OnePlus 13 vs iPhone 16 Plus: Which premium phone wins?
The iPhone 16 Plus and OnePlus 13 are both great phones, but OnePlus' latest flagship phone seems to have a clear advantage in the performance, camera and battery department.
Apple iPhones are known for their smooth software experience, premium build quality and excellent cameras, but recently launched flagship Android phones like the OnePlus 13 but with way more perks like more customisation options, a bigger battery, and faster charging speed. If you are confused between the iPhone 16 Plus and the newly launched OnePlus 13, here’s a quick guide that may help you decide if you should go with the OnePlus’ latest Android flagship or the Phone 16 Plus.
Design and display
The difference in the design language of the iPhone 16 Plus and the OnePlus 13 cannot be more distinct. While both phones now feature an aluminium frame, the iPhone 16 Plus has much more subtle curves than the OnePlus 13, which makes it easier to hold and pocket compared to the rectangle-ish Android phone.
The same goes for the back of these devices. The iPhone 16 Plus comes with a frosted glass back, while the OnePlus 13 is available in a faux vegan leather finish, but you can also opt for the white and black coloured versions, which come with a glass finish on the back.
Talking of display, the iPhone 16 Plus has a 6.7-inch OLED screen, while the OnePlus 13 comes with a slightly bigger 6.82-inch AMOLED screen. Also, for reasons unknown, Apple has decided to stick a 60Hz panel on the iPhone 16 Plus, while the Oneplus 13 features a 120Hz screen, which makes UI elements and scrolling much smoother. This means that the new OnePlus device still has a huge edge over the iPhone 16 Plus, and you will most likely notice the difference when reading articles or playing games.
And while both phones come with IP dust and water resistance, the OnePlus 13 is IP69 rated, meaning it can easily handle high-pressure water jets, which the iPhone 16 Plus misses out on. If you are someone who often keeps their phone stationary on a table, it is interesting to note that despite both phones having an OLED screen, the iPhone 16 Plus does not support Always-On display functionality.
iOS 18 vs OxygenOS 15
The major difference between the iPhone 16 Plus and the OnePlus 13 is in the software department. While iOS 18 may be the biggest software update for Apple devices in ages, Android and iOS have been copying various functionalities from one another for quite some time now.
The iPhone 16 Plus also has a slight advantage over the OnePlus 13 as it comes with Apple Intelligence, the company’s suite of AI features. However, OnePlus’s latest Android skin – OxygenOS 15 also packs some useful AI features, but they are not as extensive as iOS. However, if you live in India, some Apple Intelligence features may not be available, and on top of that, you will have to pay for them after a year, so if AI features are something that you don’t often use, the choice will come down to personal preference.
The Apple App Store does come with really good apps, but the Google Play Store isn’t far behind. Also, you can always sideload apps and games on the OnePlus 13, which is something Apple devices still miss out on (except in the European Union).
And while Apple does not clearly state its software update policy, the iPhone 16 Plus will most likely get 5 years of OS updates and indefinite security patches while the OnePlus 13 is entitled to 4 years of Android updates and 5 years of security patches.
Camera
The iPhone 16 Plus packs a dual rear camera setup that consists of a 48MP primary shooter and a 12MP ultrawide lens. On the other hand, the OnePlus 13 has a 50MP primary camera alongside a 50MP ultrawide lens and an accompanying 50MP periscope telephoto shooter with 3x optical zoom.
