Launched in Europe, the OnePlus 13 promises a major upgrade over the OnePlus 12. With the latest Qualcomm processor and a 6,000 mAh battery, you won’t run out of power.
OnePlus is ahead of schedule to launch its latest flagship in Europe this year. The OnePlus 13 was already released in China at the end of October and, as is good practice, only makes the crossing to European territory a few months later. Thirteen is not an unlucky number for OnePlus, as the OnePlus 13 is not just the successor to the previous version.
OnePlus has significantly changed its flagship phone. The new generation presents an improved screen and, above all, a very large battery. It is also the first smartphone to introduce the Qualcomm Snapdragon Elite processor in Europe.
The OnePlus 13 comes in three shades, each with its own unique touch. There is a black color option that mimics a wood texture, a blue color option with a vegan leather case, and a white color with a glass-based surface coating. These models have IP68 and IP69 protection ratings in common. The IP69 rating means the device can also handle water under higher pressure.
Gloves on
OnePlus proudly announces that the screen has received a DisplayMate A++ rating, which has apparently never happened before. The screen size remains more or less the same at 6.82 inches and 3,168 x 1,440 pixels. The display supports a refresh rate of up to 120Hz with frame interpolation, which ensures smooth images when playing videos. The in-display optical fingerprint sensor will be replaced with an ultrasonic sensor for faster and more precise unlocking.
Some technological tricks allow the screen to work smoothly in different weather conditions. A technology called RadiantView allows the screen to remain readable in direct sunlight. What will be most useful to you on a rainy Belgian winter day is the AquaTouch technology which allows the screen to continue working when drops of water fall on it, and which was previously introduced with the Nord 4. What’s new with the OnePlus 13 is that you can also use the screen with (light) gloves ).
Elite
The OnePlus 13 is the first smartphone on the European market to feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon Elite. In China it shares this title with the Xiaomi 15, but this device has not yet arrived here. The Snapdragon Elite is a processor designed for smartphones, which should result in powerful performance.
The device is available with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage, or with 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of internal storage. There is even a version with 24 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage, but it doesn’t seem to be available in Europe. Considering the configurations available, we think you won’t miss anything.
-Large battery
The OnePlus 13 should also excel in battery life. On paper, the battery capacity is 6,000 mAh, which in practice is split between two 3,000 mAh batteries. This helps ensure better heat distribution during charging. This allows you to continue using the device while charging without the risk of overheating and also benefits battery life.
On the cable, the OnePlus 13 reaches a charging capacity of 100W. The smartphone is a bit finicky and will only reach its maximum charging capacity with a branded SuperVOOC charger. With the right charger, you’ll reach 100% in 36 minutes. Wireless charging can go up to 50W, giving you a full battery after 75 minutes.
No Hasselblad for the mouth
OnePlus is once again working with Hasselblad to design the cameras, just like its sister brand Oppo. The camera composition is not identical to that of the Oppo Find X8. The Oppo model featured a quad-camera setup, while the OnePlus 13 places three 50 MP cameras in the circular island.
The 50 MP main camera is assisted by a Sony LYT-808 sensor which lets in a lot of light. 2024 is the year of zoom cameras, and the Oppo Find (not so) secret weapon: AI. As soon as you zoom 10x, the AI takes over to ensure the sharpness of the image. Optical image stabilization reduces camera shake when you zoom.
OxygenOS 15
At launch, the OnePlus 13 comes with OxygenOS 15. This Android 15-based software is visually almost identical to Oppo’s ColorOS 15. Generally, OnePlus manages to control itself better than Oppo when it comes to allowing bloatware and we can only hope that remains the case with the latest model. The OnePlus 13 has six years of support.
OnePlus is not stingy when it comes to AI. OxygenOS 15 includes many AI features for photo and video, as well as message writing and text summarization. Smart Search is an AI feature that searches for information in locally saved files.
Available in black, white or blue, the OnePlus 13 costs 999 euros for the basic configuration (12 GB + 256 GB). For 16 GB + 256 GB, you will have to pay 1149 euros; Prices are inclusive of VAT.
