OnePlus 13 Review: A Flagship Phone That Gets the Essentials Right
The OnePlus 13 marks a significant return to form for the company. Following its merger with Oppo, OnePlus experienced some inconsistencies in its software and product line. However, the OnePlus 13, released three generations after the merger, demonstrates a renewed focus on delivering a high-quality flagship experience without unnecessary frills. It achieves this by prioritizing core hardware improvements, striking a balance of features, and offering a compelling price point.
Design and Display: A Unique and Striking Look
In a market dominated by similar-looking smartphones from Apple, Google, and Samsung, the OnePlus 13 stands out with its distinctive design. Instead of a completely flat or boxy design, it features gently tapered edges that transition smoothly into a metal frame. The signature Alert Slider returns, offering convenient control over ringer modes. But perhaps the most appealing design element is the optional microfiber vegan leather back available in Midnight Ocean or Artic Dawn colors. This luxurious material offers a welcome departure from the ubiquitous glass-back designs found in many competing phones.
The 6.8-inch OLED display is another highlight, boasting vibrant colors, a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, and an exceptionally high peak brightness of 4,500 nits. This surpasses the brightness of other Android flagships, including Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra. While the large circular camera module on the back may be a matter of personal preference—some might find it visually appealing, others might think it a bit overwhelming—the display itself is undeniably impressive.
Performance and Software: Smooth, Powerful, and Less Emphasis on AI
The OnePlus 13 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, paired with a generous 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage. Although benchmark scores might show a slight performance deficit compared to some competitors (around 5% lower than the Galaxy S25 Ultra in Geekbench 6 multi-core tests), this difference is rarely noticeable in real-world usage. The phone feels incredibly fast and responsive. The ample RAM makes multitasking a breeze.
OxygenOS, OnePlus’s software, has undergone significant refinement. It’s noticeably smoother and more responsive than previous iterations. While the phone incorporates Google Gemini and Circle to Search for AI-powered summarizing and questioning, OnePlus has chosen to de-emphasize AI features compared to some rivals. There’s an improved internal search feature and a smarter, machine learning-powered Notes app, but overall, AI isn’t a central selling point.
Cameras: High-Quality Images With Room for Improvement
The OnePlus 13 features a triple 50-megapixel camera system, comprising a main camera, an ultra-wide lens, and a 3x telephoto lens. The system also includes laser-detect autofocus for enhanced sharpness. The cameras generally produce high-quality images with good detail and color saturation, avoiding the over-sharpening sometimes seen in competitor phones. The 3x optical zoom lens is comparable to those in similarly priced devices.
However, low-light performance isn’t quite on par with top competitors like the Google Pixel 9. While Night Mode is functional, images sometimes lack the sharpness and detail of leading alternatives. This represents a minor area where the OnePlus 13 falls slightly short of the top tier.
Battery Life and Charging: Exceptional Endurance, Proprietary Fast Charging
The OnePlus 13 boasts a substantial 6,000mAh battery, resulting in remarkable battery life. Its performance surpasses many competitors, with our tests demonstrating significantly longer uptime than several competing flagship phones. The fast charging capabilities are also impressive, with support for up to 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. However, it’s important to note that OnePlus utilizes its proprietary SUPERVOOC and AIRVOOC technologies for these speeds, meaning only OnePlus’ chargers will deliver these high charging rates.
Though the phone boasts Qi2 compatibility, there’s a noteworthy caveat. It doesn’t reliably work with many third-party magnetic accessories without an additional case. OnePlus provides a case with integrated magnets to improve this functionality, a detail that users should consider.
Wrap-up: A Strong Contender at a Competitive Price
The OnePlus 13 delivers a compelling flagship experience focusing on essential features and performance rather than chasing the latest AI trends. Its strengths lie in its excellent performance, long battery life, bright and stunning display, and unique design. The inclusion of high speed wired charging in the box is also highly appreciated by users.
While the camera system is proficient, its low-light performance could be improved. Inconsistent support for third-party Qi2 and magnetic accessories may limit certain user experiences. Six years of software updates (shorter than some competitors’ seven) is another consideration. Nonetheless, at its starting price of $900, it offers a great deal of value compared to its competitors, such as the Samsung Galaxy S25+, at a lower cost. While not perfect, the OnePlus 13 shows that delivering a superior, well-rounded smartphone experience is still possible— even without focusing on all of the current AI trends.
