Uncover the Differences between OnePlus 13 and 12

OnePlus 13 vs. OnePlus 12: Specifications

The OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 12 come with some notable differences in their specifications. The OnePlus 13 features a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, while the OnePlus 12 has a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. In terms of operating systems, the OnePlus 13 runs on ColorOS 15 (based on Android 15), while the OnePlus 12 uses OxygenOS 14 (Android 14). Regarding RAM and storage, the OnePlus 13 offers 12GB, 16GB, and 24GB options, along with 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage capacities. In contrast, the OnePlus 12 has 12GB and 16GB RAM with 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage.

When it comes to displays, both phones have a 6.82-inch 2K OLED screen. However, the OnePlus 13 will have a new micro quad curved display, which seems to make the bezels around the display slimmer. In terms of dimensions, the OnePlus 13 is 6.41 x 3.01 x 0.36 inches, while the OnePlus 12 is 6.46 x 2.98 x 0.36 inches. The OnePlus 13 is also lighter, weighing 7.4 ounces compared to the OnePlus 12's 7.76 ounces. In terms of colors, the OnePlus 13 offers black, blue, and white, while the OnePlus 12 comes in Flowy Emerald and Silky Black.

OnePlus 13 vs. OnePlus 12: Price and Availability

The OnePlus 12 was launched globally on January 23, 2024, with a starting price of $799 for the base model with 256GB of RAM. It is available in two colors: Flowy Emerald and Silky Black. Interestingly, OnePlus increased the price of its flagship phone by $100 compared to the OnePlus 11. The OnePlus 13 is also out, but only in China for now. It is confirmed to come to the U.S. and Canada in January 2025. The base model with 256GB of storage costs 4499 yuan (~$632) in China. Most observers suspect the U.S. price to be between $699 and $799. If the OnePlus 13 keeps the $799 starting price, it is likely to offer a $100 trade-in discount like it did with the OnePlus Open and OnePlus 12.

OnePlus 13 vs. OnePlus 12: Design

Looking at the images shared by OnePlus, the design language of the OnePlus 13 hasn't changed significantly. It is narrower and longer than the OnePlus 12 but lighter at 7.4 ounces. The design continues the tradition of having a circular protrusion on the back for the triple camera array and the familiar alert slider on the left side. Small changes include the flat metal trim that outlines the OnePlus 13, which is a departure from the curved edges of the OnePlus 12. The blue color option of the OnePlus 13 has a leather texture pattern, similar to the OnePlus Open Apex Edition. We're curious about how well it holds up over time. Additionally, the OnePlus 13 has improved water resistance with dual IP68 and IP69 ratings, providing superior submersion protection and the ability to withstand strong, high-pressure jet streams of water, which is a significant improvement over the IP65 rating of the OnePlus 12.

OnePlus 13 vs. OnePlus 12: Display

The display is likely to be the most debated aspect between the two phones as the specs initially seem identical. Both have a 6.82-inch OLED display with a 1-120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 4,500 nits. However, the OnePlus 13's new micro quad curved display might give it a more sleek look with thinner bezels. We're eager to see if it actually turns out to be brighter than the OnePlus 12. The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL recorded 2,469 nits, and the OnePlus 13 will need to exceed this to claim a new record.

OnePlus 13 vs. OnePlus 12: Camera

Although the OnePlus 12 performed well in camera performance, it still didn't secure the top spot in our best camera phones list. There is room for improvement with the OnePlus 13, especially in low light performance. The OnePlus 12 has a 50MP main, 48MP ultrawide, and 64MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, while the OnePlus 13 has a triple 50MP camera system with the same 3x optical zoom. The ultrawide camera on the OnePlus 13 has a brighter f/2.0 aperture lens, which is expected to deliver sharper details and better low-light performance. We hope to see the telephoto camera improve as well, as the OnePlus 13 uses a 50MP sensor instead of the 64MP one in the OnePlus 12. On the video side, the OnePlus 13 can capture 4K 60 fps Dolby Vision footage and has a 4-microphone setup with AI-assisted noise reduction.

OnePlus 13 vs. OnePlus 12: Performance

When the OnePlus 12 launched, it set a high standard with the outstanding performance of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. The leaked benchmarks of the Snapdragon 8 Elite in the OnePlus 13 suggest that it could push the boundaries even further. There will be a version of the OnePlus 13 with 24GB of RAM, which is an absurd amount. This could help retain more apps in memory, reducing refreshing and being beneficial for productivity apps and potential new AI features.

OnePlus 13 vs. OnePlus 12: Battery Life and Charging

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the OnePlus 12 led to power efficiency improvements, resulting in excellent battery life. The OnePlus 12 achieved 17 hours and 5 minutes in our testing and is in the top 5 of the best phone battery life list with a 5,400 mAh battery. The OnePlus 13 has an even larger 6,000 mAh battery, and paired with the newer power optimizations of the Snapdragon 8 Elite, it could potentially outlast its predecessor. Additionally, the OnePlus 13 comes with 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. However, when the U.S. version is officially announced, the wired charging speed might change, as it did with last year's phone, where the U.S. version had 80W charging instead of 100W.

OnePlus 13 vs. OnePlus 12: Software

Currently, the China-released OnePlus 13 runs on ColorOS 15 based on Android 15. When it comes to the U.S. release, it will most likely have Oxygen OS 15 based on Android 15. There is little known about the new changes in OxygenOS 15 for the OnePlus 13, but our hands-on experience focuses a lot on new AI features. OxygenOS 15 comes with its version of Google's Magic Eraser for photo editing and AI-assisted summary and writing tools. However, we've seen similar features in other phones. It remains to be seen if OnePlus will keep these features consistent across all devices or save some exclusive ones for the OnePlus 13. Additionally, it's unclear if OnePlus will follow the strategy of its rivals and offer seven years of major software and security updates like the OnePlus 12, which only gets four years of major Android updates and five years of security updates.

OnePlus 13 vs. OnePlus 12: Outlook

Despite having a good idea of what the OnePlus 13 offers currently, there might still be some surprises when the global version is released in January. We're confident that the Snapdragon 8 Elite will enhance the OnePlus 13 in performance and battery life. However, for it to be a worthy upgrade over the OnePlus 12, the camera output and AI features need to be compelling. And of course, the pricing remains a crucial factor. While we don't expect an increase, anything could happen when the phone finally debuts outside of China.