The journey of OnePlus has seen its fair share of ups and downs since its merger with Oppo in 2021. While the collaboration granted the brand access to high-end components and strategic partnerships with Hasselblad, it also experienced growing pains before regaining momentum. Fast forward to today, and the OnePlus 13 marks a triumphant return to excellence. This latest flagship not only delivers cutting-edge hardware but also challenges industry leaders like Samsung and Google. And with a competitive starting price of $900, it undercuts its closest competitors, making it a stellar choice for those prioritizing hardware over AI-driven enhancements.
OnePlus 13 Design and Display
In an era where leading smartphone brands are slightly tweaking the same basic designs, OnePlus dares to be different. The OnePlus 13 sports gently tapered edges that seamlessly blend into its metallic frame, ensuring a comfortable grip. A signature feature that remains a fan favorite is the Alert Slider, allowing effortless switching between silent, vibrate, and ring modes.
A standout design element is its micro-fiber vegan leather back, available in Midnight Ocean and Arctic Dawn. In a market dominated by glass backs, this material choice enhances grip and offers a luxurious feel—one that many users might hesitate to cover with a case.
The 6.8-inch OLED display is another major highlight, boasting a silky-smooth 120Hz refresh rate and an industry-leading peak brightness of 4,500 nits. This makes it brighter than competitors, including the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (2,600 nits). While the bold, circular camera module on the rear has a distinct, almost chronograph-inspired design, it remains a subjective aesthetic choice.
OnePlus 13 Performance and Software
Powering the OnePlus 13 is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, paired with 16GB of RAM and storage options up to 512GB. While the processor doesn’t feature custom optimizations like Samsung’s S25 lineup, the performance difference is marginal, with Geekbench 6 multi-core scores clocking in at 9,267 for the OnePlus 13 versus 9,828 for the Galaxy S25 Ultra—a mere 5% difference.
In real-world use, the device remains lightning-fast, and thanks to its generous RAM, multitasking feels seamless. Oxygen OS has also seen refinements, ensuring a smoother and more responsive interface compared to its earlier versions when it first merged with Oppo’s ColorOS in 2022.
Unlike competitors that heavily focus on AI, OnePlus adopts a more measured approach. The OP13 supports Google Gemini and Circle to Search, alongside an improved file search function and a smarter Notes app that enhances or condenses text using AI. Additionally, the recently introduced AI-powered translation feature is functional but not groundbreaking. Overall, OnePlus delivers a balanced mix of intelligence without overwhelming users with AI gimmicks.
OnePlus 13 Camera
The triple 50-megapixel camera setup on the OnePlus 13 features a main sensor, ultra-wide lens, and 3x telephoto zoom, accompanied by laser-detect autofocus for enhanced sharpness. This versatile array captures vibrant, well-detailed images across various focal lengths, aided by OnePlus’ dual-exposure Clear Burst technology, which excels in fast-action photography.
Color reproduction strikes a middle ground between Samsung’s saturated tones and Google’s natural hues, ensuring well-balanced shots. The 3x optical zoom matches that of rivals like the Galaxy S25+, though it falls short of the 5x zoom capabilities found in the Pixel 9 Pro and Galaxy S25 Ultra.
One noticeable shortcoming is in low-light photography. While OnePlus’ Night Mode performs admirably, it occasionally struggles to match Google’s Night Sight, resulting in images that lack the razor-sharp detail of the Pixel 9. While the OP13’s cameras are excellent overall, they remain a notch below the industry’s best in night photography.
OnePlus 13 Battery Life and Charging
For years, flagship Android phones have plateaued with 5,000mAh batteries, but OnePlus has broken the mold with an impressive 6,000mAh battery. This results in class-leading endurance, with the OP13 lasting 30 hours and 18 minutes in video playback tests—outperforming the Galaxy S25 Ultra (29:27) and Pixel 9 (27:32).
Charging speeds are equally impressive, supporting 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. However, proprietary SUPERVOOC technology means these speeds are achievable only with OnePlus’ accessories. Fortunately, the 80W charger comes included in the box—a rarity in today’s flagship market. If users want to hit peak charging speeds, they’ll need to invest in OnePlus’ 100W Dual Port adapter or the 50W AIRVOOC charging puck for wireless charging.
The OnePlus 13 also supports Qi2 wireless charging, but magnetic compatibility with third-party accessories remains weak. Although it does provide a magnetic connection, accessories slide off easily without OnePlus’ official Magnetic Case.
You can also read OnePlus 12 Review and Price
Final Verdict
Over the years, OnePlus has built its reputation on delivering powerful flagship alternatives at competitive prices, often taking on the industry’s biggest players like Samsung and Google. With the OnePlus 13, the brand has refined its formula—offering top-tier hardware without overwhelming users with excessive AI features.
From stellar performance and an industry-leading display to exceptional battery life and super-fast charging, the OP13 checks almost every box. It even features a unique vegan leather design, which adds a premium touch rarely found in modern smartphones.
That said, camera performance, particularly in low-light conditions, could see some improvement, and full-fledged Qi2 magnetic compatibility would have been a welcome addition. Nonetheless, the included fast charger and affordable pricing help offset these drawbacks.
For just $900, the OnePlus 13 outshines the Galaxy S25+ with more RAM, storage, battery life, and display brightness—all at $100 less. While software support is limited to six years compared to Samsung and Google’s seven-year updates, this remains a minor tradeoff for a feature-packed premium smartphone at a remarkably competitive price.
