I Gave the OnePlus 13 a Week in HELL

Summary

In this entertaining review of the OnePlus 13, the tester pushes the phone to its limits by subjecting it to extreme conditions like a dishwasher, underwater gameplay, and beach activities. Despite initial doubts about its build quality compared to other flagship phones, the phone’s durability, fast charging, camera performance, and IP69 rating stand out. With humorous insights and practical tests, the review highlights the OnePlus 13’s appeal as a tough, feature-packed phone at an affordable price, making it a great choice for adventurous users and those in need of reliable daily performance.

Takeaways

• 📱 The OnePlus 13 is highly durable, featuring an IP69 rating and Aqua Touch 2.0, allowing it to function underwater and in wet conditions.
• 🔥 The phone supports 100W super fast charging, making quick top-ups highly convenient and addictive for daily use.
• 🏖️ The device performs exceptionally well in outdoor scenarios like beaches and water activities, showing strong resistance to water and sand.
• 🎥 Camera quality is impressive, with some features preferred over higher-end flagship devices, despite a minimal camera bump.
• 💸 The OnePlus 13 offers great value for money, providing flagship features such as durability, fast charging, and long battery life at a lower cost.
• ⚡ Gaming performance is good, although it heats up faster and frame rates drop quicker compared to larger flagship phones with more advanced cooling systems.
• 🛠️ Oxygen OS 15 is user-friendly and offers useful features like edge panels, off-screen gestures, and app multitasking shortcuts, although some improvements like widget search are still needed.
• 🤖 AI features like object erasing and image editing are functional, enhancing the overall software experience.
• 💡 Build quality feels lighter and slightly hollow compared to premium flagship devices, but haptics, speakers, and overall performance remain solid.
• 🎒 Accessories like the Pouch Mini charger provide practical portability and multi-device charging, complementing the phone's daily usability.
• 🏆 Overall, the OnePlus 13 is a reliable travel and adventure companion, combining durability, fast charging, solid cameras, and strong battery life, making it suitable for extreme conditions.

Q & A

Why did the reviewer choose to buy the OnePlus 13?

The reviewer bought the OnePlus 13 specifically because of its IP69 rating, which is a significant durability feature that intrigued them.

What was the initial impression of the OnePlus 13’s build quality?

The reviewer found the OnePlus 13 to feel cheap and hollow, especially after using a high-end phone like the S25 Ultra. However, over time, they began to appreciate the value it offered despite the initial disappointment.

What extreme tests were done to test the OnePlus 13's durability?

The reviewer subjected the OnePlus 13 to several extreme tests, including cooking it with pasta, taking it to the shower, beach, and even putting it in the dishwasher. These were done to see how the phone handled stress and whether it would survive.

How did the OnePlus 13 perform under water and in wet conditions?

Thanks to its IP69 rating and Aqua Touch 2.0 technology, the OnePlus 13 performed well in wet conditions, including underwater. It allowed fingerprint recognition and touch input, which is uncommon for most phones in such conditions.

What’s the downside of putting the OnePlus 13 in the dishwasher?

While the phone survived the dishwasher test, the reviewer noted that dishwashers use hot water and harsh detergents, which can be tougher on electronics than regular water exposure. The phone's ports retained water after the test, though it was still able to charge.

How fast does the OnePlus 13 charge?

The OnePlus 13 supports SuperV charging, which charges the phone very quickly. For example, it can go from 6% to 69% in just 15 minutes, which the reviewer found highly addictive.

What did the reviewer think of the OnePlus 13's cameras?

The reviewer was impressed by the OnePlus 13’s camera performance, stating that they preferred it over the S25 Ultra’s cameras in certain aspects. The minimal camera bump and high-quality imaging were also praised.

What software features did the reviewer appreciate in Oxygen OS 15?

The reviewer appreciated several features in Oxygen OS 15, including multitasking improvements, off-screen gestures (like turning the torch on/off with specific swipes), and the inclusion of dynamic island-like notifications. However, they found some aspects, like the lack of widget search, frustrating.

How does the OnePlus 13 compare to the S25 Ultra in terms of gaming performance?

The OnePlus 13’s gaming performance is slightly inferior to the S25 Ultra’s. While the S25 Ultra maintains higher frame rates for longer periods, the OnePlus 13 throttles quicker, dropping down to 30-40 FPS much faster, although it has higher stability scores in 3D Mark benchmarks.

What is the reviewer's final opinion of the OnePlus 13 after the 7-day test?

The reviewer was initially indifferent about the OnePlus 13, but after using it for a week, they found themselves more attached to the phone, particularly due to its durability, impressive battery life, and camera quality. While they still preferred premium flagships like the S25 Ultra, they acknowledged the OnePlus 13’s great value, especially for rugged use.