Like a rust-spotted pipe, info on the OnePlus 13 has been leaking all over the place for the last handful of months. Today, the device is finally here, though it is staying in China for now and a global launch should come in a few months.
True to everything we’ve heard, the OnePlus 13 is an absolute monster. It changes up the design, the build quality, and several of the specifications, and just generally makes for a pretty substantial upgrade over the OnePlus 12. I like what I see. Let’s talk about it.
The OnePlus 13 Might Not Look Too Different, But It Certainly Is
The OnePlus 13 might not be the most appreciated phone of the year, even when it gets to international markets, but if that’s the case, that’ll be a great injustice. The OnePlus 13 is fantastic in essentially every single category, so let’s talk about that.
The Design
Take a good long look at the OnePlus 13. What do you see? If your answer is the OnePlus 12 and the OnePlus 11, that’s an acceptable answer. But if your answer is “something new”, that’s allowed too. The OnePlus 13 retains most of the DNA we’ve seen in OnePlus flagships over the last couple of years but makes some tweaks to sort of give us something new.
Around the camera module, the metal accent that connected it to the frame is gone. The circle is now on its own, though connected to the frame on both sides with a very slender metallic strip. The flash now also hides as one of the camera lenses, for an arguably simplified look. Plus, it is 2024, so no surprise that the frame gets flattened. Overall, the phone isn’t too distinct, but it looks better.
It is available in a vegan leather-backed blue, an “ebony wood grain” glass black, and a sparkly white colorway. That black is certainly different and I like it the most. And I can’t neglect to mention that the device levels up to include IP69 certification. Things we love to see.
The Screen
The screen is one of the biggest selling points of the OnePlus 13. I’ll get to why in a bit. First off, it is a 6.82-inch LTPO OLED screen with a 120Hz max refresh rate and QHD+ resolution (1440p). That makes for a very solid 510 PPI. It hits up to 4,500 nits in brightness and has a flat display with very slight curves towards the edge of the glass.
Once you bring color accuracy and a bunch of other technical specs on board, this is literally the best mobile display you can get, if you trust the word of DisplayMate. The screen is so good that the company introduced a new A++ grade solely for this device. It is considered “visually indistinguishable from perfect”. Well, wow.
The Hardware
The hardware is another section of the OnePlus 13 where things are equally crazy. The elephant in the room is the Snapdragon 8 Elite, still warm off the factory line. We already know that Qualcomm’s new chip is a monster so performance won’t be a concern.
The biggest problem is that OnePlus wanted more. While the base model is in a 12/256GB configuration, the device can be specced up to 24GB/1TB. Generally speaking, 24GB territory is reserved for the gaming phones in the world. This model might not make it to the international scene, but time will tell.
Of course, you get top standards in everything else. There’s Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, USB-C 3.2 Gen 1, and an IR blaster thrown in just to sweeten the deal.
The Battery And Charging
OnePlus’ newest flagship doesn’t escape the fate of a bigger battery. It’s the current pandemic in the smartphone world, and rightfully so, the OnePlus 13 gains 600mAh for a cell that sits firmly on the 6,000mAh threshold. I’m looking forward to seeing how the battery performs paired with a 3nm chip.
It supports 100W fast wired charging and up to 50W when charged wirelessly. It also has reverse wired charging (5W) and reverse wireless charging (10W). Plus, you get a charger in the box—at least with the Chinese model.
The Cameras
The camera setup has changed quite a bit compared to last year. While it seems like it is the same primary unit at play, the two other cameras change to 50MP modules. The telephoto maintains 3x optical zoom (with up to 120x when digitally enhanced) and the ultrawide gets a very slight bump in resolution. You’ll be able to record in 8K/30. On the front is a 32MP unit capable of 4K/60 video recording.
The Pricing And Availability
Now, the big question you’re asking is how much it will cost to take advantage of all these major improvements. The answer is a starting price of CNY4,499 (~$630)—and for the curious, that crazy 24GB model costs CNY5,999 (~$840).
The device will be available in China starting from tomorrow, November 1st. As for a global launch, that will likely arrive in a few months; potentially at the start of next year.
