Latest from Android Central in Oneplus-13

If you're planning to buy a OnePlus or Oppo phone, don't wait too long

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 08:30:00 +0000

What you need to know

OnePlus and Oppo will increase smartphone prices in China starting March 16 due to rising component costs.
All OnePlus phones will see price hikes, while Oppo will raise prices mainly for its lower and mid-range devices.
Price increases are limited to China for now, but global markets could see similar hikes later.

It was only a matter of time before brands began increasing smartphone prices amid the ongoing memory shortage, and it looks like Oppo and OnePlus are the next to follow.

Samsung already increased the prices of the base Galaxy S26 and mid-tier Galaxy S26 Plus by $100 this year, and now OnePlus and Oppo appear to be following the same path. Both companies have announced that they will increase prices for some smartphones in China starting March 16, 2026.

The companies say that due to "rising costs of several key mobile phone components" and after "careful evaluation," they have decided to increase prices for certain models (via GizmoChina).

Under the change, all OnePlus phones will see a price increase, while Oppo will raise prices only for some of its lower and mid-range devices. Oppo's flagship Find and Reno series, along with the Oppo Pad lineup, are not affected for now.

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

The good news is that these price increases don't appear to apply globally yet. OnePlus confirmed to PCMag that it is not raising prices in the U.S. at the moment, stating, "We do not have any additional information to share at this time," though it did not rule out future increases.

Oppo does not sell its phones directly in the U.S., but its sister brand OnePlus offers several devices there, including the OnePlus 15R as well as the OnePlus 13 and 13R from last year. If the company eventually follows the same strategy globally, we could see price increases for those models, too.

Smartphone prices are expected to rise this year as the overall market continues to slow. Some analysts even fear global smartphone shipments could fall below levels seen during the COVID-19 period. It remains to be seen which other brands will follow with similar price increases.

Android Central's Take

This isn't exactly surprising. Rising memory and component costs are affecting the entire industry, so price increases were inevitable. The real question is how quickly these hikes will spread outside China.

Since OnePlus and Oppo still rely heavily on the Chinese market, it's possible the impact elsewhere may take some time. Still, the situation does not look particularly encouraging for smartphone buyers right now.

This OnePlus app is one built-in feature you're probably not using, but should be

christinep2424@gmail.com (Christine Persaud) — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 21:29:41 +0000

OnePlus phones are lauded for their extreme durability, fantastic battery life, and ultra-fast charging, along with an overall intuitive experience. There are tons of OS features that you can leverage for both productivity and fun, like Plus Mind for saving on-screen content in a digital vault, AI Writer, and lots of photo editing tools. But there's one lesser-known feature worth using that you probably haven't even tried: AI Recorder.

Similar to Pixel Recorder, you can record conversations, conferences, and even personal notes, then get real-time or post-transcription and AI-powered summaries. I have used it in so many scenarios, and it works wonderfully.

How I use OnePlus AI Recorder

(Image credit: Christine Persaud / Android Central)

As a journalist, I conduct phone and in-person interviews, and the OnePlus AI Recorder features available on the OnePlus 13, OnePlus 13R, OnePlus 15, and OnePlus 15R have come in handy in both scenarios. In person, I set up my camera and the OnePlus 15 to record the audio alongside camera capture. For phone calls, I use my laptop with a Zoom or Google Meet call or a second phone while recording from the OnePlus device.

I have also used it to record presentations and conferences. I attended an AI conference in Spain, for example, and set the phone beside me to record multiple days of a series of 30-minute-to-one-hour presentations. I could start and stop for each one, name the file, then move on to the next. I did the same for a presentation at my son's upcoming high school. Despite sitting several rows back, the audio was picked up crisply and clearly.

(Image credit: Christine Persaud / Android Central)

But my favorite feature is instant and post-recording AI transcription. You can get a full transcription of any audio recording in real-time or within minutes after. I used this for the aforementioned conference recordings, compiling everything into a Word document I could scan to search for quotes for my article.

I did the same after an interview, fine-tuning the AI transcription and correcting minor mistakes before publishing the Q&A. This is a great feature for briefings, meetings, and even brainstorming sessions among students or work teams as well. Generate an AI transcription, and you don't have to worry about taking notes.

Tips for using OnePlus AI Recorder

(Image credit: Christine Persaud / Android Central)

Keep in mind that when there are multiple speakers, OnePlus AI Recorder doesn't always get it right, sometimes labeling the same person as Speaker 1 and Speaker 2, for example. However, when the voices are distinct and captured accurately, you can display the text transcription for a single speaker rather than the entire conversation. This could be useful for group projects, even employee or student evaluations.

Seeing the real-time transcription on screen as you play back a recording makes it easy to follow along, ensure accuracy, and pinpoint key moments. It's so much easier than scrubbing through a recording's timeline with a slider to find the moment you want.

(Image credit: Christine Persaud / Android Central)

Summary, which extracts key moments, works well, but might miss key facts. However, it's great for meeting notes and brainstorming sessions. For an interview I did with a Samsung executive, he provided an outline of key points to answer, removing all the extraneous information. I still worked from the raw version of the transcript for publishing the Q&A, but this was a nice overview of the key points to which he spoke.

(Image credit: Christine Persaud / Android Central)

By comparison, Pixel Recorder can create AI summaries using Gemini as well, and they're far more succinct but also risk losing some of the flavor you might want. I would rather have a longer summary that I can edit down than a shorter one that's missing key details.

For example, when summarizing a recording of me reading segments of my OnePlus 15 review, Pixel Recorder left out key elements, such as mentions of my user experience and the overall summation at the end. By contrast, OnePlus Recorder captured everything, complete with subheads and point-form notes.

Longer recordings can naturally take longer to generate transcripts, and sometimes, it will time out, and you have to start over. But I was able to transcribe an entire series of sessions, some as long as 2.5 hours.

(Image credit: Christine Persaud / Android Central)

You can rename recordings manually or intelligently. I tried this by recording my voice reading the intro to this article. The name it provided after translation was "OnePlus AI Recorder: a Powerful, Overlooked Feature," which is pretty spot-on. For the Samsung Q&A, it named the recording "Samsung's Vision for Smartphone Innovation and AI." This makes organization effortless, especially if you're taking multiple recordings one after another and don't want to have to go back and organize everything after the fact.

OnePlus Recorder is among the best

(Image credit: Christine Persaud / Android Central)

Yes, OnePlus isn't the only phone manufacturer to offer an AI Recorder, but I have found it to be extremely effective and reliable, just one reason that its phones rank among the best Android phones. Pixel Recorder can achieve most of the same tasks, but OnePlus offers a cleaner organization of the conversations, breaking them up into digestible sections versus larger blocks of text. I also find the summaries to be more detailed without being bloated.

Even if I'm not using the OnePlus 15 as my primary phone, I always bring it along to work events and have it at my side for interviews or meetings for the purpose of using this single app. It's the perfect example of a way that AI can assist in productivity without replacing creativity.

OnePlus 15

AI features save time

The OnePlus 15 is one of the best Android phones you can buy right now with plenty of power, extreme durability, long battery life, and exciting AI features like Plus Mind. But one of the most underrated in my opinion is the AI Recorder capabilities, with the AI Recorder app being one worth checking out if you haven't already.

Over a year later, I'd still call this a near perfect Android phone — and the $200 Presidents' Day discount doesn't hurt either

patrick.farmer@futurenet.com (Patrick Farmer) — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 16:49:04 +0000

Forget Samsung and Google, if you're searching for a great Android phone deal this Presidents' Day, there's one discount that's been sorely overlooked. The OnePlus 13, a fabulous (albeit last-gen) flagship phone, is currently a straight $200 off during Best Buy's Presidents' Day sale, knocking the price down to $799.99.

This is a rare discount on a device that we called "perfect" when it first hit North American shores back in early 2025, and even one year later, the OnePlus 13 still holds its own against contemporaries like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Google Pixel 10 Pro.

Sure, the device has technically been supplanted by the newer OnePlus 15, but if you want a great deal on a great phone this Presidents' Day weekend, the OP13 is the one to beat.

See the full list of deals from Best Buy's Presidents' Day sale

OnePlus 13 512GB: ~~$999.99~~ $799.99 unlocked | $699.99 with activation at Best Buy

One year later, the OnePlus 13 is still one of the best Android phones that money can buy, coming complete with a gorgeous OLED display, Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, and IP69 durability. Buy the 512GB phone during Best Buy's Presidents' Day sale and you'll score a $200 discount OR $300 if you activate through AT&T or Verizon. View Deal

✅Recommended if: you want an Android phone that offers outstanding performance, IP69 water-and-dust resistance, and incredible battery life.

❌Skip this deal if: you're looking for something with a ton of AI features or long software support; you can afford the newer OnePlus 15 or upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra.

The OnePlus 13 is a bit of a challenge to write about objectively because there's very little wrong with it. The Snapdragon 8 Elite processor is still one of the best chipsets in the business, the 6.8-inch OLED panel is simply a joy to behold, and the IP69 rating means that you could literally put the phone in your dishwasher without breaking it. The camera tech and battery life even rival the best devices from Samsung or Google.

So what's the catch? Well, as I mentioned above, the OnePlus 13 is technically a last-gen device, and with the launch of the Galaxy S26 series rapidly approaching, you might want to wait and see what Samsung deals become available in the next few weeks. It's also worth mentioning that the OnePlus 13 offers fewer AI features than some recent devices, and you'll only get four years of OS updates, which pales in comparison to Samsung and Google's seven-year software promise.

Still, if you want a phone that's just as powerful as the Galaxy S25 Ultra but doesn't cost nearly as much, the OnePlus 13 is an underrated gem, especially when you slap on a $200 Presidents' Day discount.

OnePlus says its anti-rollback restrictions are temporary, and that's a relief

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 09:15:00 +0000

What you need to know

OnePlus confirms its recent anti-rollback restrictions were temporary and will be removed in an upcoming software update.
The restrictions blocked software downgrades and custom ROM installs on devices like the OnePlus 15 and OnePlus 13.
OnePlus says the move was meant to strengthen security, though it has not explained why the change was needed.

OnePlus has now confirmed that the anti-rollback restrictions it recently implemented on select devices were only temporary and that things will return to normal soon.

OnePlus has been in the news lately for all the wrong reasons. Reports suggested the company was being "dismantled" and struggling heavily in some markets, alongside news that OnePlus had implemented anti-rollback measures on devices like the OnePlus 15 and OnePlus 13.

These restrictions prevented users from downgrading software or installing custom ROMs and were enforced at a hardware level, leaving users with no option to roll back their devices.

Thankfully, the company has now confirmed that these measures are not permanent and will be reversed. In a statement to Android Authority, OnePlus said it had "temporarily paused the ability to downgrade" and will be restoring that functionality in its next routine software update.

OnePlus backtracks on blocking software downgrades

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

For users who are "looking to downgrade their build can contact OnePlus after sales channels directly." The company also noted that the move was intended to strengthen device security, although it has not shared specific details explaining the change.

That said, this is good news for OnePlus users and the custom ROM community. OnePlus says users will be able to downgrade their devices again with the next update, though it has not shared a timeline yet, meaning it could still take a month or two before the change fully rolls out.

Android Central's Take

OnePlus finally seems to have come to its senses, and it is good to see the company allowing users to downgrade their devices again. Implementing such changes without clearly informing customers has always felt questionable, especially since we still do not know why the restrictions were introduced in the first place.

Thankfully, OnePlus has reversed course, and users should soon be able to use their devices the way they want again.

OnePlus needs to learn it can't sell a flagship on battery life alone

bradypsnyder@gmail.com (Brady Snyder) — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 11:37:00 +0000

The OnePlus 13 was a standout phone that earned a rare 5/5 review score from Android Central, and delivered more at a lower price point than even the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. OnePlus proceeded to lose its way with the OnePlus 15, leaning too hard into battery life and gaming performance at the expensive of durability. The OnePlus 13 was a well-rounded phone that excelled in performance, display quality, camera hardware, and battery life, but the OnePlus 15 tossed that identity aside.

The OnePlus 15's specs were perplexing because the OnePlus 13 was already a long-lasting flagship phone. It had a 6,000mAh battery capacity with support for fast charging and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor. Of course, many of us won't say no to more battery, but expanding capacity shouldn't come at the expense of other features. In this case, the OnePlus 15's gargantuan 7,300mAh battery capacity and gaming focus did come at the expensive of other areas, like display quality and camera performance.

OnePlus might not be learning from its mistake, if this OnePlus 16 rumor is any indication. A post from OnePlus Club on X (formerly Twitter) claims that the OnePlus 15's successor will sport a next-generation Glacier Battery with an even higher capacity. Specifically, the rumor claims the OnePlus 16 will have a capacity "approaching 9,000mAh." Details are sparse, and it's unclear what the exact battery capacity of the OnePlus 16 might be.

OnePlus 16 will be equipped with next-generation Glacier Battery with a capacity approaching 9,000mAh pic.twitter.com/kxq1wpSKx7January 18, 2026

However, if true, the OnePlus 16's rumored high-capacity battery could spell bad news for the rest of the flagship smartphone.

OnePlus uses a few tricks to cram high-capacity battery cells into relatively small smartphones. The brand employs what it calls a Glacier Battery, which is a high-density, silicon-carbon battery developed in collaboration with CATL, a leading battery manufacturer. This technology helps OnePlus fit large batteries into small packages while managing thermals. OnePlus also splits large overall batteries into smaller dual-cell designs on phones like the OnePlus 15.

But even when using silicon-carbon battery chemistry and Glacier Battery designs, there are limits to how small a smartphone battery can get at high capacities. If the OnePlus 16's battery capacity will truly approach 9,000mAh in size, it's reasonable to expect these cells to take up more space inside the phone. It's possible that OnePlus might have to make similar compromises on the OnePlus 16 to hit this target as it did on the OnePlus 15 this generation.

It's very early in the OnePlus 16 rumor cycle, and everything is up in the air. Recent leaks have pointed to the OnePlus 16 course-correcting OnePlus' mistakes with the OnePlus 15. It has already been billed as the most well-rounded OnePlus phone in years. The OnePlus 16's rumored ~9,000mAh battery capacity could come in natural conflict with that possibility.

The OnePlus 16 needs more than battery life and performance

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

To be clear, if the OnePlus 16 offers fast performance, long battery life, stellar camera quality, stylish design, and more, I'll have little reason to complain. However, that sounds like the perfect smartphone, and devices are never perfect. There are always compromises, like how the OnePlus 15 sacrificed display resolution and camera quality in exchange for better stability while gaming, higher refresh rates, and longer battery life.

OnePlus 16✅ Upgraded Display (240Hz RR)✅ Upgraded Camera (200MP Periscope)✅ Upgraded Battery (~9000mAh)✅ Upgraded Speakers (Coaxial speakers)✅ Upgraded Haptics (New Motor) pic.twitter.com/WYLpWdFQXtJanuary 19, 2026

The OnePlus 15's trade-offs were uninspiring for a few reasons. Notably, the OnePlus 15's hallmark support of 165Hz refresh rates is only available on a few apps. If you don't happen to use the apps and games that support the ultra-high refresh rates, the OnePlus 15 gives you worse display quality without any of the benefits. The phone also has a tendency to run warm in certain situations, which isn't ideal for a gaming-focused flagship.

While we've tested the OnePlus 15's cameras to perform well in many cases, it's hard to justify paying more for less, and that's what OnePlus is asking customers to do here. The OnePlus 15's camera hardware is a downgrade compared to the OnePlus 13, and there's no Hasselblad processing. The OnePlus DetailMax engine is solid, but some OnePlus fans will miss the old style of image processing.

With these shortcomings in mind, it's very easy to make the case that the OnePlus 13 is a more well-rounded smartphone than the OnePlus 15. It's proof that battery life isn't everything. If the OnePlus 16 indeed plans to increase battery capacity by a significant margin yet again, the company must ensure this doesn't hurt the phone's overall versatility.

OnePlus 15

A mixed bag

While the OnePlus 15 is impressive in its gaming performance and long-lasting battery, it's disappointing in others. Still, it's easy to appreciate the fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip and high-capacity battery onboard.

Motorola and OnePlus in 2025: A year of triumphs and trials in mobile tech

derrek.lee@futurenet.com (Derrek Lee) — Sat, 20 Dec 2025 18:54:00 +0000

Motorola: C+

(Image credit: Motorola)

Motorola has proven that there are benefits to being an underdog, as it means there’s plenty of room to grow. The company has done just that while demonstrating it can keep up with the industry's top dogs. Despite some misses, Motorola had a solid 2025 with some impressive highlights that leave me wanting more.

A winning strategy

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

Last year, I wondered whether Motorola could keep up in the premium market. In 2025, it feels like Motorola found a winning strategy and ran with it.

The company not only launched the rather enticing Razr 2025 series, but also emulated a tried-and-true strategy from companies like Apple, Samsung, and Google by offering three different models. This included the affordable Razr 2025 and the premium Razr Ultra 2025, which ended up being my favorite [flip] phone of 2025.

Motorola also seems to have found its stride in design. It heightened its focus on CMF (Colors, Materials, and Finish) across its lineup through its partnership with Pantone, offering vegan leather, Alcantara, and even wood on its phones, harkening back to the days of Moto Maker.

We even got a thin phone to compete with the Galaxy S25 Edge and iPhone Air, proving that Motorola isn’t going to sit by and let Samsung and Apple have all the fun.

If anything, this has all improved Motorola’s reputation, transforming it from just a budget Android phone maker to one that can hang with the best of them.

Two steps forward, one step back

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Despite its impressive flagship and even midrange hardware like the Moto G Stylus 2025, there was a notable hole in its lineup: a flagship option for consumers who don’t want a foldable phone. Last year, I had hoped that Motorola would finally challenge the likes of Samsung's Ultra phone in 2025 with a follow-up to the excellent Edge Plus 2023, but alas, we never got it.

We also got a new smartwatch, but still no Wear OS or a true Moto 360 revival. That felt odd at a time when Android OEMs like OnePlus are proving they can make compelling devices to strengthen their device ecosystems, something Motorola truly needs. Motorola introduced new tablets and its first laptop, but unfortunately, neither came to the U.S.

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

On the software front, Motorola didn't move the needle very much. Hello UX is largely unoffensive, and there are some clever uses of AI like Look & Talk and the ability to choose from a wide selection of AI models like Perplexity. However, the overall software/AI package still feels less mature and cohesive than Samsung’s One UI, and I often end up ignoring Moto AI in favor of Gemini and Circle to Search.

Motorola also continues to trail its rivals in software updates, offering one of the shortest update promises for flagship phones and less consistently than others. This ultimately reduces the overall value of its phones, since they'll lose support sooner than those of Samsung, OnePlus, or Pixel.

Ultimately, Motorola still lacks compelling software differentiators. While its camera software and algorithms have improved, there's little reason to buy a Razr over a Pixel or Samsung phone if you want great photos.

Motorola is getting comfortable

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

… but hopefully not too comfortable. The company has made a triumphant comeback with the impressive Razr series, and its budget phones are decent enough for the price.

That said, it feels like Motorola is still trying to find its footing in building a hardware and software ecosystem. At a time when companies like Samsung and Google have made AI so accessible and easy to use, Motorola's lack of software focus feels like a glaring misstep.

Ultimately, Motorola hasn't really given us anything to keep us interested, whether that’s a cohesive family of devices or the software that holds it together. And aside from some genuinely useful Smart Connect features, there isn’t anything to tether us to its products.

OnePlus: B+

(Image credit: OnePlus)

It's been an interesting year for OnePlus. The company has seemingly been hanging on in the U.S., and despite its waning popularity and market share, it has given us some of the most impressive devices we’ve seen in several segments. OnePlus has more than proven it can give companies like Samsung a run for their money, yet it has yet to overcome its biggest hurdle in one of the world's largest smartphone markets: availability.

Two in one

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

OnePlus started the year off strong with one of our favorite phones of 2025. The OnePlus 13 had a lot going for it, from impressive cameras to a huge battery and IP69 water and dust resistance. That, alongside the OnePlus 13R, showcased OnePlus's commitment to the higher-end segment, which should help increase its Total Addressable Market beyond the $300-$600 segment.

OnePlus furthered this with the launch of its second flagship in one year, the OnePlus 15, which boasts the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and offsets the power-hungry chip with a massive 7,300mAh battery. This comes at a time when Samsung is either struggling or unwilling to go beyond 5,000mAh in its traditional candybar phones (even the Galaxy Z Fold 7 has only a 4,400mAh battery).

An ecosystem of devices

(Image credit: Nick Sutrich / Android Central)

OnePlus has also shown it can build an impressive family of devices, something I would’ve loved to see from Motorola. The OnePlus Watch 3, for example, is one of the most impressive and well-designed smartwatches I’ve ever seen, and features perhaps the longest battery life of any Wear OS watch.

At a time when Google and Samsung seemingly dominate Wear OS, it’s impressive that OnePlus can give its watches a leg up over rivals in ways they haven’t been able to replicate.

That also goes for its tablets. The OnePlus Pad 3 swiftly became one of our favorite tablets, thanks to its beautiful display, slim design, and Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, which seemingly outperforms Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra. It’s clear OnePlus was not going to let Samsung rule the Android tablet market unchecked.

This is all tied together by OnePlus' impressive software, from OxygenOS 15 to the new OxygenOS 16, both of which improved performance and introduced a host of AI features that feel well implemented.

Missed opportunities

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Unfortunately, OnePlus continues to hinder itself in one of its biggest markets. The company has all but abandoned the mid-range market by increasing the price of the OnePlus 15R and ditching the Nord series in the U.S. The biggest problem with this strategy is that it limits the reach of its phones, especially given the already few avenues to buy them.

Last year, I noted how OnePlus was hurting itself by not making its devices available through carrier channels in the U.S. While this isn't as big a problem in other regions, carriers largely control the U.S. smartphone market, and not playing by their rules means fewer eyes on your phones. As it stands, the company's market share is negligible, and I feel like the OnePlus 13 and 15 could have been bigger hits.

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

Finally, the lack of a foldable didn't go unnoticed. The OPPO Find N5 was an impressively thin phone that gave us hope for an equally impressive OnePlus Open successor. Unfortunately, OnePlus stayed out of the foldable race altogether.

On the one hand, it makes sense given OnePlus's lack of carrier presence to help offset the exorbitant foldable prices. However, the OnePlus Open was so well received that it felt odd not to see OnePlus tap its OPPO partnership to bring a new device to the U.S. to give Google and Samsung a proper challenge.

OnePlus has proven that it has the tools to create an amazing range of devices. I just wish it had showcased that more in 2025.

The best phone of 2025 can go in your dishwasher — and it just crashed back to a Black Friday price

patrick.farmer@futurenet.com (Patrick Farmer) — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 17:22:46 +0000

We don't use the word "perfect" around here very often, but when it comes to 2025 smartphones, the OnePlus 13 fits the bill. This becomes especially true when you slap on a $200 discount at Best Buy, knocking the price of the unlocked flagship down to $799.99 (or $699.99 when you activate through AT&T or Verizon).

For a little perspective, this is the same low price that we saw on the OnePlus 13 during Best Buy's Black Friday sale. The deals on the top-rated smartphone are probably becoming more common now that OnePlus is officially accepting preorders for the OnePlus 15 in the United States, but if you don't want to wait, this is an incredible opportunity on an equally-incredible device. And if you order today it'll arrive by Christmas!

Our #1 phone of 2025 is $200 off during Best Buy's holiday sale

OnePlus 13 512GB: ~~$999.99~~ $699.99 with activation | $799.99 unlocked at Best Buy

One of the few devices to earn a perfect score from Android Central, the OnePlus 13 is an incredible smartphone with cutting-edge performance, versatile cameras, and a durable build that you can stick in a dishwasher. Grab the 512GB version of the phone from Best Buy and you'll score a straight $200 discount, or $300 if you activate through Verizon or AT&T.

If you want to save a little more, you can also buy the unlocked phone for $749.99 at Amazon, but you'll be stuck with 256GB of onboard storage. View Deal

Straight out of the box, the first thing you'll notice is the OnePlus 13's 6.8-inch OLED QHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It's truly stunning to behold, and it helps that the OnePlus 13 is also the first phone to receive a DisplayMate A++ certification, meaning it'll work for folks with PWM sensitivity.

It's also one of the first devices to receive an IP69 water-and-dust resistance rating, which is why we harp on the dishwasher thing. It's just a huge relief to have a phone that you can accidentally drop into a puddle without causing any major issues.

The greatness of the OnePlus 13 doesn't just come from its looks, however. Under the hood you get the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, easily one of the fastest processors on the market, plus Oxygen OS 15 and 12GB of RAM. Furthermore, the phone's camera tech easily holds its own against the best devices from Samsung and Google, and the upgraded AI features are actually useful when taking pics or video.

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

So what's the catch? Well, no device is perfect, and it's true that the OnePlus 13 lags behind the competition when it comes to offline AI features. The phone also lacks Qi2 charging support, which was a welcome addition to both Samsung and Google's latest devices.

The six years of software support also falls (slightly) behind Samsung and Google's seven-year update promise. You'll still get security upgrades beyond that, but this could be a problem if you want to receive all the latest features beyond that timeline. If you're not in a rush and don't mind paying more, you also might want to wait until the OnePlus 15 finally hits store shelves in late December/early January.

All things said and done, you have to get pretty nitpicky to find faults in the OnePlus 13. It really comes down to the experience you want. Are you super into AI features? Are you too accustomed to the Samsung or Pixel UI? Or do you simply want the best Android phone of 2025 at an incredible Black Friday price? I'll leave it to you to decide.

Holiday shopping 2025 - quick links

Best Buy: up to 50% off Chromebooks, Android phones, and more
Amazon: discounts on headphones, smart home tech
Walmart: price drops on ASUS laptops, locked phones
Samsung: new Galaxy XR headset, trade-in opportunities
Verizon: free phones with new line, trade-in
T-Mobile: free Galaxy phones, $300 back w/ 5G Home Internet
Mint Mobile: 50% off Pixel 10, BOGO Unlimited plans
AT&T: get a free Z Flip 7 with trade-in, new line

We have centuries of collective experience testing Android phones, and our #1 favorite just scored a record-smashing discount for Cyber Monday

harish.jonnalagadda@futurenet.com (Harish Jonnalagadda) — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 16:20:23 +0000

Looking for an epic Android phone deal this Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend? It might be wise to look outside the box and ditch your usual OEMs. It's time to say hello to the OnePlus 13.

Samsung has a stranglehold in North America, and that's largely down to the manufacturer cozying up with phone carriers a decade and a half ago. The result is that the brand utterly dominates sales, to the extent that it is seen as the default Android choice when mulling a new purchase.

This has led to Samsung coasting in recent years, rolling out what is basically the same phone year over year. Thankfully, other manufacturers do things differently, and the OnePlus 13 in particular has been a real standout this year. The phone has a stunning design, monstrous internals, battery life that will make every Samsung user envious, cameras that hold their own against the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and a better AMOLED panel.

In short, the OnePlus 13 is a much better phone than anything Samsung has to offer at the moment, and the best part is that because it's been out for the better part of a year, it's discounted to $699 right now. Without overstating things, this is the best phone you can get for this amount, and nothing else outshines it — even the newer OnePlus 15. Why should you trust me? I test nearly a hundred devices over the course of any given year, and I used all mainstream phones released in 2025.

At $699, there really isn't any other device that gives you the same caliber of hardware. The OnePlus 13 is outstanding in this regard, and you also get a bold styling, amazing battery life thanks to a 6,000mAh battery, stellar cameras, and unbeatable value. View Deal

✅Recommended if: You need a phone that's actually good to use. The OnePlus 13 has excellent fluidity, amazing internals, standout battery life, and great cameras.

❌Skip this deal if: You don't want a good phone, and want to continue using whatever Samsung comes out with every year.

Even after nearly a year of availability, the OnePlus 13 is a terrific phone. The hardware has no signs of slowing down whatsoever, and it continues to be incredibly fluid in regular use — both at mundane tasks as well as gaming.

The design has aged well too; the unique leather texture is great to hold and use, and I like that it isn't as grainy as usual leather, instead featuring a softer finish. The in-hand feel is excellent, and even though it has a 6,000mAh battery, it isn't that heavy.

