OnePlus 13 Review
The OnePlus 13 is a return to form for the brand, offering a compelling mix of performance, design, and battery life. Its sleek and refined design, combined with top-tier hardware and thoughtful AI features, make it an excellent choice for most users. While the cameras and display don’t break new ground, they are more than sufficient for everyday use. However, the OnePlus 13 faces stiff competition from devices like the Vivo X200 Pro and OPPO Find X8 Pro, which offer superior cameras.
Green lines, rising prices, and a rough patch – OnePlus hasn’t had it easy over the past few years. The brand that once revolutionised the smartphone market with its ‘flagship killer’ mantra found itself caught in the crossfire of rising expectations and stiff competition. Rivals like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (review), Apple iPhone 16 (review), and newer disruptors like the iQOO 13 (review), Vivo X200 Pro (review), and Realme GT7 Pro (review) have raised the stakes in the flagship segment, each vying for the crown with aggressive pricing and standout features. Amidst this fierce competition, the OnePlus 13 lands with bold claims and promises of a return to form. Packed with impressive specs, including IP68 and IP69 ratings, a larger battery, and a more refined design, this phone is positioned as a value-for-money flagship to beat.
But promises are one thing – execution is another. With a rumoured price of ₹70,000 to ₹75,000, the OnePlus 13 has to prove its worth against a field of incredibly capable alternatives. After two weeks of testing this device in real-world scenarios, it’s clear that OnePlus has made some significant improvements. The question remains: does the OnePlus 13 truly deliver a flagship experience that’s worth the hype? Let’s break it down.
The OnePlus 13 immediately feels like a premium device the moment you pick it up. Compared to its predecessor, the phone is noticeably thinner and lighter, which makes it more comfortable to hold and use for extended periods. OnePlus has adopted a flat frame design this time, and it’s a welcome change that not only improves grip but also enhances the overall aesthetics of the device.
The Midnight Ocean variant, featuring a vegan leather finish, is undoubtedly the standout option. The texture is soft and grippy, giving the phone a luxurious feel that stands out in a sea of glass-backed flagships. If you prefer a more traditional look, the Black and White glass-back variants are also available and exude a sleek, modern vibe. The design is further refined with subtle changes, such as a polished silver strip around the edges and a sleeker, more integrated camera module.
The physical buttons, while slightly softer than the OnePlus 12’s, remain satisfying to use, and the alert slider continues to be a signature feature, offering improved tactile feedback this time around. The inclusion of IP68 and IP69 ratings is another significant improvement, ensuring that the device is well-protected against water and dust.
Additionally, the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor is incredibly fast and accurate, adding to the phone’s overall user-friendly design. All in all, the OnePlus 13 feels thoughtfully crafted, with a design that blends functionality and elegance seamlessly.
The OnePlus 13 features a 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a QHD+ resolution and a 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate, continuing the legacy of its predecessor. While the display hardware hasn’t seen a major upgrade compared to the OnePlus 12, it still delivers an exceptional viewing experience. The screen is vibrant, with accurate colours that aren’t overly saturated, and the text appears sharp, making it ideal for both productivity and entertainment.
The display’s peak brightness remains at an impressive 1,600 nits in High Brightness Mode, and during HDR playback, certain zones can hit up to 4,500 nits, making HDR content look vibrant and immersive. Features like HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support add to the cinematic experience, especially for those who consume a lot of video content on their phones.
OnePlus has taken eye care seriously as well with the inclusion of 2,160 Hz PWM dimming, which significantly reduces eye strain during prolonged use, particularly in low-light environments. Practical features like Glove Mode and Aqua Touch 2.0 ensure the display remains functional even in challenging conditions, which is quite thoughtful.
The only downside here is the shift from Gorilla Glass Victus 2 to OnePlus’ Ceramic Guard. While it sounds promising, there isn’t enough data yet to assess its durability, leaving some uncertainty around long-term protection.
The OnePlus 13 features Qualcomm’s cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. This powerhouse processor is paired with up to 24 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 1 TB of UFS 4.0 storage in its highest configuration, making this one of the most capable smartphones in its class. Whether you’re a gamer, a multitasker, or someone who simply values a lag-free experience, the OnePlus 13 delivers in spades.
In day-to-day use, the OnePlus 13 feels exceptionally smooth and responsive. Apps open and close instantly, and switching between multiple active apps is seamless. Tasks that typically push other devices, like editing large video files, running productivity suites, or managing extensive cloud-based workflows, are handled with ease. The phone rarely shows signs of stress, even under heavy multitasking loads.
Gaming on the OnePlus 13 is pretty smooth. Titles like Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile, and PUBG: New State run at maximum settings without breaking a sweat. The gameplay experience is buttery smooth, with consistently high frame rates. The device’s large vapour chamber cooling system ensures sustained performance during extended gaming sessions. It’s only after one hour of gameplay that you’ll feel the phone becoming slightly warm, but it never got toasty.
In objective tests, the OnePlus 13 performed pretty well in benchmarks. While it doesn’t quite top the charts like the iQOO 13, it outpaces competitors like the OPPO Find X8 Pro with its Dimensity 9400 chipset. The minor performance throttling observed in synthetic benchmarks like AnTuTu and 3DMark appears to be a deliberate move to balance power and efficiency. This means the phone prioritises battery life and thermal management, but I didn’t find it to have much of an adverse effect in real-world usage.
