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Over at OnePlus’ web site, each OnePlus 13 fashions are on sale for $50 off, and every buy comes with a free reward. Choices embrace a OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Professional and a Sandstone Magnetic Case.
It is not typically that I evaluation a smartphone within the first few calendar weeks and really feel assured in calling it a “Cellphone of the Yr” contender. However once I examined the OnePlus 13 again in January, that is exactly what occurred.
Whether or not Google lastly launches a Pixel Professional Fold with a flagship digital camera system this summer time, or Apple releases a thinner iPhone within the fall, the OnePlus 13 will seemingly nonetheless be on my thoughts when the year-end nominations are due.
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There’s quite a bit going for the most recent flagship telephone, from the safer (and dependable) ultrasonic fingerprint sensor to the IP69 score to the 6,000mAh Silicon NanoStack battery. It is also one of many first telephones in North America to characteristic Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, which guarantees enhancements to efficiency, effectivity, and AI workloads.
I examined the OnePlus 13 alongside my iPhone 16 Professional Max and Google Pixel 9 Professional XL to see precisely how the Android telephone stacked up in opposition to one of many greatest telephones from 2024. In a couple of methods, the OnePlus 13 falls quick, however in some ways, it places the iPhone and Pixel to disgrace.
After I first unboxed the OnePlus 13 and held it in my hand, my response was audible. Permit me to geek out right here: The marginally curved glass, the slimness of the telephone, and the general look made my then-four-month-old iPhone feel and look outdated. It is as if OnePlus made the iPhone 17 Air earlier than Apple did.
Nevertheless, what sells the OnePlus 13 design for me is the brand new Midnight Ocean shade, which flaunts a vegan-leather backing that makes the telephone visually distinctive and extra comfy to carry than its glass-only predecessors. The feel is not as tough and grippy as precise leather-based, although, so I might be taken with seeing the way it ages over the 12 months. (April replace: The textured backing is holding up effectively, save for a couple of darkish spots on the corners, seemingly attributable to the telephone rubbing in opposition to my palms.)
For those who have been hoping the primary main Android telephone of 2025 would characteristic Qi2 wi-fi charging, I’ve excellent news and dangerous information. Whereas the OnePlus 13 does not have an in-body Qi2 charging coil, that means MagSafe (and comparable) equipment will not connect on to the again of the gadget, OnePlus has embedded magnetic guides inside its protecting covers, enabling customers to make the most of the equipment as long as the OnePlus 13 is encased. It is a burdenless workaround, however one which hopefully will not be vital with the subsequent mannequin.
For what it is price, since publishing this evaluation, a number of different Android telephones have been launched, together with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely, Nothing Cellphone 3a Professional, and Motorola Razr Extremely — none of which characteristic Qi2 wi-fi charging.
For years, one side that is held OnePlus telephones again is the water and dirt resistance score, or lack thereof. With the OnePlus 13, the corporate is lastly taking a stronger stance on the endurance customary, certifying the telephone with an IP69 score. It is a step above the IP68 scores we generally see on competing gadgets, and permits the OnePlus 13 to face up to high-pressure, high-temperature water jets and humidity modifications.
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In observe, this implies the OnePlus 13 can operate correctly even if you happen to depart it in your washer and dryer, dishwasher, or a pot of boiling soup. The IP69 score feels very very like a flex, nevertheless it’s a profit that customers will admire once they least count on it.
Powering the gadget is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip that, from my months of utilization, has some noticeable strengths and weaknesses. For day-to-day utilization, reminiscent of bouncing between productiveness apps, positively not scrolling by means of TikTok, and taking pictures and movies, the processor handles duties gracefully. It helps that OxygenOS 15, based mostly on the most recent model of Android, has a number of the smoothest animations I’ve seen on a telephone.
