OnePlus 13 review: Rebirth of a flagship phone with cutting-edge power and design

The last few generations of OnePlus’ flagship phones have been somewhat underwhelming, failing to live up to the company’s famous promise to "Never Settle."

Thankfully, the OnePlus 13 breaks that trend, marking a significant upgrade and offering an exciting start to 2025. Almost every aspect of the device has been enhanced, bringing it back to the "flagship killer" status it once held. While the camera, despite its collaboration with Hasselblad, isn’t quite at flagship level yet, the overall user experience has improved thanks to new technologies. All variants of the OnePlus 13 come with a higher price tag than the outgoing OnePlus 12 Pro, but many might argue that the upgraded hardware justifies the cost. Overall, this all-rounder is a strong contender in the flagship space.

Sleek and Slim

The OnePlus flagship has evolved, becoming slimmer than ever. With its signature boxy design, now featuring a “quad micro-curved” contour (a fancy term for slightly rounded corners), the phone exudes a premium look and feel. The device has the perfect width for easy handling, and at just 210–213 grams, it’s lighter than most large smartphones, making it comfortable for extended use. This is impressive, considering it houses a 6,000mAh battery. The flat metal frame is both fingerprint-resistant and offers a solid grip.

The back panel varies depending on the color variant. The Midnight Ocean model sports a vegan leather black finish in dark blue, offering a comfortable hold without smudges—perfect for those who dislike fingerprints. It also looks very sleek and corporate. The other variants, Arctic Dawn and Black Eclipse, feature textured glass backs that repel smudges and add a more traditional look. For those concerned about grip, optional cases are available to prevent slips.

A large circular camera module dominates the back, redesigned to be more aesthetically pleasing, though it still prevents the phone from lying flat on surfaces, including OnePlus’ new wireless charger—unless a magnetic attachment is used to resolve the issue.

Pricing and Variants

The OnePlus 13 comes in different price tiers based on RAM and storage. The base model, with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, is priced at ₹69,999. The 16GB RAM + 512GB storage model costs ₹76,999, while the top-tier 24GB RAM + 1TB variant is priced at ₹89,999. Although some may feel the pricing is steep, a lower price point could undermine its flagship status. For budget-conscious buyers, the OnePlus 13R offers a more affordable alternative.

Performance Beast

Under the hood, the OnePlus 13 boasts significant hardware upgrades. Equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite 3nm chipset, the phone delivers lightning-fast animations and seamless transitions. The AI features work effortlessly in the background, enhancing the overall experience. Both in real-world usage and benchmark tests, the OnePlus 13 impresses. Key competitors include the iQOO 13, Realme GT 7 Pro, OPPO Find X8 Pro, and the gaming-oriented Asus ROG Phone 9. The chipset is paired with 12GB, 16GB, or 24GB of RAM and UFS 4.0 internal storage in capacities ranging from 256GB to 1TB, ensuring smooth performance without overheating.

Numerous other hardware upgrades further elevate the device. The 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a QHD+ resolution (1440 x 3168 pixels) and a high pixel density of 500 ppi is complemented by an adaptable 120Hz refresh rate. The peak brightness of 4,500 nits makes this one of the brightest displays on the market, earning it a DisplayMate A++ rating. The display also features Aqua Touch for better responsiveness in wet conditions and a glove mode for use with gloves up to half a centimeter thick. With an IP68 and IP69 water resistance rating, the OnePlus 13 can withstand jets of water and depths of up to 1.5 meters. A Ceramic Guard, also known as Crystal Shield, enhances the display’s durability against drops and impacts.

The 6,000mAh Silicon NanoStack battery is another standout feature. The battery’s compact size allows for the slim design, while its dual-cell configuration supports fast charging. It charges in just 27–30 minutes and lasts a full day with heavy use. Light users can stretch the battery life to two or even three days, though such users might not be inclined to buy this powerhouse. It supports 100W SuperVOOC wired charging and 50W wireless charging.

Software and AI Features

Running Android 15 with OnePlus’ OxygenOS 15, the OnePlus 13 offers a clean, simple interface free from the clutter seen in many other Chinese phones. Recently merged with OPPO’s ColorOS, OxygenOS now strikes a balance between performance and usability. OnePlus promises four years of software updates and six years of security updates, which is shorter than Google’s seven-year support for its Pixel devices. However, for most users, this might not be a dealbreaker.

AI features are integrated throughout the device, although they’re not always easy to pinpoint. Android 15’s Circle-to-Search, on-device search, and image editing capabilities all leverage AI, although the effectiveness of some features can be hit or miss.

Photography Improvements

Although some sensors on the OnePlus 13 remain unchanged from the OnePlus 12, overall image quality has been enhanced thanks to hardware and software tweaks. The primary camera still uses the 50MP Sony LYT-808 sensor, but improved image processing results in more accurate skin tones, vibrant colors, and greater detail—though occasionally, photos can appear over-processed or out of focus. The ultrawide camera has been upgraded to a 50MP Samsung ISOCELL JN5 sensor, replacing the 48MP Sony IMX581 sensor, improving image quality and reducing distortion. The telephoto camera now features a 50MP Sony LYT-600 sensor (down from the 64MP OmniVision OV64B in the OnePlus 12), but it pairs with a new triprism lens design, making the camera module smaller and lighter.

Last Word

The OnePlus 13 is a well-rounded powerhouse, offering substantial improvements across the board. While it once stood largely unrivaled in its price range, it now faces fierce competition from devices within its own parent company. However, the OnePlus 13 maintains its edge with superior software, minimalistic design, and upgraded hardware. The question remains—can OnePlus continue to stay ahead, or will its competitors close the gap?