On that note, battery life is excellent, and I still get a day's worth of use. The AMOLED panel is among the brightest, and you get a level of fluidity that you just don't see on most devices today. It doesn't miss out on any of the extras either, and you get a charger in the box.

Best of all, the cameras are fantastic; the Hasselblad tuning makes a real difference, leading to photos with great dynamic range and color vibrancy. If anything, I like the OnePlus 13 to the OnePlus 15, and it's much better than the Galaxy S25 Ultra and every other Samsung phone. So if you've been a long-time Samsung user and want something better, you should get the OnePlus 13 while it's still at $699.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2025 - quick links

Best Buy: up to 60% off Chromebooks, Android phones, and more
Amazon: early discounts on headphones, smart home tech
Walmart: early price drops on ASUS laptops, locked phones
Samsung: new Galaxy XR headset, trade-in opportunities
Verizon: free phones with new line, trade-in
T-Mobile: free Galaxy phones, $300 back w/ 5G Home Internet
Mint Mobile: 50% off Pixel 10, BOGO Unlimited plans
AT&T: get a free Z Flip 7 with trade-in, new line

More Black Friday coverage
The best Google Pixel deals of Black Friday
The best Samsung deals of Black Friday
The best Motorola deals of Black Friday

OnePlus 15 vs. OnePlus 13: Is it even an upgrade at this point?

harish.jonnalagadda@futurenet.com (Harish Jonnalagadda) — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 05:08:29 +0000

OnePlus 15

Battery beast

The design of the OnePlus 15 is so bland it's almost as if OnePlus didn't have any say during the ideation of the device. The result is that the OnePlus 15 doesn't look like any other OnePlus phone, and the cameras aren't as good as last year. You miss out on all the Hasselblad extras as well. The AMOLED panel may not be as high a resolution, but it absolutely doesn't make a difference in daily use. The only thing the OnePlus 15 gets right is battery life; thanks to a much bigger 7,300mAh battery, the phone lasts up to two days.

Pros

Huge battery lasts two days with medium use
Great internals
Good AMOLED panel
IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance

Cons

Design doesn't stand out as much as last year
I don't like the cameras
Misses out on Hasselblad integration

OnePlus 13

Still the best all-rounder

The OnePlus 13 is what I'd buy right now; the phone has a better design, great cameras with Hasselblad tuning, powerful internals that show no signs of slowing down, and reliable battery life. While it costs the same as the OnePlus 15 in the U.S., that isn't the case in all other global markets, and I'd recommend getting the OnePlus 13 if you need a new phone.

Pros

Cameras take fabulous photos
Elegant design that's better to hold and use
Internals are just as powerful
Battery lasts a day and a half
IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance
Better overall value

Cons

Battery doesn't last as long

OnePlus 15 vs. OnePlus 13: Design

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

I just don't like the design of the OnePlus 15; it is antithetical to OnePlus' long-established design ethos, and isn't exciting in the least. It's just a generic slab of a phone, and I don't get how we got this design to follow the OnePlus 13. I'll admit that I wasn't a fan of the OnePlus 13 either when I saw the renders, but that changed as soon as I got my hands on the device.

The OnePlus 13 has a much-better in-hand feel, and I continue to like the unique leather texture at the back, along with the bright blue hue and the distinctive camera island — the OnePlus 15 doesn't have any of that. The only thing in favor of the phone is that it is just as light as the OnePlus 13 in spite of a bigger battery.

Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central

You don't get the alert slider on the OnePlus 15, with the phone instead switching to a button. As someone who used the alert slider on every single OnePlus phone and always thought of the feature as a key differentiator, this is yet another signal that the OnePlus 15 is intentionally hobbled. Yes, the button has better configurability, but I don't want that — I need a way to reliably change between ring and vibrate modes, and a toggle was the ideal way to do that.

Anyway, both phones get IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance, and the OnePlus 15 switches to an ultrasonic in-screen module.

OnePlus 15 vs. OnePlus 13: Panel

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

A lot has been said about how the AMOLED panel on the OnePlus 15 is a downgrade because of the lower 1.5K resolution. It's clear that the individuals saying this haven't actually used the phone, because it doesn't really matter — the panel is just as detailed, and I didn't see any difference when using it alongside the OnePlus 13.

The OnePlus 13 gets a higher 2K resolution panel, and it is just as bright, with vibrant colors out of the box. You can't go wrong with either device, and there's decent onboard sound as well.

OnePlus 15 vs. OnePlus 13: Hardware and battery

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

OnePlus is positioning the OnePlus 15 as a gaming phone, but it failed to address thermal throttling issues. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 runs even hotter than the Snapdragon 8 Elite in my testing, and the only way to control the thermals is to throttle the chipset aggressively, which the OnePlus 15 does.

It gets noticeably hotter as well, exceeding 50 degrees Celsius (122 F) in my testing, and there's plenty of throttling during extended gaming sessions. The heat extends to the back and even the mid-frame, making it uncomfortable to hold the device reliably. So while you get better framerates in select titles, there's also a greater potential to overheat.

And although the OnePlus 13 launched a year ago, I don't see any issues with the hardware at all — it holds up just as well. It also tends to overheat, but it isn't quite as extreme as the OnePlus 15, and it handles demanding games with ease.

The only category where the OnePlus 15 has a definite edge is the battery life. Thanks to a massive 7,300mAh battery, the phone manages to last up to two days on a full charge — the only other device that did a better job was the Find X9 Pro. This isn't to say that the OnePlus 13 is any less of a powerhouse; the phone still lasts a day and a half, but it doesn't have the same battery longevity.

OnePlus 15 vs. OnePlus 13: Cameras

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

With almost every new phone, you get better cameras; if anything, it's a given that this is the only area where there's a tangible difference these days. That isn't the case with the OnePlus 15; the phone has a trio of 50MP cameras, but they have smaller sensors than the OnePlus 13, and that just doesn't make sense to me.

What's just as annoying is that the OnePlus 15 misses out on Hasselblad tuning. This is something that I enjoy using on OnePlus phones, and while I get devices like the OnePlus 13R not having it, but for the OnePlus 15 to also miss out is just an egregious omission. Thankfully, the OnePlus 13 doesn't have this shortcoming.

The OnePlus 15 takes good photos and videos in its own right, but the OnePlus 13 does a better job in challenging situations, and I like the color science of that device.

OnePlus 15 vs. OnePlus 13: Software

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

I'm not going to talk too much about the software, as both the OnePlus 15 and OnePlus 13 now run the Android 16-based OxygenOS. Unlike Samsung's phones, you don't get any new software features on the OnePlus 15, and the UI itself is nearly identical to that of iOS 26.

I don't get why the interface isn't called ColorOS, because it is identical to what you see on the Find X9 and X9 Pro — the only difference is the name. The UI has good fluidity, and I like the new design, even if there isn't much in the way of originality left. Nothing much has changed when it comes to software updates either, with both phones slated to get four Android OS updates and six years of security updates.

OnePlus 15 vs. OnePlus 13: Which should you buy?

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

I'll make this easy: if you live in North America, you should get the OnePlus 15. There's a clear shortage of good phones in the region, with just the Pixel 10 and Galaxy S25 serving as viable alternatives to the OnePlus 15.

There's also the fact that the OnePlus 13 costs the same as the OnePlus 15 in the U.S., so you're not really shelling out anything extra to get the newer phone. I'd still consider waiting to see if the OnePlus 13 goes on sale, because in that scenario, it is a better phone. Other than that, the OnePlus 15 is what I'd suggest.

In every other country, the OnePlus 13 continues to be the better choice; it doesn't cost as much, while still delivering a better camera system, sleeker design that's great to hold, and terrific internals. If anything, the only thing you're missing out by not getting the OnePlus 15 is the battery life, but it isn't like the OnePlus 13 is a slouch in this regard — my unit still manages to last a day and a half.

OnePlus 15

Battery beast

It should be clear by now that I don't like the phone. I think OnePlus messed up with the device, and unless you live in North America, you shouldn't buy this phone.

OnePlus 13

Still the best all-rounder

The OnePlus 13 continues to be my recommendation; I like the design and tuning of the cameras better than the OnePlus 15, and I don't see any difference between the two in day-to-day use. With the phone set to go on sale, it is poised to be an even better value.

One year with the OnePlus 13: Standing out for all the right reasons

harish.jonnalagadda@futurenet.com (Harish Jonnalagadda) — Sun, 02 Nov 2025 14:43:33 +0000

The OnePlus 13 was a turning point for the Chinese manufacturer. Although OnePlus made phones for a decade, there was always a sense that its camera prowess wasn't up to scratch — at least against its Chinese rivals and Google.

That narrative changed with the OnePlus 13, with the device able to deliver standout cameras with the same versatility as the Vivo X200 and other phones in this category. I'm still a little miffed that we didn't get a Pro version (much less an Ultra model), but it's a good thing that OnePlus focused on a single device, and it isn't like the OnePlus 13 misses out on much.

I started using the phone in December 2024, and tested it extensively at launch. While I didn't review the device this time, I used it quite a bit throughout the course of 2025, switching to it intermittently. With the OnePlus 15 now available in China and a global launch on November 13, it's time to take a look at how the OnePlus 13 holds up nearly a year after its debut; to see where it still has an edge, and where it doesn't quite manage to measure up any longer.

One of the best designs of 2025

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

I'll admit that I wasn't a fan of the design when I saw the renders of the OnePlus 13. I've always liked the designs of OnePlus phones in the past, and I felt that the manufacturer was veering away from its design ethos in an effort to stand out.

Thankfully, it turned out to be a non-issue; the OnePlus 13 still feels good in-hand, and even though it has a flat design, the subtle bevels ensure the sides don't dig into your palm. The weight balance is ideal, and the unique leather back continues to be one of my favorite features on the phone.

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

The leather is softer and has a better texture than regular leather-backed phones, and after nearly a year of use, it continues to look great — the blue model is still my recommendation. I didn't see any issues with the build quality even with a dozen or so tumbles, and the fact that the rear panel has leather instead of glass also makes a difference in this area.

What's notable is that the custom glass layer at the front did an admirable job. I don't use a case with my phones, so it's good to see the device come away unscathed after long-term use. Similarly, I had no problems using it outdoors during India's monsoon season, with IP68 and IP69 water resistance clearly up to the task.

Hardware with plenty of power left

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

The 6.82-inch AMOLED panel continues to be one of the best around; it has excellent colors, good brightness levels, and doesn't have any issues with HDR content. There really isn't much to talk about here other than to say that the green line issue that plagued devices in the past just wasn't a problem.

Honestly, I can say the same about the hardware. The Snapdragon 8 Elite is an absolute powerhouse, and I still feel that it isn't being used to its full potential — you just don't have that caliber of games on Android. We've seen manufacturers go to great lengths in recent years to tout lag-free use after several years, and to me, that makes the biggest difference with these kinds of phones.

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

Sure, any phone is undoubtedly fast when you start using it (unless you have Samsung's A series devices), but the real test is after a year or two, when things inevitably start slowing down. Thankfully, this isn't an issue on the OnePlus 13, and the phone feels just as fluid as the day I set it up. OnePlus says the phone will be fast even after four years of use, and I don't doubt those claims — I recently booted up the OnePlus 8T to test it out for a while, and it held up astonishingly well.

Battery life has been consistent too; I still get a day's worth out of the device, and there isn't any noticeable battery degradation. Of course, the use of silicon carbon battery tech means the OnePlus 13 should have better longevity than earlier models, and I'll be putting that to the test by reevaluating the phone next year. As it stands, the battery is just as reliable, and I like that I can easily charge the device with any USB PD charger at 50W.

OxygenOS 16 gives a much-needed software boost

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

The OnePlus 13 launched with OxygenOS 15, and it just got the update to the Android 16-based OxygenOS 16. The update introduces a brand-new UI with translucent effects, and it has better cohesion and increased fluidity. While I'm still not enthused about the UI looking so similar to iOS 26, I'll admit that it is better than OxygenOS 15.

The software update injects freshness and additional fluidity, and makes the device that much better. You get a decent number of new features as well, and while there's now a split notification pane, you can use the older unified style.

OnePlus 13, a year later: Still going strong

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

Just because the OnePlus 15 is launching doesn't make the OnePlus 13 any less of a phone. If anything, the OxygenOS 16 update allows it to stand out even more, and the OnePlus 13 continues to be the best OnePlus phone you can buy today.

This is where things have meaningfully changed in recent years; flagships are designed to last four years or more, and if you don't immediately need the latest tech or the best camera innovations, there are considerable savings to be had by buying last year's devices.

Switching to the OnePlus 13 after using the Vivo X300 Pro, I don't notice any sizeable difference in fluidity or usability in general, and I get the feeling that the phone will continue to be that way for the foreseeable future.

OnePlus 13

The OnePlus 13 is still just as fast as the day it launched, and the combination of powerful internals and great cameras ensure that will continue to be the case going into 2026 and beyond.

OxygenOS 16 set to roll out next month, and these are the first OnePlus phones to get it

nickodiaz@sbcglobal.net (Nickolas Diaz) — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 19:03:00 +0000

What you need to know

OnePlus detailed its list of devices preparing to receive its OxygenOS 16 update, which will begin rolling out in November.
The OnePlus 13, 13R, and 13s are first on the list, joined by the OnePlus 12 series phones and a few tablets.
OnePlus will continue its update roll out in December before several older, past-gen models get it in Q1 2026.

We're all wrapped up in the latest OnePlus announcements, regarding both OxygenOS 16 (Android 16) and Mind Space, but there's more to unravel: rollout dates.

Today (Oct 17), OnePlus detailed a list of its phones preparing to receive its major OxygenOS 16 update, and things will begin in November for its recent devices. The OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 12 are first on the list to receive the OxygenOS 16 update in November, which includes the 13R, 13s, and the 12R. However, the company states that its OnePlus Open, Pad 3, and Pad 2 are on deck for next month, too.

December is when the software starts rolling out for several past-gen models. Owners of a OnePlus 11 5G, 11R 5G, Nord 5, Nord CE5, Nord 4, and Nord 3 5G should receive the patch sometime in December.

Even more devices are slated for OxygenOS 16, but OnePlus is a little more vague. The following models aren't set to receive the update until Q1 2026, which can be anywhere from January to March, so be aware.

OnePlus 10 Pro 5G
OnePlus Nord CE4
OnePlus Nord NE 4 Lite 5G
OnePlus Pad
OnePlus Pad Lite

New OS time's are crazy

(Image credit: OnePlus)

OnePlus has delivered a warning, informing users that not everyone will see its update simultaneously. It states that OxygenOS 16 is rolling out in "batches," meaning some users in some countries could see it in the first week of November, while others may see it in the third week (just as an example). Keep your eyes peeled for more updates, and, the more likely scenario, an alert on your OnePlus phone/tablet.

OxygenOS 16 launched just yesterday, and users were treated to software that truly knows them. Quickly getting the Apple iOS references out, OxygenOS 16 offers a revamped AI experience that is focused on personalizing your device through "intelligent data interactions." Users will find tools like AI Writer and AI Scan to help make mundane tasks a little easier.

There's also Plus Mind, which is an AI-centric place on your device for housing your screenshots about locations, dates, and more. The AI will offer suggestions for you based on those screenshots to help you make plans, trips, or even dinner.

Speaking of Plus Mind, OnePlus' Mind Space got a huge update during OxygenOS 16, one that brings Gemini into the mix. Users can connect Mind Space to Gemini and let the AI dig through their stored screenshots to help them with any queries they may have. It works like Gemini's Extensions for YouTube, Spotify, and more Workspace apps.

OxygenOS 16 on the OnePlus 13 is stunning! Here are my 8 favorite new things

Nicholas Sutrich — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 15:58:27 +0000

Android Central Labs

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Android Central Labs is a weekly column devoted to deep dives, experiments, and a focused look into the tech you use. It covers phones, tablets, and everything in between.

When OnePlus started teasing its Android 16 update, I got a little bit nervous. Everything we'd seen officially from the company looked like it was just ripping off iOS, and I don't know about you, but that's not why I use a OnePlus phone.

Thankfully, what we'd been seeing are just new options that users can enable if they want. Like the split notification shade OnePlus introduced last year, this year's OxygenOS 16 offers users plenty of UI customization options and focuses intensely on the beautification of the entire experience.

That ranges from new lockscreen options, new animations, smoother performance, an updated theme engine, AI-powered photography options that are designed to make the camera even better than before, and plenty more! I've spent several days with OxygenOS 16 on my OnePlus 13 and came away super impressed with what's in store for users as it starts rolling out globally today.

Themes and lockscreen

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

The first thing you're sure to notice is how much of a glow-up the theme engine and, by proxy, the lockscreen have received. When I first booted up the OxygenOS 16 update, I was greeted by a majestic mountain wallpaper complete with gorgeous new moving wallpaper effects and incredible depth.

OnePlus answered the call for users to customize the text on the lockscreen, so no more settling for just "Never Settle" or some other random word like "fast," as you had to in OxygenOS 15. Not only that, but you can select any motion photo taken with the camera and apply it to the lockscreen, complete with depth effects and movement. It's gorgeous and creates a whole new style you're going to spend hours tweaking.

Notification shade and homescreen

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

The lockscreen isn't the only thing getting a glow-up! Both the homescreen and notification shade have received some excellent tweaks. App icons are now prominently displayed on the left side of each notification, including an easy-to-see number for nofication groups.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Homescreen icons can now be stretched to fit larger spaces. If you have just one icon and want to fill a gap, it'll turn into a lovely little colored button. Likewise, widgets now have a more rounded shape, giving them a more uniform appearance, but you can disable it if you don't like the new style.

The app drawer got a nice redesign too, adding a new categorical view you can swipe between that auto-categorizes apps into folders. I still prefer the alphabetized drawer, and the redesigned alphabetical scrolling wheel on the right now singles out each letter's apps instead of just scrolling through the drawer, helping to better isolate apps that start with each letter.

Animations

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

OnePlus made a big deal of animations in OxygenOS 15, and the company is doubling down with Parallel Processing 2.0, which allows new animations to begin before other ones have even finished. That ensures that fun animations complement each other instead of canceling out.

One of my favorite new animations is seeing apps slide outward when using the back gesture. You can play around with this by heading to system navigation in system settings, then enabling swipe animations. It's very fun and helps complete the feeling of a cohesive, fluid OS!

Better portraits

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

I've found that the OnePlus 13 often takes excellent portrait photos, but there are a few times when I hope for better results. OxygenOS 16 adds a ton of new portrait enhancement features, including much-needed post-processing options that let you adjust the amount of blur and lighting on foreground objects and people.

You can edit any photo taken previously, so these new features work on both new and existing photos. Speaking of older photos, people who have a vast catalog of photos on their OnePlus phones will find the new Perfect Shot feature to be a godsend. Tapping Perfect Shot will scan your gallery (assuming you gave it permission) for similar faces, then offer alternative expressions based on that person's other pictures.

It's similar to Google's Best Take feature, but it doesn't just work on photos taken in a single group burst. This is the perfect solution for those of us with teenagers or pre-teens who never seem to want to smile, as you can pretty easily swap out that angsty stare with a nice smile if you've got a few sitting in your gallery. It feels like magic!

Mind Space

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

OnePlus may have launched Mind Space with the middling OnePlus 13S a few months ago, but this is the first time I'm getting to use it on my standard OnePlus 13. While I'm hoping OnePlus adds a few more ways to quickly get to Mind Space on phones without a dedicated side key, it's easy enough to three-finger swipe down to capture anything and send it to Mind Space on this phone.

Accessing it via a quick icon on the homescreen is also fine enough, but it's what's inside that I'm really loving. Ever since Nothing launched Essential Space with the Nothing Phone 3a series back in the Spring, other Android OEMs have been adding a similar feature that works even better than Nothing's design. Like Essential Space, OnePlus's Mind Space app is a central repository for all your note-taking and screenshot-searching needs.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

The key difference here is that, while things are easily searchable on the Pixel Screenshots app for Pixel 9 and Pixel 10 phones, Mind Space is the first app of its kind to directly integrate into Gemini. That means you don't even have to open the app to start a search. Just ask Gemini and it'll organize everything for you!

Mind Space is also very handy for summarizing or organizing information, and can even create charts and visuals based on information you store in it. This is awesome for me, as I often take notes for briefings or interviews and then have to comb through them later to organize them. Mind Space was able to take one of these documents and turn it into a visual flow chart, giving me a quick way to organize all my thoughts.

My next request for OnePlus is to allow it to store longer documents and make importing documents to Mind Space easier than just sharing what's on screen.

Voice recorder upgrades

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Voice Recorder got a massive upgrade in OxygenOS 16. While the previous version was fine enough, it lacked some of the more impressive AI-based features like automatic transcription and speaker identification. All that is here now, and it works beautifully.

You can even go back and transcribe previous recordings you made, making this update even more useful. That transcription can then be summarized, shared, or edited any way you like, which is great because it means I'll no longer have to carry another phone or use another app just to get transcription for my recordings.

Games games games

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

evenGames are finally, finally running at full speed in OxygenOS 16, with proper 120FPS support for any game that can push those limits. This is part of a total overhaul OnePlus did to enhance fluidity and speed for this release, and it includes a big upgrade for the Game Assistant tool built into the phone.

This tool features a metric ton of options now, including better profiles that help scale performance based on your needs. Game Assistant even does great things like organize all your screenshots and recordings into albums for each game, making it simple to find what you need, well after playing them.

Still the best multitasking in the biz

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

OnePlus dropped a teaser for the upcoming OnePlus 15 running OxygenOS 16 the other day, and it had me worried. The only multitasking UI shown was a blatant iOS ripoff, which is a big downgrade from the current best multitasking UI that OxygenOS already features. Thankfully, this lame iOS ripoff version seems to just be an optional toggle rather than a replacement.

OnePlus has long had the best multitasking UIs, whether that's the ultra-fast overview screen that lets you swap between 10 apps at a time with a single swipe, or the company's incredible Open Canvas feature that debuted with the OnePlus Open two years ago.

In fact, OnePlus Pad 3 users running OxygenOS 16 now have access to a whopping 18 apps on the bottom dock, and Open Canvas has now been upgraded to support 5-app splitscreen at the same time. Talk about hardcore multitasking!

And more!

(Image credit: OnePlus)

There are a lot of new features in OxygenOS 16 that I didn't touch on here that are worth looking at. From the AI writing functionality to the enhanced "Fluid Cloud" (that's OnePlus's version of Dynamic Island) and several other features, this is a jam-packed release that people are going to love.

OnePlus 13

OxygenOS 16 is just the first of five major updates scheduled for the OnePlus 13, the best Android smartphone we've ever reviewed. Get ready for speed and versatility with this blue beauty in your pocket!

OnePlus 13 update finally fixes your annoying photo problems

techkritiko@gmail.com (Jay Bonggolto) — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 11:06:00 +0000

What you need to know

OnePlus 13 users are getting firmware CPH2655_15.0.0.862(EX01) with a mix of polish, new tools, and security fixes.
Lock screen alerts and Live Alerts now have cleaner animations, so interactions feel less clunky.
A new map album shows where your pictures were taken, and moving images from Private back to public now puts them in their original folders, so you don’t lose track.

OnePlus is rolling out a new update for the OnePlus 13. The latest firmware, CPH2655_15.0.0.862(EX01), includes several small but useful improvements to make your daily experience better.

In addition to the standard security update, OnePlus has added features to make the phone run more smoothly, feel smarter, and offer better privacy.

Users will notice improved visuals right away. Animations for Live Alerts and lock screen notifications look smoother, making interactions feel more natural. If you check alerts often, these changes should make things a bit nicer.

The Photos app is also getting some love. A new map album has been added, letting you see images plotted on a map based on their location data. For frequent travelers, this makes it easier to revisit memories from specific places.

Easier privacy control

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

There’s also a change to how private photos work. When you move images from the Private album back to public, they will now show up in their original folders, making them easier to find.

You can now change your Private Safe password from different places, like the Locked album in Photos or the Private Safe menu. This makes it easier and faster to update your security settings.

Screen time tracking is now available right in Phone Manager. You can quickly check your daily and weekly usage without searching through menus, so it’s easier to notice if you’re spending too much time on your phone.

If you use the built-in IR Remote, you’ll see a new control panel layout. The redesign should make it simpler and less frustrating to use.

The update also includes the September 2025 Android security patch, which helps protect your phone from new threats. OnePlus advises not to turn off your device during installation, as it will be unusable for a short time, even for emergency calls.

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs. OnePlus 13: Two Android flagships fighting for the top spot

sanujb6@gmail.com (Sanuj Bhatia) — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 18:35:32 +0000

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL

Ultimate AI-powered smartphone

The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL keeps a similar design language as its predecessor, but adds meaningful upgrades, like a Tensor G5 chipset built by TSMC and Qi2 MagSafe-like wireless charging. It's one of the most AI-centric Android phones around and ships with the biggest battery ever on a Google Pixel smartphone.

Pros

Runs Android 16 out of the box
Advanced AI features like Camera Coach and Magic Cue
Long-term software support
Qi2.2 MagSafe-like wireless charging
5x optical zoom lens

Cons

Slower charging speeds
Tensor G5 may not be the best for gaming
Larger and heavier form factor

OnePlus 13

Unbeatable value

The OnePlus 13 builds on OnePlus' core value but with all guns blazing. It has the top-performing Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset with a huge 6,000 mAh battery to power it. Despite the large build, it has a handy design and a bright AMOLED display you'll love to look at every day.

Pros

Bigger 6,000 mAh battery and faster charging speeds
Top-tier performance with Snapdragon 8 Elite processor
More durable with IP68 + IP69 ratings
Bigger display with Dolby Vision and HDR10+ playback support

Cons

Limited software support
Slightly bulkier build
Wide-angle lens isn't quite as good

The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL is finally official, and while it may not look drastically different from its predecessor, the Pixel 9 Pro XL, it does bring a variety of upgrades underneath. The Pixel 10 Pro XL is also the largest (and most expensive) slab smartphone from Google this year.

The OnePlus 13 has plenty going for it too, including a superior chipset, a bright AMOLED display, and a bigger battery with faster charging. The Pixel 10 Pro XL might cost a little more than the OnePlus 13, but it's still in the same range, making this a compelling battle of large phones.

Between the Pixel 10 Pro XL and the OnePlus 13, which one's the better fit for you? Let's see how they compare.

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs. OnePlus 13: Pricing and availability

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Google took the wraps off the Pixel 10 Pro XL at the Made by Google event on August 20, 2025. The Pixel 10 Pro XL starts at $1,199 for the base model with 16GB RAM and 256GB storage. There are two more storage options at 512GB and 1TB at higher prices, and the phone comes in four colorways: Moonstone (grayish-blue), Jade (green), Porcelain (white), and Obsidian (black).

The OnePlus 13, meanwhile, is a little cheaper at $900 for the base variant with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. For $100 more at $1,000, you can double the storage to 512GB and also get 16GB RAM. The base model is only available in Black Eclipse colorway, while the higher-end model comes in three finishes: Black Eclipse, Midnight Ocean, and Arctic Dawn.

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs. OnePlus 13: Design and display

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL and OnePlus 13 adopt very different design languages. While both phones are rectangular with curved corners, they feel entirely different in the hand.

The Pixel 10 Pro XL keeps a design similar to the Pixel 9 Pro XL with flat edges and a pill-shaped visor running across the back, housing all the camera sensors and the temperature sensor. There's also the now slightly larger (and more prominent) "G" logo centered on the rear.

The OnePlus 13 has a different design with a circular camera module at the top left. It also has curved corners, but unlike the Pixel, it comes with a curved display and curved back edges that melt into the frame, making it easier to hold.

Both phones have similar screen sizes and dimensions. The OnePlus 13 sports a 6.82-inch display and measures 162.9 x 76.5 x 8.5–8.9 mm. The Pixel 10 Pro XL has a slightly smaller 6.8-inch panel but with comparable dimensions of 152.8 x 72 x 8.5 mm.

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

What you do feel in your hand, though, is the weight. The Pixel 10 Pro XL is heavier than before at 232 grams, while the OnePlus 13 (despite keeping a larger battery, more on that later) comes in lighter at 210 grams.

