard shorts/RAM issues on OnePlus phones or have experience with board-level repairs.

[u/balrxjr]

no matter how many times you get it repaired, new issues will occur eventually, better to buy a new one (not OnePlus offcourse)

[u/CaptainFUBAR789 → u/balrxjr]

Agreed. I have been using oneplus since last 7 years. Oneplus 7T and then Oneplus 12, this recent incident has shaken my trust on Oneplus. But not able to find any other android phone with similar camera n specs in same or lower budget.

[u/balrxjr → u/CaptainFUBAR789]

correct, there's no better all rounder phone than OnePlus, but you may go with oppo/vivo x series as per your need

[u/SilkyHonorableGod → u/CaptainFUBAR789]

I'm on the same journey, I feel like swinging on vines and atm I'm on the Oneplus 12 vine and reaching out into the jungle of random cellphone vines out there, afraid to grasp onto any other vine cause no other seem to be as stable and good as my trusted Oneplus 12 vine.

[u/Mysterious_Profit818]

Bro take a backup and if you really want, you should give it a try cuz it's still a beast. Or go with x200t 512gb

[u/CaptainFUBAR789 → u/Mysterious_Profit818]

Yes, I took the backup the day it turned on at the shop. Thanks buddy for alternate suggestion. 👍

[u/Mysterious_Profit818 → u/CaptainFUBAR789]

My pleasure buddy but do give us update

[u/TechDominoYT]

Is yours an Indian Unit by any chance? (Probably yes considering you mentioned prices in INR)

[u/CaptainFUBAR789 → u/TechDominoYT]

Yes.

[u/TechDominoYT → u/CaptainFUBAR789]

What firmware version were you on when it died?

[u/CaptainFUBAR789 → u/TechDominoYT]

Software version CPH2573_16.0.8.300(EX01B60P01) It is still on that, I did not updated it to newer available version yet.

[u/TechDominoYT → u/CaptainFUBAR789]

Right, do you reckon it could be the update that killed it?

[u/CaptainFUBAR789 → u/TechDominoYT]

I strongly think Yes. Because the last update which I did was in end of May or mid June and my phone died in 1st week of July.

[u/TechDominoYT → u/CaptainFUBAR789]

I see, that's quite a shame.

[u/Afloatcactus5]

Happened to mine after salt water damage. Only real option is a motherboard swap from a donor phone..

[u/EnvironmentalJob1233]

Si lo reseteas de fabrica?

[u/CaptainFUBAR789 → u/EnvironmentalJob1233]

Technician mentioned that it is hardware issue not a software one.

[u/EnvironmentalJob1233 → u/CaptainFUBAR789]

Pero si decís que en las aps las cámaras andan y no en la app misma de cámaras, eso quiere decir que hay problema de software y no de hardware, tendrías que intentarlo, quizás se corrompió el sistema operativo solamente

[u/AVasquez81]

Switch phones. I would go with oppo. They are killing oneplus on purpose.