OnePlus 13 Review: Finally, this one really doesn’t settle

“Never settle.” This has been OnePlus’ slogan since its inception in 2013. The brand has released some amazing devices, but virtually all of them have had some aspect that “settles.” Ultimately, though, the OnePlus 13 feels like the device that doesn’t stabilize in any meaningful way, and it starts 2025 off with an absolute bang.

Hardware

All the right changes

OnePlus has been making consistently decent smartphone hardware for years, but there have always been a few little bumps here and there that bring things down a notch. This time things have finally changed and I really think the OnePlus 13 has hit the mark on the hardware front.

This starts, for me, with the side rails. The metal along the side is flat but with just the right touch to the edge to the point where you can barely feel the transition from the flat edge to the display and back panel. It’s not curved, but it almost feels that way, and it’s just a pleasure. The flat chassis also makes this device even sturdier, not that this has ever been an issue for OnePlus devices.

This design also means that the OnePlus 13 actually feels usable when not in a case, something I couldn’t say about the previous generation, or even previous generations.

Some welcome updates that debuted on the OnePlus 12 return this time too, like the reworked button layout and IR blaster. The buttons are tactile and the layout is comfortable (though I still don’t use the Alert Slider as often as I’d like) while the ability to control IR devices is a welcome and occasionally useful blast from the past.

Perhaps the best change of all, though, was OnePlus’ renewed focus on the back materials.

One of the standout features of the first two generations of OnePlus smartphones was the attention to detail on the backplate. “Sandstone” and others have really made a difference compared to other smartphones, and I think OnePlus will take a step back to those roots this year.

In the “black” and “white” color variants this is not so noticeable. The “black” model has a faux wood grain that you can feel, but it’s still basically just frosted glass. Meanwhile, the “white” model is effectively just frosted glass, but using a process that OnePlus says won’t compromise its durability. All of this is good stuff that at least stands out from the increasingly boring finishes other brands produce these days.

The most obvious choice, however, is the “Midnight Blue” variant which OnePlus says uses a “vegan microfiber leather”.

It’s excellent, but it also has one small fundamental flaw.

Let’s start with the feel in the hand. The faux leather feels different and softer than other attempts at this concept, in a way that I actually really like. It grips and seems durable, which it seems to be in the few weeks I’ve tested so far, as there has been absolutely no wear so far.

At first, however, I was a little put off by this texture, just because of how OnePlus explains it.

When you hear that “leather” is used in a product, “vegan” or otherwise, your mind immediately develops an expectation of what it should be like. And, for me, this soft texture was not in line with that, at least at first impression. It was too soft and felt like too much fabric, because in the end that’s exactly what it is. To OnePlus’ credit, though, the finish starts to feel more like real leather – closer to suede than anything else – the longer I use it. I still think it’s a shortcoming to call this “vegan leather” outside the box, but it seems to be getting closer to that over time, which is nice! I’ll be really interested to see how it feels in a few months.

Finally a ‘flat’ display

Without a doubt the biggest and most appreciated change to the OnePlus 13 is the display, and it’s due to the glass that covers it. Finallythe curved edges are ready. OnePlus has gone back to a “flat” display in the ways that matter. This means you won’t have to deal with the constant reflections off the sides, accidental touches, and headaches that come with trying to get a screen protector for a curved screen.

That’s not to say the display is completely flat, as is the case with the latest Galaxy and Pixel phones (and the iPhone). Rather, OnePlus has returned to the 2.5D glass of years past, which is slightly tougher than a completely flat screen because glass becomes stronger when curved. This is a beautiful and tangible advantage that is found in the center compared to the previous curved edges. It also helps a bit with ergonomics, as the slight curve blends better with the metal frame. This is an overall victory for everyone: evil has finally been defeated.

OnePlus, notably, doesn’t use Gorilla Glass here either, instead opting for a “Crystal Shield” ceramic glass from BBK’s (OnePlus parent company) arsenal. It promises better drop resistance, but there is no visible difference and there is still a pre-installed screen protector that scratches very easily.

As for the display underneath, it’s no surprise that it’s excellent. The 6.82-inch panel is undeniably large, but it doesn’t feel entirely overbearing. It’s very bright, peaking at 4,500 nits in HDR and 1,600 nits in high-brightness mode. In real life, this translates into a fully visible display in virtually any condition.

Software and performance

OxygenOS continues to fix all the little quirks

The first generations of OnePlus devices were acclaimed for their software as it was clean, close to stock, and full of customizations. This was all thrown out the window when OxygenOS literally became a clone of Oppo’s ColorOS, to the detriment of the overall experience. Every OnePlus device I’ve reviewed since then has come with the asterisk meaning you have to deal with all the quirks and problems of OxygenOS but… I think they’ve finally nailed it this time.