Although the Pixel 10 Pro XL is a bit heavier, Google offsets this with a feature no other flagship Android maker offers right now: built-in magnets for MagSafe-like Qi2 wireless charging. This means you won't need third-party cases or stickers to attach the Pixel 10 Pro XL to MagSafe accessories like wallets, power banks, mounts, and chargers, as the phone supports all these accessories natively.

In fact, the Pixel 10 Pro XL also supports the highest Qi2.2 standard, allowing fast 25W wireless charging. The OnePlus 13 also supports wireless charging (and can be faster with its official charger), but requires a case to mimic the Pixel 10 Pro XL's magnetic charging.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

While the OnePlus 13 doesn't have built-in magnets for Qi2 magnetic wireless charging, it still offers two advantages over the Pixel 10 Pro XL: a SIM card slot and better durability. Starting with the former, you get a physical SIM card slot on the OnePlus 13, so you can just push your SIM in and start using the device. On the Pixel 10 Pro XL in the U.S., you only get an eSIM option.

In terms of durability, technically, the OnePlus 13 is more durable than the Pixel 10 Pro XL thanks to its dual IP68 + IP69 rating, while the Pixel 10 Pro XL only carries IP68 dust and water resistance. Both phones can handle occasional rain and even short underwater video capture, but the OnePlus is also rated against high-pressure, high-temperature water jet sprays. You may never need it, but it's reassuring to know your phone can survive those conditions.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

On the front, both phones pack large 6.8-inch AMOLED panels. Both offer high resolution and up to a 120Hz variable refresh rate, but the OnePlus 13 one-ups the Pixel 10 Pro XL with 2160Hz PWM dimming, making it easier on sensitive eyes.

The OnePlus 13 promises up to 4,500 nits peak brightness but only 1,600 nits in high brightness mode, while the Pixel 10 Pro XL reaches 2,200 nits, making it better outdoors. The Pixel 10 Pro XL also uses tougher Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, while OnePlus opts for its proprietary Ceramic Guard glass.

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs. OnePlus 13: Hardware and specs

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

The Pixel 10 Pro XL comes with one of the biggest upgrades to Google smartphones in years: the Tensor G5 chipset. As expected, Google switched from Samsung Foundry to TSMC for manufacturing on its 3nm process. This should (theoretically) deliver improved sustained performance and reduced heating compared to recent Pixel smartphones, and early results look promising.

Google says the Tensor G5 is "built for the Gemini era," with numbers to back it up. The Tensor G5’s TPU is 60% faster for on-device AI tasks, while Google claims the CPU is 34% better than last year's Tensor G4 in the Pixel 9.

The OnePlus 13, meanwhile, is powered by Qualcomm's top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, which is widely regarded as the best chipset for Android phones. And even though Google baked in several upgrades to the Tensor G5 this year, it still falls short of the numbers and performance provided by the Snapdragon 8 Elite.

Specifications
Category	Google Pixel 10 Pro XL	OnePlus 13
OS	Android 16 Seven years of OS upgrades	OxygenOS 15 (Android 15) Four major OS upgrades
Display	6.8-inch Super Actua OLED, 120Hz, 1344 x 2992, Gorilla Glass Victus 2, 3,300 nits peak	6.82-inch, LTPO 4.1 AMOLED, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, 1440 x 3168, Ceramic Guard glass, 4,500 nits peak
Processor	Google Tensor G5	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
RAM	16GB	12GB / 16GB / 24GB
Storage	256GB / 512GB / 1TB	256GB / 512GB / 1TB
Rear cameras	50MP main + 48MP telephoto (5x) + 48MP ultra-wide	50MP main + 50MP ultra-wide + 50MP telephoto (3x)
Front camera	42MP	32MP
Ingress protection	IP68	IP68 + IP69
Connectivity	Global 5G, Satellite SOS (U.S.), Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, eSIM only	5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, physical SIM tray
Security	Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, Face unlock	Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, Face unlock
Battery	5,200 mAh	6,000mAh
Charging	45W USB-C fast wired charging Pixelsnap wireless charging (Qi2.2, 25W)	100W USB-C fast wired charging Up to 50W wireless (no native Qi2 support)
Dimensions	162.8 x 76.6 x 8.6mm; 232g	162.9 x 76.5 x 8.5 mm; 210g
Colors	Obsidian, Porcelain, Moonstone, Jade	Black Eclipse, Arctic Dawn, Midnight Ocean

In terms of other internal hardware, both phones offer the same storage options of 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. The difference lies in RAM: Google opts for 16GB across all models, while OnePlus starts with 12GB on the base variant and goes up to 24GB on the 1TB model.

When it comes to battery life and charging, the OnePlus 13 stands apart with a 6,000 mAh cell and 100W SuperVOOC fast charging, while the Pixel 10 Pro XL packs a 5,200 mAh cell and 45W fast charging.

Of course, endurance depends on day-to-day use and software optimization, but if you had to pick one, you just can't go wrong with the OnePlus 13. The Pixel 10 Pro XL, however, is better for wireless charging thanks to built-in magnets.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Turning to software, the Pixel 10 Pro XL ships with Google's stock Android 16 and Material 3 Expressive design out of the box. The Pixel also offers longer support, with Google promising seven years of OS updates, while the OnePlus 13 runs Android 15 with only four major OS upgrades.

As expected, the Pixel leans heavily into AI and user experience, with Google baking in even more helpful features into the Pixel 10 Pro XL. The new features include a Camera Coach, which uses Gemini to teach users how to take better photos, Magic Cue, which surfaces the right information when you need it, and many more.

OnePlus has added new AI features to its software, but it still lags behind when compared to the sheer number available on a Google Pixel.

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs. OnePlus 13: Cameras

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

In terms of cameras, both phones offer a similar triple-camera setup on the back. The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL has a 50MP primary sensor paired with a 48MP ultra-wide lens with 123-degree FoV and a 48MP periscope telephoto lens supporting up to 5x optical zoom. Thanks to Google AI, the Pixel 10 Pro XL can zoom up to 100x using Pro Res Zoom, which refines highly zoomed photos with AI.

The OnePlus 13 features a 50MP primary sensor, a 50MP ultra-wide lens with 120-degree FoV, and a 50MP telephoto lens with only 3x optical zoom. However, the OnePlus 13 one-ups Google in digital zoom, reaching 120x, with AI refining photos at extreme zoom.

For the primary camera, the company continues to use Hasselblad’s color tuning, producing bright, punchy shots, though rumors suggest this might go away with the next generation.

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs. OnePlus 13: Which should you buy?

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

When it comes to choosing between the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs. the OnePlus 13, price aside, it's worth noting these phones are built for very different kinds of users.

The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL may not pack all-out performance, but it isn't meant to. Its chipset may not top benchmarks, yet it's powerful enough for most tasks and most people. Combined with software and AI features designed to help daily, it delivers a polished experience. Plus, there are other benefits of owning a Google Pixel device as well, including longer software support with seven years of OS updates and day-one Android releases from Google, something I value a lot.

The OnePlus 13, on the other hand, has the best-performing chipset, strong cameras, and a battery plus charging combo unmatched by other Android flagships in the U.S. It may lag in software features and version updates, but for those who demand heavy gaming and multitasking, the OnePlus is the better fit. And it also costs $300 less than the Pixel 10 Pro XL.

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL

Most complete Google Pixel yet

The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL is an exciting upgrade with features like the new Tensor G5 chipset, Qi2 wireless charging, and plenty of helpful AI tools under the hood. It costs more than the OnePlus, but it might just be worth the extra money.

OnePlus 13

Flagship killer vibes

With the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, a big battery, fast charging, a great AMOLED display, and a solid camera array, the OnePlus 13 has a lot going for it. Especially with the lower price tag, it makes for an attractive flagship in 2025.

Forget the Pixel 10, this is STILL the best phone of 2025 (and it's $150 off right now)

patrick.farmer@futurenet.com (Patrick Farmer) — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 18:12:49 +0000

It's official: the Pixel 10 series is set to be revealed on Thursday, August 20th, but why wait for Made by Google 2025 when a "nearly perfect" phone is already available AND discounted right now? Enter the OnePlus 13, one of the few devices to ever earn a perfect 5/5-star rating from Android Central.

Not only is this powerful device packed full of premium specs and one of the best displays we've ever used, but you can save a straight $150 on the OnePlus 13 (512GB version) when you buy unlocked from Best Buy today. Activate through AT&T or Verizon and your discount will jump to $250, no trade-in required. I'm not saying you shouldn't consider the Pixel 10 when it's announced this week, but don't be surprised if this deal clobbers any of the preorder opportunities that appear.

Google Pixel 10 launch: see leaks, rumors, and LIVE updates

OnePlus 13 512GB: ~~$999.99~~ $849.99 unlocked | from $749.99 with activation at Best Buy

A lot of great Android phones have been released in 2025, but few come close to touching the sophisticated power and performance of the OnePlus 13. Grab the 512GB version of the phone unlocked from Best Buy today and you'll score a straight $150 off your purchase. You can also score some additional savings by activating through your carrier or processing a trade-in on the retailer's site.

Price comparison: Amazon - $849.99 | OnePlus - $849.99 View Deal

✅Recommended if: you want one of the fastest, most durable, and best-looking phones ever built; you want a phone that's simply great at being a phone; you don't mind buying devices unlocked.

❌Skip this deal if: you'd rather wait and see what the Pixel 10 series has in store for us; you're looking for a good deal through your carrier; you want all of those fancy AI features touted by Samsung and Google.

Straight out of the box, the first thing you'll notice is the OnePlus 13's unique design, but don't be fooled by the fancy look: this is easily one of the most durable phones on the market, with IP69 water and dust resistance and Ceramic Guard glass. We even put the phone in a dishwasher to test the brand's bold durability claims (spoiler alert: it worked). The flagship also boasts a stunning 6.9-inch QHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Things are just as impressive under the hood, as the OnePlus 13 is powered by the same Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset that drives the more-expensive Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, plus you get 12GB of RAM as standard and versatile camera hardware that could easily match the best devices from Google. This particular deal from Best Buy also comes with 512GB of onboard storage.

So should you wait for the Google Pixel 10 series to be revealed or should you grab an incredible Android phone today? It's hard to say, but I seriously don't expect the new Google phones to be much better than what the OnePlus 13 has to offer. Needless to say, no matter which way you go, choosing between these two masterful flagships is a good problem to have.

The OnePlus 13 may be durable, but it never hurts to protect your investment further with one of the best OnePlus 13 cases.

'Plus Mind' rolls onto the OnePlus 13, 13R as the assistant Android users need

nickodiaz@sbcglobal.net (Nickolas Diaz) — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 17:34:59 +0000

What you need to know

OnePlus announced that its OnePlus 13s "Plus Mind" AI feature is now rolling onto the larger flagship 13 and 13R phones.
Plus Mind is a smart screenshot assistant that will give users AI-powered suggestions for dates, locations, fashion, and more, all stored in the Mind Space app.
This feature was once restricted to the OnePlus 13s in India; however, the company says "there's more to come."

The smart screenshot assistant present on the OnePlus 13s is finally starting to arrive on the company's larger flagship devices.

This week, OnePlus announced via its community forum that it's preparing to roll out the AI feature "Plus Mind" on the OnePlus 13 and 13R. The post states the update has started as of July 15, and is expected to "reach all devices over the coming weeks." While the OnePlus 13 and 13R don't feature the dedicated Plus Key like the 13s, the post states users with the former can activate Plus Mind using a "three-finger swipe up" on their displays.

As the update appears, users will soon notice a new Mind Space app appear on the 13 and 13R. Details highlight your ability to send a "wide variety" of information into Plus Mind. OnePlus states this includes your texts, images, webpages, social media posts, and more. What you capture via the screen gesture will be sent to the Mind Space app.

Additionally, the AI analysis of your content can spot and understand dates and suggest that you put them into your calendar for later.

For fashion, OnePlus says Plus Mind can "summarize the styles shown" and save that summary within Mind Space with a direct link, so you can revisit it. If there's a lot of content in your Mind Space app, OnePlus says you can leverage AI Search on the 13 and 13R to find things. Knowing the gist of what you're looking for, and also when you might've saved it, can help the AI return useful stored content.

It's a smart one

(Image credit: OnePlus)

When the OnePlus 13s was on its way, it was made evident that the company had ditched the Alert Slider in favor of a new Plus Key. As previously stated, the feature primarily focuses on your screenshots—and placing them in a unique space (Mind Space), so they're not cluttering your memories in the Gallery. Plus Mind's AI suggestions piggyback off OnePlus AI to make saving important dates, locations, and more a breeze.

This compact flagship is available in India, which meant the rest of us were left waiting (and wondering) if we'd ever see something similar. Users in India are also enjoying AI VoiceScribe, a feature that lets users record, summarize, and translate phone calls and meetings. The Chinese OEM's AI suite has continued to evolve, as we have AI Translation, Search, Reframe, and Perfect Shot to play with.

However, OnePlus states that there's "more to come," and Plus Mind on the 13 and 13R is a "step in that direction."

3 of the best Android phones ever built are receiving HISTORIC discounts for Prime Day — don’t miss these deals

patrick.farmer@futurenet.com (Patrick Farmer) — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 23:04:58 +0000

Only one day of Prime Day 2025 remains, which means some of the best Android phone deals of the year are about to disappear for good (or at least until Black Friday, I guess). Nevertheless, among all of the discounted devices available at Amazon right now, three legendary smartphones stand out from the crowd: the OnePlus 13, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, and the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL.

All three of these devices earned incredibly high marks in our list of the best Android phones that money can buy, and thanks to Amazon's sale, all three are as cheap or cheaper than they've ever been. The sale ends at midnight tomorrow, July 11th, so if you've been thinking about buying an exceptional smartphone this week, this could be your last chance. Don't mess this up.

Last chance! Grab these Android phone deals before they're gone

1. OnePlus 13 512GB: ~~$999.99~~ $879.99 with Prime at Amazon

One of the very few phones to ever receive a perfect score from Android Central, the OnePlus 13 is an incredibly versatile device powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. The phone also boasts revolutionary IP69 protection with excellent cameras and one of the best displays we've ever used. Thanks to Amazon's Prime Day sale, the eye-catching flagship is currently sitting with a rare 12% discount.

Android Central rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

From our reviewer:

"The OnePlus 13 is the best Android phone ever made, with uncompromising design and build quality, top-tier performance, features you'll love using, and a camera that'll make you smile day or night."View Deal

2. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 256GB: ~~$1,299.99~~ $949.99 with Prime at Amazon

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a beast of Android technology, offering a stunning 6.9-inch AMOLED display (with built-in stylus), amazing performance from the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, and seven years of guaranteed software support. The biggest thing holding the phone back is its price, which is why we're stoked to see Amazon slash 27% off the unlocked device during Prime Day.

Android Central rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

From our reviewer:

"It's one of the best Android phones you can buy, assuming you can afford it. It's packed with impressive specs, several well-performing cameras, a built-in stylus pen, and tons of AI features, all in a premium package."View Deal

3. Google Pixel 9 Pro XL 128GB: ~~$1,099~~ $749 with Prime at Amazon

Currently 32% off during Prime Day, the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is a stunning flagship with an impressive triple-camera system, 16GB of RAM, and all of the latest AI-boosted software features powered by Gemini. The phone also comes with seven years of guaranteed OS and security upgrades, which means you could be using it for a good long while before it starts to feel even remotely dated.

Android Central rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

From our reviewer:

"When only the biggest display will do, the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is the right phone for you. Packing Google smarts and the latest bag of AI tricks powered by Gemini, the Pixel 9 Pro XL will get it done."View Deal

Prime Day 2025 Android deals — quick links

Prime Day ENDS tomorrow: see the full list of Amazon deals
Phones: major discounts on Samsung and Pixel
Tablets: discounted Galaxy Tab and iPad
Wearables: up to %45 off Garmin watches
Most Prime Day deals are members-only: sign up for the 30-day trial

For more on Prime Day 2025, check out our ultimate shopping guide

This Android phone is built like no other, and it's still on sale well after Prime Day ended

Nicholas Sutrich — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 12:03:21 +0000

The OnePlus launched earlier this year to critical acclaim, including our first 5-star phone review since we started publishing in 2008. One of OnePlus's marketing points was that it was the first phone in the U.S. with an IP69 rating, something even the Galaxy S25 family didn't include when it launched a month later. But what does that really do for you?

Earlier this month, I read a story about a OnePlus 13 that ended up in a river for four and a half hours without taking any damage, so I figured I would put it through my own test by taking the phone on the lake all day during the Fourth of July. Unsurprisingly, the phone passed with flying colors. Everyone else left their iPhones and Galaxy phones on the boat, but I floated in the water, taking perfect pictures the entire day with my OnePlus 13.

To make things even better, the OnePlus 13 is still on sale during Best Buy's extended Black Friday in July event, taking $150 off the normal price, making this the best discount we've yet seen for our favorite Android phone! If you activate it today, Best Buy will take another $100 off, bringing the total price down to an unheard of $749.99.

OnePlus 13 512GB: ~~$999.99~~ $849.99 at Best Buy's Black Friday in July event

The OnePlus 13 is the best phone of 2025 so far, Black Friday in July sale is still going on! Save $150 by getting the phone today and enjoy it for years, thanks to a long support and update promise from OnePlus. Plus, with IP69 protection, you'll never have to worry about the elements getting the best of your phone, hot or cold, wet or dry!

Price check: Amazon - $949.99 | Walmart - $869 View Deal

✅Recommended if: you're looking for a flagship phone with the best camera that you can take anywhere without worrying about the heat, cold, rain, or something crazier ruining your favorite device. The OnePlus 13 is one tough device, and it doesn't sacrifice anything else to achieve this level of durability, either!

❌Skip this deal if: you're looking for something under $500. For that, I'd recommend the OnePlus 13R, which is on sale at Amazon for $110 off.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

This is the year where some Android smartphones have significantly bolstered their durability, proving that they're built to last. In addition to the longest software update commitments ever, companies like OnePlus and Honor have built smartphones equipped to survive a kitchen nightmare.

AquaTouch 2.0 ensures you can actually touch the screen even with wet fingers.

I've already put the OnePlus 13 in a dishwasher several times and took it in a 155-degree Fahrenheit sauna for half an hour to test its durability, but taking it swimming all day is another feat entirely. Part of the problem is that, while many phones have featured IP68 water and dust resistance for years, that durability doesn't include "water jets" or moving water, which means you're not really supposed to actively swim with them.

IP69 changes all of that, and it means taking the OnePlus 13 in a river or lake was no big deal at all. The phone stayed in my zipped-up swimming pants pocket most of the time while I was in the lake and only came out when I wanted to take a picture. Not only does the phone withstand water for long periods of time, but AquaTouch 2.0 ensures you can actually touch the screen even with wet fingers. Good luck doing that on an iPhone!

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Taking the phone in the water was a thing of joy. I was able to capture all the most memorable moments of the outing, including the gorgeous scenery around me in Western North Carolina, as well as all the best jumps and activities of the day.

When my friends and family were jumping off the boat, the OnePlus 13 camera perfectly captured every splash and dive in crisp detail thanks to its ultra-fast dual-exposure algorithm. When the sun hit the water just right and turned it into "Mountain Dew water" under the boat around sunset, the OnePlus 13 perfectly captured that moment, too.

As the lighting dimmed and we headed in for dinner and s'mores, the OnePlus 13 captured the mood perfectly. I love using the portrait mode on the camera for people and food photos, and it even captured the dock lighting for an Instagram-worthy moment.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

As the long day finally started to get dark, we rode the boat over to the main harbor where a fireworks show was scheduled. The OnePlus 13 ships with many different camera modes, and while I was taking photos of the fireworks across the water, the camera app suggested I switch to fireworks mode to more accurately capture the scene.

Boy, that was a great decision. It's nice to have a camera that's smart enough to suggest when different modes would be best to use, and the fireworks mode does a much better job of capturing the stark contrast between the bright fireworks and the otherwise dark lake scene.

As you've probably experienced before, the left image below isn't at all what it looked like to my eyes in real life. Rather, it was much more like the right image, and while the timing of my shot doesn't do the display justice, it still gives me a good memory to look back at down the road.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

We don't normally do a ton for holidays like the Fourth of July, and I couldn't be happier that I had a phone like the OnePlus 13 to take with me on the year we finally get the chance to do something as epic as boating on the lake for the whole day.

The OnePlus 13 is my favorite Android phone of all time for many reasons, but its versatility and durability are among the best reasons. If you're not crazy like me, though, you'll probably want to stick it in a case while you're out on the water.

The best OnePlus 13 cases will grant extra protection, but I recommend the official OnePlus case over the others on the list. It's our top pick and not only adds MagSafe magnets to the back of the phone, but also has two handy lanyard holes to keep the phone safe from free-falls to the ground or to the bottom of the lake. Our Accessories Editor, Namerah, also recommends the Cyrill Charm Strap, if you prefer a different type of case, as it'll give any case lanyard compatibility.

Someone accidentally tried drowning the OnePlus 13, and it didn't flinch

techkritiko@gmail.com (Jay Bonggolto) — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 08:19:10 +0000

What you need to know

A Reddit user’s story of the OnePlus 13 surviving 4.5 hours underwater shows the phone may be even more durable than its ratings suggest.
While the OnePlus 13 already boasts top-tier IP68/IP69 certification, this accidental river test takes its durability credentials to another level.
IP68 covers submersion for up to 30 minutes, and IP69 adds resistance to hot, high-pressure water. The OnePlus 13 appears capable of handling far more.

Although OnePlus has already awarded the OnePlus 13 an IP68/IP69 rating, real-world tests are significantly surpassing these ratings. Someone accidentally dunked it in a river for way longer than it should handle, and it came out like nothing happened.

A recent Reddit post tells a wild story about the OnePlus 13’s water resistance getting pushed way past the limit. After a canoeing mishap during a camp trip, a kid accidentally left the phone underwater in a river for around 4.5 hours. Interestingly, when the father fished it out, it still worked.

This is a photo of my son's camp counselor and I looking for my Son's OP13 in the Fox River. from r/oneplus

For context, an IP68 rating means a device can handle being underwater over a meter deep for up to 30 minutes. It’s a solid standard for water resistance, but definitely not meant for long river naps.

The OnePlus 13 raised the bar for durability by being the first in the lineup to score both IP68 and IP69 ratings. That means it’s not just splash-proof or pool-friendly; it can actually take on hot, high-pressure water.

Outpacing the flagship competition

With top-tier IP ratings for both dust and water resistance, the OnePlus 13 goes a step beyond the usual IP68 crowd, outclassing the leading Android phones like the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Pixel 9 Pro.

Meanwhile, the OnePlus 12 only came with an IP65 rating, meaning it could handle dust and low-pressure water sprays. But when tech-savvy folks tore it down, they noticed design choices hinting it might’ve been tougher than the rating let on. That sparked a lot of debate about whether it was quietly more water-resistant than advertised.

Now, with this Reddit story about the OnePlus 13 surviving nearly five hours underwater, it’s safe to say OnePlus has leveled up in real-world durability.

IP69 is pretty much unicorn territory when it comes to smartphones. While a few Oppo models in select regions have quietly sported it, the OnePlus 13 is the first phone with IP69 protection to officially hit Western markets.

While most folks won’t be blasting their phone with high-pressure hot water, knowing the OnePlus 13 could handle it is pretty awesome.

Android users pumped with features as the OnePlus 13 update arrives

vishnu.skar@gmail.com (Vishnu Sarangapurkar) — Sun, 06 Jul 2025 14:50:04 +0000

What you need to know

The latest firmware for the OnePlus 13 enables remote control support for Windows PCs, allowing users to access files and control their computer from their OnePlus 13.
The handset users also gain a Game Camera for live screenshots and flashback recording during gameplay.
The update also includes a Speaker Cleaner for optimal audio performance, and a Drag & drop feature for images and text in third-party apps, along with a "reduce white points" option for color sensitivity.

With a new OnePlus event just around the corner, the company, on the other hand, has started rolling out updates to its prominent flagship, the OnePlus 13. It is a sizable update that has begun rolling out in the U.S.

The latest firmware bears the CPH2655_15.0.0.832(EX01) build number, which includes the latest June Android security patch. As mentioned, it is a notable update that features 7.47GB and brings some new features, numerous bug fixes, and improvements.

Android Central

The latest update helps its users gain remote control support for Windows PC. They can control their PC and access its files remotely on their Android handset. Plus, the update also includes improvements across cellular network algorithms to ensure users have smoother network connections.

The other new addition with the update is a Game Camera, with which users can have Live screenshots and Flashback recordings — that further help users to capture their favorite gaming moments.

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

The OnePlus 13 also gains a Speaker cleaner feature, which, as the name suggests, helps clean the phone speakers to ensure users have optimal speaker performance. The new feature can be handled by navigating to Phone Manager> Tools> More> Accessibility & convenience> Speaker cleaner.

The update also incorporates a Drag & drop feature that lets users utilize gestures "to perform actions" on images and text in third-party apps. Another option also for users to reduce white points allows users to have some comfort for those with color sensitivity issues. Both these come under "Accessibility & convenience" settings on the OnePlus 13.

More improvements

Here are some of the other new system-wide improvements from the changelog:

You can now search for app names in Settings to quickly view app details or manage apps.
You can now perform fuzzy searches with spaces in Settings.
Improves the floating bar responsiveness of floating windows.
Improves the animation when exiting Quick Settings and the Notification drawer for better responsiveness and smoother transitions.
You can now seamlessly open an app from Quick Functions when the screen is locked.
When notifications are stacked, the latest notification will now display a summary showing the number of undisplayed notifications and their sources.
Improves the color effect of the navigation bar background and app icons in some scenarios for better consistency of colors.
Improves the Recent Tasks feature, which now supports more apps to run in the background.
Optimizes the display order of search results in Settings.

The latest OnePlus community page post from early this month also indicates that a similar update including the June security patch has also started rolling out to the flagship's sibling, the OnePlus 13R, and it bears the OxygenOS 15.0.0.832 version.

Phone deals: Best Buy | Walmart | Samsung | Amazon | Verizon | AT&T

June is National Safety Month, and these Android phones could help save your life

bradypsnyder@gmail.com (Brady Snyder) — Sat, 28 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0000

For nearly 30 years, June has been designated as National Safety Month. It's a time to raise awareness about the causes of preventable injuries and highlight ways to stay safe. In 2025, technology is a key part of that. The best Android phones have built-in tools and features for personal safety, including some you may not know about.

Most people looking for a flagship Android phone will probably be choosing between the Samsung Galaxy S25 series, the Google Pixel 9 lineup, and the OnePlus 13. Each of these devices has its own personal safety features, plus the default options built into Android. Depending on which phone you choose, you'll get a different set of personal safety features.

In light of National Safety Month, we're going to highlight the personal safety suites available on each of these popular phones.

Samsung Galaxy S25 series

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

While the Samsung Galaxy S25 series does include a respectable set of personal safety features, the story of this lineup is untapped potential. It has a car crash detection sensor that is currently unused, and a satellite connectivity feature that is left up to carriers rather than being universal.

The smartphones do have an Emergency SOS feature that can be used to get help in an emergency. Once you've set it up, clicking the Galaxy S25's power button three or four times will initiate Emergency SOS. This will send an SOS message with your location in both address and map form to your emergency contacts.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 adds a unique capability to the standard Emergency SOS feature. You can optionally set Emergency SOS to automatically capture a photo with the front and rear cameras. Another toggle lets your phone send and record a five-second audio clip as well. This could help give your emergency contacts and first responders crucial context for your situation.

Aside from Emergency SOS, your Galaxy S25 will also support medical info viewable from the lock screen and wireless emergency alerts. It'll also use satellite connectivity if you have Verizon service.

You can view all of the available options by opening the Settings app and navigating to Safety & emergency. From there, you can set up Emergency SOS, medical info, and more.

Samsung Galaxy S25

A decent pick for safety

The Samsung Galaxy S25 gives you access to core Android safety features, and also supports satellite connectivity if you are on the right network. Still, the offerings aren't as robust as what Google and Apple offer.

Google Pixel 9 series

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Google is known for giving its own Pixel phones access to exclusive features, and that's true of personal safety features on the Pixel 9 series. In fact, Pixels get their own Personal Safety app for accessing and managing these tools. They include Car Crash Detection, Satellite SOS, and Safety Check.

