"Never Settle." That’s been OnePlus' motto since it was founded in 2013. The company has released some impressive devices, but nearly all of them had some feature that felt like a compromise. However, the OnePlus 13 finally feels like the phone that truly doesn’t settle in any significant way, kicking off 2025 with an absolute hit.
Hardware
All the Right Changes
OnePlus has consistently produced solid smartphone hardware over the years, but there have always been a few minor flaws that held them back. With the OnePlus 13, however, those issues seem to be a thing of the past, and the hardware feels truly perfected.
For me, the standout feature is the side rails. The metal frame is flat, but the edge has just the right subtle curve, making the transition from the edge to the display and back panel barely noticeable. It’s not a traditional curve, but it gives the phone a smooth, almost seamless feel. This design choice also adds to the phone’s overall sturdiness, though OnePlus devices have always been known for their durability.
Another big improvement is how the OnePlus 13 feels in hand, even without a case—a major step up from previous models that often felt awkward or too slippery without protection.
Some features that first appeared on the OnePlus 12 also make a return, like the redesigned button layout and the inclusion of an IR blaster. The buttons are responsive and ergonomically placed, making the overall layout comfortable to use (though I still don't use the Alert Slider as much as I’d like). Meanwhile, the IR blaster adds a touch of nostalgia, providing a useful way to control compatible devices.
Perhaps the most notable improvement overall is OnePlus' renewed focus on the materials used for the back of the phone.
In the early generations, OnePlus stood out for its attention to detail with the backplate, with textures like “sandstone” setting it apart from other smartphones. This year, it feels like OnePlus is returning to those roots, bringing back that sense of uniqueness and craftsmanship to the back design.
In the "black" and "white" color options, the material changes aren’t as pronounced. The "black" version features a faux wood grain texture you can feel, but it's still primarily frosted glass. The "white" variant is essentially frosted glass as well, though OnePlus claims its manufacturing process ensures the durability isn’t compromised. While these finishes are appealing, they still stand out in a world where many brands are opting for increasingly generic designs.
The standout choice, however, is the "Midnight Blue" version, which OnePlus has crafted using a "microfiber vegan leather" material.
The "Midnight Blue" microfiber vegan leather is an excellent choice, though it does come with a slight flaw.
Starting with the feel in hand, the faux leather texture is softer and more unique compared to other attempts at similar materials. It’s grippy and feels durable, and after a few weeks of use, there’s been no noticeable wear, which is promising.
Initially, I was a bit unsure about the texture, especially given how OnePlus describes it. When you hear “leather,” whether vegan or not, you expect a certain feel. The softness of the material didn’t quite match that expectation at first—it felt more like fabric than leather, since, technically, that’s what it is. However, to OnePlus’ credit, as I’ve used the phone more, the finish has started to feel more like real leather, leaning closer to a suede texture. While I still think calling it “vegan leather” out of the box is a bit misleading, it’s gradually resembling that quality with time. It’ll be interesting to see how it holds up in a few months.
Finally, a 'Flat' Display
The biggest and most welcome change in the OnePlus 13 is undoubtedly the display, particularly due to the glass covering it. The curved edges are gone, and OnePlus has embraced a more practical "flat" display design. This means no more dealing with constant reflections along the sides, accidental touches, or the frustration of finding a screen protector for a curved screen.
That said, the display isn't entirely flat like the latest Galaxy, Pixel, or iPhone models. Instead, OnePlus has returned to the 2.5D glass used in previous years, which offers a slight curve at the edges. This curve adds durability, as glass tends to be more resilient when it’s curved, making it a better choice than a completely flat panel. It also improves ergonomics slightly, as the gentle curve blends more naturally with the metal frame. Overall, this is a huge win—finally, the dreaded curved edges are a thing of the past.
OnePlus has made an interesting choice by not using Gorilla Glass for the display. Instead, they’ve opted for “Crystal Shield,” a ceramic glass from BBK (OnePlus’ parent company). This material is said to offer improved drop resistance, though visually, it doesn't seem to offer a noticeable difference. Additionally, the pre-installed screen protector still scratches easily.
