2024 might need a few months left in it, however we’re already getting a head begin on 2025 flagships. Not lengthy after Xiaomi confirmed off its newest trio of flagships, OnePlus is right here with its personal Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered machine. Regardless of the early announcement, although, you will have to hold ready for the OnePlus 13 to really hit the US. As with earlier OnePlus launches, this one is China-exclusive in the intervening time — however that does not imply we do not get a very good preview of what is to come back.
Regardless of the up-and-down nature of OnePlus — normally nice {hardware}, often unhealthy software program — I am unable to assist however really feel fairly excited for the OnePlus 13. This yr’s 12-series provided two implausible experiences at glorious costs, and if this machine can do that when it hits North America, it might give Samsung a critical run for its cash. And, in my eyes, the most important change of all occurs to be one I have been begging for for years, one that would make the OnePlus 13 my most popular every day driver in 2025.
Say goodbye (principally) to curved screens
A flatter, edgier OnePlus is in your future
Supply: OnePlus
Sure, the 6.82-inch show is now flat — properly, type of. It is nonetheless utilizing 2.5D curved glass that wraps into the flat body alongside the sting of the telephone. We’ll need to see the way it feels after we get our palms on the machine within the months to come back, however regardless, it ought to symbolize a giant improve over the curved panels used on older OnePlus units. As typical, this AMOLED panel has all of the bells and whistles you possibly can ask for, together with a 120Hz refresh price with LTPO help, 1,600 nits of peak brightness in excessive brightness mode, and full HDR help.
It is not the one factor that is new and improved right here. OnePlus telephones are, historically, battery champs — albeit often at the price of delayed notifications because of some critical app deep sleeping — and the OnePlus 13 ought to be no completely different. With an enormous 6,000mAh cell, I might be hard-pressed to think about killing this factor in a single day with out making an attempt, however in the event you do, it nonetheless helps the same old 100W fast-charging and 50W wi-fi fast-charging speeds you’ve got come to anticipate from the model. (We anticipate the North American mannequin to cost at 80W.)
Bear in mind, a few of these specs could change on the North American mannequin.
Sadly, it isn’t all excellent news on the battery entrance. We would heard by means of the rumor mill that the OnePlus 13 may turn out to be one of many first main Android flagships to help Qi2 charging, however it looks as if that is not the case. Whereas OnePlus is promoting first-party instances that embody magnetic equipment, the telephones themselves don’t truly help the usual. Bummer. We’ll have to attend and see if these instances make their method to North America within the coming months.
Supply: OnePlus
A few different smaller adjustments spherical out the record, together with a swap to an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and a lift to IP69 water and dirt resistance, making it the primary main smartphone in my reminiscence to take action. Based on the IEC’s personal metrics, the distinction between IPX8 and IPX9 water resistance comes all the way down to excessive stress and excessive temperatures, moderately than simply being protected in opposition to full immersion. In different phrases, your bathe simply acquired a complete lot much less harmful in your future OnePlus 13.
In any other case, this looks as if a fairly commonplace follow-up to the OnePlus 12. The design, whereas refreshed, is not out of left discipline by any means — simply have a look at how the digicam module stays mainly the identical — although it does are available in some glorious new colours, together with a stunning blue-and-silver mixture in vegan leather-based. OnePlus can be incorporating 50MP sensors throughout the board, with the same old Hasselblad coloration tuning.
Supply: OnePlus
In China, the OnePlus 13 begins at CNY 4,799 ($675), which represents a small worth bump over final yr’s OnePlus 12. It is out there in configurations of 12GB, 16GB, and 24GB of RAM — excellent for the AI-focused OxygenOS 15 replace introduced final week — together with as much as 1TB of storage. As for when it will make its means over to the US, historical past suggests a few two month wait. Mark these calendars for early January — it’s going to be flagship season earlier than you understand it. Let’s hope the launch goes higher than it has in current historical past.
OnePlus 13
The OnePlus 13 is official — in China, that’s. After weeks of rumors, we lastly know what’s coming for the subsequent flagship for OnePlus. With a recent design, a (principally) curveless show, and an enormous 6,000mAh battery, this could possibly be the Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered smartphone to beat as soon as it touches down in North America within the coming months.