Satellite SOS on Pixel works like Emergency SOS on most Android phones, but it's supercharged by free satellite connectivity. Unlike the Galaxy S25, which requires a supported carrier for satellite service, Satellite SOS is included by Google with the Pixel 9 lineup. Essentially, if you are out of range of a cell tower, your phone can fall back to a satellite to contact first responders in an emergency.

You can try Satellite SOS without straining critical resources by using the demo mode. All you need to do is go to Settings > Safety & emergency > Satellite SOS and follow the on-screen prompts to test it out for yourself.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

From there, you also get Car Crash Detection, which uses sensors and algorithms to detect when you've been in a car accident. When a crash is detected, you'll have about a minute to confirm you're OK or need help. If you don't respond, your phone will automatically reach emergency services on your behalf. You can learn more about Car Crash Detection and how to enable it here.

The Personal Safety app also includes the Safety Check feature, which can periodically check in to make sure you're safe on a walk, run, or while traveling. You can also set medical information on your Pixel and enable wireless emergency alerts.

Google Pixel 9

The most complete package

The Google Pixel 9 offers the most well-rounded suite of personal safety features on the Android side of things, with tools like Emergency SOS, satellite connectivity, Car Crash Detection, and more.

OnePlus 13

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

The OnePlus 13 also has a basic set of personal safety features, but it's more limited than what Samsung and Google can offer. There's an Emergency SOS feature accessible from the lock screen — just swipe up and tap the Emergency SOS button to access it in a pinch. You can also navigate to Settings > Safety & Emergency > Emergency Contacts to set up who will be contacted if you need to trigger Emergency SOS on your OnePlus 13.

While the OnePlus 13 technically has the hardware to support satellite connectivity, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X80 5G, it isn't available here. As such, the Pixel 9 and even the Galaxy S25 will have a better chance at helping out when cellular connectivity is unavailable.

The OnePlus 13 supports a few more basic tools, like wireless emergency alerts and medical info, but that's where OnePlus's personal safety features end.

OnePlus 13

A value flagship

The OnePlus 13 is an excellent value compared to high-end flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, but its safety features are middling. You get Emergency SOS, wireless emergency alerts, and medical ID — and not much else.

Should you pick a phone based on its personal safety features?

(Image credit: Christine Persaud / Android Central)

Generally, most modern Android phones have the same base-level personal safety features, such as Emergency SOS, medical information, and wireless emergency alerts. Some phones take that further, like the Galaxy S25 and its photo and audio recording Emergency SOS capabilities. Or, the Pixel 9's support for Car Crash Detection, Satellite SOS, and Safety Check.

It's probably not worth buying a smartphone only for its personal safety features, but there are a few exceptions. For instance, if I often hiked or ran in areas without cell coverage, I'd absolutely look for a phone with satellite connectivity. A professional driver spending tens of thousands of miles on the road annually might similarly consider Car Crash Detection an essential feature.

It's worth considering your own habits and needs before making a choice, and don't forget that the best smartwatches have unique personal safety features of their own.

Phone deals: Best Buy | Walmart | Samsung | Amazon | Verizon | AT&T
MVNO deals: Mint Mobile | Visible | Boost | Tello | Cricket
Carrier deals: Verizon | AT&T | T-Mobile | Mint Mobile | Visible

News Weekly: Early Pixel 12 leaks, OnePlus might be breaking up with Hasselblad, new Oakley+Meta smart glasses, and more

nandika.iyerravi@futurenet.com (Nandika Ravi) — Sat, 21 Jun 2025 15:00:00 +0000

News Weekly

(Image credit: Future)

News Weekly is our column where we highlight and summarize some of the week's top stories so you can catch up on the latest tech news.

This is Android Central's News Weekly, your go-to source for a concise roundup of the week's most significant tech stories. This is where we delve into the top headlines that provide the latest developments and innovations contributing to the digital landscape.

This week was about some significant leaks, starting off with a full alleged lineup of the Pixel 12 series set to debut in 2027, a possibility of Hasselblad's cameras not showing up on future OnePlus devices, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 leak again, Oakley and Meta's new smart glasses built for athletes, and YouTube Music is rolling out support for sharing lyrics. Let's get into it.

Pixel 12 codenames surface

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

Read more here

While we've started to see several Pixel 10 leaks, this one is a bit off the road. Recently, Mystic Leaks, a prominent tipster, took to Telegram to leak alleged code names of the Pixel 12 lineup, likely set to debut in 2027.

The leaker claims the base-model Google Pixel 12 is codenamed Galago, the Pixel 12 Pro is codenamed Sasquatch, the Pixel 12 Pro XL is codenamed Silverback, and the Pixel 12 Pro Fold is codenamed Capuchin. It looks like Google might be using primate-themed codenames that correspond to device sizes. For instance, the smallest model is allegedly codenamed Galago (a small, wide-eyed primate), while the largest, the Pixel 12 Pro XL, is reportedly called Silverback (referring to a large gorilla).

Google has a history of using animal families as code names for its devices. The Google Pixel 10 series is said to be codenamed after horses, and the next Pixel 11 generation is rumored to be codenamed after bears.

OnePlus' long-term relationship with Hasseblad could end soon

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

Read more here

It's been a minute since we've heard anything on OnePlus' next phone. But a recent leak suggested that the company could be ditching the "14" and launching the OnePlus 15 instead. Some speculate that this could be due to cultural reasons, as in China, the number "4" sounds similar to the word for "death," making it an unlucky number.

That aside, the rumor also suggests that the Chinese company could be letting go of its long-term relationship with its camera partner, Hasselblad. The two have been working together since the launch of the OnePlus 9, which led to OnePlus having one of the best cameras on the market.

But if this rumor holds true, then OnePlus could be looking at a new camera setup for its phone this time around.

Oakley X Meta's new smart glasses look insane

(Image credit: Meta)

Read more here

Just like Meta's Ray Ban smart glasses, the company has now collaborated with Oakley to bring a sportier pair of smart glasses that could be your go-to accessory on your next run this summer.

Oakley and Meta have teamed up to launch the Oakley Meta HSTN (pronounced HOW-stuhn). It is equipped with a 3K Ultra HD camera that allows you to film hands-free during your activities. It also features built-in open-ear speakers, allowing you to listen to music without the need for external earphones.

Furthermore, this collab is pumped with all of Meta's AI smarts, so you can talk to it mid-activity—ask about the weather, the wind, or tell it to snap a video while you focus on the road ahead.

It comes in six different styles with prescription options and a solid battery life. The 24K gold-accented limited edition is priced at $499, while the rest of the lineup starts at $399 and rolls out later this summer. Preorder begins July 11.

Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 leak, again

(Image credit: Samsung)

Read more here

Samsung's upcoming foldables keep showing up in leaks, and this time around, we get to see clear official-looking renders as well as some colorways of the alleged Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7.

The most recent renders reveal that the Galaxy Z Flip 7 may feature an end-to-end cover display. This could potentially mean that users could do more by just looking at the cover display rather than flipping open the device each time. The rumor suggests that it might even be much lighter and slimmer than its previous iteration.

The same goes for the Galaxy Z Fold 7; these new renders suggest that Samsung's upcoming fold will have a wider 8.2-inch cover screen, weighing 215 grams, with a sleeker form factor.

Both devices could be available in multiple colorways, including Blue Shadow and Jet Black, according to the leak. The launch is expected in early July.

YouTube Music finally gets this nifty shareable feature

(Image credit: Chris Wedel / Android Central)

Read more here

YouTube Music appears to be late to the party; it has finally started rolling out a helpful feature that allows users to share the lyrics of the music they're listening to. This feature will show up as a new floating action button to the Lyrics tab of the Now Playing user interface called Share. After tapping it, you can select which group of lyric lines you'd like to use to create the shareable card.

You can pick the background color of your lyric card, and it will create the finalized graphic. It'll show the song title, artist, album artwork, selected lyrics, and a subtle YouTube Music logo. It is essentially a digital replica of the lyric card that can be shared across other apps or with a special person.

That said, you can share the card as is or also manually add the corresponding soundtrack to it via other social media accounts while sharing it as a story.

First 13 things to do with the OnePlus 13

harish.jonnalagadda@futurenet.com (Harish Jonnalagadda) — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 13:31:16 +0000

The OnePlus 13 debuted globally at the start of the year, and it continues to be one of the best phones you can buy in 2025. The new design makes it easier to hold and use, and I like the unique leather texture that's available with the blue color option. The camera housing looks cleaner as well this time, and the best part is that the phone has a bigger 6,000mAh silicon battery that easily lasts over a day.

Combine that with incredible cameras, the best hardware available today, and a vibrant AMOLED with useful additions, and it isn't hard to see why the OnePlus 13 continues to sell so well. I tested the OnePlus 13 for a month when it launched, and went back to the device several times over the course of 2025. I used all iterations of OxygenOS going back to the very first beta build that debuted back in 2015, and I'd like to think I know my way around the skin. So if you're just getting started with the OnePlus 13, here's how I set up my phone.

Set up the pull-down gesture

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

OxygenOS has plenty of annoyances, and one that ranks highly is the global search that shows up instead of the notification pane when you pull down anywhere on the screen. Thankfully, you can switch this back to the notification pane without too much of a hassle.

Just pull down anywhere after you set up the phone, and you'll get a dialog box asking if you'd like to use global search or access the notification pane. Select the notification pane and hit confirm, and you'll once again access the notification shade with a pull-down gesture.

Switch back to the classic notification shade

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

Talking about the notification shade, OxygenOS recently switched to a split notification pane with the toggles in their own section, and notifications getting a standalone pane. This is similar to iOS, and while other Chinese manufacturers also do this — looking at you, Xiaomi — I'm not a fan of the split shade. I like having notifications and toggles in the same shade, and you can go back to this mode.

Just head to your phone settings, go to the Notifications & Quick Settings menu, select Quick Settings, and choose the Classic option. Doing so will switch the shade back to a unified style.

Never miss a notification

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

One of the best things about OxygenOS is the ability to wake screen whenever you get a notification. I like this instead of the always-on mode, as it allows me to view any incoming notifications without worrying about any undue battery use.

While you're there, you should select enhanced notifications as well; doing so gives you Android's suggested actions, and makes things that much easier.

Make the AMOLED panel shine

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

The OnePlus 13 has a vibrant AMOLED panel, and it is set to Natural out of the box. I like the mode; it has good colors without going overboard with the saturation, and if you like better calibration, you can switch to the P3-D65 color gamut by selecting the Pro mode. And if you want vibrant colors with increased saturation, the Vivid mode is the one to choose.

There's also the option to manually adjust the color balance, so if you like the tonality to be on the warmer or cooler side, you can easily do so.

Mitigate eye strain

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

The OnePlus uses a BOE panel with 2,160Hz PWM dimming, and it makes a genuine difference if you're switching from an iPhone, Pixel, or Galaxy device. If you're sensitive to PWM dimming, I'd recommend enabling the Ultra anti-flicker mode in the settings.

There's also a bedtime mode that automatically adjusts colors at night, enabling warmer hues to prevent blue light. I just set it to auto, but if you want a custom tint or schedule, you can easily configure it.

Unlock the highest resolution

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

Similar to the last two years, the OnePlus 13 gets a resolution of 3168 x 1440. But to make the most out of the panel, you'll need to go into the settings and change the resolution manually — it's set to Standard (2376 x 1080) out of the box. But once you set it to High, it'll unlock the QHD+ resolution. Doing so uses more battery, so if you want to eke out battery life, I'd suggest toggling the Auto-select mode.

Similarly, you'll want to change the refresh rate to High to ensure the device enables 120Hz mode wherever possible. Most games are still locked to 60fps, but switching to 120Hz in daily use makes a huge difference.

Tailor the phone just the way you like it

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

OxygenOS always exceled at customizability, and that's no different with the OnePlus 13. If anything, you get an even better set of controls this time, including several stunning always-on styles, extensive icon tweaking, ability to change accent colors via Material You dynamic color picker, and so on.

Basically, you get all the features you need to ensure the device is set up just the way you like, and all of these options are located within the same sub-menu.

Set up the home screen

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

Continuing with customization, the OnePlus 13 lets you adjust the home screen to a decent extent. There's a search pill you can select to show at the bottom — just like on Pixels. You can also set up visual effects, and they make navigating the UI just that bit better.

There still isn't a way to disable the leftmost pane, and it is set to Google Discover by default — you don't get the option to use anything else. Other than that quibble, I don't have any issues with the home screen as such. OxygenOS does a good job with folders in general, and the ability to launch apps without having to expand a folder is a nice bonus.

In a similar vein, OnePlus did a thorough job overhauling the UI, and the animations are fluid out of the box. Even so, selecting Enhanced animations makes the interface that little bit smoother.

Adjust lock screen settings

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

The OnePlus 13 does a good job with lock screen customization as well, and you get the standard raise-to-wake mode. If you use the media player a lot, having it show up on the lock screen is quite useful.

Similar to iOS and One UI 7, you get the ability to adjust the font, set up widgets, change the sizing of the text, and even add a fluted pattern or liquid glass effects to the background on the lock screen. It is done well, and while I would have liked increased widget selection — you just get the weather and activity count — it's a decent start.

Get live alerts

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

Android 16 is slated to get real-time notification updates in the latter half of 2025, but you don't need to wait until then — the OnePlus 13 has this feature baked in out of the box. Dubbed Live Alerts, the feature allows you to view real-time notifications in the camera cutout area at the front, similar to Dynamic Island on iPhones.

It is limited to Indian food delivery utilities Swiggy and Zomato, but you get a notification when playing music via Spotify and YouTube Music as well. The built-in music player and other utilities do a good job integrating the feature too, and it is a decent addition.

Make your device theft-proof

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

Google made plenty of changes to security and privacy in Android 15, and the OnePlus 13 includes all of these features. You get a suite of anti-theft features, including theft detection lock and automatically locking your phone when it goes offline. Remote Lock lets you remotely erase data, and you'll need to toggle these features within the Device unlock sub-menu.

Your phone never sounded this good

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

OxygenOS overhauled its system sounds and ringtones two years ago, and they're quite good now. The ringtones and notification sounds are based on nature, and you get a good range of sounds available. There's also a Holo Sound feature that enables spatial sound, and it makes a difference if you're using earbuds.

You also get one of the best vibration motors around, and the haptic engine is outstanding — what I like the most is the ability to adjust the feedback. As good as these features are, what's annoying is that DND mode is still flawed; you can mute calls and notifications in one go, but they're not in their distinct categories unlike every other phone.

Extend battery longevity

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

The OnePlus 13 gets a 6,000mAh silicon battery, and in my use, I easily got over a day without any issues. OxygenOS has built-in tools to extend battery longevity; you can set a charge limit that ensures the battery is only filled to 80%, and the interface has smart charging that estimates charging needs based on your usage habits.

Ultimately, the OnePlus 13 is a standout phone that highlights just what's possible in this category, and it somehow manages to cost less than Google and Samsung rivals.

OnePlus 13

OnePlus did all the right things with the OnePlus 13, and six months after its release, it continues to be one of the best phones in the market.

This phone proves that a razor-thin Galaxy Z Fold 7 can have a stellar camera

Nicholas Sutrich — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 16:00:00 +0000

As many of us anticipate the announcement of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, leaks and rumors continue to point to it being the thinnest phone Samsung has ever made. At a rumored 3.9mm thin when unfolded, it makes the 5.6mm Z Fold 6 look like a chonker. However, it also raises a few simple questions, such as: how would Samsung achieve this without making big sacrifices, particularly in the camera performance?

Android Central Labs

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Android Central Labs is a weekly column devoted to deep dives, experiments, and a focused look into the tech you use. It covers phones, tablets, and everything in between.

Aside from a thinner phone, one of the biggest requests from Z Fold users has been for Samsung to improve the cameras. Galaxy Z Fold phones have never had bad cameras, but there's never been a Z Fold that could outperform the best camera phones. This has long been a perplexing problem, given that the Z Fold costs nearly $2,000 and has never been "thin," but can Samsung really make the Galaxy Z Fold 7 thin and give it an award-winning camera?

Yes, absolutely, and two other ultra-thin foldables are proof. In our review of the Oppo Find N5, which is currently the thinnest phone in the world and a book style foldable like the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Harish said "the cameras on the Find N5 are better than the Galaxy S25 and Pixel 9, and that's a big deal in and of itself." Even Samsung's own Galaxy S25 Edge with its 200MP camera sensor proves it's possible.

Since the upcoming Honor Magic V5 is set to be the most direct competitor to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and is said to be at least as thin as Samsung's phone, I thought it would be fun to take last year's Honor Magic V3 and test its cameras against the best flagship cameras of 2025. The results show that Samsung can deliver a truly stunning flagship camera experience on its upcoming ultra-thin foldable if it really wants to.

Honor Magic V3: Primary cameras

The Honor Magic V3 comes in at 4.4mm thin unfolded and sports a sizable camera island around back with a 50MP main sensor. Honor has impressed us with its photography prowess over the past few years, particularly with motion capture capabilities, including a powerful suite of software tricks behind it.

So we'll begin in the late spring garden, which is still full of flowers and vibrant colors.

Primary camera specs
Phone	Primary camera
Honor Magic V3	50MP 1/1.56" Sony IMX906
Honor Magic 7 Pro	50MP 1/1.3" Omnivision OV50H
OnePlus 13	50MP 1/1.4" Sony LYT-808
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra	200MP 1/1.3" Samsung ISOCELL HP2

If I had to choose one main attribute to critique the Honor Magic V3's photos, it's that they're often underexposed, and the dynamic range is a bit lacking when compared to the OnePlus 13 or Honor Magic 7 Pro. All three phones use different sensors for the main camera. The Magic V3 actually uses a nearly identical size sensor as the Galaxy Z Fold 6, so physical size isn't helping Honor's ultrathin foldable at all.

Android Central

Some of these parameters are tweakable in the software, but the main issue is that this Sony IMX906 sensor is often found in mid-range phones, and the performance reflects that. Still, I think most of the shots from the primary sensor of the Magic V3 look good, even if they aren't fully up to flagship standards at every level.

Honor Magic V3: Ultrawide cameras

Like most flagships, the Honor Magic V3's ultrawide camera features autofocus, so it doubles as both an ultrawide camera and a macro camera. It uses a lower megapixel count than the other four phones I pitted it against and, oddly enough, no one seems to know what sensor Honor used here. The company doesn't usually divulge its camera sensors, and the usual software tools I use to find out don't want to tell me, either.

Ultrawide camera sensor specs
Phone	Ultrawide camera
Honor Magic V3	40MP (sensor model and size unknown)
Honor Magic 7 Pro	50MP 1/2.88" Omnivision OV50D
OnePlus 13	50MP 1/2.76" Samsung ISOCELL JN5
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra	50MP 1/2.5" Samsung ISOCELL JN3

The Honor Magic V3's ultrawide camera produces seriously stunning macro shots, and it's hard to tell the difference between its images and ones from the other flagship phones I tested. It's impressive just how close you can get the phone to an object and still get a clear focus.

Android Central

Standard ultrawide shots look a little softer on both Honor phones when compared to the OnePlus 13 or Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, and Honor's tuning tends to lean toward cooler colors, while Samsung likes more vibrant, warm colors. I prefer Samsung's tuning in that arena, but the OnePlus 13 is normally quite spot on with color science on the ultrawide camera. Either way, the Magic V3 did a good job keeping up with the flagships here.

Honor Magic V3: Telephoto cameras

Telephoto cameras have gotten really interesting over the past few years. Manufacturers all seem to opt for very different sensor types, sizes, and lens zoom distances, with the Galaxy S25 Ultra offering up an additional fourth zoom lens when compared to most other flagship phones.

Telephoto camera sensor specs
Phone	Telephoto camera
Honor Magic V3	50MP 1/2.51" (3.5x zoom)
Honor Magic 7 Pro	200MP 1/1.4" Samsung ISOCELL HP3 (3x zoom)
OnePlus 13	50MP 1/1.95" Sony LYT-600 (3x zoom)
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra	12MP 1/3.52" Sony IMX754 (3x zoom) 50MP 1/2.52", Sony IMX854 (5x zoom)

At 3-10x zoom using the camera viewfinder, the Honor Magic V3 holds up quite well. In the 10x shots, you can tell the Magic V3's shot is slightly softer, but on its own, I doubt anyone would notice this. The telephoto camera is quite good and does a great job of zooming in on things. Like the primary camera, this one also struggles with underexposure and dynamic range at times.

Android Central

Zooming in beyond 10x is far less advisable, though. Both 30X shots show how much more detail a flagship phone with a significantly larger sensor can pull in, even with the slight 0.5x zoom advantage the Magic V3's telephoto lens has over the OnePlus 13 and Honor Magic 7 Pro.

Honor Magic V3: Front cameras

Folding phone manufacturers still include a small front-facing camera above the cover screen on book-style foldables like the Honor Magic V3 and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold series, but these are usually smaller sensors than regular flagship phones. Because of that, companies like to encourage users to open the phone and use the rear sensors as a selfie camera.

Front camera sensor specs
Phone	Front-facing camera
Honor Magic V3	20MP (sensor model and size unknown)
Honor Magic 7 Pro	50MP 1/2.93" Sony IMX 816
OnePlus 13	32MP 1/2.74" Sony IMX615
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra	12MP 1/3.2" Samsung ISOCELL 3LU

Android Central

Despite the razor-thin frame, the front-facing camera of the Magic V3 is impressively capable. Unlike some of the other cameras, there's no real difference between the quality of the Magic V3's front facing camera and that of the rest of the flagships. If anything, Honor's color science is ever so slightly off, as my shirt in one of the shots was teal, not dark blue. The OnePlus 13 nailed the color in that one.

You can do it, Samsung!

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Based on what I'm seeing, there's no reason Samsung can't outfit the Galaxy Z Fold 7 with a flagship-level camera if it truly wants to deliver the "ultra experience" it's been teasing. The latest leaks show an ultrathin phone with a sizable camera hump, and that gives me hope that we'll see some big upgrades this time around.

A larger 200MP main sensor is expected, which should put it on par with the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the Galaxy S25 Edge. Our Galaxy S25 Edge camera review proves this sensor has what it takes, even in a thin phone.

While I don't have high expectations that we'll get a 5x telephoto sensor in the Galaxy Z Fold 7, an upgraded sensor behind the 3x lens can still produce impressive results, assuming Samsung is able to cram a better sensor under that lens.

And with Samsung teasing a "smarter" camera, it'll be interesting to see how the company utilizes AI to further enhance the camera experience.

For more news and information on Samsung’s upcoming foldables, check out our Ultimate Guide.

This is the best Android phone of 2025, and Best Buy will literally pay you to buy it

patrick.farmer@futurenet.com (Patrick Farmer) — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 17:27:52 +0000

It might be the best phone released this year (so far), but OnePlus 13 deals remain pretty elusive. Fortunately, that may finally be about to change, as Best Buy is dropping up to $200 off the OnePlus 13 depending on whether or not you activate with your carrier. As if that wasn't enough on its own, the retailer is also sweetening the deal by throwing in a free $100 gift card with your purchase, no strings attached. Why wait for Prime Day when the deals are already this good?

The best OnePlus 13 deal on the web today

OnePlus 13 512GB: ~~$999.99~~ From $799.99 with activation | $899.99 unlocked, plus FREE $100 gift card at Best Buy

The OnePlus 13 is arguably the best Android phone released this year, and now you can score up to $200 off AND a free $100 gift card when you buy the device from Best Buy today. No trade-in is required, but Best Buy is offering some additional savings if you choose to send them a piece of old or broken tech. The only catch is that you'll have to activate with AT&T or Verizon to receive the max savings, otherwise you'll have to stick with the $100 discount (and accompanying gift card).View Deal

One of the very few devices to earn a coveted 5/5-star rating here at Android Central, the OnePlus 13 aims to be the perfect phone, balancing powerful specs with fun software features and exceptional build quality.

You get the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset straight out of the box, plus 12GB of RAM with 512GB of storage, a long-lasting battery, and versatile cameras that hold their own against the best devices from Samsung and Google. The phone also boasts a truly-stunning 6.8-inch OLED 120Hz display, while the IP69 water/dust resistance rating is so tough that you can actually run the phone through a dishwasher cycle without receiving any damage (I'm not sure why you would, but it's pretty cool nonetheless).

On the other hand, most of the OnePlus 13's AI features require internet connectivity, and the six years of software support lag slightly behind the latest upgrade promises from Samsung and Google. Aside from those few minor faults, however, the OnePlus 13 is arguably just as impressive as super-premium phones like the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and thanks to this Best Buy deal, it's also considerably cheaper.

OnePlus is ditching the alert slider and tossing in an AI button instead

techkritiko@gmail.com (Jay Bonggolto) — Tue, 27 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

What you need to know

The Plus Key lets you customize what the button does, from switching sound modes to snapping pics or firing up AI translation.
It also triggers OnePlus' AI Plus Mind, which is like a smart screenshot assistant that organizes info (dates, locations, etc.) instead of dumping it all in your photo gallery chaos.
OnePlus is also rolling out handy AI tools like call transcription, real-time translation, and smarter searches that get what you mean in plain language.

AI in smartphones usually means gimmicky features you try once and forget. But OnePlus is taking a swing at something actually useful with its new Plus Key, and for once, it doesn’t feel like marketing fluff.

The Plus Key isn’t just a stand-in for the classic alert slider—it’s OnePlus stepping things up with more ways to make your phone your own. The new physical button is showing up first on the upcoming OnePlus 13s, though initially it’s only headed to India.

The Plus Key ain’t just a gimmick

(Image credit: OnePlus)

Unlike the usual one-trick hardware buttons, the Plus Key is built for smart, user-picked actions. You get to decide what it does, whether that’s flipping sound modes, launching the camera in a snap, or firing up real-time AI translation.

But the real star here is OnePlus' AI Plus Mind, a new feature that feels like a supercharged screenshot tool. Instead of dumping everything into your photo gallery like digital clutter, it saves and organizes on-screen information in Mind Space.

Ever snap a quick picture of a flyer or booking information, only to have it get buried in your photo mess? That’s where AI Plus Mind steps in. Just hit the Plus Key or swipe with three fingers, and it grabs all the key details like dates and spots, so you can actually find it when you need it. Plus, later this year, it’ll start sorting everything for you automatically.

In the future, AI Plus Mind will go live for the OnePlus 13 series and other OnePlus phones via a software update. However, these features have not been announced for the 13R, apparently.

The rest of the AI bag of tricks

(Image credit: OnePlus)

Beyond the Plus Key, OnePlus is rolling out a bunch of other AI-powered tools. If you're in India, get ready for "AI VoiceScribe," which will record, summarize, and even translate calls and meetings right within your messaging and video apps. However, VoiceScribe is not coming to the EU and North America at this time.

The OnePlus 13s will also offer "AI Call Assistant" for automatic call summaries or real-time translation during calls.

For everyone, there's a new "AI Translation" app that brings all translation features (text, voice, camera, screen) into one spot. Plus, "AI Search" is getting an upgrade, letting you use everyday language to search your local files, notes, and calendars, working hand-in-hand with AI Plus Mind for efficient searches.

Photo buffs will appreciate "AI Reframe," which intelligently analyzes your photos and suggests creative framing options. And if you've ever taken a group photo where someone's blinking, "AI Best Face 2.0" (coming this summer) can fix closed eyes and awkward expressions in group shots with up to 20 people, even if the photo wasn't taken on a OnePlus phone.

Google Gemini is joining the party

OnePlus is also playing nice with Google Gemini. Soon, Gemini will be integrated across OxygenOS apps like OnePlus Notes and Clock, as well as Google's own apps, for a more seamless AI experience. You'll even be able to use "Gemini Live" with your camera and screen sharing to have real-time conversations about what you're seeing on your phone or through your camera.

Of course, there's the inevitable privacy conversation. OnePlus claims sensitive data stays on-device or gets processed in its Private Computing Cloud—a supposedly locked-down system even they can't access.

What stands out here is that OnePlus seems to be focusing on AI features that solve actual problems rather than just checking boxes. The Plus Key and AI Plus Mind in particular feel like thoughtful attempts to make your phone work smarter for you. Now if only OnePlus would stop making the best features region-exclusive.

