Review of OnePlus 13: A focused flagship that ignores AI Hype
OnePlus is a little up and down as united with oppo As early as 2021, she gained more access to powerful components and partnerships with brands such as Hasselblad, while his software and product composition took a few steps back before finding their step again. But now, three generations after the merger, the most leading phone on OnePlus – OnePlus 13 – She feels like a fantastic return to the form. In some areas, the company even presses the limits of hardware and gadget design in ways that Samsung and Google rivals are not. And at a starting price of $ 900, OnePlus managed to undermine its closest competitor, which makes this phone a great choice for anyone who is more interested in getting hardware superstructures than for fantastic new AI tricks.
Design and Display: peak brightness and style
At a time when Apple, Google, and Samsung’s best phones, all sports minor twists of practically the same formula, I love that OnePlus does its thing. Instead of completely boxing design, the OP13 has pointed edges that twist gently to meet their metal frame. You still get the signature warning slider that makes it a rank to set the bell of your phone to remain silent, vibrate or completely hear. But my favorite feature of the design is that if you choose the colors of the midnight or artistic dawn, the phone comes with micro-gummy from the front skin. And in a world full of glass bricks, OnePlus organic upholstery is just a joy to touch. This is the type of handset that I would feel to be thrown into a case.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Meanwhile, the 6.8-inch OLED panel of OP13 dazzles, thanks to the bright, bright colors and silk speed of refreshing 120Hz. With peak up to 4500 nits, it becomes even more bright than other Android flagships, including Samsung’s new Galaxy S25 Ultra (2600 nits). The only aesthetic choice I am still not sure about is the giant circular module on the camera on the back. Between its pearl finish and the four rounds for its lenses and the Flash/Autofocus system, it almost seems that OnePlus breaks a chronograph clock in the back of the phone. But maybe it’s just me.
Productivity and software: so much memory
The OnePlus 13 is powered by an elite Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 chip with 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB storage. However, unlike the processors used in the Samsung Galaxy S25 family, the OP13 chip does not have additional personalizations or overclocking. This leads to comparison indicators, which are about five percent lower (9 267 for the OP13 vs. 9.828 for the Galaxy S25 Ultra in Geekbench 6 Multi-Core). In the real world, however, the phone still feels bubbling fast.
I would even say that because of the greater amount of memory of OP13, it is a better choice for multinasters or anyone who likes to hold a bunch of applications open in the background. In addition, over the last few years, OnePlus has refined Oxygen OS so that it feels more homage and more responsive than when it became a fork of Oppo’s Coloros in 2022.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
On the front of AI, OnePlus keeps things refreshing LowKey. The phone supports Google Gemini and Circle to look for all your summary and questions about asking questions. The phone itself also has an improved search feature, which makes it a little easier to find specific files and more intelligent notes application that uses machine training to polish, develop or condense quick thoughts. But this is, in addition to a translation feature, powered by AI, which arrived shortly after the start, which is generally competent, but not particularly new or exciting. So, while AI is definitely present, it is not as big a focus as it is on the Galaxy S25 family, which is not bad.
Cameras: Almost the highest level
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
The OnePlus 13 has a trio of 50 megapixel sensors for its main, ultra-wide and 3X phoot lenses, plus a laser autofocus system for increased acuity. In general, this is a solid package that can capture great looking images at different distances and viewing angles, such as OnePlus adds things like its double exposure Clear Tech to help you click fast-moving subjects a little easier S
In terms of image quality, OP13 does a good job of dividing the difference between rich, saturated colors and crunchy details, but without exaggerating things you often see on Samsung’s phones that tend to go beyond or press warm tones a little Too loudly. The 3 -time optical increase of OnePlus coincides with those of rivals with similar prices such as S25+, despite Pixel 9 Pro and S25 Ultra.
One small problem is that in low light, the OP13 night mode sometimes fights to keep up with the night view of Pixel 9, which leads to photos that are not as sharp or detailed as you want it to be. It’s close, but for me, OnePlus cameras remain half a degree under Samsung, Google and Apple when shooting photos in a darker environment.
Life and Battery Charge: Super Fast, but is the owner
It is felt that every high -end Android phone has been stuck with a 5000mAh batteries in the last half decade. But for this, it goes around, OnePlus 13 has broken this barrier with a 6000mAh cell, leading to longevity leading in class. On our local Rundown video test, he posted a time of 30 hours and 18 minutes, which is almost an hour longer than the Galaxy S25 Ultra (29:27) and about three hours better than the basic pixel 9 (27:32).
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Meanwhile, when it comes to recharging, OnePlus 13 waters and cable speeds up to 100 watts or an impressive 50 watts wireless. The main warning, however, is that since OnePlus relies on your own Supervoooc technology, you will only get these blisters when you use the company’s peripherals in the first countries. Fortunately, the box offers an 80th charger, although if you want to hit Max Power, you will need to upgrade to the 100W double port adapter. This is a similar wireless loading situation that requires 50W’s Airvooc washer. This said the OP13 recharges more than twice as faster as the Galaxy S25 when it uses a cable and more than three times faster wirelessly. Plus, you can still use universal power -in -pin power adapters, you’ll just have to live with significantly reduced power.
Another little wrinkle is that although OnePlus says the 13th supports QI2 ChargingIt does not play well with third -party magnetic accessories without any help. In my testing, while the phone provides a weak magnetic connection, each Qi2 periphery tried to slide with the shortest movement. Like Samsung with the Galaxy S25, the OnePlus solution was to make a case with its own set of magnets that allows the additives to be attached with much greater security.
Wrapping
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Over the years, OnePlus has been using tags such as “leading killer” and “Ultra in every way” as a means of taking pictures of their largest rivals from Samsung, Google and others. But for the OnePlus 13, it has the feeling that the company has just gone and made a really solid first -class headset without a bunch of AI Fluff. The phone has excellent performance, a massive battery and a gorgeous screen that can hang with the displays of any of its competitors. It also sports a unique design with some Earth assumptions such as its optional artificial leather back.
Of course, the quality of the camera can be a better touch, especially in low light, and I really want OnePlus to have turned on full magnetic compatibility Qi2 instead of forcing people to rely on a case. But hey, at least you get a super fast power cable adapter (which, unlike many phones, comes in the box) and the ability to use the flaming washer of the company if you want to go without a cable.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
But the most important thing is that for a starting price of $ 900 you get a longer battery life, a larger screen, more RAM, a larger storage and the same 3x increase as the Base Galaxy S25+ -all for $ 100 less. There is no other way to say it, this is just a good deal, even if the OnePlus software support lasts only six years instead of the seven you receive from Samsung and Google. The OnePlus 13 is an example of how to keep things simple in an increasingly complex and obsession with AI.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/oneplus-3-review-a-focused-flagship-that-ignores-the-Ai-ipe-140013418.htm.htm RSS
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