I used the OnePlus 12 extensively, and whereas I did not get to check the OnePlus 13 simply but, let’s check out what you get with the brand new machine, and whether or not you must wait till it goes on sale or purchase the OnePlus 12 proper now.
You get the most recent internals
(Picture credit score: Qualcomm)
Like most different 2025 Android telephones, the OnePlus 13 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite. Clearly, there’s quite a lot of pleasure within the newest Qualcomm platform given the sizeable upgrades — together with the customized cores — and it is going to be attention-grabbing to see how these maintain up in every day use.
The OnePlus 12 is not any slouch on this regard, however the OnePlus 13 ought to ship significant features. That stated, it stays to be seen should you’ll really be capable of use the {hardware} to its potential; OxygenOS throttles most video games to 60fps, so even when the {hardware} theoretically permits 120fps gaming, the software program wants further tweaks.
Though the remainder of the {hardware} is comparatively unchanged, you get different niceties, together with IP69 mud and water resistance . Whereas IP68 remains to be nice, the brand new commonplace safeguards in opposition to water jets along with submersion, making the machine that rather more resilient.
It ought to take even higher photographs
(Picture credit score: OnePlus / Weibo)
The OnePlus 13 makes use of the identical 50MP f/1.6 predominant digital camera as final yr, and that is not a nasty factor in any respect. The sensor is clearly among the many finest round, and we must always get higher photographs and movies with improved tuning.
What I am enthusiastic about is the auxiliary cameras; the OnePlus 13 has 50MP wide-angle and telephoto cameras, they usually’re the identical as those on the Discover X8 Professional . That ought to give the machine a substantial edge; whereas I typically just like the OnePlus 12, its auxiliary lenses do not fairly measure up, so it is good to see that altering this yr.
There is a huge battery
(Picture credit score: OnePlus)
One of many greatest modifications with the OnePlus 13 is the battery dimension. The telephone includes a huge 6000mAh battery, and what’s attention-grabbing is that OnePlus is utilizing silicon-carbon battery tech . The battery makes use of a silicon-based anode, and this permits higher density, permitting the model to make use of an even bigger battery with out growing the dimensions of the machine.
Because of this, though the OnePlus 13 has a battery that is 500mAh bigger, it’s thinner and 7g lighter than the OnePlus 12, and that is a giant deal. The silicon-carbon tech additionally has higher sturdiness, and that must be noticeable after two to 3 years of use. You continue to get 100W charging tech, however the charging time is barely longer because the machine is utilizing a single 6000mAh cell this time.
Why you should not wait — the OnePlus 12 has a greater design
(Picture credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)
The OnePlus 13 clearly has loads going for it, and whereas I am trying ahead to testing the machine, I am not a fan of the brand new design. OnePlus telephones have at all times adopted the same design aesthetic — going all the way in which again to the OnePlus 3 — that was characterised by clean curves and a “horizon line” that made the gadgets nice to carry and use.
However the OnePlus 13 switches to a blocky design with flat sides, and that simply does not look as thrilling to me. The renders recommend that the machine has beveled edges, so it will not be as uncomfortable to carry because the iPhone 16 Professional Max , but it surely nonetheless does not have the identical class because the OnePlus 12.
The OnePlus 12 is rather more inexpensive
(Picture credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)
One other issue to think about with the OnePlus 13 is that it comes with a noticeable worth hike. Though the machine ought to nonetheless value lower than the Pixel 9 Professional XL and the upcoming Galaxy S25+ , there may be prone to be a $100 improve over the OnePlus 12 whenever you account for what the OnePlus 13 is promoting for in China.
Meaning you will have to pay as a lot as $899 to get your arms on the machine in most international markets. To place issues into context, the OnePlus 12 is routinely obtainable for $649, and it’ll go right down to $599 throughout the upcoming vacation gross sales window.
The OnePlus 13 is a greater total machine, however is it price $300 extra? I do not assume so at this second in time. Clearly, I have never used the machine but, so I am unable to make any qualitative judgement on this regard, however the telephone improve cycle is such that you do not get too many noticeable features year-on-year.
The OnePlus 13 will probably be a substantial improve should you’re on an older machine, however even then, the OnePlus 12 is simply pretty much as good a selection. If I needed to put my very own cash on the desk, I am choosing the OnePlus 12 as a substitute of ready for the OnePlus 13.
The OnePlus 12 remains to be a unbelievable telephone, and whereas the OnePlus 13 does include a number of upgrades, it is costlier. In case you want a brand new telephone, my suggestion can be to get the OnePlus 12 whereas it is on sale.