We called this flagship 'nearly perfect', and now it's FINALLY getting a real discount during Best Buy's Memorial Day sale

patrick.farmer@futurenet.com (Patrick Farmer) — Fri, 23 May 2025 20:32:52 +0000

OnePlus 13 deals are never as common as I would like, but thanks to Best Buy's Memorial Day sale, that might be about to change. The OnePlus 13, Android Central's favorite phone of 2025 so far, is a whopping $150 off at Best Buy right now, with an additional $100 discount up for grabs if you activate through your carrier today.

There's no trade-in required and no strings attached, just a massive discount on the best Android phone available today. Will the Memorial Day deals get even better when the big day arrives on May 26th? Only time will tell, but if you want an excellent phone deal today, I wouldn't wait.

See my top 5 deals from Best Buy's Memorial Day sale

OnePlus 13 512GB: ~~$999.99~~ $849.99 unlocked | $749.99 with activation at Best Buy

One of the few phones to receive a perfect score from Android Central, the OnePlus 13 is a nearly-flawless smartphone with excellent performance and one of the best-looking displays I've ever seen. Order the phone during Best Buy's Memorial Day sale and you'll score a $150 discount. Activate the phone through your carrier and that'll increase to $250 off, no strings attached. View Deal

✅Recommended if: you want one of the best Android phones ever built, with ridiculously-good battery life, a stunning OLED display, and IP69 water/dust resistance.

❌Skip this deal if: you're looking for a cheap Android phone, trade-in opportunity, or carrier deal; you need all of the latest AI tools; you'd prefer a device from Samsung or Google.

Senior editor Nicholas Sutrich gave the OnePlus 13 a rare 5/5-star rating in his review of the phone, and it isn't hard to see why. For starters, the flagship boasts an eye-friendly 6.8-inch OLED display that's simply a joy to look at, while the IP69 water/resistance rating means that the phone is tough enough to stick in a dishwasher (yes, we actually did this).

Things get even more impressive under the hood, as the OnePlus 13 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, widely considered to be the best chip used in Android phones today. You also get exceptional battery life and Oxygen OS 15 with six years of software updates guaranteed.

Sure, $749.99 is still a lot to spend on a smartphone, and if you want all of the latest AI-boosted software features with offline connectivity then you might be better off investing in a Samsung or Pixel phone. But if you simply want a powerful device with great performance, long-lasting battery life, and a durable construction that you can count on, then the OnePlus 13 is a dream come true.

Our favorite Android phone just got its first major discount of the year — and it's a big one

patrick.farmer@futurenet.com (Patrick Farmer) — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 16:37:30 +0000

Step aside Samsung and Google, there's finally a OnePlus 13 deal worth celebrating. Buy the top-rated phone unlocked from Best Buy during the retailer's Spring Sale and you'll score a straight $50 off — or $150 off if you activate through your carrier today. That may not seem like a lot, but it's actually the first time that the OnePlus 13 has been discounted all year, marking a great opportunity if you've been waiting for the right time to buy.

This 'perfect' flagship just scored a major discount

OnePlus 13 512GB: ~~$999.99~~ $849.99 with activation | $949.99 without at Best Buy

For a limited time, Best Buy is carving up to $150 off the price of the OnePlus 13 when you activate the phone through your carrier today. Easily one of the best Android phones on the market, the 13 is a sleek, versatile device with a revolutionary IP69 construction, lightning-fast processor, and one of the best displays we've ever seen on a smartphone. Deals on the flagship phone are very uncommon, so place your order before Best Buy's sale comes to a close on April 20th. View Deal

Our top pick for the best Android phone on the market today, the OnePlus 13 boasts a sophisticated blend of top-of-the-line build quality with powerful specs. You get an absolutely gorgeous 6.8-inch OLED display — easily one of the best screens on the market — alongside IP69 water/dust resistance, a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, and powerful camera tech that could rival the best devices from Samsung and Google.

There's a reason we gave the OnePlus 13 a perfect score in our comprehensive review, and thanks to this Best Buy deal, you can now get your hands on the phone for considerably less than the retail price. Like I mentioned above, deals on the OnePlus 13 have been few and far between since the phone's release a few months back, so don't wait too long if you're interested.

With its IP69 water/dust resistance and Ceramic Guard glass construction, the OnePlus 13 was built with durability in mind. But if you want an extra layer of protection, take a look at our guide to the best OnePlus 13 cases.

Android 16 could bring Identity Check to more smartphones

bradypsnyder@gmail.com (Brady Snyder) — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 22:25:08 +0000

What you need to know

Identity Check was spotted on a OnePlus 13 running the Android 16 beta.
The feature is expected to arrive on more Android phones with the Android 16 update coming later this year.
It requires a change to Android's biometric prompt code, which can't be completed without a full update.

Identity Check is a useful Android feature that adds an extra layer of protection to your devices when they're outside of trusted location, and there's a chance it could arrive on more supported phones with Android 16. As of now, Identity Check only works on select Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy devices.

However, it was recently spotted on a OnePlus 13 running the Android 16 beta, hinting that Identity Check will be more widely available soon (via Android Authority). After upgrading to Android 16, the Identity Check option became available in the Settings > Google > Theft Protection, where features like Theft Detection Lock and Offline Device Lock are also found on supported devices.

When enabled, Identity Check requires biometric authentication to view or modify certain sensitive parts on your Android smartphone. A fingerprint or face unlock is required for the following actions when your device is outside of a trusted location:

Accessing saved passkeys and app passwords
Changing PIN, pattern, or password, and turning off Find My

For these actions, biometric authentication is mandatory outside of trusted locations with Identity Check enabled — a password, PIN, or pattern won't work as an alternative. This is intended to prevent people from hijacking your Google account or other online accounts in the event your phone is lost or stolen, even if the bad actor knows your password.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Android expert Mishaal Rahman reports that the delay in bringing Identity Check to other Android phones is because the feature requires a full OS upgrade. This is because Identity Check eliminates the PIN/password/pattern fallback, which is part of biometric prompt code that can't be changed with a basic update. As such, other Android phones can receive Identity Check by upgrading to Android 16 or with a manual upgrade.

For instance, Samsung added Identity Check with One UI 7, which released later than most manufacturers' Android 15-based upgrades. Google added it with Android 15 QPR1 for Pixel phones. All other Android manufacturers can create an update with Identity Check, now fully supported in Android 15 QPR1, or simply wait for Android 16 to roll out.

Since the Android 16 upgrade will automatically include Identity Check, this is how most users of Android phones that aren't a Pixel or Galaxy will likely get the feature. It isn't expected to be enabled by default, and will support any phone with class three biometric hardware.

OnePlus 13T leak reveals back design with all-new camera bump

bradypsnyder@gmail.com (Brady Snyder) — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 19:12:17 +0000

What you need to know

The OnePlus 13T has leaked yet again, this time revealing the rear design of the small flagship.
Unlike other OnePlus phones, the OnePlus 13T appears to have a squircle camera housing positioned asymmetrically.
The phone also supposedly has excellent 50/50 weight balance.

The OnePlus 13T, a smaller and more compact version of the OnePlus 13, is set to arrive later this month. Official teasers and unofficial leaks are rolling in, with the latest one coming from Digital Chat Station on Weibo (via 9to5Google). The reputable leaker shared an image of the OnePlus 13T with a back design that's a departure from the rest of the OnePlus 13 series.

OnePlus phones, for multiple generations, have sported a large circular rear camera housing centered on the back. With the OnePlus 13T, that's changing. The "mini" phone appears to feature a squircle camera bump on the back with two camera lenses and a flash. It looks most similar to the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold's rear camera bump, which is also a squircle positioned near the topmost left corner.

The leaked image appears to show a matte finish in a black or space gray-esque colorway. It's officially called "Cloud Ink Black," per Digital Chat Station. However, it's important to note that these finish names are translated to English, so the actual terms may vary. "Morning Mist Gray" and "Heartbeat Pink" are also tipped to be available as OnePlus 13T colorways.

(Image credit: Weibo)

The OnePlus 13T has been officially teased for weeks now, with a major reveal happening on April Fool's Day. It is set to launch later this month, according to leaks, but availability and pricing is unclear. With the ongoing tariff situation in the U.S., which shockingly drove up the price of the OnePlus Watch 3, there's more uncertainty than usual.

OnePlus 13T First Live Look 👀 The Weight Balance seems really Great this time! pic.twitter.com/p5svDDxgPgApril 12, 2025

Although the latest render from Digital Chat Station doesn't show off the full design of the phone, other leaks are filling the gap. One video shared by Tech Info on X (formerly Twitter) shows a person balancing and spinning the OnePlus 13T on their finger, which supposedly has "perfect 50/50 balance."

We already know that the OnePlus 13T will feature a massive battery and a 6.3-inch display, but other details are yet to be revealed.

OnePlus 13 users can get a taste of Android 16 — here's how

nandika.iyerravi@futurenet.com (Nandika Ravi) — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 18:48:22 +0000

What you need to know

OnePlus 13 users can now give Android 16 Beta 2 a test run and see what this new OS feels like on their phones.
The company put out a detailed guide for developers and advanced users who'd like to test out the new software.
OnePlus does caution users about known issues and the risk of bricking their phones, during this upgrade process.

OnePlus 13 owners are in for a new experience as the company just announced that it is making Android 16 Beta 2 available to developers and advanced users.

In a detailed community post, the company said that it is giving users early access to the latest Android experience. This is the first time that OnePlus has made a beta version of a new OS available to its users. With this release, it "hope(s) to empower app developers and early adopters in our community to build even better software experiences."

It should be noted that while this is Android 16 Beta 2 (Pixel phones are currently on Android 16 Beta 3), this is the first Android 16 beta version available for the OnePlus 13.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

But before you get all excited, it is important to know that this upgrade isn't for new or inexperienced users who are unfamiliar with unstable software versions. And it also isn't for folks who use the OnePlus 13 as their primary device for daily tasks.

As the community post points out, there are notable bugs and issues that users will come across once they've upgraded to the Android 16 Beta 2. Some of them are that the device may restart when answering a call using Bluetooth headsets, users can encounter lag and display issues in the camera viewfinder and thumbnail in certain scenarios, the phone's camera crashes when switching between different camera modes, specifically the Macro mode and Ultra Steady mode.

That said, there are other issues that you may come across, making the device lag more than usual.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

For those who intend to go ahead with the upgrade, the company cautions users that "there is a risk of bricking your phone" if they do not follow the upgrade manual to the T. So it is advised that you back up all the important files on your phone before attempting to upgrade the software.

Other things to keep in mind during this upgrade are that the phone needs to have at least 30% battery and storage space of more than 4GB. Additionally, the current software version must be 15.0.0.703 or below to upgrade to Android 16 Beta 2. "If you're on a higher version, you'll need to downgrade first," OnePlus added. Lastly, OnePlus 13 phones on T-Mobile and Verizon carriers are not compatible with the Android 16 Beta 2.

If you're someone who checks all the above boxes and is ready to give the beta a test drive, then be sure to follow this upgrade guide carefully to be one of the first people to experience Android 16 Beta 2 on OnePlus phones.

OnePlus 13

Camera first, phone second

The OnePlus 13 is one of the best Android phones you can buy right now, thanks in part to its amazing Hasselblad camera system. It also includes very fast charging, a huge battery, and some impressive specs that rival even Samsung's best phones.

OnePlus exec teases the OnePlus 13T will be a tiny phone with a big battery

bradypsnyder@gmail.com (Brady Snyder) — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 22:43:15 +0000

What you need to know

OnePlus is preparing to launch a tiny OnePlus 13 model in China later this month.
The OnePlus 13T will sport a 6.3-inch display and pack a large battery.
In a Weibo post, OnePlus' head of China revealed that battery life was a focus point of OnePlus 13T development.

OnePlus is gearing up to release a smaller version of the OnePlus 13, and this week has been full of teasers. The company first revealed that the OnePlus 13T would launch this month in China in an April Fool's Day gag. Now, President of OnePlus China Louis Lee took to Weibo to share more about the upcoming "mini" OnePlus flagship.

First, Lee said the development of the OnePlus 13T began with a small goal. OnePlus wanted to dispel the notion that small handsets can't have large battery. This "small goal" underscores the company's larger goal in designing a smaller version of the OnePlus 13 — which Lee describes as to "make users who want to buy small-screen mobile phones but still have concerns more assured."

With a rumored 6.3-inch display, the OnePlus 13T would be miniature by OnePlus' standards, but regularly-sized by 2025 standards overall. It's tipped, but unconfirmed, that the OnePlus 13T could have a battery capacity in excess of 6,000mAh despite its small form factor.

(Image credit: Weibo)

This time, we have also made great efforts in terms of battery and endurance. It will be equipped with a new generation of glacier batteries," Lee writes in the post, translated to English. "[The] OnePlus 13T will be the small-screen mobile phone with the largest battery capacity and the best battery life in history. The proper small-screen battery life is the king!"

Other leaks surfaced the OnePlus 13T in a regulatory filing, referred to as PKX110, revealing that the device will come with 80W fast charging. It's also expected to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and include a 50MP main camera sensor.

When it launches later this month, the OnePlus 13T will be the first "T-branded" device from the China phone-maker in three years. The last one was the OnePlus 10T, which released in 2022.

Samsung displays aren't the gold standard you think they are

Nicholas Sutrich — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 16:17:34 +0000

Android Central Labs

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Android Central Labs is a weekly column devoted to deep dives, experiments, and a focused look into the tech you use. It covers phones, tablets, and everything in between.

For years, Samsung has crafted some of the finest displays ever made by humankind. Ching Wan Tang and Steven Van Slyke might have created OLED technology at Eastman Kodak back in 1987, but it was Samsung who popularized its use in mobile devices with the launch of the original Samsung Galaxy line in 2010.

Over the years, however, Samsung has been slipping. Of course, you'd never know this by looking at smartphone display rankings on websites like DXOMark, where 9 out of the top 10 smartphone displays are all made by Samsung. Look a little deeper, though, and you'll start to understand the real problem: these displays are built to rank at the top of charts by using some nasty tricks that cause users real pain.

It's a similar "cheating" concept we saw years ago when smartphone manufacturers would specifically tweak their phones' performance profiles to push harder during a benchmark to achieve a top-rank score. The difference now is that it's not a company's pride on the line; it's our eyes.

The pixel dance

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

HDR standards have been around for a long time and are commonplace on spec sheets. Even $200 phones support the HDR10 standard, but not all of them achieve 10-bit color naturally. Rather, many phone displays — including the $1,300 Galaxy S25 Ultra — only ship with a screen that can display 8-bit color.

As you might imagine, a pixel can't just magically jump from being able to display 256 shades of red, green, or blue up to 1024 shades unless it was built to do so. That's four times the number of each of the primary shades, which takes a significant engineering effort to create.

So, how does an 8-bit phone display achieve 10-bit color? By using something known as dithering, or more often known on displays as Frame Rate Control (FRC). You'll often see this on a spec sheet as "8bit + FRC" to represent the shift from 16.7 million colors — that's the total number of colors in an 8-bit palette — all the way up to 1.07 billion colors for 10-bit.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

If you look closely at the above image I captured of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra's display through a microscope, you can see FRC dithering in action. An 8-bit panel, like the one on this Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra pictured above, will quickly flash between two different hues to "create" a color that doesn't exist. I captured this video at 480FPS with a OnePlus 13, which makes it possible to see the pixels flash more easily.

This phenomenon is possible thanks to the way our eyes work when they see a "moving" image. In video, pictures are often shown at 24 or 30 still images per second (frames per second), creating a smooth-looking movement. Likewise, color dithering flashes two colors to create a nonexistent color to our eyes, similar to spinning a color wheel.

For many people, this works to help create a sense of deeper or more vibrant colors. It's one of the ways Samsung ended up adding a more vibrant color option to the Galaxy S24 Ultra last year, and it's present on the S25 Ultra this year.

Tricks like PWM dimming and FRC color dithering are used to top display quality charts by fooling eyes and calibration equipment into seeing something that doesn't exist.

I spoke with Michael Hamilton, ISF calibration instructor at AVPro South, who helped explain why companies should try to use native 10-bit panels in premium products instead of resorting to 8-bit with FRC dithering.

"8-bit with Frame Rate Control does not do a very good job of preventing 'banding' and can still exhibit flicker or dithering (like in sky scenes where gradient transients are very subtle)," Hamilton explained.

"Additionally, when an 8-bit panel with FRC rapidly flashes, 'temporal' artifacts manifest such as a judder-like appearance to motion, or 'floating,' which areas of the image appear to be in motion [when they should not be] and directly adjacent areas are not, such as long-range shots of trees where some appear to be moving in a breeze while others are not, or an expansive water surface moves unnaturally and even the shoreline may appear to be moving.

Since they are not visible with a static image or patterns, a viewer may see ghosting or motion blur or otherwise motion glitches, and then, to confirm, they pause the video, and the anomaly subsides."

Hamilton works exclusively on TV calibration, where banding is more noticeable because of the size of the panel. Because of its size, it's unlikely you'll ever notice banding on a smartphone screen, but that hasn't stopped some Redditors from pointing it out.

Samsung, the flicker king

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

This methodology is clever from an engineering perspective, but it presents two problems. First off, Samsung is cheating you out of your money by using an 8-bit panel on a $1,300 phone. The Honor Magic 7 Pro uses a true 10-bit panel that doesn't need to dither to show all 1.07 billion colors for the HDR10 standard and provides the same seven-year software update commitment as Samsung.

The OnePlus 13 does the same thing for even less, even if it only gets six years of software updates. Despite all the display problems with the Galaxy S24 Ultra last year, Samsung is still using the same M13 AMOLED panel on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, just with a few software hacks to mask the problems it's having with display manufacturing quality.

Samsung is putting profit margins ahead of the health of its users, particularly the ones most susceptible to the ill effects of display flicker.

Second, and maybe most egregiously, Samsung's use of color dithering causes some users real pain. This is a similar effect to PWM dimming, another problem Samsung displays suffer from. Samsung uses low-Hz PWM dimming to save money and achieve a very specific display metric at different brightness intervals.

Hamilton also explained a few reasons companies use PWM dimming on TVs, although the same concept transfers over to phones:

"By rapidly flashing the backlight LEDs on and off, a less expensive power supply may be used. The byproduct of this is 'flicker,' which tends to vary depending on the picture mode. Some viewers detect this strobing and flashing, and with fast-moving objects, blurring or 'comet tailing' can be seen.

Uniformity issues tend to be exacerbated by fewer backlight zones due to cost reduction, and the image can look unevenly illuminated and unnatural in some scenes. These issues can be overcome: just 'bring money.'"

Samsung is designing its displays for measurement and calibration tools, not the humans who actually use them.

The end is the most illuminating aspect here. Samsung is putting profit margins ahead of the health of its users, particularly the ones most susceptible to the ill effects of display flicker.

The rest of the industry knows and understands the problems that color dithering and low-Hz PWM dimming can have on some users and has enacted positive change for everyone.

There's a reason companies like BOE and Visionox — which are found on phones from companies like Nothing, OnePlus, Honor, Motorola, and more — are making OLED panels with native 10-bit reproduction and support for both DC-dimming and significantly faster PWM dimming when needed.

The Honor Magic 7 Pro is capable of 4320Hz PWM dimming at low brightness while the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra uses 480Hz dimming at all brightness levels. There's a clear spec difference here on multiple levels, and Samsung isn't winning any awards for having the best hardware. Just the best tricks to achieve a specific goal.

Simple solutions for an unnecessary problem

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

Google added colorblind modes to Android L all the way back in 2014, and there's no reason the company can't add a way to disable color dithering or display flickering at the system level.

Aside from pure profit margins, companies like Samsung Display choose to use PWM dimming and dithering on OLED screens because of how the tech works. Because OLED response time is in nanoseconds, unlike LCD, engineers have learned that dialing in the display calibration can achieve near-perfect scores on display quality tests. In other words, Samsung is designing its displays for measurement and calibration tools, not the humans who actually use them.

Dylan Raga, a display reviewer at XDA Developers, explained it very well. Speaking on the subject of calibration and color matching, he told me that "the best current strobeless solution would be for native 10bpc panels with multiple well-calibrated voltage states, using pixel-level dimming in-between them with active spatial DPU dithering."

In other words, Samsung is doing exactly what's needed to achieve the best scores on display tests, and therein lies the problem.

Raga went on to say that "a true 12-bit DAC would be ideal, but we’re not really near having those on consumer displays. Our only options that maintain reference picture quality involve using a higher base power for better signal control and modulating it down by some means."

Many display companies have acknowledged the problems that color and light flickering can cause, but, as usual, Samsung, Google, and Apple seem oblivious.

At this juncture, it seems we're presented with two main solutions to this problem: make displays more like BOE and Visionox or provide users with accessibility options that allow them to disable any "display quality" features that cause them physical harm.

These other OLED manufacturers have slowly improved their display quality over time while offering eye-friendly options like DC-dimming, which can lower display quality on OLEDs at some brightness levels but always reduce eye strain.

However, until companies like Google, Apple, and Samsung acknowledge the problem, we're stuck with phones like the Pixel 9 Pro and Galaxy S25 Ultra. Both of these phones top the charts for display quality because of the tricks they use to achieve these metrics. Thankfully, plenty of other companies have acknowledged these problems, but, as usual, it's the big three that refuse to accept the science.

Google added colorblind modes to Android L all the way back in 2014, and there's no reason the company can't add a way to disable color dithering or display flickering at the system level. Google has the power to set these accessibility options for users at the operating system level, but the company seems clueless about a problem that most of the industry has actively acknowledged. What's it going to take, Google? Samsung? Apple? The ball is in your court.

OnePlus 13

Get a phone that won't nuke your eyes but still looks good without all the nasty tricks the competition uses. The OnePlus 13 also features the fastest charing of any phone in North America, supreme battery life and processing speed, haptics that'll blow your mind, and software features you're going to love.

Nubia Z70 Ultra vs. OnePlus 13: Two fantastic choices

harish.jonnalagadda@futurenet.com (Harish Jonnalagadda) — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 04:21:15 +0000

Nubia Z70 Ultra

Built different

I really like Nubia's Z70 Ultra because of the design; the phone is blocky and is one of the largest and heaviest devices around, but it somehow works to its advantage. There's also the fact that you don't get a visible cutout at the front, and that makes it immersive like no other device around. Combine that with powerful hardware, great battery life, and clean software without any bloat, and you have a great gaming phone. The cameras aren't anywhere as good as other high-end phones, and if that's a consideration, you should just get the OnePlus 13.

Pros

Unique design with massive battery
Outstanding gaming potential
Vibrant AMOLED with no camera cutout
No bloatware
IP68/IP69 dust and water resistance

Cons

Camera doesn't measure up to OnePlus 13
Software not as polished as rivals
Won't get as many software updates
No eSIM

OnePlus 13

Terrific all-rounder

The OnePlus 13 has a new design that makes it easier to hold and use, and the phone has a bigger 6000mAh battery that lasts over a day with ease. The hardware is among the best, the AMOLED panel gets very bright, but it's the cameras that truly make a difference. With better camera tuning and increased versatility, the OnePlus 13 manages to take photos and videos that are on par with the best Android phones.

Pros

Gorgeous design
Versatile cameras
Standout battery life
Vibrant AMOLED panel
Powerful hardware
IP68/IP69 dust and water resistance

Cons

Wide-angle lens isn't quite as good
Costlier than last year

Nubia Z70 Ultra vs. OnePlus 13: Design

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

You won't find two devices that look as different; the Z70 Ultra has a blocky design and feels like a brick, and although OnePlus also switched to flat sides this year, the OnePlus 13 includes beveled edges and rounded corners, and it is significantly easier to hold and use. Both devices have huge batteries, but the OnePlus 13 is lighter by 18g, and it is noticeable when using both phones next to one another.

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

I like the design of the OnePlus 13 quite a bit, and the blue model in particular with the vegan leather texture is terrific. It has a soft texture and doesn't pick up any smudges, and it makes using the phone that much more enjoyable. The polished sides contrast the blue really well, and the in-hand feel is excellent. The camera island also looks cleaner this year, and the overall design is cohesive.

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

With the Z70 Ultra, it's clear that Nubia wanted to make a statement. The phone isn't as comfortable to hold thanks to the flat sides, and it is heavy at 228g. The camera island at the back is ginormous, but I will say this — it has a better design than last year, and doesn't look quite as cluttered.

Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central

Both devices get IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance, and there isn't any issue using the phones at the pool or in the shower. Nubia added a dedicated camera shutter button on the right of the Z70 Ultra, and the left side has a slider that's akin to the alert slider on the OnePlus 13. Of these two devices, there's no question that I like the design of the OnePlus 13 better; it just feels elegant and has a better in-hand feel.

Nubia Z70 Ultra vs. OnePlus 13: Display

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

The Z70 Ultra has a 6.85-inch AMOLED panel with 144Hz refresh, with the OnePlus 13 getting a 6.82-inch panel with the usual 120Hz refresh. Although the Z70 Ultra has a marginally bigger panel, the OnePlus 13 has higher resolution, and it gets brighter in regular use. I also like the colors on the OnePlus 13 a little better than the Z70 Ultra, and the phone has better customizability when it comes to adjusting the color balance.

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

But the biggest advantage with the Z70 Ultra is that there's no visible selfie camera cutout. Nubia uses an under-screen camera module, and the result is that you get an immersive panel that's ideally suited to consume multimedia and game. It is a big enough differentiator that I'd suggest getting the device if you don't like the camera cutout that's standard on every other phone today.

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

Other than that, there isn't much to talk about. Both phones have decent stereo sound and do a good job with HDR content, and there aren't any issues with content playback as such. Although the OnePlus 13 technically has a better AMOLED panel, I'm giving this one to the Z70 Ultra because of its uniqueness.

Nubia Z70 Ultra vs. OnePlus 13: Hardware

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

There really isn't much to differentiate either phone with the hardware. Both devices use the same Qualcomm silicon, and they do an amazing job in daily use as well as gaming. The Z70 Ultra gets noticeably hotter — it is the hottest phone I tested in 2025 — and it is evident during extended gaming sessions. That said, there are absolutely no issues with throttling, and although it isn't billed as one, it doubles as a terrific gaming phone.

The only limitation with the OnePlus 13 is that it doesn't allow high refresh gaming. OxygenOS 15 still enforces a 60fps setting, and while you get three games that technically go up to 120fps, it isn't enough. There is noticeable throttling after the 30-minute mark, but it doesn't affect visuals too much.

Category	Nubia Z70 Ultra	OnePlus 13
Display	6.88-inch 144Hz AMOLED (2688x1216), HDR10, 2000 nits max, no visible cutouts	6.82-inch 120Hz LTPO AMOLED (3168x1440), HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1,600 nits (HBM), 4,500 nits (HDR), Ceramic Guard
OS	Nubia AIOS based on Android 15, three platform updates	OxygenOS 15 based on Android 15, four platform updates
Chipset	Snapdragon 8 Elite, Adreno 830, 3nm	Snapdragon 8 Elite, Adreno 830, 3nm
RAM	12GB/16GB	12GB/16GB/24GB
Storage	256GB/512GB UFS 4.0	256GB/512GB/1TB UFS 4.0
Rear camera 1	50MP f/1.6 - 4.0 main camera, OIS	50MP f/1.6 main camera, OIS
Rear camera 2	64MP f/2.5 telephoto, 2.7x optical zoom, OIS	50MP f/2.6 telephoto, 3x optical zoom, OIS
Rear camera 3	50MP f/2.0 wide-angle lens	50MP f/2.0 wide-angle lens
Front camera	16MP f/2.4	32MP f/2.4
Ingress protection	IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance	IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 7, Sub-6 5G bands, NFC, Bluetooth 5.4, AptX HD, AptX Lossless	Wi-Fi 7, Sub-6 5G bands, NFC, Bluetooth 5.4, BeaconLink, eSIM, AptX HD
Security	In-screen optical sensor	In-screen ultrasonic sensor
Audio	USB-C, stereo sound	USB-C, stereo sound
Battery	6150mAh silicon-carbon battery, 80W USB PD charging,	6000mAh silicon-carbon battery, 100W charging, 50W wireless charging, 50W USB PD charging
Dimensions	164.3 x 77.1 x 8.6mm, 228g	162.9 x 76.5 x 8.5mm, 210g
Colors	Starry Night, Black, Gold	Midnight Ocean, Black Eclipse, Arctic Dawn

Both devices have base models that come with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and have similar connectivity. There's also high-res audio codecs as standard, and I like the vibration motor on the OnePlus 13; it has exquisite feedback, and you can easily tell the difference when using the keyboard and navigating the interface.

