Last year, the OnePlus 12 was among the best-value smartphone packages around. It even offered a little more bang for your buck over the Pixel 9 Pro XL – so where does that leave the brand-new OnePlus 13? Here’s everything you need to know.
There are more than a few ways to build a modern Android phone. BBK has always led from the front with the Oppo and OnePlus lineups, providing us with high-end internals and impressive software functionality. Google has preferred to fine-tune the experience to suit the hardware tucked neatly inside the Pixel series.
Table of contents
2025 is kicking off in style, though, with the OnePlus 13 hitting global store shelves and online marketplaces. Given the impressive iteration of the flagship OnePlus series in recent years, we have high hopes for this handset, but how does it compare to the Pixel 9 Pro XL—one of the best phones of 2024?
Hardware and design
It’s easy to see that both the OnePlus 13 and the Pixel 9 Pro XL are large, premium-tier flagship phones. They have a few things in common but its the execution that is different, which is great for consumer choice. What is notable is how much of a blueprint the Oppo Find X8 Pro has provided as a precursor to the OnePlus 13. It has ditched the curved sides for an overall flatter profile.
The Pixel 9 Pro has followed a similar design trajectory over its predecessor. It is overall a sharper, more angular hunk of glass and metal. 2024 was the year in which lots of brands decided that flatter = more desirable.
When we get into the minutiae of these designs and start to compare, the textured design of the PU leather OnePlus 13 and the Pixel 9 Pro XL means the former handset is more approachable and softer. It does have other colorways that ditch soft for firm glass plates if that’s more your style, but without a case it feels superb. No matter which version you prefer, it’s worth noting that the OnePlus 13 is almost 10g lighter than the Pixel 9 Pro XL, all while having a similar frame and 6.8-inch displays.
It’s great to see that OnePlus has clung to the alert slider, as this is a great way to quickly switch between modes. One of the biggest gripes could be the positioning of the right-sided buttons here, too. They are much higher in the chassis than on the Pixel 9 Pro XL – which lacks the alert toggle.
No matter which design you prefer, both of these phones feature genuinely stunning LTPO OLED displays. There is a minor kicker, as the OnePlus 13 offers a marginally higher resolution of 3168 x 1440 pixels and a whopping technical peak brightness of 4500 nits. At least in theory, this should result in sharper visuals and better outdoor visibility.
The on-paper details don’t tell the full story, though, because the Pixel 9 Pro XL, even with the slightly lower resolution of 2992 x 1344 pixels screen, still delivers excellent image quality with exceptional tuning and a searingly bright 3000 nit panel. In bright, direct sunlight, you will have zero issues viewing any content on screen. It’s also worth noting that the reality is that neither phone will be at the peak brightness very often. These are two of the best screens on a smartphone. Period.
One thing to note is that while both phones technically have flat panels, the OnePlus 13 has very small curves at the edges where the panel is attached to the frame. This means that only the workable area is flat. The black bezels therefore look smaller despite being almost identical to those on the Pixel 9 Pro XL. This feels like a nitpick, but has been a point of contention for lots of so-called “flat” screens in recent years.
Also the OnePlus 13 has a dual IP68 and IP69 rating. All that means is that it can withstand high-pressure jets of hot water alongside the common IP68 rating – which the Pixel 9 Pro XL has. Is it a gimmick? It’s not really clear, but it has further protection, and that might be a reason for some people to pick it if you are in environments where your phone is liable to be under marginally more intense water usage.
Software and performance
Under the hood, the OnePlus 13 is powered by the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, while the Pixel 9 Pro XL relies on Google’s custom Tensor G4 processor. Despite a fairly big gulf in perceived performance and overall capabilities, it’s important to note that these SoCs are capable of handling lots of demanding tasks.
It’s no secret that the Tensor lineup is underpowered when compared to the competition, and if you care about doing the most now and into the future, the Snapdragon 8 Elite offers better raw performance and will for a long time to come. While not everyone is a mobile gamer, there is only one device we could recommend and it isn’t from Google.
One saving grace is that both phones come with 16GB of RAM, ensuring smooth multitasking and app switching – at least for now. You can use a feature in OxygenOS to increase virtual RAM up to 24GB, which gives the newer handset another raw performance edge.
