I swapped my Google Pixel 9 Pro for the OnePlus 13: a new standard!

It’s not common to review a smartphone in the first weeks of January and immediately consider it a potential “Phone of the Year”. However, the OnePlus 13 borders on excellence. Even if Samsung announces an Ultra model with a 300-megapixel camera later this month or Apple unveils a slimmer iPhone in the fall, the OnePlus 13 will still be at the top of my thoughts when it comes time for nominations. end of the year.

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This latest flagship model offers many advantages, ranging from a more secure ultrasonic fingerprint sensor to IP69 certification, not forgetting its 6,000 mAh Silicon NanoStack battery. It’s also one of the first smartphones in North America to feature Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, promising advancements in performance, power efficiency and AI processing.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been testing the OnePlus 13 alongside my iPhone 16 Pro Max and the Google Pixel 9 Pro XLin order to measure its performance against one of the best smartphones of 2024. In certain areas, the OnePlus 13 has weaknesses. However, in many others it outperforms the iPhone and Pixel.

When I first opened the OnePlus 13 box and picked it up, my reaction was immediate. Let me share my excitement: the slight curvature of the glass, the elegance of the smartphone and its overall design made my four-month-old iPhone obsolete. It almost looked like OnePlus released the iPhone 17 Air before Apple.

The design of the OnePlus 13 is enhanced by the new Midnight Ocean color, featuring a vegan leather back that makes it visually distinctive and more pleasant to hold than its glass predecessors. However, the texture is less rough and grippy than real leather, which makes me wonder how it will age over time.

For those hoping that this first major Android smartphone of 2025 would have Qi2 wireless charging, I have some good news and some not so good news. Although the OnePlus 13 does not have a built-in Qi2 charging coil (MagSafe and similar accessories cannot attach directly to the back), OnePlus has integrated magnetic guides into its protective cases, allowing users to take advantage of these accessories as long as the OnePlus 13 is protected. This tip is handy, but I hope it won’t be necessary for the next model.

For years, one of the weak points of OnePlus phones has been their resistance to water and dust. With the OnePlus 13, the brand has finally strengthened its commitment to resistance, certifying the phone with an IP69 rating. This is a step above the IP68 ratings typically found in competing devices, and it allows the OnePlus 13 to withstand high-pressure water jets and changes in humidity.

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In practical terms, this means that the OnePlus 13 can work properly even if you forget it in your washing machine, dishwasher, or even in a pot of boiling soup. IP69 certification seems almost like a show of force, but it will really be appreciated by users in unexpected moments.

The heart of the device is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor which, after a few weeks of use, presents both notable strengths and weaknesses. For everyday use, like navigating between productivity apps (not just TikTok) or taking photos and videos, the processor performs admirably. Plus, OxygenOS 15, based on the latest version of Android, offers some of the smoothest animations I’ve seen on a phone.

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However, when I use graphics-intensive applications like Adobe Premiere Rush or Honkai Star RailI notice some slowdown due to an increase in temperature, which causes a decrease in performance. This is not a major obstacle in itself, as performance drops are only felt during prolonged use.

I actually tested the OnePlus 13 extensively, with the 6,000mAh Silicon NanoStack battery managing to keep my review unit operational for at least a day and a half per charge. This is a first-of-its-kind achievement in the US market, and I expect to see more manufacturers adopt silicone batteries due to their greater energy density. Failing that, copying 80W fast charging or 50W wireless charging is an attractive alternative.

Regarding the camera, the OnePlus 13, with its triple camera configuration (50MP wide-angle, ultra-wide-angle and telephoto), proved to be a reliable companion during my evaluation periods. Although the Sony LYT-808 sensor isn’t on the level of the one-inch sensors I’ve tested on international smartphones, it excels at capturing detail and produces vibrant images. If you like sharp, bright and slightly oversaturated images (i.e. more colorful than reality), the OnePlus 13 will meet your expectations.

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However, photo sensors show gaps in post-processing and AI features. For example, when shooting remotely, the phone relies heavily on computational photography, sometimes resulting in images with an artificial, overly smooth filter. However, when the software works properly, it manages to reproduce details that you might not have originally thought to capture.

ZDNET Buying Tips

For a starting price of $899, the OnePlus 13 offers remarkable value – probably the best among the flagship smartphones I’ve recently tested. The brand has been able to improve the device in almost all its aspects, whether in terms of design, performance or the ecosystem of accessories.

It’s unfortunate that OnePlus doesn’t offer more extensive software support, with the OnePlus 13 only getting four years of Android updates and six years of security updates. Samsung, Google and Apple offer at least seven years of support for their operating systems.

If you’re interested in the OnePlus 13, the best deal I see right now is on the site de OnePluswhere the brand is offering a free OnePlus Watch 2 (valued at $299), a free storage upgrade (valued at $100), and at least $100 off any phone trade-in. his condition.