Things are equitable with the battery as well; the Z70 Ultra has a massive 6150mAh battery, and I only needed to charge the device every day and a half on average. The OnePlus 13 has a 6000mAh battery, and it only lasts a day and a half. Both devices use silicon batteries and have fast charging tech, taking under 50 minutes to fully charge.

Nubia Z70 Ultra vs. OnePlus 13: Cameras

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

I'm not going to talk too much about the cameras as the OnePlus 13 has an outsized lead in this regard. The Z70 Ultra takes good photos, but the image quality isn't as consistent as the OnePlus 13, and the auxiliary lenses don't measure up. It's still a good choice if you need usable cameras and don't intend to take too many photos and videos, but if camera quality is a key consideration, you should get the OnePlus 13.

The Z70 Ultra has good camera modules, with a 50MP main lens alongside a 64MP tele with 2.7x optical zoom, and a 50MP wide-angle. I'll give Nubia this; it did a much better job with the cameras this year, and while the Z70 Ultra may not be on the same level as the OnePlus 13, it does a good job in its own right.

Coming to the OnePlus 13, the device manages to take outstanding photos and videos. Hasselblad's color tuning delivers vibrant photos without too much saturation, and it handles low-light scenarios incredibly well. There isn't much to fault with the cameras, and the only thing I'll point out is that the device sits one tier below the Find X8 Pro and Vivo X200 Pro — these two phones are something else entirely.

Nubia Z70 Ultra vs. OnePlus 13: Software

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

I'm conflicted when it comes to the software on these phones. The Z70 Ultra has a cleaner interface that's similar to vanilla Android, and there's no bloatware whatsoever. The interface is fluid as well, and only ASUS's Zenfone 12 Ultra has better fluidity. However, the overall polish isn't quite as good as what you get with other mainstream devices, and Nubia needs to add a little bit of customizability to the interface to make it stand out.

The OnePlus 13 has overt styling, and while OxygenOS 15 has a cleaner design, it somehow ends up looking like iOS. That's down to the split notification pane and changes to the visual design, and while the phone has standout fluidity and extensive customization, I don't like using it as much. That said, it doesn't have any of the bugs that plagued the interface in previous years.

OxygenOS 15 also has better utilities that leverage machine learning, and the image editing tools do a good job. Ultimately, both software skins have their own plus points; I like the clean and uncluttered design of the Z70 Ultra, and the OnePlus 13 has tons of extra features that you'll actually end up using.

When it comes to updates, however, the OnePlus 13 has a clear advantage. The phone will get four guaranteed Android OS platform updates alongside five years of security updates, whereas the Z70 Ultra will get three platform updates and four years of security updates. Nubia isn't quick to roll out updates either, so there will be a wait before the phone switches over to Android 16.

Nubia Z70 Ultra vs. OnePlus 13: Which should you buy?

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

The base 12GB/256GB model of the Nubia Z70 Ultra can be bought for as low as $699 as of writing, and that is a fantastic deal when you consider the caliber of the hardware you're getting. The design is a bit unwieldy, and the device is heavier than most other 2025 phones. That said, you get a massive battery that lasts a day and a half, the hardware is outstanding, and thanks to the unique AMOLED panel without a cutout, gaming and streaming content is immersive.

The biggest issue with the Z70 Ultra is that the cameras aren't anywhere as good as traditional flagships. While the main camera is decent enough, the resultant shots don't have the same detail, and you miss out on the versatility that defines the best Android phones. Similarly, the software lacks refinement, and while you get a clean interface without any bloat, there isn't much in the way of customizability. If that isn't an issue and you need the latest hardware without paying too much cash, the Z70 Ultra gets my recommendation.

The OnePlus 13 is the costlier choice by a lot, with the 12GB/256GB model coming in at $899. But you also get terrific cameras, a better design, brighter AMOLED panel, and the same great internal hardware. The software isn't as clean, but you get extensive customizability, and more software updates. The cameras hold their own against the best that Google and Samsung have to offer, and that alone makes the OnePlus 13 a standout choice. You'll need to pay more, but you're also getting a better overall device.

Nubia Z70 Ultra

Built different

The Z70 Ultra makes the latest hardware easily accessible, and it is a terrific bargain if you need a powerful gaming phone. The cameras may not be as good as mainstream phones, but other than that, there are no issues with the device.

OnePlus 13

Terrific all-rounder

The OnePlus 13 is easily one of the best phones of 2025. It has a gorgeous design, exciting hardware, standout cameras, and lasts a day and a half. It does all of these things while still not being quite as costly as equivalent Google and Samsung flagships, and that's just the icing on the cake.

How many updates will the OnePlus 13 get?

sharmarajat@zoho.com (Rajat Sharma) — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 07:14:50 +0000

How many updates will the OnePlus 13 get?

Best answer: The OnePlus 13 will receive four years of major OS updates. Since the phone runs Android 15 (with OxygenOS 15 overlay) out of the box, you can expect it to be updated to Android versions 16 through 19. After the last OS update, the OnePlus 13 will continue to get security patches for two more years.

The OnePlus 13's update policy is good, but it could (and should) be better

It probably won't be an exaggeration to say that the OnePlus 13 is the best phone that the company has ever made. Building further upon the foundation laid by its already-excellent predecessor, OnePlus's newest top-of-the-line smartphone manages to get just about everything right. It's no wonder the OnePlus 13 earned a perfect score from Android Central's Nicholas Sutrich when he reviewed the phone.

The OnePlus 13 comes with a refreshed design that's a visual delight. Not just that, the "2.5D" curved edges of the front and back panels make it quite comfortable to hold as well. You have a choice of two materials (vegan leather and textured glass) for the rear and both look equally gorgeous. Oh, and you also have an IP69 certification, which is a first for any smartphone. Combined with that premium build quality and top-tier specs (as you'd expect), it's clear that the OnePlus 13 is a smartphone designed to last.

But even though the phone's hardware—both on the inside and the outside—is ready for the long haul, what about the software?

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

The OnePlus 13 runs Android 15 (with the company's Oxygen OS 15 overlay) out of the box, and OnePlus has committed to providing it four years of major OS updates. This means that it's on track to receive Android 16, 17, 18, and 19 in future. Once that's done, the phone will get security patches for two extra years. It's also worth mentioning that the exact same update policy applies to the OnePlus 13R too.

Now, this software update commitment doesn't sound all that bad, until you realize it doesn't come close to the seven years of major OS updates that Samsung and Google promise for their flagship smartphones. It probably would be alright if this was a mid-range smartphone like the OnePlus Nord 4 (which by the way, also benefits from the same update commitment), but it's not. The OnePlus 13 is a full-blown flagship having a starting price of $900, so we think it deserves more in terms of software support.

What's also worth noting is that the OnePlus 13 is fully capable of going much further as far as updates are concerned, since this thing is crammed with blazing-fast hardware. We're talking about Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, helped by up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage. You get a fabulous triple-lens rear camera setup, a 6,000mAh battery with incredible charging speeds, and much more. Sure, OnePlus might think a long software update commitment doesn't make sense, but it actually does, even more so when you're expected to shell out nearly a grand for a flagship.

When all is said and done, the OnePlus 13 is hands down one of the best Android phones you can get in the market at this time. It ticks all the right boxes and is a phone we can recommend to anyone looking for a full-featured flagship. However, a longer update commitment would make the OnePlus 13 an even more astounding value buy than it already is.

OnePlus 13

The best OnePlus phone so far

With the OnePlus 13, you get best-in-class hardware, a versatile triple-lens rear camera system that beats the competitors, super-fast charging, feature-loaded software, and much more, all in a chassis that's stunning yet durable.

OnePlus reimagines Alert Slider with a new customizable button

vishnu.skar@gmail.com (Vishnu Sarangapurkar) — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 17:16:24 +0000

What you need to know

Pete Lau says that the new button is going to be designed to offer an intuitive and customizable experience while keeping the original sound-switching capabilities.
OnePlus also notes that it will actively seek user input to shape the button's features.
It appears the company is drawing parallels with developments like Nothing’s Essential Key and Apple’s Action Button, and we can expect more AI capabilities.

OnePlus has announced that it is replacing the traditional Alert Slider, which has been on the company’s flagship phones since their inception, with an all-new button.

According to Pete Lau, the new button is designed to be more personalized, which is also not just smart but also “incredibly intuitive” and “future-ready.” He also reassures users that they will still be able to switch sound profiles on their OnePlus handsets without waking the phone, similar to what the existing Alert Slider does. The new button aims to keep the best parts of it and unlock new possibilities.

(Image credit: OnePlus)

Lau reiterates that Alert Slider has always been his favorite feature on the OnePlus phones, which is why it has been brought to Oppo devices. However, over time, it eventually became a “huge piece of hardware” with minimal functionality, i.e. to just switch sound profiles. Lau further notes that It wasn’t also reprogrammable due to its limitations.

And, it appears it was one of the reasons to remove it from the OnePlus 10T, which, however, received a severe backlash — and was later brought back in succeeding phones, including the latest OnePlus 13.

The company's co-founder further shares that he wants to hear from consumers about the new button and what they'd like it to do— further enhancing their daily handset usage experience.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

OnePlus acknowledges that it is indeed a big change for long-time enthusiasts and reassures that it is not just about replacing the Alert Slider but rather evolving it with new capabilities.

On the whole, OnePlus’ approach should likely be similar to what Nothing has recently done with the Phone 3a series that now has a new Essential Key button, which has some AI-powered capabilities to get things done.

Samsung has also tried earlier to incorporate a new dedicated Bixby, which was, however, discontinued later. Apple, on the other hand, had also introduced an Action Button on the iPhone 15 series, replacing the good old alert slider, which is presumably considered an inspiration for the OnePlus in the first place.

Phone deals: Best Buy | Walmart | Samsung | Amazon | Verizon | AT&T

Your OnePlus 13 is receiving a new patch with another wave of camera updates

nickodiaz@sbcglobal.net (Nickolas Diaz) — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 18:40:28 +0000

What you need to know

The OnePlus 13 was spotted receiving a new update early this morning in the U.S.
The update is roughly 1.3GB with camera improvements focused in the "tone" capabilities of the OnePlus 13's rear cameras.
There are rumors that OnePlus is developing a "mini" version of its latest flagship with a massive battery.

There appears to be an update slowly rolling out for the latest OnePlus flagship phone today (Mar. 7).

The update's appearance was spotted by Android Central's Nicholas Sutrich on a OnePlus 13 earlier this morning. The patch is marked as version CPH2655_15.0.0.602(EX01) on the flagship with a 1.26GB download size. While the download is sizeable, OnePlus' patch notes don't highlight numerous changes.

The core of this OxygenOS patch concerns the camera system for the OnePlus 13. The company says it's rolling in a fix to "improve the focus capability of the rear cameras." Additionally, the update works to refine the "tone and color" capabilities when users take photos with the rear camera array.

Lastly, the changelog notes system "stability and performance" improvements, though it lacks to state what these are — which is pretty standard.

OnePlus adds the patch contains the February 2025 security patch with this download. It's worth mentioning that OnePlus updated its thread on its community forum regarding this update extremely early this morning.

The company drew attention to users in North America receiving this update. It's likely just beginning to make its rounds, so users should keep their eyes open for it.

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

This is the second time a OnePlus 13 patch has focused on the "tone" of photos with its rear cameras. An update from January not only tried to enhance the stability of its cameras, but also its "tone" capturing capabilities. That update at the beginning of the year came swiftly after the device's very first post-launch. OnePlus was fixing some lingering issues plaguing users while also delivering on some AI promises.

The OnePlus 13 received a face-to-face AI translation feature, which lets users see what another person is saying in split-view. The update brought the feature to "select" headphones, as well.

Early January held its first post-launch update with the inclusion of Google's Gemini Nano integration and generative AI in Messages.

In other news, there are rumors that OnePlus is working on a "13 Mini" with a 6,000mAh battery. Allegedly, the Chinese OEM will work to keep the device extremely thin even with such a huge battery capacity. It gets us thinking the phone could sport the same Glacier battery tech as the flagship 13 — if these rumors are true, of course.

OnePlus 13 camera gains much needed Instagram feature

nandika.iyerravi@futurenet.com (Nandika Ravi) — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 22:02:37 +0000

What you need to know

OnePlus announced that its latest flagship phone will now feature a night mode setting on Instagram.
This tool is known for capturing images/videos in low light settings and will be built into the in-app camera.
Users are urged to test out the moon icon when it pops up on Instagram.

In a community post, OnePlus announced that its newest flagship device the OnePlus 13's Night Mode feature will be integrated to optimize photos taken on Instagram.

It is a known fact that with some devices, Instagram's in-built camera reduces the quality of the images captured, and adding additional effects could further compromise the quality. That said, when using social media apps such as Instagram it's an added task to be switching between the phone's camera and the app to put out a photo.

However, with its latest update, the company says it has heard its users "loud and clear." OnePlus said it has now teamed up with Instagram to enable users to better capture those dark sky/cozy dinner shots easily. This feature will be built directly into the in-app and will be seen as a 'crescent moon' icon. The app will detect that the user is in a low light setting and will prompt them to use the Night mode. The mode once turned on, will use multi-frame processing to brighten shots and reduce noise in the said image. All without ripping out the quality from these shots.

(Image credit: OnePlus)

It looks like OnePlus is building on something that began with other Android phones in December 2024. A similar moon icon showed up on devices like the Pixel 9 and Samsung Galaxy S24 last year, enabling them to capture better low-light images, with the help of Camera Extensions API (via Android Developers Blog). The feature is also available to users with any Pixel device from the Pixel 6 series and up, Samsung Flip 6 or Fold 6, and will be expanded to more devices in the future.

Here’s how it works for OnePlus 13 users:

Open Instagram’s camera
When the scene gets dim, Night Mode kicks in automatically, look for the moon icon 🌙 at the top.
Tap the shutter, hold steady for a few seconds, and the app then shoots an image in Night mode.

It is important to note that users need to have the latest Instagram version installed on their devices for this feature to show up. However, it remains unclear when or if this feature will show up in previous-generation OnePlus devices.

Android Central has reached out to OnePlus about this and will update the article once we have more information.

The alleged OnePlus 13 'Mini' may pack a huge battery in a compact frame

nickodiaz@sbcglobal.net (Nickolas Diaz) — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 20:27:17 +0000

What you need to know

The alleged "mini" OnePlus 13 is rumored to feature a flagship-level battery at 6,000mAh or higher.
The Weibo tipster states the device should remain fairly thin despite such a large battery.
Previous rumors claim the phone will see a redesigned camera "bar" with two lenses and a 6.3-inch OLED display.

Additional rumors have surfaced regarding the supposed battery plans for an alleged upcoming OnePlus device.

A post by Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station (DCS) claims OnePlus will look to provide its recent flagship-level battery within the rumored "OnePlus 13 Mini" (via 9to5Google). The tipster suggests this rumored device will be the first "small screen" to reach a 6,000mAh capacity battery.

It seems that this was a follow-up post to another claim, that stated this 6.3-inch screen phone will receive a "6,000mAh plus" battery" in the "first half" of 2025. The publication notes an interaction between DCS and a user's comment about the phone's thickness (since it's all the rage).

The user questioned if the device would be roughly 9mm in thickness to accommodate such a large battery. Simply put: the tipster says "no."

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

OnePlus has put more effort into creating larger batteries that don't take much space, i.e., its new Glacier technology. The Chinese OEM discussed this new tech last summer, stating it leverages a "silicon carbon anode" to produce batteries with 6,000mAh or even 6,100mAh capacities. These new batteries support the company's 100W fast charging with the promise of holding at 80% battery health after four years.

This tech was packed into the OnePlus Ace 3 Pro and the flagship OnePlus 13 model.

It's worth mentioning that while OnePlus is taking strides to further improve its batteries, Samsung is (just now) trying to catch up. The company is reportedly looking into silicon-carbon batteries for its next wave of Galaxy S phones, which have become notably stagnant regarding their battery and (the same old) 45W charging speed.

Elsewhere, rumors of a "mini" OnePlus 13 claim it will feature a dual-camera array, consisting of a 50MP primary lens and a 50MP telephoto lens with 2x zoom. Speculation states the device may switch up its camera design by packing these lenses in a "bar" instead of the familiar circular housing. Rumors add the device could be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite with a flat 6.3-inch OLED display.

Its launch window is still in limbo as some rumors claim the "first half" of 2025 while others purport the second half.

Alleged OnePlus 13 'Mini' camera leak suggests more changes than expected

nickodiaz@sbcglobal.net (Nickolas Diaz) — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 20:18:34 +0000

What you need to know

A tipster on Weibo claims the OnePlus 13 "Mini" could change up the company's typical set of cameras.
The rumor states the phone could feature a dual-camera bar setup with a 50MP primary lens and a 50MP telephoto lens.
OnePlus 13 "Mini" rumors cropped up in November, stating the device could rock the Snapdragon 8 Elite and a 6.3-inch OLED screen.

OnePlus is allegedly working on a compact smartphone in the works and the latest rumors might've expanded on that idea.

Prominent Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station (DCS) posted a series of camera specs and hardware changes (via PlayfulDroid). According to DCS, a "small" device could sport a dual-camera setup with a 50MP primary lens and (potentially) a 50MP telephoto lens with 2x zoom.

Additionally, DCS claims this device could see a departure from OnePlus' recent circular camera array trend, like the 13 series or the 12 series. The leak states the phone, which is rumored to be the "OnePlus 13 Mini," could feature a "simple-bar" design for this proposed dual lens setup.

DCS ends their post purporting the smaller flagship variant could also sport Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC.

The publication gives credit to this rumor by citing a recent statement by OnePlus industrial designer Lao Haoran about the future of product designs. It was stated by Haoran that the OEM's upcoming phones will feature a "renewed design," which could extend further beyond what's been rumored for the "mini" flagship.

Also, some users on Weibo wondered if the design rumor could make this variant look like the OnePlus Nord 4. Launched in August 2024, the Nord 4 features two large camera lenses side by side at the top of the back panel with its LED flash off to the right. This could be a potential design avenue; however, the term "bar" gets us wondering if things could teeter toward a Google Pixel-like bump.

Speculation aside, rumors of a OnePlus 13 "Mini" cropped up in November. A tipster claimed the phone would rock the Snapdragon 8 Elite alongside a flat 6.3-inch OLED display. These rumors were attached to other speculations that OPPO was working on a mini version of the Find X8.

OPPO's version is said to be on tap to debut in "early 2025." Speculation states the OnePlus variant could drop sometime during the "second half" of the year.

The world is crazy but your phone can give you some peace. Here's how

Nicholas Sutrich — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 16:43:13 +0000

It seems like the craziness of the world never slows down, and our heightened awareness of modern events thanks to social media and the 24/7 news cycle only makes things more difficult to bear at times. When life gets overwhelming, there are some surprisingly simple tools on your smartphone to help cope.

Android Central Labs

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Android Central Labs is a weekly column devoted to deep dives, experiments, and a focused look into the tech you use. It covers phones, tablets, and everything in between.

Ever since I switched to the OnePlus 13 back in December, I began my mornings by starting up Zen Mode. This shuts off all distractions and notifications, allowing only the apps I chose to be used at all. My morning study and quiet time was often filled with distractions before — an errant email from overnight, a breaking news story, or just lots of social media posts clawing for my attention — but now I can tap that button and remain worry-free for the first half an hour or so while I drink my morning tea.

Likewise, I began using Android's Downtime feature sometime last year to give me a full day without social media or distracting messaging apps. Downtime is part of the Digital Wellbeing feature built into every Android phone and can be used in conjunction with a feature like Zen Mode to give you a sense of peace that you might be longing for.

Feeling Zen

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

OnePlus launched Zen Mode back in 2019, building upon Google's Digital Wellbeing intiative. The mode aimed to take Digital Wellbeing seriously by forcing you to take a break from your phone for a set period of time. The idea was to help create mindfulness with a device that had become the cornerstone of a mindless life of doomscrolling and swiping.

While I'm not someone who spends 8+ hours a day on their phone, I have found myself getting wrapped up in social media conversations and then stewing about them for hours at a time. Too often, this started first thing in the morning while I made tea and caught up on overnight notifications. I knew it had to stop, and Zen Mode was the key to my success.

If you don't have a OnePlus phone, don't worry. Many other companies have created similar features since then — Motorola calls its feature Unplugged while Samsung calls it Relax, just to name two examples — and they're all easy enough to configure in just a few seconds to get some peace of mind.

OnePlus Zen Mode, Motorola Unplugged, and Samsung Relax are all great ways to take a break from the myriad of distractions on your phone.

Primarily, I was concerned with shutting out the world while giving me the opportunity to study in the morning, distraction-free. I put Zen Mode on a schedule to be enabled from 6 am-7 am and the only usable app was the You Version Bible app. The notification shade is disabled, there's no home screen, and I can't accidentally see a pop-up text that might sully my quiet time.

Don't worry, you can still make or receive emergency calls if need be, and Zen Mode can be canceled if something comes up or you want to finish quiet time early.

OnePlus also offers a "deep zen" mode that defaults to one minute of complete phone lockdown, ensuring you have a moment to breathe without looking at your phone. If that sounds like an addiction, you're not wrong. The Addiction Center references a 2024 Virgin Mobile research study that shows 6.3% of global smartphone users have a phone addiction. Considering that 6.8 billion people use smartphones worldwide, 6.3% is not a small number.

Places like HelpGuide.org outline ways to identify and get help with phone addiction, but things like Zen Mode, Do Not Disturb, and other phone features can help with this, as well.

Taking action against distraction

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

I encourage you to look for Zen Mode, Relax Mode, Unplugged, or whatever your phone might call this distraction-busting mode. I also added the Zen Mode button to the quick toggles section when I swipe down on the status bar so I can get to it without having to scroll past a bunch of apps.

You should also schedule a regular quiet time that can help you clear your mind and focus on other things. While it's best for me to do this first thing in the morning, you might find a better time that fits your personal schedule. Take this time to read or even just meditate. Watch the sunrise, or maybe even the sunset. It really does help immensely.

Scheduling a regular time to turn off social media apps, in particular, can help provide an important weekly mental reset.

Outside of phone lockdown modes, all Android phones also have Do Not Disturb and Focus Mode built into the Digital Wellbeing section in the settings menu. I use Focus mode to give myself a full sabbath each week away from every social networking app installed on my phone, including my work Slack app and several other chat apps like Discord. This helps me get away from my regular technology distractions for one solid day a week and provides the reset I need to start the week afresh.

Using Do Not Disturb regularly on a manual cadence is also very helpful. This is another button I have added to my quick toggles so I can enable (or disable) it when the time is right. By default, Do Not Disturb mutes notifications from apps and people not on the essential list, helping you keep focus unless something important comes up.

Many Android phones also offer a "visual do not disturb" that can be found in do not disturb settings. Enabling this will shut off all pop-up notifications so you can focus on reading — or even gaming — without things literally popping in your line of sight.

The world has always been and will always be crazy, but taking a small amount of time out of your day to unwind and reset can help you keep it in check.

OnePlus 13

Get the first phone we've ever awarded a 5/5 rating to and enjoy blazing-fast speed, a brilliant eye-friendly display, flagship-level cameras, epic battery life and charging speed, and even peace of mind with its built-in Zen Mode.

Smartphones in 2025 are fun again — if you look beyond the carriers

bradypsnyder@gmail.com (Brady Snyder) — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 08:00:00 +0000

It's easy to think that the best phones in 2025 are growing stale. The product category has matured over the past two decades, and many updates are incremental. For instance, the newest Samsung Galaxy S25 series looks like the Galaxy S24 lineup with a few tweaks. Similar things can be said about the latest iPhones and newest Pixels, to a lesser degree.

In fact, Android Central's resident phone expert, Nicholas Sutrich, previewed the market for smartphones in 2025 at the end of last year with an outlook that could be described as depressing. He's right. For most phone buyers in North America, this year will be just like the last one — filled with incremental updates, rising prices, and little variety.

Here's the thing: it doesn't have to be this way. Smartphone buyers in the U.S. specifically silo themselves when buying their handsets, often sticking to a handful of mobile carriers and even fewer phone brands. It's a phenomenon that seems to only exist in North America.

Put simply, buying smartphones through carrier contracts is a bad idea. It limits your options, restricts your flexibility, and can end up costing you more in the long run. It's easy to see how.

Samsung routinely offers boosted trade-in values for phones, but you can't take advantage of them unless your phone is paid off. Want to pay your phone off early to maximize your trade-in value? You'll likely lose all the discounts and promotions you got when you bought your current phone from your carrier.

A similar situation occurs if you break your phone and don't have insurance. Say your phone is too damaged to fix and you need a new one — you could be hit with a massive bill that includes the amount needed to pay off your current phone, plus the price of a new one and any carrier fees that apply.

Those are just a few reasons that you might want to consider buying a phone outright in 2025 rather than purchasing it from a mobile network provider — like AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon. But there are other reasons, like the availability of more phone brands and models beyond what you see in your carrier stores. Based on what I've seen from the phone market in late 2024 and early 2025, there are lots of exciting and fun smartphones available if you look beyond the restrictions imposed by carriers.

Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central

The OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R are two great phones to start with because they're sensible options. The OnePlus 13 is a $900 phone with hardware that can match or beat the $1,299 Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, which is pretty exciting to me. On top of that, the phone has IP68 and IP69 protection against dust and water ingress. In other words, you can stick the OnePlus 13 in a dishwasher, and it should survive (though we don't recommend you try it).

The OnePlus 13 isn't the only phone in 2025 that can survive a dishwasher run. The Honor Magic 7 Pro is dishwasher-safe as well, and I saw it used as a cutting board, too. If that isn't fun, I honestly don't know what is.

Back to the sensible nature of this section, it's hard to forget the OnePlus 13R. It delivers flagship specs for $600, and that's downright cool. I think there are many people in North America that have been conditioned by Apple and Samsung to think that flagships have to cost $1,000 or above. In 2025, that couldn't be more wrong. There has never been a time when $500 or $600 could get you more in a smartphone.

As a phone reviewer, I often test out a variety of review units each year. But I also buy way too many phones and other gadgets with my own money, and I've never been more conflicted about which one to buy. The OnePlus 13 is the sensible option, like I said, although there are many others that fit the "fun" bill better.

Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central

One of those devices is the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro. It came to the U.S. in January and is simply a beastly and unique gaming phone. The ROG Phone 9 Pro has a loud design with nods to ASUS' gaming aesthetic, but things really get crazy with "Anime Vision." That's what ASUS calls the LED display on the back of ROG Phone 9 Pro, which includes 648 individual white and red LEDs.

You can put logos, text, and other designs on the back of your smartphone with the ROG Phone 9 Pro. If you're not impressed yet, the ROG Phone 9 Pro's back LED display can actually be used to play retro-style mini-games and show your phone's battery percentage. From a hardware perspective, the ROG Phone 9 Pro has a 3.5mm headphone jack and two USB-C ports designed to connect to accessories like controllers or a cooling fan.

Seriously, anyone who thinks phones aren't fun nowadays isn't looking hard enough. The ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro is one of the most fun devices I've ever seen, and I might pay over $1,000 just to get my hands on one.

Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central

Finally, I think it's worth emphasizing how much flair and customization can be added to phones, especially those sold outside the U.S. For example, the TECNO Spark 30 Bumblebee Edition is designed like a Transformer, which is insanely cool for robot nerds like myself. If superheroes are more your style, there's the Poco X7 Pro Iron Man edition, which needs no introduction.

No matter what kind of smartphone buyer you are, there's a "fun" device for you in 2025. Like a super durable smartphone? The OnePlus 13 is right for you. Need a flagship on a budget? Don't count out the OnePlus 13R. Want a phone so cool it gets into ludicrous hardware territory? That's the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro, plain and simple. Want to express your fandoms without a case or skin? The Bumblebee or Iron Man phones are insanely neat.

