Editorial Note: This sample device was provided along with room, board, and travel to the launch event courtesy of OnePlus. The company did not have preview or editorial input in this review. The thoughts here are unfiltered and non-bias from over four weeks of real usage of the OnePlus 13 and accessories.

OnePlus may not be quite the household name in America, but the company routinely makes fantastic Android devices for those in the know. It has been known for it’s Never Settle motto and flagship killer taglines, but they just make damn good phones. The latest flagship OnePlus 13 continues this lineage and continues to show that being a niche manufacturer makes a prime breeding ground for being innovative.

Design

The overall build and look of the OnePlus 13 could at first be mistaken for the previous 12. Picking it up will immediately change this reaction. I think the first thing I noticed was how much lighter the OnePlus 13 is in comparison to its elders. Our “vegan leather” Midnight Ocean blue model has a light soft, touch feel and the new flatter display is also a welcomed tweak.

This vegan leather is a microfiber material that mixes durability with luxury textures. It’s not quite soft as real leather, but the synthetic blend should be able to withstand normal things like being thrown in a pocket or purse much better. It has a nice feel, but those familiar with real leather will be able to tell a difference.

The overall feel of the OnePlus 13 is sleeker and lighter than the 12. It instantly has less curve on the back when resting in your palm. Personally, I miss the more rounded back panel, but the fit and finish makes you not notice it much. The edges are flanked by polished aluminum rails and the normal volume rocker and power button combo are present along with the fan-favorite notification slider. 

Display

Speaking of the display, it’s another industry-leading unit that is great in any conditions. OnePlus even calls it a record-breaking screen with QHD+ ProXDR (3168×1440)capable of 120Hz. It’s the first display to be given an A++ rating by DisplayMate and it shows. 

In normal use, the screen shines through in any lighting conditions or environment with a peak brightness of 1600 nits. OnePlus has one of the best displays on a smartphone right now. Period. Samsung is considered a standard here in the Android world, but the OnePlus 13 matches or surpasses any option on a Galaxy I’ve seen.

Oh, and it’s mostly flat this year. Finally, we’ve said goodbye to the overly curved screens on smartphones in 2025. The OnePlus 13 does slightly curve into the form of the edges, but it’s barely noticeable in comparison to previous generations. It’s more of a safeguard for drops than it is a design choice this time around.

Powerful as ever

Internally, the powerhouse is as impressive as we’ve grown accustomed to with a OnePlus device. Utilizing the new Snapdragon 8 Elite mobile platform, performance has been superb in my daily usage, regardless of what I threw at the phone. The Qualcomm Oryon CPU creates a 45% performance boost and 44% increase in power efficiency. 

Again, OnePlus seeks out some of the best internals and found them in the latest Snapdragon series. Additionally, you can’t have a phone in 2025 without consideration for AI and the Hexagon NPU equipped with Qualcomm’s AI Engine offers a supercharged option for OnePlus AI, but…. More on that in a few minutes.

Can take a beating

Lastly, the OnePlus 13 will be one of the first phones to hit the market with both IPX68 and IPX69 waterproof ratings. What does this mean for the average consumer? Well, OnePlus demoed a 13 taking a beating in a dishwasher at the launch event for us. As impressive as this was to see a phone take not only the heat and jets of the washer, let’s translate to real world.

For real people it means the phone can not only be submerged, but take high-pressure water exposure as well and will most likely keep on ticking. I’d say that for most it’s overkill, but good to know that a few mistaken minutes in a washing machine lost in your jean pocket won’t cause major damage. The same should be true for dunks in a hot tub, as long as the water isn’t salt based. Smartphones are huge investments for folks, and taking another step in insuring that for long-term use is always welcome.

Software and AI

We’ve covered the latest update from OnePlus and OxygenOS 15 back in quarter four as they pushed it to the previous gen 12 phones. It’s here at launch with the OnePlus 13, and it’s still my favorite version of OxygenOS since the days of OnePlus running basically stock Android.

