Design And Build Quality
When you first pick up the OnePlus 13T, it might feel familiar. It has a sleek look and a premium feel, thanks to its frosted aluminum frame and frosted glass. The build quality is really good, which is a nice surprise given its price. The camera module is smaller and tucked away in the top left corner, so it doesn't get in the way of your fingers.
However, some design choices are a bit odd. The bottom bezel is thicker than you might expect, especially when other phones in its class have much slimmer chins. The fingerprint sensor is also placed a bit low, which can be awkward to use.
Performance And Gaming
The OnePlus 13T comes with the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, which is a powerful chip. Even though some might argue a MediaTek chip could have lowered the cost, the 8 Elite still delivers. The phone performs well, especially when it comes to gaming. It manages to keep frame rates high and temperatures low, even during intense gaming sessions.
What's really cool is that the 13T includes gaming-focused features usually found in dedicated gaming phones. Things like bypass charging, AI-assisted controls, and super resolution make the gaming experience really strong. It's one of the best phones in its size for gaming right now.
Battery And Charging
One of the biggest selling points of the OnePlus 13T is its battery. It packs a battery over 6,000 mAh, which is impressive for such a small phone. This is thanks to silicon carbon battery technology, which allows for larger batteries in compact devices. The phone supports 80-watt charging, getting to 82% in about half an hour and a full charge in 52 minutes. While not the fastest, it's more than enough for most people. If you're not a heavy gamer, you can easily get a full day of use without needing to charge.
Display
The display on the OnePlus 13T is pretty good. It's a TMA panel with a peak brightness of over 800 nits, and it can go up to 1,600 nits in high brightness mode. It also has good dimming options, with 2160 Hz PW dimming below 50 nits and a DC dimming option available. Overall, the screen looks nice and is clear.
Camera
The OnePlus 13T has a dual camera system: a 24mm main camera and a 49mm telephoto camera. In good lighting, the main camera can take decent photos. Nighttime photos are okay, similar to what you'd expect from a $250 phone. However, video recording is not great. It struggles with focus hunting and low-light quality, especially without a tripod.
The 2x telephoto lens is usable in daylight, and even 4x zoom is tolerable. But at night, it struggles due to the lack of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization), leading to blurry shots. The absence of an ultra-wide camera is also a downside, as panorama mode doesn't fully make up for it, especially for nighttime shots. The front-facing camera maxes out at 1080p 30 fps.
Conclusion
Key Takeaways
- Compact Size, Big Battery: The OnePlus 13T fits a large battery into a small form factor, which is a major plus.
- Strong Gaming Performance: It offers excellent gaming features and performance for its size.
- Premium Build: The phone feels well-made with quality materials.
- Camera Limitations: The camera system, especially for video and low-light, is a weak point.
- Missing Features: It lacks wireless charging, an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, IP68 rating, and USB 3.0, which are common in similar phones.
While the OnePlus 13T has some good points, like its compact size, large battery, and strong gaming performance, it also has some clear drawbacks. The camera isn't great, and it's missing some features that are pretty standard on other phones in its price range. For example, the Xiaomi 15, which is only about $50 more expensive now, offers an extra camera, wireless charging, and a better IP rating. So, while the 13T might be a dream phone for some who prioritize battery life and gaming in a small package, others might find its compromises too significant.