As for the display itself, it's predictably excellent. The 6.82-inch panel is undeniably large but doesn’t feel overwhelming in use. It’s incredibly bright, reaching up to 4,500 nits in HDR and 1,600 nits in high-brightness mode. In everyday use, this means the display remains perfectly legible in virtually any lighting condition.
Software & Performance
OxygenOS Keeps Fixing All the Little Quirks
In the early days, OnePlus gained praise for its software, which was clean, close to stock Android, and highly customizable. However, that all changed when OxygenOS started to mirror Oppo’s ColorOS, which detracted from the overall experience. In every OnePlus review since, I’ve had to mention the quirks and issues that came with OxygenOS. But with OxygenOS 15, I think they’ve finally gotten it right.
The more I use OxygenOS 15, the harder it becomes to find any significant issues. The software feels polished, and the small problems that once plagued it seem to have been addressed.
OxygenOS remains, by nature, a heavy Android skin—it doesn’t resemble the “traditional” Android experience you’d find on a Pixel. However, it’s incredibly fast and smooth, which has been a core focus for OnePlus in recent years. While I’m not bothered by the typical animation tests that claim to prove a device’s smoothness, it’s hard to ignore just how fluid OxygenOS 15 feels. Of course, part of that is thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, but the year-over-year improvement is immediately noticeable.
In terms of software, many of the quirks I’ve had issues with in the past are now gone. For example, you can now reclaim the notification tray by splitting the Quick Settings into a separate pane (something I surprisingly came to enjoy), and app info is accessible directly from the multitasking page. There are also some new additions that I genuinely like, such as replacing traditional multitasking with Open Canvas on slab-style smartphones. Open Canvas, which was my favorite feature on the OnePlus Open, makes using multiple apps on a regular smartphone just a bit more bearable. Though I don’t use it frequently, I appreciate having it as an option. I’ve also come to enjoy the Dynamic Island-inspired feature that occasionally pops up, like when listening to music or adjusting the ringer mode. It’s subtle but often quite useful.
In the end, OxygenOS 15 really comes down to personal preference. If you prefer “stock” Android, you may not be fond of OxygenOS. Similarly, if you’re a fan of Samsung’s One UI, it might not be for you either. However, I believe Oppo/OnePlus have created an experience that carves out its own space. It’s not trying to replicate either of those other interfaces, but it strikes a nice balance, feeling familiar yet offering enough unique features that make using the device enjoyable. I no longer feel like I'm battling the OS to accomplish simple tasks.
The one lingering issue is the software update situation. While OnePlus promises 4 years of Android updates and 6 years of security updates, these updates still arrive only bi-monthly at best, and often with delays. With Android 15, OnePlus did manage to roll out stable updates quite quickly, so I’m hopeful that this marks a shift toward more timely updates moving forward.
Snapdragon 8 Elite: A Bigger Powerhouse Than Most People Need
As mentioned, the OnePlus 13 is powered by Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Elite, which features the new Oryon cores. This chip is a true powerhouse. However, in day-to-day use, most users will never tap into its full potential. During moderate gaming and regular tasks, I never encountered any performance issues, and I never came close to pushing the chip to its limits.
The key takeaway here is that Qualcomm, like Apple, has developed a chip with a higher performance ceiling. This means it will remain relevant for several years, ensuring that the 6-year support timeline for the OnePlus 13 won’t be limited by the device starting to feel slow.
Battery Life
A Little Underwhelming, but Still Incredible
The OnePlus 13 comes with a massive 6,000 mAh battery, which is a great upgrade. The 600 mAh increase over the previous generation places it in a whole new league compared to most smartphones available in the US, with the OnePlus 12 already standing out for its battery performance.
However, the battery life wasn’t quite as much of a leap as I had hoped. While it’s undeniably impressive, I didn’t experience the huge improvement I expected. In daily use, it's almost impossible to drain the battery in a single day, and if used conservatively, it could potentially last two days. I tested this a few times but always ended up a few hours short. This was surprising, given early tests suggested significant improvements in battery life with the Snapdragon 8 Elite. Regardless, achieving over 6 hours of screen time is easily possible with the OnePlus 13, and when it’s time to charge, you can top up quickly with 80W charging—though it's worth noting that the charging brick is not included.