The engineering team did a great job of toning down and stripping redundancies from the OS. You get one of the cleaner versions of Android while still being very personalized experience key to OnePlus phones. Menus are now less cluttered. The home screen is more slightly more like a Pixel. The shortcuts in the shade have an overhaul as well, making it less busy and taking some obvious inspiration from the latest iOS options.

But the big story on the software side is Gemini and OnePlus AI features are here to match the trend of all other smartphones in 2025. Gemini is now a long-press away of the power button and works as you’d expect if you’ve experienced it on a Pixel or other phones.

The same is true for Circle to Search. You now have the same option as Pixels to long-pressing the action bar or home button to activate the field. Then, simply circle the portion of the screen you’d like to search an Gemini/Google takes over.

The bigger story is how OnePlus is slowly brought these AI additions to the OxygenOS level. Things like Intelligent Search offer an AI-powered universal search that parses through your documents, texts, and emails to give you summaries or date sensitive results.

Notes gives you an AI assistant in general writing and note-taking. This offers ways to alter the structure, tone, or even continue the thoughts you are having in a similar format. You can also ask it to clean up mistakes or wordie sections in a new blurb.

There’s a new Pass Scan option that leverages AI to help add unofficial cards or transit passes to your Google Wallet. Once activated it takes a quick scan of the data and presents it as a “card” to add to your wallet.

Lastly, OnePlus leverages Gemini again to help you write the perfect texts in Google Messages. You can AI to help start the composition altogether, reword it, or make other changes to make sure the tone and audience is always correct.

Oh and if updates are your thing, OnePlus promises four full years of OS updates and six years of security patches. This falls short of say the Pixels and Samsung, but for the value of the OnePlus models, I’d give them a pass another year. I’d love to see them review and close that gap in with the OnePlus 14.

Cameras

The OnePlus 13 features the evolution of its partnership with Hasselblad with the 5th generation camera post-processing. The hardware sees an upgrade this year with a triple 50MP array. Gone is the dedicated macro lens from last year, and you now have a main shooter, telephoto, and ultra-wide capable of 50 megapixels. The fourth sensor is a lidar detect autofocus.

The results are the best I’ve ever seen from a OnePlus. I was able to consistently capture vibrant, balanced photos in the month I used this phone. Even on the crazy lighting of a cruise ship for the launch event, it outperformed my expectations. This is the first time I’d put a OnePlus camera up against the likes of Pixels and Galaxies with zero reservations.

There’s a multitude of improvements in the modes you can use to take shots as well. The new telephoto can achieve true 3x zoom and has optical image stabilization to help you stay steady for each shot. To assist with blurring of moving subjects, the sensors have dual exposure algorithms that help reduce that movement in post to get a much better image.

The same is true for the new Action Mode. This takes slo-mo to a new level to take superfast shutter bursts of a fast moving target. You can then get the best shot of the bursts to save as the final results. Live photos are here as well to get that smaller GIF style moving shot of a memory.

Building off the hardware cameras, there are new AI Unblur, Detail Boost, and Reflection eraser. All of these offer unique ways to clean up existing images to get that final look without being a photoshop expert.

What might be the most impressive improvement is Portrait Mode. Again, working with Hasselblad, the company has a much better bokeh effect on images. Overall, I can’t describe how much better the camera experience has been for the OnePlus 13.

Battery and cooling

This is another area OnePlus is paving a new path. The company has included a new battery technology that uses silicon nano stack infused cells. The new design allows the 6000mAh battery pack to stay cooler and more efficient. This lends to a 5.5% greater boost in energy density for faster charging and better cooling in the Silicon-Carbon Composite Anode.

This is a nice touch when you consider the maximum charging levels of the OnePlus 13. Wired SUPERVOOC chargers from the company offer 80 Watts of charging to get you from basically empty at 1% o 100% battery in less than 40 minutes.

I’ve found battery life outstanding. OnePlus has a history of being one of the best, but the new tech included this year makes the OnePlus 13 even more capable. I’ve yet to find a way to kill the battery in a single day and I think most folks with casual usage could eek out two days of general purpose screen time.

