As the new year begins, a new Android phone to consider is the OnePlus 13. Launched in China late last year, the OnePlus 12 successor’s has finally come to the U.S., and boasts a massive battery, excellent screen protection, increased RAM, and a powerful camera setup. It’s among the first phones powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, But how does it compare to Samsung’s 2024 flagship, the Galaxy S24 Ultra? Let’s find out.
Crystal Shield super-ceramic glass
3168 x 1440 pixels at 510 pixels per inch
800 nits typical, 4,500 nits peak
31440 x 3120 pixels at 505 pixels per inch
50MP periscope telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom
10MP telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom
Reverse wireless charging (10W)
The OnePlus 13 is smaller and lighter than the Galaxy S24 Ultra. It is also slightly slimmer and lighter than its predecessor, the OnePlus 12. This results in a better feel compared to both the OnePlus 12 and the Galaxy S24 Ultra. While the Samsung flagship has an IP68 rating, the OnePlus 13 boasts an IP69 rating, meaning it is resistant to high-pressure water and steam cleaning. It can also be submerged in water up to 1.5 meters deep for up to 30 minutes, thanks to its separate IP68 rating.
The phone is visually appealing on the outside and technologically advanced on the inside — exactly what we desire in a smartphone. We particularly admire the quad-curve glass over the screen and the polished metal chassis, which effectively eliminates the bezel, giving the OnePlus 13 a modern and high-quality appearance.
Both the OnePlus 13 and the Galaxy S24 Ultra feature a 6.8-inch display. The OnePlus 13 is equipped with a new Crystal Shield super-ceramic glass for protection, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra uses Corning Gorilla Armor. We particularly appreciate the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s display for its low reflectivity, which enhances visibility and improves the media consumption experience. Both devices have an OLED display with a variable 120Hz refresh rate. Additionally, the OnePlus 13 supports the Rain Touch 2.0 feature — a new version of AquaTouch from the OnePlus 12 — which makes it easier to use the phone in rainy conditions.
Both devices have design features that are exclusive to them. The OnePlus 13 includes an alert slider, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with the S Pen. In our experience, both features are essential in their own ways and enhance our daily lives.
The OnePlus 13 is powered by Qualcomm’s latest and greatest chipset, which provides crucial performance improvements–both on the CPU and GPU fronts and in making AI processing tasks faster versus the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 on the Galaxy S24 Ultra. It offers up to 24 gigs of RAM, with 16GB and 12GB options, and 256GB, 512GB and 1TB storage variants. Early benchmarks from AnTuTu show that the OnePlus 13 delivers 58% better overall performance, while GeekBench 6 indicates a 36% improvement in single-core performance.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is still is plenty fast and offers smooth performance. We didn’t faced UI stutters or slowdown in day-to-day life. The Samsung phone has 12GB of RAM and 256GB, 512GB and 1TB storage models. You can expect the successor to get a RAM boost with smartphones advancing to perform more and more AI tasks. Due to a faster processor and more RAM, we expect the OnePlus 13 to perform better than the Samsung flagship.
The OnePlus 13 stands out as the top contender in its category, featuring an impressive 6,000mAh battery. This larger battery capacity is made possible by silicon-carbon battery technology, which enables greater energy storage in a smaller space.
In practical use, the OnePlus 13 demonstrated exceptional battery life; it can last up to three days on a single charge with light usage and reliably lasts into two days with heavier usage.
In comparison, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery that supports 45W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. Throughout our review process, the Samsung phone consistently lasted for an entire day, but the OnePlus 13 offered even longer battery life, and is the winner here.
The OnePlus 13 features an impressive triple-camera setup, with each camera equipped with a 50-megapixel sensor. The primary camera utilizes a state-of-the-art Sony sensor, renowned for its exceptional light-gathering capabilities. Additionally, it includes a 50MP ultrawide lens with a 120-degree field of view, which is perfect for capturing expansive landscapes, and a 50MP telephoto lens that offers 3x optical zoom for close-up shots without sacrificing image quality. These advancements significantly enhance image quality, particularly in low-light conditions.
Initial testing indicates that the OnePlus 13 produces detailed, vibrant photos, excelling in low-light scenarios without overexposing images or applying excessive smoothing. The 6x hybrid zoom performs admirably, showing only slight digital enhancement upon close inspection. The consistency between the primary and wide-angle cameras is commendable, although the zoom lens does struggle in low-light conditions.
OnePlus has also introduced various shooting modes, such as burst and action modes for video, which record 60 frames per second. While the camera adequately captures fast-moving subjects, the results can vary depending on the specific scenario.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts a tried-and-true camera setup with four sensors. It features a 200MP primary camera, a 12MP ultrawide-angle lens, a 50MP periscope telephoto sensor with 5x optical zoom, and a 10MP camera that supports 3x optical zoom. The primary and periscope cameras produce sharp images with good dynamic range, while the 3x zoom and ultrawide cameras deliver average photo quality in challenging lighting situations.
The OnePlus 13 operates on OxygenOS 15, which is based on Android 15. This means you’ll have access to the latest Android features and security updates right from the beginning. In contrast, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is currently running One UI 6.1, based on Android 14, with the update to Android 15 expected to launch alongside the Galaxy S25 soon.
In terms of longevity, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra offers better support. OnePlus commits to providing four major Android updates and five years of security updates for the OnePlus 13. In comparison, Samsung promises seven years of operating system and security updates for its devices.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
The OnePlus 13 was launched in China and has since become available internationally. The base model of the OnePlus 13 starts at $900 in the U.S. and features 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. This version is exclusively offered in Black Eclipse. Additionally, there is a model with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, priced at $1,000. This model is available in Black Eclipse, Midnight Ocean, and Arctic Dawn colors.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra was launched at $1,300, which is a $100 increase compared to the S23 Ultra. It is currently available for a lower price on Amazon.
Ultimately, the decision between the OnePlus 13 and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra will depend on individual preferences. The OnePlus 13 provides an impressive combination of performance, fast charging, and a clean software experience, all at a more affordable price point. It is an excellent choice for those looking for a flagship experience without the high cost.
On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra stands out with its exceptional camera system, versatile S Pen, stunning display, and the extensive features of the Samsung ecosystem. If you want the very best technology and are willing to pay for it, the S24 Ultra is clearly the superior option, even though it is a year older. However, money talks, and in this case, it’s telling us quite how much cheaper the OnePlus 13 is, for similar performance and features.
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