OnePlus 13 is likely to launch soon: 8 things to know before it arrives in India

The OnePlus 13 has launched in China and is expected to hit global markets soon, with a likely release in early 2025. Although no exact date has been confirmed, considering the OnePlus 12 was unveiled in January 2024, there’s a possibility the OnePlus 13 could debut around the same time next year. As we await official confirmation on the launch timeline, here are 8 key things to know about the OnePlus 13 before it arrives in India.
The OnePlus 13 may seem a little similar to the OnePlus 12, but it comes with a refreshing look. It comes in a new paint job with subtle changes in the rear panel design. You will still see the same circular camera module at the back, having four sensors. The sides and the screen are now flat instead of curved. The new version looks a little slimmer and is available in leather or glass finishes. It is sold in China in Blue (leather), Obsidian (glass), and White (glass) shades. The silver colour accent on the rear camera module matches the side frames, giving it a good contrasty look. There is also a thin silver plating alongside the rear camera setup. So, all these small changes that we can see from the official images of OnePlus 13 are quite evident and reveal that the successor to the OnePlus 12 offers a newer look to users.
With the OnePlus 13, the company is offering a display similar to the OnePlus 12. It is good to see that OnePlus hasn’t followed Apple and made the screen even bigger. You get the same 6.82-inch display with 120Hz refresh rate and QHD+ resolution. You will also see the same 1,600nits of brightness in high brightness mode and 4,500nits of peak brightness. So, you are getting a solid display just like the OnePlus 12. But, there are two big changes as well.
One of the key additions is the ability to use the device while wearing gloves — a much-needed addition, especially during the cold Delhi winters when using a phone without gloves can be challenging.
The OnePlus 13 also has a local high refresh rate feature, which means the display can run at different refresh rates. For instance, the device might show a YouTube video at a lower refresh rate and offer support for 60Hz/90Hz/120Hz while scrolling through the comments section or other videos on the platform.
The new OnePlus flagship phone is powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, which is based on a 3nm process. So, it should be more efficient and offer a solid performance. OnePlus is claiming that users will get a smoother experience with the new hardware and the OxygenOS 15 software, something that we will test when the device launches in India.
One of the major upgrades is in the battery. The OnePlus 13 comes with a much bigger unit. It has a 6,000mAh battery instead of the 5,400mAh unit seen inside the OnePlus 12. OnePlus is claiming that users will get almost 2 days of battery life, something that we will test when it arrives in India. It has support for the same 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. One interesting part to note here is that OnePlus is offering magnetic wireless charging this year (via cases). We may get to see the magnetic 100W power bank accessory here, but nothing is confirmed. \
The OnePlus 13 retains the 50-megapixel LYT-808 main camera from the OnePlus 12 but upgrades the telephoto and ultrawide lenses to 50-megapixel. It also features Hasselblad branding, a 4K/60fps Dolby Vision video, and a 32-megapixel front camera. The OnePlus 12 offered good enough camera performance for the price and the new version is expected to deliver much better performance. We would love to see its low-light photography because the company is boasting about it in China.
No, it is not waterproof, but the new OnePlus 13 is both IP68 and IP69 rated. So, the first one basically means that the device can survive in water beyond 1 meter for about an hour or something. The IP69 rating means that the flagship can withstand high-pressure water jets and steam cleaning. In short, you don’t have to worry about it getting damaged from water.
This time around, you get an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. So, the OnePlus 13 will be able to register your fingerprints accurately, and one will also be able to unlock the device with wet hands. There is also a new vibration motor, which the company claims will offer “gaming controller level feedback” to users.
The OnePlus 13 is operating on OxygenOS 15, which is based on the latest Android 15 OS. At the moment, there is no information on the software update policy. However, if we go by the previous version, the OnePlus 13 could get four years of major Android OS support and five years of security patches.