The more I use OxygenOS 15, the more I find myself struggling to find real problems.

OxygenOS is still, by definition, a heavy Android skin. It’s nothing like “traditional” Android from a Pixel, but it’s very fast and smooth, as it’s been the center of attention for a while now. I couldn’t care less about silly animation tests that try to demonstrate how smooth a device is, but it’s hard not to notice how smooth everything really is on OxygenOS 15. That’s obviously due in part to the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip under the hood , but the year-over-year difference is immediately noticeable. And, in the software itself, the little quirks I’d had trouble with in the past are gone. You can get the notification bar back by splitting Quick Settings into a separate pane (which I actually liked more than I expected), and you can now also access app information from the multitasking page. There are also additions I really like, like replacing traditional multitasking with Open Canvas on slab-style smartphones. Open Canvas was my favorite feature of the OnePlus Open, and it makes using multiple apps on a regular smartphone a little less annoying. I still don’t use it often, but I appreciate that it’s now an option. I’ve also come to appreciate the Dynamic Island rip-off that shows up from time to time, such as when listening to music or changing the ringer mode. It’s subtle and occasionally useful.

Really, I think OxygenOS 15 simply boils down to preference. If you still like “stock” Android, you might not like OxygenOS. If you like Samsung’s One UI, you might not like OxygenOS. But I think Oppo/OnePlus have delivered an experience that is in its own category. It’s not meant to be either of those experiences, but it feels familiar enough and has enough positives that I can enjoy using my device again. I’m no longer fighting the operating system to do the things I want to do.

The only remaining issue is software updates, which are still late. OnePlus promised 4 years of Android updates and 6 years of security updates. Great! But these updates still arrive, at best, only every couple of months and are often delayed quite a bit. With Android 15, OnePlus rolled out stable updates remarkably quickly, and I hope it’s just a sign of things to come.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite is more powerful than most people need

As mentioned, Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite runs under the hood of the OnePlus 13. This chip, as explained above, is an absolute powerhouse with Qualcomm’s new Oryon cores. But, in everyday use, you’ll probably never use most of that power. Playing moderate games on the device, I never encountered any performance issues because I never felt like I was getting close to that limit.

That’s the good news here. Qualcomm, like Apple, is now launching a chip that has a higher performance ceiling. Therefore, it will still be relevant in a few years, meaning that the 6-year support timeline that the OnePlus 13 will receive will not depend on when the device starts to feel slow.

The other positive aspect is that, although the transition to Oryon is in its first generation, it is clear that there are no major problems. So far I have never encountered any problems while using the device, and even the heat was not a real problem, although some initial tests had me a little worried.

Battery life

A little disappointing, but still amazing

The OnePlus 13 has a massive 6,000mAh battery inside, and it’s fantastic. The 600 mAh jump over the last generation puts it in a whole new league compared to every other smartphone sold in the US, as the OnePlus 12 was already well above its competitors in this regard.

That said, I didn’t see as big of a jump as I expected. Battery life is undeniably great. I found it virtually impossible to turn this phone off in a day no matter what I did with it, and if used conservatively, it could even last two days. I tried it a couple of times, but it was always a few hours away. This came as a surprise as early tests suggested drastically better battery life thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Elite. In any case, 6+ hours of screen time is an easy task for the OnePlus 13, and when it comes time to recharge, you’ll be able to fill up in a flash with an 80W charge, although, notably, it doesn’t Charging brick is included. outside the United States and Canada.

No Qi2 and cases don’t count

The real disappointment is that OnePlus ignored Qi2 in this device. There are no magnets inside the OnePlus 13 and the only remedy provided by OnePlus was a suite of original cases with “Mag”, Oppo/OnePlus’ attempt to provide Qi2 functionality without actually providing it: Qi2 requires magnets in the device , this is not the case.

But, at the very least, the cases are pretty good. “Mag” works with MagSafe and Qi2 accessories, as well as the new wireless charging adapter that can deliver 50W to the OnePlus 13. That charger is more than a little overpriced in my eyes at $80 (especially since it doesn’t come with with a charger or even a cable), but it works quite well and I’m sure gamers will appreciate the fast charging combined with the cooling fan.

