OnePlus ended 2024 with some really interesting announcements. It wasn’t the best year for the BBK-owned brand in India, but after getting 
OnePlus 13 primary camera samples (tap images to expand)
The primary camera produces sharp photos with good colour reproduction. It manages to maintain a good balance of contrast and delivers good dynamic range in challenging shooting scenarios. Low-light shooting is also handled well, providing ample dynamic range and showing good detail in the dark and bright areas of an image. The 2X zoom selection, a crop from the primary camera, remains the same as before, with images that have lower quality no matter the lighting condition.
The new trisprism camera performs well at 3X (top) and 6X (bottom) magnification (tap images to expand)
The 3X triprism telephoto camera is quite the sharpshooter. In fact, even the lossless 6X magnification images it produces are excellent in terms of detail. While its capabilities are commendable in low light, the photos aren’t as sharp as those produced by the old OnePlus 12’s 64-megapixel camera, as can be seen in the two samples below.
The 6x lossless telephoto image captured by the OnePlus 12 (bottom) appears a lot sharper and detailed compared to the OnePlus 13’s image (top) (tap to expand images)
Another detail to point out here is that the new triprism camera also does not let me get close to a subject compared to the fantastic near-focusing capability (1 foot from the subject) of the older telephoto camera. The OnePlus 13’s camera system is also very quick to switch to a cropped view from the primary camera (at 3X) whenever you get closer than 3-4 feet from your subject. In short, this new telephoto is a bit of a downgrade, even though it helped make the OnePlus 13 slimmer.
OnePlus 13 ultrawide camera sample (tap image to expand)
The ultrawide camera is a nice upgrade to the previous model. It keeps the barrel distortion under control while maintaining enough detail. This also applies to low-light shooting, which produces clean images with little noise.
In terms of colour processing, every camera seems to want to do its own thing, as can be seen from the collage above. However, shot-to-shot consistency when using the same camera is good and dependable. If you need to get more accurate colours, it’s best to switch to OnePlus’ Master mode.
AI Zoom OFF (Top), AI Zoom ON (bottom) (tap images to expand)
As for Zoom, just like the Find X8 Pro, the OnePlus 13 activates AI Zoom once you reach 60X. The outcomes are unpredictable and rely on the creativity of the AI model. I found the images captured till 10X to be usable, beyond which the image quality noticeably deteriorates.
OnePlus 13 selfie camera sample (tap image to expand)
Selfies captured in daylight appeared sharp and crisp with good edge detection, while low-light captures remain the same as before, which is a bit soft.
When recording 4K video at 30 fps, the OnePlus 13 manages softer videos with less detail versus the OnePlus 12. The video quality is still commendable compared to other offerings at this price point. 4K 60 fps offers the best quality possible with reduced noise, good stabilisation and a steady framerate. At the same time, I found footage from the OnePlus 12 that offered sharper image quality with increased luminance noise.
OnePlus 13 Battery: Excellent
- Battery capacity – 6,000mAh
- Wired charging – 100W
- Wireless charging – 50W
The 50W AIRVOOC charger is easily one of the fastest wireless charging solutions available in India. And is way faster than the usual Qi or Qi 2 speeds available for most Android smartphones. In fact, it can defeat the wired charging speeds of most premium flagships from Apple and Samsung and keep the charger and surfaces cool while doing so.
The new silicon carbon battery, despite its 6,000mAh capacity, can easily fit into the OnePlus 13’s slim body
In our testing, the 50W AIRVOOC Magnetic Charger fully charged the phone’s 6,000mAh battery in 1 hour and 15 minutes. The wired SUPERVOOC 100W charger managed a 55% charge in 15 minutes and completed the charging process (fully charged) in 41 minutes.
As for battery life, the OnePlus 13 lasted 26 hours and 2 minutes in our video battery loop test. While usage patterns vary from person to person, the phone easily lasted me a day and a half with casual use (calls, social media apps, email and office apps) and a little over a day with heavy use (gaming and camera), which is pretty impressive.
OnePlus 13 Verdict
OnePlus appears to be seeking a fresh start, and the OnePlus 13 represents a significant advancement. It’s got a ton of upgrades in every department, including AI tricks and some new toys.
Priced from Rs. 69,999 onwards (12GB + 256GB), the OnePlus 13 once again makes a case for itself in the sub-Rs. 70,000 segment. It is possible to find many smartphones (like the Realme GT 7 Pro and iQoo 13) that offer similar performance at a lower price, but none can match the camera prowess of the OnePlus 13 at this price point.
Those interested in a smaller form factor can give the Oppo Find X8 a look, as it, is packed with enough firepower but falls short on camera performance. OnePlus 12 users who are looking for something more powerful will still find the OnePlus 13 enticing even though the camera upgrades are qualitative.
Given Samsung’s lack of interest in improving their Galaxy S series’ camera capabilities (the Galaxy S24 retains the camera hardware from the S22), the OnePlus 13 presents a compelling alternative for those seeking a more comprehensive camera experience. Add to this the new design options, magnetic accessories, fast charging, big battery upgrades and OnePlus’ extended warranty program, and it’s hard to look elsewhere.
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