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However when you fireplace up graphics-intensive purposes like Adobe Premiere Rush and Honkai Star Rail, you may discover some stuttering as the upper warmth improvement results in throttling efficiency. This is not a dealbreaker, per se, because the nerfs are solely obvious whenever you’re utilizing the gadget for a chronic time.
I’ve truly been utilizing the OnePlus 13 fairly liberally, because the 6,000mAh Silicon NanoStack battery has stored my evaluation unit working for no less than a day and a half per cost. That is unseen with some other mainstream telephone within the US market, and I totally count on extra producers to undertake silicon batteries for his or her better power density. If not that, copy the 80W quick charging or 50W wi-fi charging; they’re fairly the revelation.
On the digital camera entrance, the OnePlus 13, with its triple digital camera setup (50MP large, ultrawide, and telephoto), has been a dependable shooter all through most of my days. Whereas the Sony LYT-808 sensor is not on par with the one-inch sensors I’ve examined on worldwide telephones just like the Xiaomi 15 Extremely, it does a superb job of capturing particulars and ending the output vividly. For those who’re a fan of sharp, vivid, and barely oversaturated imagery (learn: extra colourful than how the precise topic seems), then the OnePlus 13 will serve you effectively.
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The place the digital camera sensors fall quick is in post-processing and AI-tuning options. For instance, the telephone leans closely on computational images to contextualize particulars when taking far-distance photographs. This generally results in pictures with a man-made, over-smoothing filter. However when the backend software program works, it could reproduce particulars that you simply most likely did not suppose you’d seize within the first place.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
For a beginning worth of $899, the OnePlus 13 delivers some significantly good worth — presumably the perfect of all the foremost flagship telephones I’ve examined thus far this 12 months. The corporate has improved the gadget in virtually each approach, from the design to the efficiency to its accent ecosystem.
I simply want OnePlus provided extra intensive software program assist, because the OnePlus 13 will solely obtain 4 years of Android OS updates and 6 years of safety updates. Samsung, Google, and Apple provide no less than seven years of OS assist. For those who can shoulder the shorter promise of longevity, this is without doubt one of the best telephones for me to advocate proper now.
We awarded the OnePlus 13 an Editors’ Selection as a result of it nails all the basics of an awesome smartphone expertise whereas main the market in some regards, reminiscent of battery and charging, sturdiness, and design. The specs this 12 months are noticeably improved in comparison with its predecessor, the OnePlus 12, with a sooner processor, lighter construct, bigger battery capability, and a extra succesful digital camera system. Most significantly, the OnePlus 13 begins at $899, undercutting its closest opponents just like the Google Pixel 9 Professional XL and Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely.
As per OnePlus, this provide will finish on June 8, 2025.
Nevertheless, offers are topic to promote out or expire at any time, although ZDNET stays dedicated to discovering, sharing, and updating the perfect product offers so that you can rating the perfect financial savings. Our crew of specialists often checks in on the offers we share to make sure they’re nonetheless reside and obtainable. We’re sorry if you happen to’ve missed out on a deal, however do not fret — we continually discover new possibilities to avoid wasting and share them with you on ZDNET.com.
The current US tariffs on imports from international locations like China, Vietnam, and India purpose to spice up home manufacturing however are more likely to drive up costs on shopper electronics. Merchandise like smartphones, laptops, and TVs might change into costlier as firms rethink world provide chains and weigh the price of shifting manufacturing.
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Smartphones are among the many most affected by the brand new US tariffs, with gadgets imported from China and Vietnam going through steep duties that might elevate retail costs by 20% or extra. Manufacturers like Apple and Google, which rely closely on Asian manufacturing, might both cross these prices on to shoppers or take in them on the expense of revenue margins.
The tariffs may additionally result in delays in product launches or shifts in the place and the way telephones are made, forcing firms to diversify manufacturing to international locations with extra favorable commerce circumstances.
This story was initially revealed on January 7, 2025, and was up to date on June 1, 2025, including info for a brand new June low cost.
