After a series of teasers, OnePlus has officially revealed not only the flagship OnePlus 13 smartphone, but also the OnePlus 13R, a budget alternative. Both models emphasize photographic features and were co-developed with legendary camera brand Hasselblad.
OnePlus 13: a stylish flagship with a powerful camera system
The OnePlus 13 features the fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite mobile platform, the most powerful Snapdragon yet. With up to 16GB of RAM and OnePlus’ impressive Dual Cryo-Velocity vapor chambers, the OnePlus 13 promises top speed, impressive efficiency, and reliable performance.
While all this power is great, mobile photographers want to know: what about cameras? The OnePlus 13 features a fifth-generation Hasselblad for Mobile triple camera system, comprising a 50-megapixel Sony LYT-808 main camera, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide imager, and a 50-megapixel 3x tripartite telephoto lens that uses a AI telephoto lens. mode to extend the zoom out to 10 times.
“This camera was also designed to take excellent photos at high speed, thanks to its double exposure algorithm, Clear Burst mode and Action mode, which allow you to take perfect photos of cars, people or animals moving fast,” promises OnePlus.
Diving deeper, the main camera has a 1/1.4 type sensor paired with an f/1.6 lens. When shooting in low light, the camera uses pixel binning to create larger photosites of 2.24 μm.
The ultra-wide camera uses a Samsung Isocell JN5 sensor and offers a 120-degree field of view. This is a relatively small sensor – Type 1/2.75.
The telephoto lens – the main differentiator between the OnePlus 13 and 13R – uses Sony’s relatively new LYT-600 sensor, a 1/1.95 type chip. When using the 3x optical zoom, photographers have a 73mm equivalent focal length in terms of field of view, which is a good choice for portraits.
This is an important area regarding Hasselblad’s involvement with OnePlus. The OnePlus 13 features an improved Hasselblad portrait mode, which, like previous iterations, can replicate the look and bokeh qualities of legendary Hasselblad lenses, like the XCD 30 and 65 primes and the 90V. There are three new filters, each designed to replicate classic film styles.
The telephoto lens is the star of the show in terms of technology. Traditional periscope lenses, while impressive, require quite a bit of space to operate. OnePlus calls its “Triprism” design revolutionary, citing the design’s ability to bend light in a compact space. Light is reflected three times inside the module and the telephoto lens is 24% smaller and 30% lighter than traditional periscope lenses. It still maintains a reasonably bright f/2.6 aperture and includes optical image stabilization.
Additionally, the OnePlus 13 offers a range of new photo features, including what OnePlus calls the “Double Exposure Algorithm.” This promises to “revolutionize” burst photography and make it easier to capture sharp images of fast-moving action. To use this feature, photographers hold down the phone’s dedicated shutter button, and that’s it. Compared to typical burst modes, which rely on image capture of a single frame, the OnePlus 13’s Clear Burst uses the double exposure algorithm to take two images simultaneously, ensuring that even images from a quick sequence feature HDR.
When HDR isn’t required, an improved Action mode promises even faster shooting speeds, doubling continuous capture from 30 to 60 frames per second.
OnePlus has long offered mobile photographers extensive control over their images, and the OnePlus 13 is no exception. With the camera’s Master mode, users can adjust hue, contrast, saturation, sharpness and vignetting while maintaining control over exposure and camera settings.
As for video, the OnePlus 13 is also quite impressive. The smartphone records 4K/60p videos with Dolby Vision HDR. When recording video, users can freely switch between the device’s three lenses, as they are all capable of delivering the same video specifications.
Robust design
Thanks to its triprism lens, the OnePlus 13 is very thin. The phone is just 8.5 millimeters thick and weighs just 210 grams. The device features quad-curved glass, which means the edges are rounded and more comfortable to hold than those of the OnePlus 12.
The OnePlus 13 features a 6.8-inch QHD+ (3168 x 1440) display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The HDR display delivers 1600 nits of peak brightness during daily use and up to at 4,500 nits in limited scenarios. OnePlus has put considerable effort into making the screen easier to see outdoors, including the all-new RadiantView technology to improve readability under sunlight. Like some recent OnePlus devices, it also works when wet or when the user is wearing gloves.
The smartphone is rated IP68 and IP69. While the IP68 rating is very practical, meaning the OnePlus 13 can survive 30 minutes of submersion at a depth of 1.5 meters, the IP69 rating is quite unusual for a smartphone and excessive for most users. This high rating means the phone can withstand splashes of water, including hot water. Users could theoretically put the phone in the average dishwasher, and everything would be fine.
The OnePlus 13 is available in three colors: Midnight Ocean, Arctic Dawn and Black Eclipse. The Midnight Ocean option, in rich blue, features industry-first microfiber vegan leather that is exceptionally soft to the touch and resistant to fingerprints and abrasion. The Arctic Dawn also stands out with its industry-first glass surface coating, which promises a shimmering appearance under sunlight.
Pricing and availability
The OnePlus 13 is available to order today starting at $899.99 in the United States and $1,249.99 in Canada.
Image credits: OnePlus
