And since I’m unimpressed with Samsung and Google’s digicam efficiency and the battery life on the Galaxy S24 and Pixel 9 Professional, I’ve my sights on the OnePlus 13.
The jaw-dropping 6,000 mAh battery with super-fast wired charging and magnetic wi-fi charging; class-leading Snapdragon Elite chip, and spectacular digicam system, make the just-launched OnePlus 13 presumably the strongest Android contender to switch my iPhone (for now).
The issue (if it wasn’t already clear) is that the OnePlus 13 is lacking one factor I actually worth in a cellphone – a manageable measurement for one-handed use.
And for a second yr in a row, I’m asking… Why?
The OnePlus 13 wants a Plus Another than ever now: Is OnePlus leaving cash on the desk?
As I alluded within the intro, I don’t think about the Galaxy S24 a viable various to the brand new iPhone 16 Professional just because it’s not one of the best Galaxy Samsung makes – as a result of the South Korean firm retains refusing to make a smaller model of the “Extremely” Galaxy.
Alternatively, the opposite “apparent” various to the iPhone 16 Professional, the Pixel 9 Professional is extremely underpowered for the issues I have to get completed – for instance, video enhancing. The Pixel can take 3 minutes to avoid wasting a video edit the iPhone saves with a single click on.
OnePlus 13 is the proper Android alternative for my iPhone 15 Professional Max – however not the proper various for the compact iPhone 16 Professional
That leaves me with the OnePlus 13, which appears and feels extra premium than the Galaxy S24, and can run circles round it when it comes to battery life. In the meantime, it demolishes the Tensor G4 within the Pixel 9 Professional in efficiency.
To get right into a bit extra element, right here’s why I think about the OnePlus 13 the primary Android candidate for changing my iPhone 15 Professional Max:
- Magnetic wi-fi charging (MagSafe)
- iPhone-grade vibration motor (presumably higher)
- iPhone-grade efficiency (presumably higher – on paper)
- Alert slider – to switch the iPhone’s Motion Button
- Ultrasonic fingerprint reader (needs to be as quick as Face ID)
- Very beneficiant storage and RAM choices – 256/12GB on the bottom mannequin
- Flat show with 3D curved glass and symmetrical borders
- Stunning finnish (in Blue and perhaps White)
- Lighter than Apple, Samsung, and Google’s massive flagships
- Succesful triple 50MP digicam system with pure colours within the Hasselblad mode
- Dramatically quicker wired and wi-fi charging than every other mainstream flagship
- Enormous 6,000 mAh battery, which may very effectively compensate for Android’s lack of battery optimization and convey the OnePlus 13’s endurance up on par with the iPhone’s
- Regardless of the anticipated worth hike within the US and Europe, the OnePlus 13 will definitely be cheaper than the likes of the iPhone 16 Professional Max, Galaxy S25 Extremely, and Pixel 9 Professional XL
I get why OnePlus has determined to make solely a big variant of the OnePlus 13, however why miss out on the chance created by the battery revolution?
These MAGNETIC circumstances look scrumptious.
Nonetheless, judging on my own, buddies, and household, there are nonetheless sooo many individuals preferring telephones with smaller screens – one thing within the 6.2 – 6.4-inch vary, or in different phrases, iPhone 16 – Galaxy S24 – Pixel 9 Professional territory.
To not point out that now could be one of the best time to make a compact cellphone, which might pack a big battery. As confirmed by the likes of the Vivo X200 Mini Professional and OnePlus 15, which pack big 5,600 mAh cells whereas being the scale of the iPhone 16 Professional.
Since 2022, the corporate has determined that one “Professional-grade” flagship is sufficient, which is how we ended up with the OnePlus 10 Professional, OnePlus 11, OnePlus 12, and the most recent OnePlus 13.
May the OnePlus Open 2 be the best way to go if you need a OnePlus flagship you need to use with one AND two fingers?
That being mentioned, there’s One a lot much less apparent various to compact iPhone, Galaxy, and Pixel flagships that might very seize my consideration, and that’s the lately rumored OnePlus Open 2, which ought to have precisely what the OnePlus 13 doesn’t – a smaller (cowl) show – probably within the 6.4-inch vary.
As somebody who’s been utilizing the Pixel 9 Professional Fold since launch, I’ve grown used to the concept of a folding cellphone, so I wouldn’t thoughts the form-factor in any respect. In actual fact, it comes with a ton of advantages (which I don’t be stepping into now).
Nonetheless, the massive hurdle on the best way goes to be the value of the OnePlus Open 2, which (a minimum of in Europe) is likely to be near double that of the OnePlus 13. And naturally, folding telephones aren’t for everyone.
Which suggests the one strategy to wrap up this story is to ask OnePlus to make a smaller OnePlus 14 – as a result of the OnePlus Open can’t be the cellphone I like to recommend to those that desire a one-hand pleasant OnePlus flagship.
And I do know the 2025 smartphone development can be going slimmer however… let’s go smaller too, OnePlus? Let’s go… Minus? IDK, IDK…
