The OnePlus 13 made its global debut and is currently priced at $899 in the US and Rs 69,999 ($815) in India. The phone’s price increase has always been a given – the Chinese model is $80 more expensive than the OnePlus 12, so it’s obvious that the global model will follow suit.

This is the second year OnePlus has increased the cost of its devices by $100; the OnePlus 11 launched at $699 and the OnePlus 12 sold for $799 last year. Even in India – where OnePlus still sells most of its phones – the device is 5,000 rupees ($58) more expensive. As prices rise, so does the inevitable question: Will you still buy a OnePlus 13, or spend more money on a Pixel 9 Pro XL or the upcoming Galaxy S25 Ultra? That’s the question I’m here to answer.

Even though the OnePlus 13 is $100 more expensive than last year, you’re still getting a pretty big upgrade; the phone has better durability, a bigger battery, a better rear camera, and the latest Qualcomm chip. Of all the changes, my favorite is the design. OnePlus completely changed its design language this year, moving towards a flatter aesthetic.

While I’m not usually a fan of this style of design, OnePlus added bevels to the sides to make holding and using the OnePlus 13 more comfortable and giving it a better feel in the hand than the Find X8 Pro or Vivo X200 Pro. The OnePlus 13 is somewhat lighter than last year (and other phones with 6,000mAh batteries), and the weight distribution is about the best of any phone I’ve used recently.

If you’re eyeing this phone, I highly recommend getting the Midnight Ocean version; the blue color looks great, and the microfiber vegan leather back has a soft texture, unlike other leather-backed phones. OnePlus has also switched to a Goodix ultrasonic fingerprint module this time around, and thankfully there are no issues with positioning – it’s high up on the panel and I didn’t have any issues authenticating or accessing the sensor.

Then there’s the hardware. OnePlus has always done a great job in this regard, and the OnePlus 13 continues that tradition, offering the latest hardware and excellent optimizations. The interface is significantly faster than last year, and the smoothness is the best on any phone today.

Annoyingly, 120fps gaming is limited to three games, but the phone delivered solid frame rates in most of the games I tested without any overheating issues. I had no issues with basic functionality – the cellular connection was great and the signal was always strong. While I haven’t used eSIM yet, this phone doesn’t miss out on that feature, which is nice to see.

Another big upgrade is around the battery technology, with the device coming with a larger 6,000mAh battery that can last for a day and a half. The battery uses silicon-carbon technology, and the anode contains 10% silicon, which provides higher density, with the added benefit of being able to use the phone in cold weather without affecting battery life.

Interestingly, OnePlus also retains the dual-cell configuration even when using silicon batteries, and it is the only manufacturer to do so – OPPO and Vivo switched to single-cell designs this time. The advantage of the dual-cell design is that it can easily charge two batteries at the same time. Therefore, according to the 80W standard, the OnePlus 13 takes 38 minutes to fully charge; in comparison, the X200 Pro takes 12 minutes longer.