Beginning with the OnePlus 3, OnePlus maintained a constant design language. Whereas the design of every subsequent telephone modified, the general aesthetic remained largely the identical, with easy curves and rounded edges characterised by an excellent in-hand really feel. It is this familiarity mixed with an obsessive deal with design that made utilizing OnePlus telephones pleasant through the years.
After a decade, OnePlus is overhauling its design ethos with the OnePlus 13. Just like most telephones out there at this time, the OnePlus 13 switches a boxier design, eschewing the flowing magnificence of earlier fashions. That mentioned, the system comes with a vegan leather-based again (if you happen to’re getting the Midnight Ocean variant), and it seems extremely attention-grabbing.
Forward of the worldwide launch, I talked to Ryan Ruan, head of OnePlus’s Industrial Design Middle, to get a greater sense of the OnePlus 13’s design and battery tech, and what the producer is doing in a different way this time. The plain place to begin was the transfer to flat sides, and why OnePlus determined to change the design. Ruan famous that OnePlus’s design crew “labored exhausting to make OnePlus 13 really feel higher in your hand than some other telephone,” investing a “important period of time in refining the transition between the back and front glass and the straight-edged body” to ship higher sturdiness and a tool that also seems elegant.
As a result of OnePlus telephones had dual-curved edges previously, there was an elevated probability of harm to the entrance or rear panes of glass if the system took a tumble and landed on an edge. Ruan mentioned this was some extent of competition with its customers, and that OnePlus has been “repeatedly discussing and validating how to make sure a easy total curvature connection with out compromising the system’s drop resistance.”
With the OnePlus 13, Ruan mentioned the objective was “for the transition surfaces to higher conform to the pure curve of the person’s palm whereas additionally offering a safe grip; to this finish, we invested within the refinement and validation of practically 100 fashions” earlier than selecting the ultimate design for the OnePlus 13.
As regards to sturdiness, OnePlus says it determined to make use of a Microfiber Vegan Leather-based again to permit OnePlus 13 clients to make use of the system and not using a case. The vegan leather-based again is extremely intriguing, because it makes use of a softer texture that hasn’t been seen earlier than on any telephone. “We have fine-tuned the fabric composition and floor therapy to create an much more luxurious and sturdy texture that is additionally environmentally pleasant,” mentioned Ruan.
“It is designed to supply a pure leather-like grip with out compromising on type or sustainability. A whole lot of different leather-backed telephones usually sacrifice the in-hand consolation simply to ensure each day sturdiness. Ultimately, the leather-based might really feel type of plasticky (with a really tough texture). Nevertheless, on the OnePlus 13, the microfiber vegan leather-based materials is one thing we labored on for over a yr; it ensures good sturdiness, and extra importantly feels comfortable in your hand.”
Ruan additionally said that despite the fact that the Midnight Ocean mannequin has a leather-based again, it would not intervene with wi-fi charging to any noticeable diploma. “The thinness of the vegan leather-based again allows good proximity to the wi-fi charging coil, enhancing the charging effectivity. In the meantime, the high-temperature resistance ensures that the telephone can deal with the slight enhance in warmth that may happen throughout wi-fi charging with none adversarial results.”
The OnePlus 13 has a flat AMOLED panel this time, nevertheless it consists of 2.5D quad-curved edges with a “micro-curve ratio” that Ruan says will make a distinction whereas utilizing the system — on the similar time negating unintentional touches. Ruan mentioned the micro-curve transition between the flat center body and the quad-curve glass ensures customers do not get a pointy in-hand feeling, and ensures a stable grip. “We selected to create a 2.5D display screen which is designed to supply the visible enchantment of a flat display screen whereas additionally giving our customers the sleek contact expertise they get from a 3D display screen.”
Persevering with with the in-hand really feel, Ruan revealed that the OnePlus 13 has a 50:50 weight distribution, so despite the fact that it has a sizeable digital camera module, it is not unwieldy to carry or use. “When you place your finger proper below the OnePlus emblem and assist the telephone, you will discover the telephone would not lean in the direction of come what may. That is as a result of we introduce an evenly-split weight distribution. It requires our engineers to determine a approach to allocate extra elements within the decrease half of the telephone to stability the load.”
One other attention-grabbing tidbit is that OnePlus is eschewing Coring’s Gorilla Glass in favor of a customized Ceramic Guard resolution on the OnePlus 13, with Ruan stating that it delivers “superior drop safety and scratch resistance. It is strengthened with nano crystalline, a cloth that considerably enhances its fracture toughness. The result’s that the OnePlus 13 show is twice as immune to drops in comparison with typical cowl glass.”
In an analogous vein, the OnePlus 13 will get IP68 and IP69 resistance, with the latter designed to resist high-pressure jets of water at as much as 80 levels Celsius. Curiously, IP69 would not cowl immersion in water, so producers must even have their units examined for IP68 as nicely — that is why you see most 2025 telephones having each IP68 and IP69.
Probably the most thrilling adjustments coming to 2025 telephones is silicon battery tech, with most Chinese language producers utilizing a silicon-carbon anode of their batteries to extend density and sturdiness. The OnePlus 13 additionally has this tech, and the 6000mAh battery is dubbed OnePlus Silicon NanoStack.
What’s significantly attention-grabbing is that OnePlus is utilizing a dual-cell configuration with the battery. Honor, OPPO, and Vivo use a single-cell battery on their units, and through the use of two cells on the OnePlus 13, you get one of the best of each worlds — elevated density, and quick 100W charging speeds.
Notably, the OnePlus 13 is utilizing a ten% silicon-carbon anode, resulting in an vitality density of 805Wh/L, a heady 5.5% enhance over the OnePlus 12. That is why OnePlus is ready to match an even bigger 6000mAh battery within the OnePlus 13 whereas nonetheless delivering a telephone that is 10g lighter and 0.7mm thinner.
Ruan mentioned the objective with the OnePlus 13 was to create a tool with one of the best in-hand really feel of any OnePlus telephone so far, whereas making certain it has higher sturdiness. Having used different units that made an analogous design transition — the Discover X8 Professional and Vivo X200 Professional — in latest weeks, I am excited to check out the OnePlus 13 and see if the producer’s claims really maintain up. I will have way more to share in regards to the OnePlus 13 as we head nearer to the January 7 launch day, so keep tuned.