No Qi2, and Cases Don’t Count
One of the biggest disappointments with the OnePlus 13 is that it doesn’t support Qi2. There are no magnets built into the phone, which means it can’t fully take advantage of Qi2 functionality. Instead, OnePlus offers a range of first-party cases featuring "Mag"—their own attempt to mimic Qi2 functionality. However, Qi2 requires magnets in the device itself, not just in the case, so this is only a partial solution.
That said, the cases are decent. The "Mag" system is compatible with MagSafe and Qi2 accessories, as well as a new wireless charging adapter that can output 50W to the OnePlus 13. This charger, however, is a bit overpriced at $80, especially since it doesn’t include a charger or even a cable. That said, it works well and will likely appeal to gamers who appreciate the combination of fast charging and the built-in cooling fan.
Camera
In a Word… Stunning
OnePlus has struggled with camera performance in the past, but over the last couple of years, they’ve been quickly refining their approach. With the OnePlus 13, I think they've truly perfected it.
The OnePlus 12 already had a very good camera, but it still had some consistency issues. The OnePlus 13 addresses those, delivering more reliable results and a distinctive photographic style. Much like the early Pixels, OnePlus now embraces strong contrast and natural shadows, creating images that have a timeless, almost cinematic quality to them.
OnePlus has also focused on capturing motion this year, with burst mode being especially good at freezing fast-moving moments. The results are particularly impressive when shooting things like splashes of water, which I tested during a water acrobatics show. Some shots come out incredibly clean and crisp. However, this motion-capturing ability is limited to burst mode, so normal photos may struggle with capturing motion effectively. Still, it performs better than most Samsung devices in this area.
The big comparison, of course, is with Google’s Pixel. While I’ve long praised Google for its consistency, I believe OnePlus is now consistently producing better images on average. There are occasional missteps with the OnePlus camera that the Pixel avoids, but as Google moves away from its high-contrast style, OnePlus is stepping in to offer a more dynamic approach. The OnePlus 13’s camera isn’t perfect—there are some occasional failures, as you can see in my full-size samples on Google Photos—but overall, it’s impressively good.
Ultrasonic Fingerprint Sensor
One noticeable change in the OnePlus 13 is the switch to an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, replacing the optical sensor used in previous models. This change is a clear improvement—the new sensor no longer causes the blinding light at night that the old one did. It’s just as fast and accurate as before, but the overall experience is better thanks to this adjustment.
Face unlock remains available, but it still offers the same level of security—or lack thereof. It can only be used to bypass the lockscreen, and I didn’t feel the need to set it up beyond a quick test. It works just as well as before, but there’s no improvement in the experience, particularly when using both face and fingerprint unlock together, which is something only Google’s Pixel seems to handle well.
What Does IP68 and IP69 Even Mean?
One of the key selling points for the OnePlus 13 is that it’s the only device in the US equipped with both IP68 and IP69 dust/water resistance. But what does that actually mean?
IP68 is a well-known rating that indicates the device is protected against dust and can withstand being submerged in water. The addition of IP69 means that the OnePlus 13 can also handle exposure to high-pressure, high-temperature water jets up to 174°F (78°C). OnePlus claims this makes the phone capable of surviving conditions like a washing machine or dishwasher, though they also mentioned cooking oil in a media briefing—though frying oil typically exceeds 300°F, so that example doesn’t quite add up.
The takeaway here is that with this added protection, you have less to worry about when your phone gets wet. I got a chance to put this to the test at a water park, taking the OnePlus 13 down waterslides and into pools. Although it felt a bit wrong, the device held up just fine.
Final Thoughts
The OnePlus 13 truly lives up to its promise of not settling. It boasts fast, polished software, a fantastic display, the best battery life of any flagship Android phone today, a stunning camera, and excellent hardware. While there are some valid concerns, such as the software update cadence and the lack of Qi2 support, none of these issues really detract from the overall experience.
For once, OnePlus has genuinely delivered on its “Never Settle” tagline, a phrase that in recent years has often felt more like a marketing gimmick than a commitment.
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