OnePlus 12 vs. OnePlus 13: Is it upgraded enough? [Video]

The OnePlus 12 was the surprise package of 2024, putting more pressure on the OnePlus 13 to bring something new to the table. How do these devices stack up?

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After a successful predecessor, the OnePlus 13 has a tough pair of boots to fill this time around. BBK has listened to criticisms and improved OxygenOS, but a few common complaints about the OnePlus 12 have also been addressed this year, as have the OnePlus 13.

Right up top: Nobody who owns the OnePlus 12 should ditch their device in favor of the OnePlus 13. Instead, by comparing this duo, we can ascertain if there is some value in looking at the now-discounted older model. It’s still a banger in its own right and still a solid buy some 12 months after release.

Hardware and design

From afar, the OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 13 look almost identical. Although they share a similar language, some important alterations were made to address some of the frustrations people have had with flagship OnePlus phones for a number of years.

As the Oppo Find X8 Pro is the basis, this means a flatter overall profile. It’s not completely flat, but a lot of the curves have been snipped, toned and adjusted. While you might have a different opinion, but to us the improved shape makes the OnePlus 13 more comfortable and lighter – even when in a case.

Save those shaved, flattened sides; it’s hard to argue that the biggest usability change is to the display shape. The short story is that the display is flat, but it does have very tiny curves leading into the frame. This is a drastic shift away from the side curves that have, well, plagued the OnePlus flagship tier lineup since the OnePlus 8 Pro was launched back in 2020. If you hate the OnePlus 12 display, you’ll love the OnePlus 13 flat usable space.

There is also an improved ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner for faster unlocks. That’s not to say the optical scanner is bad on older OnePlus phones. They are super fast, but not always as accurate if you don’t quite cover the scanner region of the display.

While the display is improved, the visual experience is practically identical. They still get super bright with a theoretical maximum of 4500 nits, but little to separate their undoubted quality. Expect a top-tier experience with the QHD+ 120Hz LTPO AMOLED screens. One thing to note is that OnePlus ditched the Gorilla Glass Victus on the OnePlus 13 this year in favor of an internally developed “Crystal Shield” super-ceramic glass. It’s not really clear how much tougher this is.

After years of avoiding official IP ratings, the OnePlus 13 has decided to go one better. It has an IP69 rating, which means it’s practically fully protected from dust and water ingress, but it can even withstand jets of hot water, while the OnePlus 12 only has a mere IP65 rating. It can only handle a bit of a spray or splash before running into trouble.

Software and performance

OxygenOS 15 is now available for the OnePlus 12 and ships pre-installed on the OnePlus 13. The experience has improved year over year, and it’s a breath of fresh air compared to the early ColorOS conversion. The day-to-day experience is identical as all of the AI features are getting backported – so you don’t need to upgrade to get new functions.

We’ve been talking about the various changes, but one potentially tangible omission from the OnePlus 13 is the enhanced cooling system from its predecessor. This could make a difference when playing games for a long period, but the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip in the OnePlus 13 should manage power output more efficiently out of the box anyway, along with a new Silicon-Carbon battery that better handles heat.

There is around a 25-30% jump in overall performance across the board, moving from last year’s best OnePlus phone to the new model. It could be a very good base for all kinds of usage scenarios. Obvious gaming stands out, but the OnePlus 12 is no slouch; it’s still a beast as it has all but the latest chip.

Without knowing which phone it is, it’s almost impossible to tell them apart when you’re actually using them side-by-side. A major reason for this is that each flagship OnePlus phone is stuffed with the highest-end internals. Because of this decision, you should have a great experience for years to come.

Battery and charging

As noted, the OnePlus 13 is equipped with a substantial 6,000 mAh silicon-carbon battery, which is a 10% upgrade from the OnePlus 12’s already sizable 5,400 mAh capacity.

One of the most impressive things about this battery technology is that it allows for higher capacity without increasing the device’s size. So, the OnePlus 13 is thinner than the OnePlus 12 despite having an even bigger internal cell. That’s not all, as it also is said to offer improved thermal properties. So your phone won’t get as hot while charging at high speeds, meaning it should handle more cycles and, therefore, last longer. It’s a win-win. In some cases, you can easily get two days at a single charge.

Both OnePlus models support 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging, ensuring quick recharge times. It’s worth noting that you don’t get a charger in the box with the OnePlus 13, which is an annoying change. 0-100% in under 40 minutes is possible with a SuperVOOC charger. Sadly, there is no Qi2 magnetic wireless charging on the OnePlus 13. You’ll need a supported MagSafe case to get 50W charging speeds with an additional “AirVOOC” charger that comes with a built-in fan.

Camera

Cameras have historically been a weak area for OnePlus phones. However, the OnePlus 12 was a surprisingly solid and at times excellent smartphone camera. Things are a little interesting when we compare to the OnePlus 13 as the new phone has some notable and important downgrades versus the OnePlus 12.

You get the same main 50MP camera, a new 50MP ultra-wide, and 3x telephoto lens. On paper that looks better than the OnePlus 12’s 50MP main camera, 48MP ultra-wide but it’s the 64MP 3x optical zoom lens that truly separates this duo. It’s a lot better at 6x zoom and above than the 2025 flagship.

In certain scenarios pictures can look identical, but there are some areas where tuning gives you drastically different photos. HDR can kick in a little too harshly on the OnePlus 13, but we’re hopeful that updates will resolve some of the quirks of the camera setup. That said, there are dynamic range improvements on the OnePlus 13 that unveil details in photos you might not get with the OnePlus 12.

All of the shooting modes are practically identical here, but you will see a noticeable improvement in the video recording quality on the OnePlus 13 over the OnePlus 12. That said, the quality is great on both phones.

OnePlus 12 vs. OnePlus 13: Are there enough improvements to the ‘flagship killer’ formula?

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.

As we stated right at the top, nobody who has the OnePlus 12 should be looking to ditch it in favor of the OnePlus 13. If you’re using another older phone, though, and want an incredible package for a discounted price point, I do think that the OnePlus 12 has to be a contender for the best “bang for your buck” Android phone. It’s still one of the best phones you can buy despite having a newer iteration to contend with. It even surpasses the OnePlus 13 in a few little areas – namely, the zoom quality on the camera.

The OnePlus 13 is a great handset and one of the best new Android launches. Period. Its high-end hardware makes it a no-brainer for anyone who wants the latest and greatest from an Android phone, but we have more OEMs set to release their own 2025 flagship phones before we can assess where it ranks. Basically, it’s too early to say where it stands on the “best of 2025” totem. Even so, the year is off to a great start, and if you want a OnePlus phone, you’re catered to very well, no matter which you prefer.