Time to Upgrade? OnePlus 13 and 13R to Get a Global Release Next Month

As someone who has been a dedicated Android user for years, I am genuinely excited about the upcoming global launch of the OnePlus 13 and the value-oriented 13R. Having followed this brand since its humble beginnings, I can say that they have consistently delivered high-performance devices without breaking the bank.

Following the China-exclusive launch of its top-tier Android smartphone, OnePlus plans to kick off the new year with a global reveal of the eagerly awaited OnePlus 9 and the budget-friendly 9 Lite. This Chinese company, renowned for its high-end devices at affordable prices, has made these devices available for purchase in China since October 31st of this year.

What Makes the OnePlus 13 and 13R Special?

The OnePlus Model 13 incorporates Snapdragon’s most sophisticated ‘8 Elite’ System on Chip (SoC), which includes an eight-core processor and Adreno 830 graphics processing unit (GPU) on a 3nm manufacturing process. The slightly less powerful 13R model features the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which comes with an octa-core CPU coupled with the Adreno 750 GPU. Both models boast large 6.82-inch and 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED displays that refresh at a rate of 120 Hz. The base variant of the OnePlus 13 offers 256 GB of UFS 4.0 storage and 12 GB of RAM, while the top-tier version offers a staggering 1 TB of storage and a massive 24 GB of RAM. The 13R follows closely behind with its base variant offering 256 GB of storage, but only 8 GB of RAM, and the highest-end model featuring 512 GB of space and 16 GB of RAM.

Both smartphones are quite different in terms of camera quality. The more expensive 13 packs a triple 50-megapixel wide-focal length rear camera setup with a class-leading 32-megapixel selfie shooter on the front. The more modest 13R also houses a triple rear camera setup, which is quite similar to the 13, except the wide-angle camera offers only 8-megapixels. The selfie camera gets a bit more attention here, bringing half the megapixels of the 13. Both phones can record videos at 4K 60 FPS, but the 13 takes it up a notch by shooting at 8K 30 FPS.

The smartphones don’t come with a lithium-ion battery; instead, they sport a 6000 mAh silicon carbon one that packs in more ions with its tighter form factor. The batteries are efficient enough to last an entire day of extensive usage without needing to plug them in. But if you need to, the 13 can fully replenish its dead battery within 20 minutes of charging thanks to the included 100W Super VOOC charger. The OnePlus 13 supports fast wireless charging at 50W and 10W reverse charging, though the 13R is unfortunately neglected.

The new devices will debut running OxygenOS 15, an adaptation of Android 15, instead of the Chinese version that uses ColorOS 15. The basic OnePlus 13 model is priced approximately at $675 (converted from Chinese Yuan), while the premium variant can reach up to $885. When OnePlus One initially hit the market, it was known as “The Flagship Killer” because of its high-end specifications at a fraction of the usual price. However, prices have increased over time, though OnePlus smartphones still maintain their reputation for exceptional features, construction quality, and user experience, earning them a loyal following among Android enthusiasts.

According to OnePlus’s official site, it is expected that their upcoming models will be launched worldwide in January 2025. However, the exact release date is yet to be determined. These anticipated smartphones could come with various incentives such as a free OnePlus Watch 2, student discounts, trade-in bonuses, or an interest-free EMI plan over 12 months. If you’re planning to get a new phone in 2025, keep an eye out for the OnePlus 13, which is likely to make its appearance early in the year.

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2024-12-16 02:06