It's true that the best Android phones from brands like Samsung or Google can get boring. However, it would be a mistake to limit yourself to those companies or to whatever your cellular carrier offers. There's a whole lot of phones out there, and they're more fun than ever.

Step aside, S25 Ultra — this 'perfect' smartphone is a lot cheaper and comes with a free $100 gift card

patrick.farmer@futurenet.com (Patrick Farmer) — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 17:18:00 +0000

Samsung's Galaxy S25 series may be dominating the headlines, but don't let that stop you from checking out the awesome OnePlus 13 deals that are popping up all over the web. Grab this near-perfect phone unlocked from Best Buy and you'll score a free storage boost to 512GB (a $100 value) and a free $100 gift card, just for kicks.

Considering that the Galaxy S25 Ultra starts at $1,299.99 for the 256GB storage configuration, you'll end up spending a full $400 less on a phone that's arguably better (depending on how you compare the two) and comes with twice the storage. If you want to skip the Galaxy hype, now's your chance to jump on the OnePlus bandwagon.

OnePlus 13 512GB: ~~$999.99~~ $899.99, plus free $100 gift card at Best Buy

Destined to earn a top spot in our list of the best Android phones of 2025, the OnePlus 13 utilizes the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and boasts excellent battery life, cutting-edge camera tech, and a sneakily-rugged construction with IP69 dust/water resistance. Buy the 512GB phone unlocked from Best Buy and you'll enjoy a straight $100 discount and a free gift card, no trade-in required. View Deal

See the best Samsung Galaxy S25 preorder deals available today

I've been working at Android Central for quite a few years now, but the release of the OnePlus 13 marks the first time that I've ever seen a smartphone receive a 5/5-star rating. Once you get your hands on the device, however, you'll quickly discover why.

Straight out of the box, the OnePlus 13 boasts an outstanding 6.8-inch OLED QHD+ display with a durable construction that's tough enough to withstand a full cycle in the dishwasher (I'm not being hyperbolic — we actually tested it). Things are just as impressive under the hood, as the phone comes with the new Snapdragon 8 Elite processor (the same chipset that powers the S25 series), along with 12GB of RAM and all the latest Oxygen OS 15 software features. You also get some great battery life and charging speeds, while the flagship's camera tech could easily rival the best phones from Samsung or Google.

On the other hand, the OnePlus 13 isn't without a few faults. You don't get quite as many AI features as you would with the S25 Ultra, the software support isn't quite as extensive, and there's no stylus support. You'll also want to check with your wireless carrier to make sure that it supports OnePlus phones.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus vs. OnePlus 13

christinep2424@gmail.com (Christine Persaud) — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 15:47:43 +0000

Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus

An interative update

For Samsung phone owners, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus is an iterative update. It's not a massive step up from the Galaxy S24 beyond the new processor, but it's a worthwhile upgrade if you're hanging onto an old phone. It's one of the most AI-centric phones around and you'll love the fast processor, tons of AI, and Samsung's unique features.

Pros

Quick and efficient Snapdragon 8 Elite processor
Samsung One UI 7 adds useful features
Seven years of OS and security updates
Bright and beautiful high-res screen
Built-in Qi2 support without a case

Cons

Comes with limited storage options
Cameras aren't as good
Battery not as big
Screen not as high resolution

OnePlus 13

A bold entry

OnePlus isn't paying around with its OnePlus 13, which is one of the best Android phones we have seen in years, if not the best. It's gorgeous in design, highly functional, incredibly durable, and has tons of AI features, including photo editing that works like magic. You'll be thoroughly impressed with its performance.

Pros

Quick and efficient Snapdragon 8 Elite processor
Has both an IP68 and IP69 rating
Fabulous photo editing features
Beautiful design, big screen
Fantastic battery life and ultra-fast charging

Cons

Comes with limited storage options
Software and security support not as long
Heavier and thicker
No Qi2 support without a case
AI features require an internet connection

If you're looking for smartphones with large displays, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus and OnePlus 13 are good options. But while both flagship phones are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite, the OnePlus 13 has a larger battery, faster charging, and an arguably more robust camera system. The Galaxy S25 Plus has a more mature AI suite, longer software support, and is more easily accessible through U.S. carriers.

This isn’t to say you shouldn’t get a Samsung Galaxy phone as your next snazzy device. The brand continues to make fantastic phones. But when looking at the Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. OnePlus 13, you might find yourself wondering if it’s time for a switch.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus vs. OnePlus 13: The design and basic features

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

As the larger phone in the new Samsung Galaxy S25 line, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus measures 6.7 inches with a 3,120 x 1,440 QHD+ dynamic AMOLED 2x screen. It affords a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and Vision Booster that ensures the screen is viewable in even bright sunlight.

Available in Silver Shadow, Navy, Ice Blue, and Mint finishes, the frame is made of armor aluminum and the screen of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. It boasts an IP68 rating so it can withstand both dust and water immersion. Nicholas Sutrich says in his hands-on of the Galaxy S25 Plus that he appreciates the curved corners that make it comfortable to hold along with the fact that it’s lighter in weight than the previous generation Galaxy S24 Plus. In his full review, Derrek Lee finds the all-over flat design "boring" but absolutely adores the new Navy colorway.

You can get the phone with either 256GB or 512GB storage. It’s not expandable, so you’ll have to rely on cloud storage or offloading content if you need more. You’re best to save up for the 512GB version just in case.

The phone has a 4,900mAh battery and it supports 45W Super Fast Charging 2.0 along with fast wireless charging 2.0 and Wireless PowerShare. But Lee say it charges at a snail's pace, albeit when using a reliable third-party charger and not Samsung's own. But he appreciates that while fast charging is just at 15W, the phone does support Qi2, so you can use Qi chargers to top it up as needed.

It has an ultrasonic fingerprint reader on the screen, 2D facial recognition, and a new security feature called post-quantum cryptography that is designed to further safeguard your personal data.

Samsung continues with its promise to offer extended support for the Galaxy S25 Plus: you get seven years of OS and security updates, so the phone will not only last far beyond as long as you want it, but it will also have great resale, trade-in, and hand-me-down value.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

By comparison, the OnePlus 13 has a larger 6.82-inch LTPO OLED Aqua Touch screen bosting 3,168 x 1,440 resolution, 1,600 nits brightness (4,500 nits peak brightness), and dynamic 1-120Hz refresh rate. The screen also includes Intelligent Eye Care 4.0 to help reduce strain on your eyes. Sutrich says in his review of the OnePlus 13 that it’s “the best display of any phone on the market,” easy to see in direct sunlight, which he tested on a beach in The Bahamas.

The Aqua Touch screen is designed to allow you to easily manipulate the phone even if your hands are wet or there are water droplets on the screen. This could be a game-changer for those who live in rainy or snowy climates, or for use in the field. It also has a Glove Mode for operating it even while wearing thin gloves.

Available in Midnight Ocean, Black Eclipse, and Arctic Dawn finishes, the screen is made of the company’s Crystal Shield super-ceramic glass. Visually, Sutrich calls it the “most beautiful phone I’ve ever used” (referencing the blue vegan leather model he was given for review). OnePlus, for its part, says the Ceramic Guard screen offers better scratch and drop protection than Gorilla Glass.

A stand-out feature is that the phone supports both the IP68 and IP69 ratings, which means it can not only withstand dust and be submerged, it can also withstand high-pressure water jets. This means you can take it on a boat, while jet skiing, or even literally toss it in the dishwasher and it will purportedly come out unscathed. In fact, Sutrich tested this theory, running it through a sanitizing cycle on his dishwasher for four hours, then taking it into a sauna and it continues to work just fine.

A bit heavier and thicker than the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus given its larger size, Sutrich finds the flat side rails on the front and back with the curved edge of this phone makes it easy and comfortable to hold. It comes with the same 256GB or 512GB storage capacities, so make sure to get the bigger one and look into cloud storage options if you think you’ll need more.

The battery is another stand-out here: it has a massive 6,000mAh battery and, like other OnePlus phones, lasts an incredibly long time. It also supports 80W (yes, you read that correctly!) SUPERVOOC charging, with the charger in the box (yay!) You can increase this to up to 100W with OnePlus’ SUPERVOOC 100W dual-port power adapter, which is sold separately. It also supports 50W AIRVOOC wireless charging. Again, you read that correctly. So, this phone not only lasts a long time, at least a few days per charge, but it recharges at blazing speeds.

“I am constantly surprised when I plug it in for 10 or 15 minutes,” says Sutrich, “and see that it’s already in the 80% range…If you’ve never used a OnePlus phone before, you’re going to be absolutely blown away by not only how good the battery life is, but also by how fast it charges. It puts every leading flagship phone to shame.”

While there’s no Qi2 support without a case, whereas the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus does offer built-in Qi2 support, OnePlus does offer a wide range of cases with Qi2 support and appears to be one of the only phone brands, if not the only phone brand, to be doing so. You’ll need a case either way, of course, but it’s worth noting.

The phone has traditional security features, like an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor on the screen, but nothing specific that will blow you away. Ongoing support is not as robust in comparison to Samsung, as you’ll only get four major Android updates and security updates for six years. But that’s still impressive.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus vs. OnePlus 13: The specs

Let’s look at the specs of these two phones in a side-by-side comparison.

	Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus	OnePlus 13
OS	Android 15, One UI 7	Android 15, OxygenOS 15
Colors	Icybue, Navy, Mint, Silver Shadow	Midnight Ocean, Black Eclipse, Arctic Dawn
Screen Size	6.7 inches	6.82 inches
Screen Resolution	3,120 x 1,440	3,168 x 1,440
Screen Type	Dynamic AMOLED 2x	Aqua Touch OLED LTPO
Refresh Rate	120Hz Adaptive	120Hz Adaptive
Processor	Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy	Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile
RAM	12GB	12GB, 16GB
Storage	256GB, 512GB (not expandable)	256GB, 512GB (not expandable)
Cameras	50MP Wide AF OIS, 12MP Ultra-Wide, 10MP 3x Tele AF OIS, 12MP Wide AF	50MP Sony main camera, 50MP Sony telephoto camera, 50MP ultra-wide camera, 32MP Sony front camera
Speakers	Stereo Speakers	Stereo Speakers
Battery	4,900mAh	6,000mAh
Wireless Charging	Yes	Yes
Bluetooth	5.4	5.4
Water Resistance	IP68	IP68, IP69
Cellular	5G	5G
Size	75.8 x 158.4 x 7.3mm	76.5 x 162.9 x 8.5mm (8.9mm for Midnight Ocean)
Weight	190 grams	213 grams (210 grams for Midnight Ocean)

Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus vs. OnePlus: What can these phones do?

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

Now that you have an idea of the bare bones specs of these two phones, it comes down to the most important question: what can these phones do, how well can they do them, and what makes them stand out?

Running on the ultra-fast and responsive Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus can keep up with even the most demanding tasks and use cases. You get a significant boost in performance from previous-generation processors, which is necessary to run all the on-board AI features that this phone has to offer. While others rely on the cloud to process certain AI functions, this processor allows the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus to do more locally. That even includes features like Generative photo editing.

Loaded with the Android 15 OS, Samsung also overlays its One UI 7, which affords access to plenty of cool Galaxy AI features along with customization and personalization options for the look and feel of the phone. Some new features include AI Agent: long-press the power button and you’ll instantly open the Gemini assistant, which works with native app integration. This means no matter what app you’re in, Gemini will assist with what you want, related to that specific app. Sutrich played around with this feature during his review and said it works well. He used it, for example, to find specific recipes within an hour-long YouTube video and it accomplished this with ease.

A neat new feature with Samsung One UI 7 is Now Brief, which shows AI-powered insights for your sleep, the weather, your daily schedule, and more. You’ll get Auto Suggestions, like a reminder to turn on the smart washing machine based on your usual weekly routine. Multimodal Search, meanwhile, lets you run searches in unique ways, like humming a song to be reminded of its name. Lee's favorite feature is the new vertical scrolling app drawer, but note that it isn't enabled by default so you'll have to go into settings to turn it on, an odd decision not to have it function right out of the box.

The most important factor with this phone is its heavy AI integration. You can be more productive and enjoy better context awareness as you switch among apps and use Gemini and other AI tools at your disposal. This includes everything from getting help composing an e-mail in the right tone, to searching for ideas for your next vacation, using Circle to Search to identify what jacket the person in that YouTube video is wearing, and more. Circle to Search now also recognizes phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and URLs so you can instantly open what’s needed.

Overall, the phone better understands natural language, so it’s easy to communicate as well. As with any phone, the AI features work when they do and don't when they don't. It can be hit or miss, but Lee notes that it's fun to play around with. And it's quite impressive when it does work well.

Along with the processor, Android 15, and Samsung One UI 7, all this runs smoothly thanks to the 12GB RAM. So, you can enjoy everything from streaming and capturing video to mobile gaming and more. Speaking of gamers, there are features specifically for them, including an improved cooling system, ray tracing, and a Vulkan Engine. Lee was pleased with the phone's performance while gaming, including how cool it remained no matter how intense the game.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

How does the OnePlus 13 stack up? Very strongly. It runs on the same Snapdragon 8 Elite mobile processor. The phone handles switching among apps at a blazing pace, with little to no lag. Sutrich says it exhibits the best haptics he has experienced on a non-Pixel phone. “I have never seen the phone falter once in its impeccable performance, whether that’s normal day-to-day scrolling or playing games at 120 fps.” He also calls multitasking “the best I’ve seen among any flagship phone.”

The OnePlus 13 has plenty of AI features as well, including intelligent search, AI Notes, and deep Google Gemini integration, just like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus. However, much of the work is done via cloud computing, so you need an Internet connection, which is one downside.

It comes loaded with Android 15 and adds OnePlus OxygenOS 15 for its version of personalization, customization, and unique features. You get many of the same features you find in the Galaxy S25 Plus like Circle to Search and intelligent assistance for everything from composing messages to booking vacations, with the intelligence fueled by both Gemini and, with this phone, OxygenOS.

There’s a cool feature in this phone called BeaconLink that lets you essentially use the device as a walkie-talkie to communicate with another person with the same (or compatible) phone that is up to 200 meters away. This is great if you’re in an area that doesn’t have good mobile coverage, like on a boat or campsite.

Features in this phone will appeal to gamers as well, including the 12GB or 16GB RAM, depending on which variant you choose, Adreno 830 GPU, and overall fast and snappy processor along with efficient cooling.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus vs. OnePlus 13: Capturing and editing photos and videos

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

The latest premium phones don’t just have fabulous cameras. They also have tons of pre- and post-editing tools you can leverage to get the best images and footage possible. Many of these tools use AI, and that’s true for both of these phones.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus has a 50MP wide AF OIS main camera, 12MP ultra-wide camera, 10MP 3x tele AF OIS camera, and 12MP wide AF front “selfie” camera. The 30x space zoom is impressive so you can capture less grainy, more detailed images from even far distances. Other features include HDR portraits, a nightography mode, and more. For video, you can record 4K video at 60 frames per second using the ProVisual Engine.

The cameras are largely the same as the previous generation, so you'll get decent photos, but Lee notes that it's nothing to blow you away. He does note that images often come out with more contrast that he'd like, and darker than preferred in low-light settings. Images tend to be vibrant, but they aren't necessarily as dramatic as you might find with other cameras, he adds.

You’ll find all the same AI photo editing features that were in the Samsung Galaxy S24, along with a few new ones. A standout is an improved version of Audio Eraser for videos, which can remove background noise, including conversations, in videos to isolate just the sounds you want. Sutrich tried this as part of his review and was pleased with the results.

There’s also a new feature called Auto Trim that will intelligently remove things like “ums” and “ahs” in your speech along with blank spaces. Use keywords and the AI will pick out which clips or sound bites aren’t essential and remove them for a cleaner editing experience. For videos taken at night, you’ll be able to better capture moving subjects without worry that the footage will be under or over-exposed.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Switching over to the OnePlus 13, OnePlus relies on Sony cameras for the OnePlus 13, which affords a massive step up in performance. Sutrich says it’s “easily one of the best smartphone cameras I’ve ever used.”

The set-up includes a 50MP main camera, 50MP telephoto camera with an incredible up to 120x zoom, 50MP ultra-wide camera, and a 32MP front camera. You can take 4K video at 60 frames-per-second and enjoy features like portrait mode, night scene, panorama, time-lapse, and more. Dual Exposure is worth noting, which can capture moving subjects with incredible clarity, along with Action Mode that accomplishes fantastic detail in action shots. Clear Burst lets you hold down the shutter to take multiple photos to capture that perfect moment.

What really sets this phone apart when it comes to the cameras are all the useful and effective AI photo editing tools. There’s AI Detail Boost, AI Unblur, and even a feature that removes distracting objects from a photo. In most cases, you’ll find similar equivalents with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus, as well as other phones like Google Pixel devices. But one that works wonderfully and I haven’t seen in other phones is the AI Reflection Eraser. This will intelligently remove distracting reflections from a photo so you get a clearer image of something with glass or another reflective surface.

Bottom line: Sutrich says there “wasn’t a single category where I saw the OnePlus 13’s camera falter.”

Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus vs. OnePlus 13: Which should you choose?

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

When it comes down to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus vs. OnePlus 13, the OnePlus 13 is all-around the better phone. In fact, Sutrich says in his review that it’s “the best-built Android phone on the market, full stop.” You won’t find a better phone. Considering it’s the same price as the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus, the decision is simple.

Now, there are still reasons to stick with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus. If you are familiar with the Samsung ecosystem and feel more comfortable with it, you might want to stay with that. This is especially so if you have Samsung smart devices in the home, and/or a Samsung Galaxy Watch and/or Galaxy Ring. If so, it makes sense to have a Galaxy phone as well and be able to enjoy everything the ecosystem has to offer.

You also get longer support with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus, including a whole three more Android updates and an extra year of security updates. Considering you will probably upgrade to a new phone in another three or four years anyway, this isn’t a big deal. But you will be able to resell or hand this phone down to a friend or family member and be confident they’ll get the most out of it.

It's important to note that brands like OnePlus have really upped their game with their latest devices. The OnePlus 12 ranked among the best Android phones we have reviewed to date, and the OnePlus 13 will undoubtedly be replacing that model for the top spot.

There’s nothing specific to learn about how it works, since it’s incredibly intuitive. It’s the most durable consumer-level phone you’ll find on the market yet it’s still sleek and downright beautiful. While we wish it had more storage and Qi2 support built in, these are minor complaints, and really the only ones we can find with this phone.

The cameras and camera editing features, software, processing speeds, and performance are all top-notch with the OnePlus 13. If you’re looking for a new premium Android phone you can hang onto for many years to come, and that will give you access to multitasking, AI features, capture great photos, and even go into the hot tub with you on your next vacation, the OnePlus 13 is the one to choose.

You’ll still get a great device with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus, including wonderful cameras, powerful processing and onboard AI features (that’s a huge plus worth noting), decent battery life, a sleek look, and extra-long software support. But overall, for most users who aren’t tied to a specific platform, the OnePlus 13 is a winning choice.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus

The latest and greatest

Samsung is one of the most popular Android phone brands around, and for good reason. The company makes solidly built, fast, reliable phones, and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus is no exception. It isn't a huge step-up from the Galaxy A24 Plus, but its more powerful processor that supports on-board AI tasks is a massive plus.

OnePlus 13

The best you can buy

The best Android phone you can buy right now is the OnePlus 13. It's incredibly rugged, fast, intuitive, responsive, and looks stunning. You'll be able to take great photos and run them through various AI features to make them even better. This is the phone to get if you're looking for something you can take virtually anywhere as well.

Another OnePlus 13 update expands its AI translations and fixes bugs

nickodiaz@sbcglobal.net (Nickolas Diaz) — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 18:57:33 +0000

What you need to know

The OnePlus 13 is receiving another firmware update a week after the first arrived shortly after launch.
This second update improves the camera experience of the OnePlus 13 while also adding new AI translation features.
The first update integrated Google's Gemini Nano model with Google Messages on the OnePlus 13 for the Magic Compose experiment.

A little over a week later, OnePlus is pushing another update to its latest flagship series to fix several problems.

Android Central's Nicholas Sutrich spotted a new update on his OnePlus 13 earlier today (Jan 23). The update arrives as version CPH2655_15.0.0.405 (EX01) with a download size of 330MB. The patch is small, but its changelog details quite a few fixes for several aspects of the device, beginning with its cameras. OnePlus states it has fixed the colors of photos when users are in Master mode.

This small patch also aids the stability of the OnePlus 13 cameras while also improving the "tone" of pictures when using the rear set in Photo mode. Additionally, users will find a fix for the phone's zoom.

When OnePlus revealed its major OxygenOS 15 (Android 15) software in October, AI was a major part of it. The latest update for the OnePlus 13 includes new additions for its on-device AI, such as a "live translation feature that shows the translation of speech in real-time." Users can also listen to AI-based translations when wearing headphones, too.

Another newly added AI feature is a face-to-face translation feature that shows the translated speech of each speaker in a split view. Joining this is the ability for users to initiate a face-to-face translation session by tapping their headphones. OnePlus warns that this functionality will not work everywhere and is limited to "selected" headphones.

The Chinese OEM adds, "The translation of one language is played on the speaker on the phone, while the translation of the other language is played on the headphones."

The full patch notes are as follows:

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

OnePlus also brought attention to this update and stated that users in India, the E.U., and other global regions should see this new update. While we've noticed the update here in the U.S., users should begin checking their devices as the week finishes for it, too.

The company's latest flagship models — the OnePlus 13 and 13R — debuted on January 7 and we've already picked up two firmware updates. The first update arrived last week as the Chinese OEM fixed some issues alongside the addition of Gemini Nano. Google's AI model brought its generative AI power to Google Messages on the newest devices. The OnePlus 13 and 13R now benefit from the new Magic Compose button, an experimental feature that provides suggested replies in conversations.

Phone deals: Best Buy | Walmart | Samsung | Amazon | Verizon | AT&T

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. OnePlus 13: A battle of big, powerful Android phones

bradypsnyder@gmail.com (Brady Snyder) — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 18:00:00 +0000

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Samsung's high-end flagship

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra features a 6.9-inch screen and a slightly curvier design language. It still packs "Ultra" staples, including an inbuilt S Pen. There's also an overclocked Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset and plenty of Galaxy AI features. However, all that comes at a high price.

Pros

Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy could be more powerful than standard chip
New design language and larger screen should make viewing and holding the phone easier
New Galaxy AI features and integrated AI agents
One UI 7 based on Android 15 is included

Cons

S Pen no longer uses Bluetooth Low Energy
No official Qi2 support
High price point compared to other options, like the OnePlus 13

OnePlus 13

The best OnePlus phone yet

The OnePlus 13 is a near-perfect flagship phone, earning a 5/5 score in our review. That's because it has a powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, a mostly-flat 6.82-inch screen, and a 6,000mAh battery. Costing a few hundred dollars less than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, the OnePlus 13 is a bang-for-your-buck option.

Pros

Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite chip is the most powerful Android mobile processor to date
Refined design with attractive chassis and mostly-flat screen
New camera system with Sony main sensor
Compelling $900 price point that undercuts most flagships

Cons

Only 3x optical zoom from telephoto lens
No stylus support
Fewer AI features than the Galaxy S25 Ultra
Unavailable from U.S. carriers

Following months of rumors and leaks, both the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and the OnePlus 13 are officially available for purchase. These two smartphones will be the flagships to beat in 2025, despite the cost disparity between them. The Galaxy S25 Ultra is arguably the more well-rounded and versatile pick, packing an S Pen and more cameras. But the OnePlus 13 is undoubtedly the better value, providing a Snapdragon 8 Elite device for under $1,000.

So, which one is best for you? Even though the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the OnePlus 13 are both some of the best Android phones you can buy, there seems to be a clear answer this year. To find out everything there is to know about these two phones and discover which one should be your next smartphone, read on.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. OnePlus 13: Pricing and availability

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra was officially revealed at a Galaxy Unpacked event on Jan. 22, 2025. Surprisingly, all three Galaxy S25 models maintain the same pricing as the Galaxy S24 series. That means the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra starts at $1,299 for the 256GB variant. You can upgrade it to 512GB or 1TB for an additional fee and can choose from Titan Black, Titan Gray, Titan Silverblue, or Titan Whitesilver colorways.

Meanwhile, the OnePlus 13 debuted globally in early January 2025. Although it costs more than the OnePlus 12, its $899.99 starting price is still well below the Galaxy S25 Ultra's MSRP. The phone can be configured with either 12GB, 16GB, or 24GB RAM and up to 1TB of storage for an additional fee. It's available in white, blue, and black colorways.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. OnePlus 13: Design and display

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Both the OnePlus 13 and the Galaxy S25 Ultra were significantly redesigned this year, even if that isn't obvious at a glance. The OnePlus 13 conforms with the new industry trends of rectangular, boxy phones — mostly ditching the curved display that characterized its recent flagships. However, some OnePlus staples are certainly still here, like the polarizing camera bump and handy alert slider.

Samsung did the opposite with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. It's now slightly curvier, taking cues from the design language of the standard Galaxy S25 models. The rounded corners and chamfered edges should make it easier to hold the Galaxy S25 Ultra in the hand. While the screen is bigger, the overall footprint isn't. That's because Samsung slimmed the Galaxy S25 Ultra bezels by 15% to accommodate a more favorable screen-to-body ratio.

To that end, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is thinner than the OnePlus 13, measuring 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm. At 218 grams, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is a bit heavier than the 210 or 213-gram OnePlus 13. The 162.9 x 76.5 x 8.5 mm or 8.9 mm dimensions of the OnePlus 13 are quite similar to that of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, for what it's worth.

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

The Galaxy S25 Ultra has a bigger, 6.9-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz variable refresh rate support. It also works with the inbuilt S Pen, albeit without Bluetooth Low Energy this time around. There are the aforementioned slim bezels, plus a hole-punch cutout for the 12MP front-facing camera.

By comparison, the OnePlus 13 features a 6.82-inch AMOLED screen with 120Hz variable refresh rate support. It's also capable of 4,500 nits of peak brightness, which will help with outdoor viewing. The OnePlus 13 uses the company's "Ceramic Guard" glass, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra uses a new version of Gorilla Armor.

The OnePlus 13 is technically more durable than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, since it features both IP68 and IP69 protection against dust and water ingress. This enables flashy marketing stunts, like sticking the OnePlus 13 in a dishwasher, but IP68 will probably be enough for daily use.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. OnePlus 13: Performance and hardware

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

Both the OnePlus 13 and the Galaxy S25 Ultra have Snapdragon 8 Elite processors on the inside, but they're not equal. The OnePlus 13 uses the stock Snapdragon 8 Elite processor from Qualcomm, while Samsung is using a custom Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy variant. The two chips use Qualcomm's custom Oryon cores, which were first designed for the company's Snapdragon X family of laptop chips.

However, unlike in the past, this isn't just an overclocked version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite system-on-a-chip. Samsung says this is the first time it co-designed a custom application processor with Qualcomm. This could help the Galaxy S25 Ultra outperform the OnePlus 13 and be more efficient despite having less RAM and battery capacity. The Galaxy S25 Ultra also sports a 40% larger vapor chamber than last year, which should help keep the beastly Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip under control in terms of thermals.

Still, it's worth emphasizing that the OnePlus 13 and its standard Snapdragon 8 Elite chip will still be a top performer, and the included NPU enables on-device AI features. In fact, in our six-phone test, the Galaxy S25 Ultra didn't beat other Snapdragon 8 Elite phones in benchmarks and stress tests.