Large RAM allocation and admittedly fine performance aside, even though the Pixel is well-optimized, you can instantly tell that the OnePlus is a few steps ahead. Apps load quickly, the UFS 4.0 storage certainly helps, and improvements to OxygenOS 15 make the experience impressive, given the number of major overhauls it has received since moving away from the clean, Pixel-like builds we miss.
The truth is that OxygenOS 15 and the Android 15 experience you will have on the OnePlus 13 and Pixel 9 Pro XL is quite different. There are lots of similarities, but Oppo has stuffed OxygenOS 15 full of added functionality and, in many ways, it feels closer to iOS than the Pixel all while offering greater amounts of customization and tuning out of the box.
If you value updates and software support, Google is providing 7 full years of support for the entire Pixel 9 series. The OnePlus 13 can’t match that but will get 4 full Android upgrades to Android 19 and a total of 6 years of regular security patches. The Pixel will also get day-one updates for its entire lifespan.
Camera
Just to reiterate, the OnePlus 13 features a 50MP main sensor, a 50MP telephoto lens, and a 50MP ultrawide lens. The Pixel 9 Pro XL also has a 50MP main sensor, but it’s paired with a 48MP telephoto lens and a 48MP ultrawide lens. Digital zoom is available up to 120x on the OnePlus 13
While both phones sport impressive on-paper triple-camera setups, there is a difference in how things are tuned that makes a big difference here. The Hasselblad color tuning of the OnePlus 13 produces very accurate images. There is a minor sharpness decrease versus the Pixel 9 Pro XL in lots of scenarios, but it’s quite stark how different the processing can be.
These are very competent camera systems backed by specific tuning to produce images that are unique to their respective setups. You will need to decipher which you prefer before taking the plunge.
If you value lots of functions, the OnePlus 13 might be a good buy because it has numerous in-camera extras, including enhanced video modes and Hasselblad-specific options like XPan. Google’s camera approach on Pixel has been more about honed functions rather than wide feature-set. What it lacks in modes, it makes up for in quality. Video is an area both phones are not particularly strong but you can shoot up to 8K 30fps content if you wish.
Battery
The OnePlus 13 packs a 20% larger battery than the Pixel 9 Pro XL at 6,000mAh versus 5,000mAh. Combine that with a marginally more efficient processor and battery life is yet another area that the Pixel lags behind. That’s not to say the battery life is bad on Google’s biggest flagship to date – far from it actually. It’s solid.
It gets a little worse when you consider the charging speeds favor the newer device by another substantial margin too. The OnePlus 13 is capable of 100W wired charging – provided you have a supported SuperVOOC power brick and 50W wireless charging with a supported Qi charger. These come at an extra cost in many regions. The Pixel 9 Pro XL, on the other hand, only supports 37W wired charging and 23W wireless charging.
Pixel 9 Pro XL or OnePlus 13: Which is the better buy?
About upgrading: 9to5Google often gives specific product recommendations. Sometimes, we may suggest not upgrading, due to various reasons including, but not limited to: increased device cost, negligible performance gains, or environmental impact. Whether to upgrade is always your call, but our aim is to help you make as informed a decision as possible.
Both the OnePlus 13 and the Pixel 9 Pro XL are exceptional flagship phones. The OnePlus 13 offers a larger display, faster charging, a more powerful processor, and a feature-rich OxygenOS 15 and a lower $899 start price for all that goodness. Despite some foibles, the Pixel 9 Pro XL also excels in camera performance, software experience, update cadence, and longevity. Is that worth an extra $200? Ultimately, for most people that could be enough. For many, the value proposition of the latest OnePlus phone usurps Google once again.
The best choice for you will depend on your priorities and preferences. Over the past couple of years, OnePlus has fallen in lockstep with Oppo. Initially, that was a concern, but the result is better smartphones that don’t compromise in as many areas as older OnePlus phones. Does the admittedly minor $100 price increase make that easier to stomach? Well, you’ll need to decipher that for yourself.
No matter which phone you think fits your needs better, you’ll have a good time.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Comments