OnePlus is not shy. It is taking advantage of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to launch the next generation of its two flagship phones, the OnePlus 13 and 13R, in North America. It’s early in 2025 to release the phone tag of the year, but it’s still pretty tempting.
Posted at 12:36 p.m.
If we can guess from November which NHL team will miss the playoffs, we can guess from the beginning of 2025 about wireless trends for the year to come. The OnePlus 13 ticks all the boxes except the folding screen.
In any case, it offers the performance that other high-end Android mobiles will try to reproduce throughout the year. The device is powered by Qualcomm’s latest processor, the Snapdragon 8 Elite.
This “AI-ready” system-on-chip (we’ll hear that too throughout the year…) has 45% more computing power than last year’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, and consumes 40% less energy.
OnePlus’ designers are probably those of the Oppo brand, since the two properties of the Chinese conglomerate BBK Electronics merged in 2021. Oppo is the second largest brand in China, and has the means to achieve its ambitions. The OnePlus 13, sold in Asia since the end of October, shares several components with the Oppo Find X8. We would have liked it to make the device more affordable. At $1400 in its version with 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage, it is not much less expensive than a Pixel 9 Pro from Google, or a Galaxy S24+ from Samsung.
That said, it will give you value for your money. The mechanics are cooled by OnePlus’ cutting-edge Dual Cryo-Velocity vapor chambers and powered by a 6,000 milliampere-hour (mAh) Silicon NanoStack battery. This is the first battery of its kind to be commercialized. Its density is higher than batteries currently on the market. Its autonomy stretches over two days, despite its more compact format than lithium-ion.
Its autonomy is also impeccable… in standby. The device can be forgotten for a long weekend and it will have more than half its charge when it returns, something rare in Android.
Hasselblad: finally!
The OnePlus 13 is equipped with a triple photo system, designed with the Swedish company Hasselblad. Its main sensor from Sony is 50 megapixels, it is supported by an ultra-wide lens and a 10x telephoto lens. Its double exposure algorithm, clear burst mode and action mode help take surprisingly perfect photos in a very short time. We have a hard time missing our photos!
Hats off to OnePlus and Hasselblad, the chemistry caused by this long-standing partnership is really working this year.
OxygenOS 15, the latest version of OnePlus’ interface, incorporates Android 15’s AI tools, including Google’s Gemini Live voice assistant and automated photo edits. OnePlus adds “Al Detail Boost” and “Al Reflection Eraser”, which promise to enhance specific areas of a photo, or eliminate distracting reflections (in one’s glasses during a selfie, for example). They don’t always do it the way we would like, unfortunately.
All this is displayed on an exceptionally clear screen, clocked at 120 hertz. It’s the first to earn an A++ rating from DisplayMate experts for its clarity, depth and natural colors. It is also gentle on the eyes, having obtained TÜV Rheinland Eye Care 4.0 certification.
As a bonus, its tactile surface detects finger contact even through gloves. And it inherits IP69 protection, under which it will withstand a passage in the washer. Even the Carnival Man will be able to forget him in his costume!
Durable
The OnePlus 13 is built to last, therefore. That excuses its high price one iota, but the reality in Canada in 2025 is that we will have to pay a lot to renew our phone, given the relatively weak loonie. OnePlus is taking back old wireless phones and offering a discount on the purchase of a new model. That’s always the case.
The more affordable OnePlus 13R at $850 is the more rational choice. The device borrows several components from the 13-all-court, and falls back on certain components from last year (like its processor).
The OnePlus 13 remains more chic, that said. It is sold in three colors, black, white and blue, with a textured back imitating a type of imitation leather which is not unpleasant to the touch.
In addition to being good, it is beautiful. We can’t say that about all Android devices… but let’s see. 2025 is still very young!