Cases and accessories

Let’s start with the new optional accessories joining the launch of the OnePlus 13. The phone features wireless charging, but not the newer Qi2 standard compatible with MagSafe. To combat this, OnePlus is making first party cases available to offer the magnetic alignment to the existing Qi protocols. Along with the launch you have multiple cases to choose from like wood grain, blue Aramid Fiber, and traditional Sandstone.

That’s not all! To bring this to OnePlus true SUPERVOOC fashion, there’s a new AIRVOOC 50W magnetic charger. The AIRVOOC is matched with an internal coolant fan to make sure the charger, and your new OnePlus 13 stay at an optimal temperature while fast charging. My one note on the AIRVOOC 50W is this thing is noisy. When the fans running full speed it’s not something to be ignored.

Finally, there’s a new Midnight Ocean Blue variant of the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 to match the new color of our OnePlus 13 review unit. I have to say, it’s one of the better color combination and finish you’ll find on a set of earbuds. I was impressed with the original Pro 3 fit and design, and the new color makes it pop even more.

Pricing

OnePlus sets a good line of entry investment with the OnePlus and also offering some great deals on trade-ins and discounts.

■Available at: OnePlus.com US & Canada, Best Buy Canada (online only), Amazon US (availability at a later date)

○12+256 GB: $899.99 USD / $1249.99 CAD: Black Eclispe

●Open Sale Date: January 7th, 2025

■Available at: OnePlus.com US & Canada, Best Buy US (Black in-store & online, Blue online only), Best Buy Canada (Black in-store & online, Blue and White online only), Amazon US (TBD)

○16+512 GB $999.99 USD / $1399.99 CAD: Black Eclipse, Midnight Ocean, Arctic Dawn

●Open Sale Offers (Jan 7 – Feb 7)

○Save up to $899/C$1249 with eligible trade-in.

○FREE memory upgrade: $100/CA$150 instant discount only on 16G+512G model.

○Guaranteed $100/C$150 instant credit when you trade in ANY phone, in ANY condition (for a limited time)

●These offers are available at OnePlus.com and Best Buy US and Canada

○Receive a gift card worth $100USD/$150CAD

The accesories lineup and pricing is as follows:

• OnePlus 13 Wood Grain Magnetic Half-pack Case Wood Brown – $39.99USD/$54.99 CAD (available January 7th 2025 on OnePlus.com)
• OnePlus 13 Aramid Fiber Magnetic Case – $39.99USD/$54.99 CAD (available January 7th 2025 on OnePlus.com)
• OnePlus 13 Sandstone Magnetic Case – $24.99 USD/$34.99 CAD (available January 7th 2025 on OnePlus.com)
• OnePlus 13R Sandstone Magnetic Case – $24.99 USD/$34.99 CAD (available January 7th 2025 on OnePlus.com)
• OnePlus Insulated Coffee Travel Tumbler – $49.99 USD/$69.99 CAD (available January 7th 2025 on OnePlus.com)
• OnePlus AIRVOOC 50W Magnetic Charger – $79.99 USD/$109.99 CAD (available January 7th 2025 on OnePlus.com)
• OnePlus SUPERVOOC 80W Dual Ports GaN Power Adapter – $49.99 USD/$69.99 CAD (available January 7th 2025 on OnePlus.com)

Final thoughts

This product has earned the Pinnacle Selection award, reserved for those with an average rating of 4.25 stars or higher. Recognized as best in its class, it excels in innovation, design, and user satisfaction. Our review confirms its outstanding quality and performance, setting a high standard in its category.

OnePlus historically pushes the envelope of what a modern smartphone should be at pricing just below the flagship averages. The OnePlus 13 is more than a worthy upgrade to this lineage. The cleaner software paired with the fantastic hardware and powerhouse make the OnePlus 13 a contender at any price point. Oh, and did we mention it can be placed in a dishwasher and survive?

Simply put, the OnePlus 13 is a fantastic option for Android users looking for a break from Google or Samsung without sacrificing quality.

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