I’ve been using the OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R for the past month — through the 2024 holiday season and CES 2025 — which means I’ve put them through some of the lightest and busiest workloads. There is not much to complain about this new Android phone, which is good at everything. The premium OnePlus 13 has almost all the features you would expect in a modern flagship smartphone. The OnePlus 13 starts at $900 for the base 12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage version, slightly undercutting the competition, while the OnePlus 13R costs $600 – it has fewer specs than its sibling and lacks some features. The update for this generation is all about finesse. The software runs smoother, the battery lasts longer, the screen is brighter, and the phone is more water resistant. If you’re looking to switch phone brands and battery life is the number one priority on your list, this OnePlus phone is worth considering. A look at the DoubleOnePlus 13 (left) and OnePlus 13R (right) Photo: Julian Chokkattu The OnePlus 13 and 13R look similar but have some slight differences in dimensions – the flagship has a 6.82-inch screen, while the lower-end phone has a 6.82-inch screen . 6.78-inch display. The most obvious difference between the pair is the Hasselblad branding on the OnePlus 13, plus the curved edges around the screen. The OnePlus 13R has flat edges, which I prefer because it’s easier to hold. There’s a fun marble-like pattern on the OnePlus 13 and a brushed look on the 13R, but nothing as gorgeous as last year’s OnePlus 12 and 12R- emerald and ice blue are the chef’s kiss. There’s a nice “Midnight Ocean” color this year for the OnePlus 13, which has a luxurious microfiber vegan leather material, but I didn’t get a chance to try it. OnePlus has finally upgraded the water resistance of its top-end devices. Now, you get a combined IP68 and IP69 rating, which means the OnePlus 13 can be submerged in up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes and withstand heavy rain. That finally made him equal with his friends. The display uses Ceramic Guard, which is OnePlus’ take on Apple’s Ceramic Glass, and is said to be stronger than Victus’ Gorilla Glass found on other phones. Glass is still glass, and you need to use a screen protector—my iPhone 16 Plus screen cracked when I tried it. Speaking of the screen, the 120-Hz OLED display is sharp, colorful, and smooth. The only difference besides the size is the sharpness, although by default the OnePlus 13 is set to a lower resolution to save battery life. Both look amazing, but my only complaint is that I have to manually adjust the brightness slider more often than on other Android phones—this device just keeps dimming the brightness for me. The OnePlus 13R gets an IP65 rating, which is OK with rain but can’t survive a dip in a pool. It is also one of the first to use Corning’s Gorilla Glass 7i, which is a budget to midrange offering from the glass manufacturer, so don’t expect the same level of durability, although it should be compared if not better than phones at this price. . The rest of the hardware is all there, and the OnePlus Alert Slider makes me wish every phone had a slide switch to transition from Mute, Vibrate, and Loud (ahem, Apple). I don’t mind the egregiously large camera bump.
