Essentially the most main improve anticipated to set the OnePlus 13 aside from the likes of the Galaxy S24/S25 collection, the Pixel 9, and iPhone 16 is the brand new SiC battery on board, which is rumored to be of at the least 6,000 mAh.
The cherry on high is 100W wired charging in addition to the power to not solely fast-charge the cellphone wirelessly (50W) but in addition do it magnetically – like an iPhone. And the jaw-dropping spec sheet doesn’t finish there…
The brand new “Snapdragon 8 Elite” chip (which is shaping as much as go away Apple and MediaTek within the mud) with as much as 24GB(!) RAM mixed with the fluidity of Oxygen OS may very effectively make the OnePlus 13 the efficiency champ of 2024-2025.
Now, imagine it or not, regardless of all of that… this text isn’t precisely a “constructive” tackle the OnePlus 13. And I believe most of us will agree on the explanation why…
OnePlus 13 may’ve been “excellent” however OnePlus pulled a Google: What occurred to the signature digital camera island of the OnePlus 12?
The blue OnePlus 13 seems to be elegant however I discover the opposite two variants somewhat too bland.
Fortunately, OnePlus appears to have carried out the latter, however this doesn’t imply I’m not mildly annoyed (that’s mainly my job in any case).
To start out with the constructive sides of the design of the OnePlus 13 – that is the primary OnePlus that (appears) to have symmetrical show borders with a 3D curved glass, and that’s an extended overdue win in my e-book.
The cellphone can even be thinner than the OnePlus 12, and presumably, lighter, which is at all times a welcome improve – particularly in relation to massive telephones (which it very a lot can be).
Additionally… Can we discuss that blue eco leather-based variant?! I’ve mentioned it a number of instances right here – I just about by no means are inclined to go for blue telephones however this yr’s iPhone 16 and the OnePlus 13 are making me rethink my colour preferences.
The blue leather-based variant of the OnePlus 13 has probably the most modern/skilled cellphone design I’ve seen shortly.
OnePlus 13 has misplaced its character for no cause in any respect – drops the distinctive digital camera island from the OnePlus 12, OnePlus 11, OnePlus 10
The OnePlus 12 had some character, and the OnePlus 13 doesn’t.
However that’s the place the compliments will finish, and the reason being fairly apparent to any cellphone nerd… The place did the digital camera island that melts into the steel body go, OnePlus?! Everybody appears to love this distinctive design factor, which has develop into your “factor” because of being a part of the OnePlus 12, OnePlus 11, and the OnePlus 10.
After all, there’s at all times the prospect the explanation for this determination was on account of {hardware} constraints, however I actually don’t see why this might be the case. Positive, the body of the OnePlus 13 is now flat however this doesn’t imply the melting digital camera island is inconceivable to attain – to not point out the precise again of the cellphone remains to be curved (for the sake of ergonomics).
What occurred right here kind of jogs my memory of the time when Google got here up with the killer Pixel 6 collection design (which made the Pixel 6 appear to be probably the most distinctive cellphone from the again), however dropped the symmetrical show of the Pixel 5.
To not point out the time when Google went forward and removed the black digital camera visor the very subsequent yr with the Pixel 7 collection. I used to be by no means a fan of this determination, and the identical stands true for the OnePlus 12 > OnePlus 13 digital camera design change.
Why lose just about the one design factor that makes your cellphone stand out in a cellphone market already saturated with units that appear and feel 95% similar?
Now, is that this a dealbreaker? Not, completely not. Nevertheless it’s such a weird transfer – particularly at a time when actually all flagship telephones have adopted a flat show with a flat body and appear and feel similar.
And for those who dwell in Asia, the cherry on high is that OnePlus’ sister firm (Oppo) has additionally ruined the gorgeous look of the Oppo Discover X6 and X7 to go together with one thing far more fundamental. So, I suppose everyone seems to be getting equally screwed.
And I nonetheless fail to notice why…