Category	Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra	OnePlus 13
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
Display	6.9-inch AMOLED 2X, 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate	6.82-inch AMOLED, 120Hz, 4,500 nits peak brightness
Memory	12GB	12GB, 16GB, or 24GB
Storage	256GB, 512GB, 1TB	Up to 1TB (UFS 4.0)
Battery	5,000mAh	6,000mAh
Charging	Super Fast Charging 2.0 (45W), Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, Wireless PowerShare	100W wired (80W in NA), 50W wireless, 10W reverse wireless, 5W reverse wired
Operating System	One UI 7 (Android 15)	OxygenOS 15 (Android 15)
Rear cameras	200MP Wide AF OIS main, 50MP Wide AF OIS ultrawide, 10MP telephoto (3x optical zoom) AF OIS, 50MP telephoto (5x optical zoom) AF OIS	50MP, f/1.6 main; 50MP, f/2.2 ultrawide; 50 MP, f/2.6 periscope telephoto (3x optical zoom)
Front camera	12MP, wide hole-punch camera	32 MP, f/2.4 wide hole-punch camera
Connectivity	5G (sub6, mmW), Wi-Fi 7, UWB	Wi-Fi 7 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, Bluetooth 5.4, 5G, NFC
Dimensions	162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm	162.9 x 76.5 x 8.5 mm or 8.9 mm
Weight	218g	210 or 213 g
IP rating	IP68	IP68/IP69
Colors	Titan Black, Titan Gray, Titan Silverblue, Titan Whitesilver	Black, Blue, White

Camera hardware is another reason to buy a top-tier flagship like the OnePlus 13 or Galaxy S25 Ultra. The latter is still headlined by a 200MP main camera sensor, and it's paired with a brand-new 50MP ultrawide lens. There are also two telephoto cameras: a 10MP, 3x zoom lens and a 50MP, 5x zoom lens. This rear camera system helps the Galaxy S25 Ultra take high-quality zoom shots and shoot Log Video at up to 4K 120FPS.

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

Meanwhile, the OnePlus 13 falls short in optical zoom quality. It has a 50MP f/2.4 periscope telephoto lens, but it can only do 3x optical zoom. The phone's other rear cameras are great, with a 50MP f/1.6 main sensor and a 50MP f/2.2 ultrawide lens.

In terms of battery capacity, the OnePlus 13 has the edge. It has a 6,000mAh battery, whereas the Galaxy S25 Ultra has a 5,000mAh capacity. In real-world testing, the OnePlus 13 provided excellent battery life, and could be quickly topped up in roughly 15 minutes with the included fast charger. Meanwhile, our Galaxy S25 Ultra reviewer found that the phone always lasted a full day — sometimes till the next morning.

So, you won't need to pick one or the other for the battery life, but you may need to factor charging speeds into your decision.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. OnePlus 13: Software

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Software is the area that will make or break these phones. Some people really don't like OxygenOS 15, which is OnePlus' Android skin based on Android 15. Or, others prioritize custom, on-device AI features. If you fit into either of those groups, you'll likely prefer the Galaxy S25 Ultra with One UI 7 to the OnePlus 13 with OxygenOS 15.

Samsung is taking a big leap with AI on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. It's adding AI Agents that'll help take actions on your behalf, plus an integrated AI platform with cross-app support. It can complete multiple actions based on a single command across multiple apps, like Google apps, Samsung apps, or third-party apps like Spotify or WhatsApp. That's in addition to other new Galaxy AI features, an enhanced Circle to Search experience, and more Gemini functionality.

The OnePlus 13, by comparison, doesn't have nearly as many AI features. It'll also receive fewer years of software support — the OnePlus 13 will only get four years of OS upgrades. That's paltry compared to the seven years of support offered by Samsung.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. OnePlus 13: Which should you buy?

The OnePlus 13 and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra are both excellent smartphones, but it's clear the OnePlus 13 is the best value. You get a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, a big battery, and a premium design for under $1,000. That's hard to beat, even with the software compromises.

However, there's still a case for buying the Galaxy S25 Ultra. For about $400 more, the Galaxy S25 Ultra nets you a bigger screen with S Pen support, an overclocked Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, and better optical zoom. If you want the absolute best mobile hardware, it's still hard to say no to the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Samsung's high-end flagship

OnePlus 13

The best OnePlus phone yet

Which OnePlus 13 color should you buy?

namerah.saud-fatmi@futurenet.com (Namerah Saud Fatmi) — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 09:21:23 +0000

The OnePlus 13 is a spectacular device with an impressive ingress protection rating. A phone that can be used as a cutting board or chucked into the washer is something to admire. If you've decided to buy one for yourself, you have three very different finishes to choose from.

Let's take a look at all three variations of the OnePlus 13 and what sort of texture each option has to offer. This should help you decide which OnePlus 13 color you should buy.

Say hello to the three faces of the OnePlus 13

OnePlus 13 - Midnight Ocean

Blue us away

This vegan leather number is a crowd favorite among Android Central's editors. We all adore the dark blue shade, the classy leather attire that cost no animals their lives, and the pearl white camera unit paired with silver accents.

OnePlus 13 - Arctic Dawn

Mother of satin

The Arctic Dawn colorway is a satin white outfit that oozes luxury. Something about white that's not entirely white screams old money. The OnePlus 13 has a dignified air about it in this hue.

OnePlus 13 - Black Eclipse

Crowd pleaser

There's always that one person who goes for black by default. Black Eclipse is for such individuals. If you're not into bold colors or textures, stick with the failsafe black OnePlus 13 with its subtle woodgrain pattern etched into the back.

Back to the top ^

Now that you've checked out all the colors, let's settle which OnePlus 13 color to pick

Maybe you know exactly which color to buy when getting a new device, or maybe you spend days pondering over the right option. If you can relate to the latter, we're here to help. If not, good for you! This guide isn't for you.

Choosing which color of a phone to buy can be daunting, especially when you're going to using your expensive investment for a really long time. If you're too overwhelmed, Black Eclipse is a failsafe. However, I always encourage people to make brave decisions.

The blue vegan leather variant of the OnePlus 13 called Midnight Ocean is a fantastic way to reimagine what a phone's colorway should be. OnePlus didn't just change the coat of paint, but also the texture of this variant. It's the color of your standard pair of blue jeans, making it iconic. The superb leathery texture is hard to compare to the other two options of the OnePlus 13 that sport glass backs. Not only does it look spectacular, but it's also more scratch-resistant than the other options. You could probably use the Midnight Ocean version without a OnePlus 13 case, considering the phone's robust ingress protection ratings.

If you do end up getting the Midnight Ocean variant, please get a screen protector for your OnePlus 13. The display is still made of glass and it's the most vulnerable part of your phone, so you need to reinforce it to keep it fresh in the long run.

OnePlus 13 vs. OnePlus 13R: What's the best OnePlus phone in 2025?

harish.jonnalagadda@futurenet.com (Harish Jonnalagadda) — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 13:52:02 +0000

OnePlus 13

The best

The OnePlus 13 is one of the best flagships of 2025. It has a stunning design with a new microfiber vegan leather back that feels great to hold and use, and the chassis has increased resilience against tumbles. You get the latest Qualcomm silicon, and the phone is among the fastest I've used. The cameras at the back hold their own against the best that Google and Samsung have to offer, you get a 6000mAh silicon battery with fast charging, and it doesn't miss out on any extras. In short, this isn't just the best OnePlus phone, but one of the best Android phones you can buy today.

Pros

Outstanding hardware
Gorgeous design with better durability
Much better cameras
Incredible battery life with 80W charging
All the extras you need

Cons

Costlier than last year
Selfie camera isn't the best

OnePlus 13R

An unbeatable value

The OnePlus 13R is my choice if you need a phone that delivers the best value. It doesn't quite have the same cameras as the OnePlus 13, but that's about the only shortcoming; you still get terrific hardware, a massive 6000mAh battery, identical software, and the same number of updates. If you don't need the best auxiliary cameras, the OnePlus 13R is just as good as the regular model, and it costs $300 less.

Pros

Terrific hardware
Upgraded main camera
Battery lasts longer than OnePlus 13
Base model has 256GB UFS 4.0 storage
Much better value

Cons

Auxiliary cameras aren't as good
IP65 water resistance
Takes a long time to charge
No eSIM

OnePlus 13 vs. OnePlus 13R: Design

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

OnePlus overhauled the design of its devices this year, switching to boxier sides — just like every other manufacturer. That said, the OnePlus 13 has beveled edges that made holding and using the phone that much easier, and the weight distribution is ideal. The best part is that although the device has a bigger battery than last year, it is thinner and lighter.

There's also a new color option with a unique texture at the back. The Midnight Ocean model has a gorgeous blue hue and a microfiber vegan leather back that's unlike anything else available today; it's soft to touch and has a great in-hand feel, and if you're eyeing the device, this is the model to get.

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

The OnePlus 13R doesn't have beveled sides, and as a result, it isn't as comfortable to hold; the sides tend to dig into your hand, and I recommend using a case with the device. That said, it has aluminum sides, and better durability than last year. While I don't like the design as much as the OnePlus 13, the phone is a smidgen lighter, and unlike last year, you get a flat panel, so it's better in that regard.

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

Both devices have the alert slider, an IR blaster, and stereo sound. Water resistance is included as well, and while the OnePlus 13 gets IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance, the 13R is limited to IP65. It is good enough against splashes, but doesn't cover immersion in water.

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

In a similar vein, the OnePlus 13 gets a Goodix ultrasonic fingerprint module that's among the best you can get on any phone today, and it is fast and doesn't have any issues. The OnePlus 13R uses an optical module, and while it is also fast, the sensor is located lower on the panel, making it awkward to access.

I like the design and in-hand feel of the OnePlus 13 over the 13R, but the latter is definitely better than last year's model, and that's a big deal in and of itself.

OnePlus 13 vs. OnePlus 13R: Display

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

The OnePlus 13 has a slightly bigger 6.82-inch AMOLED panel going up to 120Hz, with the 13R using the same 6.78-inch panel as the OnePlus 12. Both phones have a quoted maximum of 4500 nits in HDR, but that's a meaningless number; in actual use, the OnePlus 13 gets noticeably brighter outdoors. It isn't to say that the 13R isn't good in its own right, but of the two devices, the OnePlus 13 has the better panel.

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

Both phones have vibrant colors and excellent contrast, and stereo sound is detailed enough that you can play games using the onboard audio. On that note, you can play limited titles at 120fps, but there are instances where it leads to increased jitter. There are no issues with streaming content or regular use, with both phones holding up incredibly well in this regard.

Another notable fact is that both devices get flat panels this time. The OnePlus 13 has a slight edge on the sides that makes it a little more immersive, but neither device gets the dual-curved panel that was a mainstay until last year. The glass coating is new as well, with the OnePlus 13 using a custom solution that includes ceramic, and the 13R coming with Gorilla Glass 7i.

OnePlus 13 vs. OnePlus 13R: Hardware

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

The OnePlus 13 has one of the strongest hardware packages available today. It features Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Elite, and comes with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage as standard, with configurations going up to 1TB. While the 256GB and 512GB variants are sold globally, the 1TB model is limited to China and India.

After using the OnePlus 13 for over three weeks, I can say that it is one of the fastest phones of 2025. It doesn't have any slowdowns in regular use, the software is optimized incredibly well, and you get a fluidity that's better than just about every other Android interface. It does a great job with gaming as well, and I didn't run into any issues with overheating. There is noticeable throttling at the 30-minute mark, but it doesn't pose much in the way of problems.

Category	OnePlus 13	OnePlus 13R
OS	OxygenOS 15 based on Android 15, four Android OS updates	OxygenOS 15 based on Android 15, four Android OS updates
Display	6.82-inch 120Hz LTPO AMOLED (3168x1440), HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1,600 nits (HBM), 4,500 nits (HDR), Ceramic Guard	6.78-inch 120Hz LTPO AMOLED (2780x1264), HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1,600 nits (HBM), 4,500 nits (HDR), Gorilla Glass 7i
Chipset	Snapdragon 8 Elite, Adreno 830, 3nm	Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, Adreno 750, 4nm
RAM	12GB/16GB/24GB	12GB/16GB
Storage	256GB/512GB/1TB UFS 4.0	256GB/512GB UFS 4.0
Rear camera 1	50MP f/1.6 main camera, OIS	50MP f/1.8 main camera, OIS
Rear camera 2	50MP f/2.6 telephoto, 3x optical zoom, OIS	50MP f/2.0 telephoto, 2x optical zoom
Rear camera 3	50MP f/2.0 wide-angle	8MP f./2.2 wide-angle
Front camera	32MP f/2.4	16MP f/2.4
Ingress protection	IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance	IP65 dust and water resistance
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 7, Sub-6 5G bands, NFC, Bluetooth 5.4, BeaconLink, eSIM, AptX HD	Wi-Fi 7, Sub-6 5G bands, NFC, Bluetooth 5.4, BeaconLink, AptX HD
Security	In-screen ultrasonic sensor	In-screen optical sensor
Audio	USB-C, stereo sound	USB-C, stereo sound
Battery	6000mAh silicon-carbon battery, 100W charging, 50W wireless charging, 50W USB PD charging	6000mAh battery, 80W charging
Dimensions	162.9 x 76.5 x 8.5mm, 210g	161.7 x 75.8 x 8mm, 206g
Colors	Midnight Ocean, Black Eclipse, Arctic Dawn	Astral Trail, Nebula Noir

In short, this is a terrific package if you need a high-end phone. What's particularly interesting is that all of these statements are valid for the OnePlus 13R as well; while not having the latest hardware, it is powered by last year's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, and it is just as good in daily use as well as gaming.

If anything, I think the OnePlus 13R is a better choice as it gives you flagship internals for a lot less than the OnePlus 13. You get UFS 4.0 storage, and the base model starts with 256GB this time. There's 12GB of RAM as well, and you get the same fluidity with the software.

You get similar connectivity as well, including Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, AptX HD, dual-band GPS alongside NFC, and new BeaconLink tech that builds on Bluetooth by delivering increased range of up to 300 meters. The only thing missing on the OnePlus 13R is eSIM connectivity; you're limited to dual nano-SIM slots, so if you need this feature, you'll need to get the regular model.

OnePlus 13 vs. OnePlus 13R: Battery life

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

Both phones get 6000mAh batteries, but the OnePlus uses a silicon-carbon anode, delivering better density and the ability to withstand extreme cold. The phone has a dual-cell configuration with two 3000mAh batteries, and as a result, it takes just 38 minutes to fully charge using the 80W standard. The 13R, meanwhile, has a single 6000mAh battery, and it takes close to an hour to charge.

The 13R misses out on wireless charging as well, which is where the OnePlus 13 excels. The phone gets 15W charging over the Qi standard, and there's 50W AirVOOC as well, thanks to a new magnetic puck. The device doesn't have the requisite magnets, and you'll need to buy a case to enable the tech.

Although the OnePlus 13R doesn't have the extras, it lasted longer in my testing. While I got a day and a half on both devices, the OnePlus 13R delivered an additional two hours of screen-on time consistently, and that's interesting.

OnePlus 13 vs. OnePlus 13R: Cameras

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

The OnePlus 13 has a trio of 50MP cameras at the back, including a 50MP Sony LYT-808 main camera, 50MP Sony LYT-600 telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and OIS, and a 50MP wide-angle lens. It takes fantastic photos in just about any scenario, and you get photos that are on the same caliber as the Galaxy S24 Ultra and Pixel 9 Pro XL.

The 13R has a 50MP Sony LYT-700 as the main camera, and it's joined by a 50MP Samsung JN5 telephoto lens that goes up to 2x, and an 8MP wide-angle lens. The camera interface is similar to what you get on the OnePlus 13, but there isn't Hasselblad integration, so you miss out on a few shooting modes and effects.

That said, the OnePlus 13R also manages to take standout photos with the main camera, and barring scenes with little to no light, it holds up well. The biggest difference is the versatility; the auxiliary cameras aren't anywhere as good, so you don't get the same caliber of shots at 3x and 6x zoom, and the wide-angle lens doesn't quite deliver the same tonality in low-light situations.

Although it may not be as good as the OnePlus 13, I'll note that the main camera on the 13R is great in its own right, and if anything, it is the best shooter in its category.

OnePlus 13 vs. OnePlus 13R: Software

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

Both phones run OxygenOS 15 based on Android 15, and in my usage, I didn't see any difference in the software. That's a good thing, as it's clear that OnePlus doesn't want to limit its best software features to its flagship. What's noticeable this time is that the interface has better fluidity, and that is the case on both the OnePlus 13 and 13R.

Obviously, you get the usual AI-focused additions, and they do a decent enough job. Although the interface isn't as minimalist as I'd like, it has an exhaustive set of customization options, and you can tweak the lock screen, notification pane, and home screen to your tastes, and there are plenty of useful utilities around multitasking and gestures.

As for updates, both phones will pick up four years of Android OS updates alongside six years of software updates. Again, it's good to see the OnePlus 13R get the same software update guarantee as its costlier sibling.

OnePlus 13 vs. OnePlus 13R: Which should you buy?

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

I used both devices extensively, and I can say with some confidence that they're among the best OnePlus phones to date. The OnePlus 13 is my go-to recommendation if you need a flagship that has everything: a great design, the best internals, standout cameras, long-lasting battery, and useful software extras. There isn't anything missing on the device, and even though it costs more than last year, you're getting a suite of upgrades that justifies the hike.

Now, if you don't need the best cameras, the OnePlus 13R is the obvious choice — and a much better value. It may not have the same auxiliary cameras as the OnePlus 13, but the main camera still manages to shoot great photos, and the rest of the hardware isn't that different: you still get top-notch internals, a battery that lasts even longer, an AMOLED panel that's just as good, and the same software. The only limitation is IP65 water resistance, and longer charging times.

The upside is that the OnePlus 13R costs $300 less than the OnePlus 13, and that is nothing to scoff at. It's an easier recommendation in India, where the device costs just ₹42,999 ($496) — the same as last year. If you want to save some cash and still get great hardware and usable cameras, the OnePlus 13R is my pick. If you need a device that goes up against the Pixel 9 Pro XL, then you'll need to get the OnePlus 13.

OnePlus 13

The best

This is the best OnePlus phone yet, and I don't say that lightly. It has a better design with increased durability, the latest hardware, amazing cameras, long-lasting battery, and fluid software that's great to use. In short, this is one of the best flagships you can buy in 2025.

OnePlus 13R

An unbeatable value

You won't find another device that gives you as much value as the OnePlus 13R in 2025. It basically has the same hardware as last year's OnePlus 12, but is available for much less. The auxiliary cameras may not be as good and the design isn't as comfortable to hold, but these are minor quibbles — as an overall package, the OnePlus 13R is fantastic.

OnePlus 13 and 13R get their first updates, the flagship integrates Gemini Nano

vishnu.skar@gmail.com (Vishnu Sarangapurkar) — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 16:42:52 +0000

What you need to know

OnePlus 13 and the OnePlus 13R global models get their first firmware updates after launch.
Both firmware brings tons of improvements and fixes, as well as December 2024 security patches.
The OnePlus 13, however, gets generative AI in Google Messages, which is Gemini Nano-based.

The flagship OnePlus 13 and the OnePlus 13R debuted last week globally. Both OnePlus phones have already started getting their first notable updates.

The OnePlus 13R, which launched with Android 15-based OxygenOS 15, has started receiving its first OxygenOS 15.0.0.403 update for the regions including India, Europe, and North America with corresponding build numbers CPH2691_15.0.0.403(EX01), CPH2645_15.0.0.403(EX01), and CPH2647_15.0.0.403(EX01).

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

On the other hand, the OnePlus 13 at Android Central has also started getting the CPH2655_15.0.0.402(EX01) build number. Per the corresponding community post regarding the OnePlus 13R, it is an incremental rollout being rolled out in batches. If you are already on the latest Android handset, expect it as soon as the rollout has just begun over the weekend.

The exclusive features included in the OnePlus 13 are new AI features to Google Messages, and according to Mishaal Rahman's findings (via Android Authority), evidently it is the inclusion of Gemini Nano. The firmware update for the handset in the U.S. brings a corresponding Android AICore app, which is required to download the AI model.

Android Central

The Google Messages on the OnePlus 13 will now have the new Magic Compose button, which is an experimental feature that utilizes generative AI to provide suggested replies, per the conversation in the respective chat.

According to the full changelog posted by OnePlus, the latest firmware for the OnePlus 13R shares some common things with the OnePlus 13 firmware update. It includes a new feature for the photos, which introduces personalized watermarks.

Like Android's Quick Share, the OnePlus 13 and the 13R have a Touch to-share feature, which now supports iOS devices with the new update. Sharing files and photos to other devices could be a lot better after the update.

Both phone users will see several improvements when it comes to shots captured through Photo mode. The shots taken through both handsets' primary camera and telephoto lens should look better, as color enhancements are included in the update.

Additionally, for the OnePlus 13, the improvements can be seen in the clarity of 4K videos at 60fps. A fix is also included for photos getting too bright while captured in rear camera mode — on both the OnePlus 13 and 13R.

Other notable improvements include the stability of Wi-Fi connections and connections made through Bluetooth. For a better user experience, the company is also adding charging status to Live Alerts on both handsets. Both firmwares carry the December 2024 Android security patch, and the latest release offers improvements across system stability and performance.

Other nifty features on the OnePlus 13 include the ability to add a new Weather widget in 1 x 2 size to the home screen, and other enhancements can be seen across the step tracker and storage cleaner widgets. The flagship OnePlus 13 also improves audio quality.

Phone deals: Best Buy | Walmart | Samsung | Amazon | Verizon | AT&T

News Weekly: Samsung S25 full renders leak, OnePlus 13 and 13R launches, and more

nandika.iyerravi@futurenet.com (Nandika Ravi) — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 15:00:00 +0000

News Weekly

(Image credit: Android Central)

News Weekly is our column where we highlight and summarize some of the week's top stories so you can catch up on the latest tech news.

This week, we look into a massive Samsung Galaxy S25 series leak ahead of launch, OnePlus 13 and 13R launch globally, Qualcomm confirms its presence at Samsung's Unpacked event, One UI 7 gets its third Beta update and Qi2 will debut on more Android phones this year.

Reserve today to get a $50 Samsung credit

The Galaxy S25 launch may be weeks away, but you can already get in on some savings by reserving the phone now. It's free, requires no commitment, and will snag you a $50 credit if and when you do decide to preorder a new Galaxy device.

Major Samsung S25 series leak with full specs and renders

(Image credit: Dbrand)

Read more here and here.

It's been quite the week of leaks for Samsung, so to speak. First, the specs of the devices leaked online, followed by the full renders with over 75 odd pictures of what we think is the actual Samsung S25 series.

The morning of Jan. 10 started off with pictures of official renders of the alleged Samsung Galaxy S25 series that were posted by Android Headlines. First up we see the S25 Ultra pictures that show rounded corners and an entirely flat display and sides for the phone. The back of the device is shown with its rumored four-camera array and lenses that could have black rims. The publication states the Galaxy S25 Ultra could see the following colors upon release: Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Silver Blue, and Titanium White Silver.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus pictures reveal that they look a lot like their previous models, and each device features rounded corners, a triple camera array, and thin bezels. However, the only visible change is with the lenses, as those could grab the same black rings as the Ultra model. They are said to come in four colorways: Silver Shadow, Ice Blue, Navy, and Mint.

Android Headlines

Along with the renders, the entire spec sheet of the models was also leaked by the same publication. The trio's entire spec sheet shows that the Ultra is rumored to grab a 6.9-inch screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. For its cameras, the device could see a 200MP primary lens, a 50MP ultra-wide-angle camera, a 50MP periscope telephoto camera, and a 10MP telephoto.

The S25 and S25 Plus could see a 6.2-inch Full HD Plus display and a 6.7-inch display, respectively. They will have a triple camera array featuring a 50MP primary camera, a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 10MP telephoto lens. Both handsets will also have a 12MP selfie shooter on the front.

Back in September, in collab with @Androidheadline, I provided the very first and early look at the #GalaxyS25 Series.In addition, today we joined forces again to bring you #GalaxyS25 #GalaxyS25Plus #GalaxyS25Ultra full specs sheets!😏You're welcome👉🏻 https://t.co/qRMywd6X3b pic.twitter.com/GCVrLKcvSaJanuary 10, 2025

For more on Samsung's upcoming flagship, visit our Galaxy S25 guide.

OnePlus 13 and 13R launch

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Read more here.

The OnePlus 13 and 13R have made their global debut and come packed with AI capabilities and powerful performance for next-gen users. The OnePlus 13 has a 6.8-inch QHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite, and a larger 6,000 mAh battery. For the camera systems, OnePlus partnered once again with Hasselblad for a powerful triple camera system: a 50MP Sony LYT-808 main camera, a 50MP ultrawide camera, and a 50MP 3X Triprism Telephoto camera, which is equipped to capture shots at more than 10X zoom.

Android Central's Nick Sutrich said in his camera review that the OnePlus 13 can stand tall knowing that "it's got one of the finest mobile cameras available today."

OnePlus 13R gets the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, with a 6.78-inch 1.5K ProXDR flat display, 6,000 mAh battery, and an upgraded camera system. The camera system has taken a step further when compared to the OnePlus 12R. Its main 50MP camera, equipped with the Sony LYT-700 sensor and OIS, helps shoot better images in low-light conditions. The camera can also capture swift moments like the OnePlus 13, with a 50MP telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom for sharp, detailed portraits and an 8MP ultra-wide camera for capturing "expansive scenes."

The OnePlus 13 comes in three colors, Midnight Ocean, Arctic Dawn, and Black Eclipse, costing $899.99, while the 13R comes in two colorways — Nebula Noir and Astral Trail, which costs $599.99.

Both devices are currently available for pre-order.

Qualcomm sends a cryptic message to Samsung

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Read more here.

There have been several rumors floating around about the chip that is set to power the new Samsung Galaxy S25 series— the Snapdragon 8 Elite, although Samsung has not yet confirmed the above, Qualcomm seemingly put these rumors to rest this week when it replied to Samsung on the Unpacked tweet.

Samsung's tweet went live on Jan. 6, and just a day later, Qualcomm wanted to join in on the fun. The official account for the Snapdragon brand quoted Samsung's post on Jan. 7 with the cryptic message: "See you there."

While not a confirmation as such, this post from Qualcomm subtly hints that this specific Qualcomm chipset would fit perfectly in the S25 puzzle. Snapdragon 8 Elite is expected to bring in higher video quality, especially in low light settings, and overall improved performance of the phone — as seen in other flagship phones like the OnePlus 13.

See you there. 👀 https://t.co/Ao9dooQJ2VJanuary 7, 2025

Third One UI 7 Beta is out

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Read more here.

Samsung finally released the third beta of the One UI 7 in several regions. And users of the Galaxy S24, S24 Plus, and the Galaxy S24 Ultra, started getting the new Android 15-based One UI 7 beta 3 updates in Germany.

Per the changelog, the update brings improvements and several bug fixes. One of them is that Game Booster mode will have the ability to change the screen playback's default setting, change the FPS setting name and max value, and the ability to set the default scanning rate to 120Hz.

The other fixes include improvements to the lock screen, always-on display, and status bar battery icon (revamped with One UI 7). The issue with the volume key operation error while using Routine+ mode is believed to be fixed with the new update. Edge panel tools, which weren't displayed earlier, seem to have been fixed now.

Owners of the Galaxy S24 series who have enrolled in the One UI 7 beta program will receive this update. That said, Samsung is swamped with its upcoming Unpacked launch, where it will presumably launch One UI 7.

Qi2 is (finally) coming

(Image credit: Namerah Saud Fatmi / Android Central)

Read more here.

According to a recent press release by Wireless Power Consortium, more Android flagship devices will start seeing Qi2 charging compatibility based on MagSafe magnetic charging. "We can expect an acceleration in Android devices with Qi2 built in during 2025," the presser stated.

That said, part of the announcement was to highlight the new Qi2 Ready, which gives Android OEMs a workaround to bring Qi2 without embedding magnets into the phone. Instead, they'll have to use magnetic cases to bring full Qi2 compliance.

Samsung also stated in the press release that it will bring phones with the new charging standard.

"You can expect to see Android devices supporting Qi2 from Samsung Galaxy devices in 2025." This could only hint that the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S25 series could be the first Galaxy phones to be compatible with Qi2 wireless charging and accessories. This could also be the start of a major Qi2 revolution after last year's HMD Skyline. And Samsung isn't the only phone brand helping bring Qi2 to more Android phones.

Google is doing the same, "Google is committed to the Qi2 wireless charging standard and increasing the penetration of Qi2 into Android handsets and other devices," the company said in a press release.

"Google is helping to achieve this goal by playing a leading role in the development of the upcoming Qi v2.2 standard, which includes Google's contribution of its own high-power wireless charging technology to WPC."