5 causes I am not spending my cash on the OnePlus 13

The OnePlus 13 is without doubt one of the finest Android telephones to launch this yr. It undercuts its flagship rivals whereas packing virtually the identical options and specs. Nonetheless, OnePlus’ latest flagship shouldn’t be excellent. It has some drawbacks, and regardless of being a noticeable improve from earlier OnePlus telephones, it will not be value your cash. This is why I am skipping the OnePlus 13 and why you must contemplate its options.

5

No Qi2 assist

You will need to use a case for magnetic wi-fi charging

The dearth of native Qi2 assist on the OnePlus 13 is a bummer. It is not a brand new wi-fi charging customary. The Wi-fi Energy Consortium introduced it at CES 2023 and launched the ultimate specs within the second half of the yr. Just like the Samsung Galaxy S25, the OnePlus 13 lacks assist for the usual.

OnePlus sells magnetic instances that add MagSafe-like performance to the OnePlus 13. Nevertheless, this isn’t the identical as native assist. You’ll be able to solely get pleasure from magnetic wi-fi charging whenever you use a appropriate case.

The OnePlus 13’s lack of native Qi2 assist may not be a dealbreaker for most individuals. Nevertheless, if you happen to choose to make use of your cellphone bare, this can be an enormous difficulty.

4

Lack of compelling AI options

Not an AI-first cellphone

AI goes to be the most well liked pattern in smartphones this yr. Everybody from Samsung to Google to Apple is leaping on the AI bandwagon, including as many AI-powered options to their telephones as attainable. Nevertheless, the OnePlus 13 misses that pattern, solely packing AI options you will discover on mid-range and premium Android telephones. This consists of Circle to Search, a Magic Eraser-like object removing instrument within the Gallery app, and AI notes.

A latest replace additionally added real-time language translation when paired with the OnePlus Buds 3 Professional. Nonetheless, not one of the AI options are particular or stand out. They’re good and do the job, however they will not enhance your workflow or make the OnePlus 13 an AI-first cellphone.

The Galaxy S25 or Google Pixel 9 is a greater purchase if you’d like an AI-first cellphone. These telephones pack compelling AI options, together with utilizing Gemini for multi-action instructions throughout apps. These telephones are first in line to get new AI options, which may take months to reach on the OnePlus 13.

3

Solely 3x optical zoom

It is good, however a 5x lens would have been higher

One of the best flagship telephones from Samsung, Google, and Apple ship with a telephoto shooter providing 5x optical zoom. The OnePlus 13’s telephoto shooter has a 3x optical vary. It makes use of AI to supply as much as 120x zoom, however this trickery solely works in daylight. The Pixels, iPhones, and Galaxies take higher footage with their telephoto shooters in low gentle and indoors.

Together with a 5x telephoto shooter may not appear to be an enormous deal to many, particularly because the OnePlus 13’s up to date 3x digital camera takes nice photographs. Nevertheless, whenever you get used to clicking footage at 120mm focal size, there isn’t any going again. It offers extra flexibility and helps you seize photographs with new views.

Should you do not care a lot about your cellphone’s zoom digital camera efficiency, the shortage of a 5x shooter on the OnePlus 13 may not be a dealbreaker. Nevertheless, having skilled telephones with distinctive long-range zoom capabilities over time, the shortage of this function makes the OnePlus 13 a non-starter.

2

4 years of OS updates

That is not sufficient for a flagship cellphone in 2025

The OnePlus 13 prices $900 within the US. It is a incredible worth for a cellphone packing top-notch {hardware}. Nevertheless, OnePlus’ lackluster software program assist holds it again. Regardless of its highly effective internals, the OnePlus 13 is restricted to 4 years of OS updates, making it really feel underwhelming for a flagship gadget.

For comparability, the $800 Pixel 9 will get seven years of OS updates. Equally, Samsung guarantees seven years of OS updates for the Galaxy S24 and S25 lineup.

OnePlus doesn’t need to match Google and Samsung’s software program assist with its flagship telephones. Given its beefy internals, the corporate ought to have promised at the least 5 years of OS updates on the OnePlus 13.

Contemplating that each one flagship telephones launch with 5 or extra years of software program assist, that is the minimal that OnePlus ought to have accomplished.

1

Restricted provider availability

OnePlus’ Achilles heel within the US

If you’re able to signal a two-year or three-year contract together with your provider, you will get the Pixel 9 or Galaxy S25 for nearly free. Nevertheless, that is not the case with the OnePlus 13. It has the required bands to work throughout all main US carriers, however none formally carry the cellphone. You will need to purchase the cellphone by means of Amazon or OnePlus’ on-line retailer within the US. Financing choices can be found however are usually not as enticing because the affords that T-Cell, AT&T, and Verizon present for Google and Samsung telephones.

Whereas this may not trouble most tech nerds, it may be a hurdle when convincing a buddy or member of the family accustomed to purchasing telephones by means of their provider, the place the fee is bundled reasonably than paid upfront or individually. Many individuals will skip shopping for the OnePlus 13 due to its unavailability in US provider shops.

Contemplate these OnePlus 13 options as an alternative

If the OnePlus 13 would not have all of the options you need, take a look at the Google Pixel 9 Professional and Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely. Whereas each are dearer than OnePlus’ flagship, they make up for it with their expansive options. They embrace a succesful 5x telephoto shooter, lengthy software program assist, and a number of other AI options. You will get them throughout all main US carriers with tempting trade-in offers and affords.