As for software, the OnePlus 13 runs OxygenOS 15.0, which is based on Android 15. The OS has surprisingly low bloatware; there were only a few preinstalled apps, and most of them were OnePlus’ own apps. The interface is intuitive, snappy, and packed with useful features that enhance productivity and customisation.
OnePlus offers four years of major software updates and six years of security patches. While this isn’t as extensive as Samsung’s update policy, it’s still competitive in the flagship segment.
OnePlus has incorporated several AI-powered features into the OnePlus 13, and they genuinely enhance the user experience. The standout feature is Intelligent Search, which allows users to ask natural-language questions to quickly find specific information stored on the device. Whether it’s details about a flight or a saved document, the AI is fast, accurate, and incredibly useful for productivity.
Other features include AI-driven photo editing and text generation tools, which simplify everyday tasks like tweaking images or creating captions. These features feel purposeful and avoid the ‘gimmick’ label that often plagues AI implementations in smartphones. In our Digit AI-Q tests, the OnePlus 13 scored an impressive 85/100, highlighting its well-rounded capabilities in this area.
The camera system on the OnePlus 13 includes a 50 MP Sony LYT-808 sensor for the primary camera, a 50 MP ultra-wide lens, and a 50 MP periscope telephoto lens. While the hardware is impressive on paper, real-world performance is more of a mixed bag.
Under well-lit conditions, the OnePlus 13’s primary camera captures images with excellent detail, vibrant colours, and a wide dynamic range. Photos are sharp and punchy, but they lean slightly toward overexposure in very bright environments. This is particularly noticeable in scenes with high contrast, where highlights can sometimes appear blown out.
Portrait mode is one of the camera’s strengths, with accurate edge detection and natural-looking background blur. Skin tones, while not flawless, are the most realistic we’ve seen from a OnePlus flagship to date.
The 50 MP ultra-wide camera on the OnePlus 13 offers sharp and distortion-free images, maintaining consistent colour reproduction with the primary sensor. It also doubles as a macro lens, allowing for highly detailed close-up shots. However, the ultra-wide lens does struggle with lens flare in backlit scenarios, so some caution is needed when shooting in challenging lighting conditions.
The 50 MP periscope telephoto lens provides a clean, optical 3x zoom and maintains good detail up to 6x. Images captured within this range are sharp and vibrant, making the telephoto lens ideal for portraiture and distant subjects. Beyond 6x, however, the quality starts to degrade, with noticeable softness and a loss of detail. While the OnePlus 13 isn’t trying to compete with the 10x or 100x zoom capabilities of some rivals, its telephoto performance is solid for everyday use.
When the lights go down, the OnePlus 13’s camera system shows both its strengths and its limitations. In moderately lit environments, the primary sensor captures impressive shots with good detail, accurate colours, and minimal noise. However, in extreme low-light conditions, the phone starts to struggle. Noise becomes more apparent, and details can appear soft, particularly in shadows. The dedicated Night Mode helps mitigate these issues to some extent but doesn’t match the low-light prowess of competitors like the Vivo X200 Pro or Google Pixel 9 Pro.
The OnePlus 13 offers a robust set of video recording options, including 8K at 30 fps and 4K at 60 fps. You also get Dolby Vision support for enhanced dynamic range and vibrant colours. Video stabilisation is excellent, making handheld shooting smooth and steady. However, the absence of 4K at 120 fps is a noticeable gap for video enthusiasts who enjoy capturing high-quality slow-motion footage.
For photography enthusiasts, the Master Mode is a standout feature. It provides full manual control over settings like ISO, shutter speed, focus, and white balance, allowing users to fine-tune their shots. The ability to shoot in RAW format is also quite nifty.
The 32 MP front-facing camera performs well in good lighting conditions, producing sharp and detailed selfies with natural skin tones. However, its fixed focus can be limiting, and results in less-than-perfect images in group selfies or when shooting from unconventional angles. Low-light selfies also show some noise and a slight loss of detail.
All in all, The OnePlus 13 offers a well-rounded and versatile camera experience that will satisfy most users. While it may not match the camera prowess of competitors like the Vivo X200 Pro, it holds its own in its price segment and offers enough versatility for casual photographers.
Battery life is one of the standout features of the OnePlus 13. The phone is powered by a massive 6,000 mAh Silicon Carbon battery, which, combined with the efficient Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, delivers exceptional endurance. Whether you’re a light or heavy user, you can expect between 9 to 11 hours of screen-on time, making battery anxiety a thing of the past.
Even under heavy gaming conditions, the OnePlus 13 performs admirably, with significantly slower battery drain compared to rivals like the Realme GT 7 Pro. When it’s time to recharge, the 100 W wired fast charging gets the battery from 0 to 100% in just 36 minutes. The phone also supports 50 W wireless charging, but you’ll need OnePlus’ proprietary AIRVOOC charger for optimal results.
For anyone who values battery life, the OnePlus 13 sets a new standard in the flagship category.
The OnePlus 13 is a return to form for the brand, offering a compelling mix of performance, design, and battery life. Its sleek and refined design, combined with top-tier hardware and thoughtful AI features, make it an excellent choice for most users. While the cameras and display don’t break new ground, they are more than sufficient for everyday use. However, the OnePlus 13 faces stiff competition from devices like the Vivo X200 Pro and OPPO Find X8 Pro, which offer superior cameras. So, if photography is your main priority, the OnePlus 13 isn’t the best option out there for you. However, for users who prioritise performance, battery life, and a premium design, the OnePlus 13 is a strong contender and a worthy flagship in 2025.
