OnePlus 13 vs. OnePlus 12: Is it worth the upgrade?

When a new model arrives, comparing the older model to the newer one is always necessary. You want to see the differences between the latest and previous models to decide if the upgrade is worth your money. That's why a OnePlus 13 vs. OnePlus 12 comparison is crucial.

You won't find all the same helpful AI features that you'll get on a Pixel phone, but that doesn't mean OnePlus doesn't have other great features worth using. The OnePlus 13 is available worldwide today, despite its China launch a few months back. In the side-by-side comparison, you can see if the latest model is worth replacing the previous one.

OnePlus 13 vs. OnePlus 12: Design and display

There is not too much difference between the two phones regarding design, but there are details to mention. For example, the camera visor leaves the extra metal framing behind, while the new model gives it a cleaner look. It also keeps the alert slider on the side.

The OnePlus 13 now has a circular camera visor that looks neater. The latest model measures 162.9 x 76.5 x 8.9mm and weighs 213 grams with a glass back and 210 grams with a leather back. It has a crystal shield super ceramic display and an aluminum alloy metal middle frame. The smartphone is available in Midnight Ocean, Black Eclipse, and Artic Dawn colors, with the Midnight Ocean models featuring a soft vegan leather finish.

The bezels are also thinner, and the build is marginally lighter. Moreover, the flatter design is excellent for avoiding accidental screen inputs. The OnePlus 13 has an IP68/IP69 rating, meaning the phone can be submerged in 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes or handle high water pressure at close range.

On the other hand, the OnePlus 12 has rounded edges and smooth curves, and as Android Central's Harish Jonnalagadda says in his OnePlus 12 review, its back "looks striking," especially with the Flowy Emerald finish. In addition, it measures 164.3 x 75.8 x 9.15mm and is heavier than the latest model, at 220 grams. You can get the OnePlus 12 in Silky Black or Flowy Esmerald, which gives the phone a luxurious look.

Further, the OnePlus 12 has a lower IP65 rating, meaning it's dust-proof but can only withstand low-pressure jets from all directions, splashes, and sprays, not submersion.

The display of the OnePlus 13 and the OnePlus 12 has not changed much. Both models have a 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED QHD+ display with a 3168 x 1440 resolution. They also share a 510ppi pixel density, 4,500 nits of brightness, an Always-on display, and a 120Hz refresh rate.

The phones' other specifications include Dolby Vision and HDR10+, which provide brighter highlights and a deeper black.

However, the smartphones protect their respective displays differently since the OnePlus 13 has Crystal Shield super-ceramic glass, while the older OnePlus 12 has Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2.

The OnePlus 13 has Intelligent Eye Care 4.0 and Auqa Touch 2.0, specs not found on the previous model. However, the OnePlus 12 still has a PWM-friendly display

OnePlus 13 vs. OnePlus 12: Hardware and specs

Regarding hardware, some specs remain the same, while others have changed. For example, the OnePlus 13 and the 12 still share 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage options. They also share the same RAM, and you can choose from 12GB or 16GB options, with a 24GB option available in select regions. Once you know which memory option to use, it's time to see how they differ in other areas.

Both OnePlus phones share the same USB Type-C 3.2 connector, an infrared sensor, and no radio. They also share 50W wireless and 80W SUPERVOOC charging. Both phones have stereo speakers and can record in 8K.

The OnePlus 13 has a 50MP wide, 50MP telephoto, and 50MP ultrawide camera. The latest model also has the same 32MP selfie camera as its predecessor, which is still great for selfies. The OnePlus 12 also has the same 50MP wide camera but an inferior 48MP ultrawide and a better 64MP telephoto camera, although that does not make the camera on this phone a slouch by any means.

The OnePlus 13 one-ups the older one with a bigger 6,000mAh battery and 5W reverse wired charging to help keep your phone charged. The battery on the OnePlus 12 model isn't as significant since it has a 5,400mAh battery, but it's still a decent size to get through a full day of use. The OnePlus 12 also has slightly inferior 10W reverse wireless charging compared to the newest model with a 15W speed.

And when it comes to security, the latest OnePlus provides more security with its fingerprint sensor, which uses a new ultrasonic version that bounces sound waves off your finger to create a 3D map of it. This would make it very difficult for someone to gain unauthorized access to your phone.

The OnePlus 13 also has a better Snapdragon 8 Elite processor thanks to the Oryon CPU core. With this one, you get a more power-efficient processor that performs better. The latest OnePlus 13 also has an upgraded Vapor Cooling system that gives you better thermal conductivity. The newer model may have a better processor, but that doesn't mean that last year's model can't say it has a powerful processor with its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and plenty of RAM.

OnePlus 13 vs. OnePlus 12: Software

There is not much difference between the two phones regarding software, only that the newer OnePlus 13 comes with OxygenOS 15 on top of Android 15 out of the box, although the OnePlus 12 has already received an update to OxygenOS 15.

With both phones, you can expect it to have plenty of customizability and a fluid interface. Also, The China model runs on ColorOS, while the international version has OxygenOS. Both phones have helpful features, such as an IR blaster to control home appliances.

You get AI features such as Object removal, AI voice summary for calls, and Clear Face. More are coming, but OnePlus has not officially confirmed when they will be available.

The phones also feature AI Eraser, allowing you to remove unwanted people or objects from your pictures so you always get the perfect one every time. While OnePlus does add pre-installed bloatware to their phones, the company also offers other great features like Smart Notifications. The privacy-conscious feature conceals your notifications from others when it's not you looking at the screen. As soon you look at your phone, your notifications reappear instantly. Other fun and practical features include getting camera access by drawing a letter on your display.

OnePlus 13 vs. OnePlus 12: Which one wins?

Both phones are from the same company and offer great specs, but the latest model usually has a few specs that match up with the previous model. What might make you upgrade will be the upgrades on the new model and whether they are worth the money.

If you're on a budget, going for last year's model is still a good idea since both phones share various specs, including the same display, storage, and RAM options. However, getting the OnePlus 13 is excellent if you can afford it since it will have more AI features than the OnePlus 12. The OnePlus 13 is available worldwide, but it's best to check for your specific region.

The OnePlus 12 currently sells for $789 on Amazon for the 256GB storage option, while the OnePlus 13 retails for $899 for the 12GB/256GB model and $999 for the 16GB/512GB model. The 24GB/1TB model is only available in select regions.