Summary of No phone can touch this.
In this enthusiastic review, Ryan Thomas crowns the OnePlus 13 as possibly the best Android phone you can buy right now, especially for its price category. Having spent three months with the device, Ryan highlights how it builds on the success of the OnePlus 12—last year’s phone of the year—with excellent battery life, balanced cameras, blazing performance, and a vibrant, fast display. He praises the phone’s well-rounded camera system, noting improvements from recent software updates that fixed earlier color and video issues, making the OnePlus 13’s photos impressively consistent and practical, especially with its versatile 3x telephoto lens.
Ryan also points out that while competitors like the Xiaomi 15, Samsung S25 series, and Pixel 9 have tried to challenge the OnePlus 13, none have matched its overall value, performance, or battery longevity. The OnePlus 13’s larger silicon carbon battery gives it a clear edge, often lasting two days even with heavy use—a standout feature in today’s flagship market.
However, Ryan doesn’t shy away from critique: the phone’s large size may not suit everyone, and the switch from Oxygen OS to Color OS (rebranded as Oxygen OS) along with the removal of the beloved alert slider (replaced by an Apple-like action button) are questionable moves that may alienate longtime fans. He urges OnePlus executives to avoid copying competitors and instead stick to what made them unique.
Despite these minor flaws, Ryan recommends the OnePlus 13 as a flagship-level device, not just a “flagship killer,” and considers it a better buy than pricier rivals like the Galaxy S25 Ultra or Pixel 9 Pro. He notes current deals such as a $50 discount and free OnePlus Buds 3 in some regions, making this an ideal time to buy—especially since this might be the last OnePlus phone with the classic alert slider.
The video mixes detailed technical insights with passionate commentary and a bit of humor when Ryan vents about OnePlus’s recent decisions, making it an engaging watch for tech enthusiasts and potential buyers alike.
Personalities in the video:
- Ryan Thomas (reviewer and host)
Notable Quotes
— 02:07 — « Every year stop doing what everybody else is doing. The reason that you've been getting praise is because your stuff is different from the rest. Read the room. »
— 03:16 — « This is a flagship level product and I will die on that hill. »
— 06:04 — « The OnePlus 13 is a 2-day phone for me basically every single time that includes having my Garmin connected buds connected for an hour a day. That's actually really impressive battery life given just how powerful this phone is. »
— 08:30 — « This makes the S25 Ultra look like a very bad deal on paper unless you're super enthusiastic about the S Pen decks and of course Galaxy AI. »
— 08:41 — « OnePlus is cooking right now and fair play, they're making the best balanced flagship you can buy. »
Category
Entertainment