I tested the “aramid fiber” case which retails for $40 in the US. The magnetic connection works great and the case looks nice, but it doesn’t give me the best feel. I was able to briefly check out the “Wood Grain” case, which is made from wood veneer and it was a really nice option, offering a wood-like texture and good looks with the same powerful magnet. I’d much rather spend $40 on that. There’s also a “Sandstone” case for $25 that’s a great value, but I’m not a big fan of the sandpaper-like texture.

Camera

In a word… stunning

OnePlus has struggled with cameras for years, but over the past couple of years it has quickly found the formula. With the OnePlus 13, I think they really nailed it.

The OnePlus 12 was already a great camera, but it had some consistency issues. The OnePlus 13 solves this problem and really dives into creating a statement look. As the Pixels did, OnePlus focuses on strong contrast and embraces natural shadows, producing images that look like how I remember a scene.

OnePlus has also put an emphasis on motion capture this year, with burst mode being remarkably effective at freezing time. The water splashes demonstrate this very well, which I really enjoyed putting to the test in a water stunt show. It’s impressive how clean and sharp some shots come out, though I wish this applied to any photo. As of now, this ability to capture motion is limited to burst mode, meaning you may have normal photos that have issues with motion capture. At least it’s much better than Samsung devices.

The elephant in the room, then, is how this camera compares to Google’s Pixel. I’ve long advocated consistency, and this is still where Google shines, but I think OnePlus could post better images on average. Every now and then there’s a glitch that the Pixel doesn’t have, but as Google continues to move away from the contrasty look it loved, OnePlus is stepping up to fill the gap. The camera of the OnePlus 13 is not infallible: in mine you can notice some defects life-size samples on Google Photos – but it’s amazingly awesome.

Curiosity

Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor

One notable change on the OnePlus 13 is the move to an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor compared to the optical sensor used previously. This works well, as the new sensor is no longer blinding at night. It’s just as fast and accurate, but has an overall improvement thanks to that change.

Face unlock is also still available in its typical insecure mode, meaning it can’t be used for anything other than bypassing the lock screen. I haven’t bothered to set it up beyond a quick test to make sure it still works just as well, which it does, but it’s really unchanged, without even dealing with the annoying experience of using face and fingerprint unlock together (which only the Google Pixel he’s right).

What do IP68 and IP69 mean?

One of the big marketing pushes for the OnePlus 13 is that, in the US, it’s the only device with “both” IP68 and IP69 dust/water resistance. What does it mean? IP68 is the same degree of protection that we have known for years: protection from water, even if the device is submerged. The main difference with IP69 is that the protection now works even at high temperatures up to 78~°C (174°F). OnePlus says this means the device can handle conditions such as a washing machine or dishwasher, although the company also used examples of cooking oil in a media briefing, which would not be applicable as a frying oil when typically used in temperatures above 300°F.

Either way, the added protection means you’ll have even less to worry about when your phone gets wet. I was able to put it to the test a bit while the OnePlus 13 accompanied me to a water park, where I took the device on water slides and in pools, and while I felt wrongit held up very well.

Why does OnePlus say this device has “both” IP68 and IP69? While I’ve never had a clear answer on this, I believe this is because IP68 includes immersion, while IP69 may or may not include it. Therefore, saying that the device has both classifications is an easier way to make that distinction clear. Ultimately, however, the device has an IP69 protection rating.

Aptica

The phone’s vibration motor was once an afterthought, but OnePlus, at least on its flagship models, has been pretty good at it. The OnePlus 13 has top-notch optics, with crisp, precise feedback that feels nice throughout the system. OxygenOS 15 doesn’t take much advantage of this, but there are moments, like when clearing notifications or using rear gestures, when you feel the little thump of the touch motor.

Final thoughts

Finally, the OnePlus 13 really isn’t satisfied. It has fast and good software. It has a great display. It has the best battery life in a flagship Android phone today. It has an amazing camera. It has excellent hardware. There are certainly arguments to be made for the cadence of software updates and the lack of Qi2, but I don’t think anything about this device really drags it down.

For once, OnePlus lived up to its “Never Settle” slogan that so many times in recent years has felt like it was mocking customers.

And I can say this despite the jump in prices. The OnePlus 13 starts at $899 for its base 12GB/256GB option (only available in black), but costs $999 for the 16GB/512GB variant that everyone will actually want. That’s still $100 off a comparable Pixel and $300 less than the Samsung, so it’s a good deal all things considered. It’s not a “flagship killer”, but it’s a good deal compared to the alternatives.

OnePlus 13 is now available.

• OnePlus.com (Trade-in values ​​up to $899 + free memory upgrade)
• Best Buy (Free Memory Upgrade + $100 Gift Card)
• Amazon

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