Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

One of 2024’s best $500 phones may get an impressive successor

A close-up of the OnePlus logo on the OnePlus 12R.
Joe Maring / Digital Trends

The rumor mill is churning with exciting news about OnePlus’ upcoming midrange contender, the OnePlus 13R. According to Digital Chat Station, leaked information suggests this phone could pack a serious punch thanks to a powerful all-new Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chipset and a massive 6,000 mAh battery for all-day endurance.

The new phone could also offer a 1.5K flat display. Photography enthusiasts will appreciate the rumored camera setup featuring a Sony IMX906 primary sensor and a 50MP telephoto lens for capturing detailed zoom shots.

Recommended Videos

Android Authority first noted that the new report doesn’t mention the OnePlus 13R by name. Instead, it’s likely talking about the company’s next Ace device. However, that lineup is only released in China and rebranded for global markets. For example, the Ace 2 became the OnePlus 11R, while the Ace 3 became the highly-rated OnePlus 12R.

OnePlus 12R in hand with OnePlus 12 in the background.
The OnePlus 12R Prakhar Khanna / Digital Trends

One point of contention for Android Authority regarding the phone discussed by Digital Chat Station is the chipset. While the leak mentions the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, it says the phone might include the slightly less powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 to reduce costs — at least in areas outside of China.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Where could OnePlus release a phone worldwide with Qualcomm’s next chip? The long-rumored OnePlus 13. The company’s next flagship phone should offer a 6.82-inch BOE X2 display with 2K resolution. It may also support 100-watt wired charging and 50W wireless charging.

With an expected announcement very soon, the OnePlus 13 and 13R are poised to make waves in the smartphone world. Their predecessors, the OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 12R, remain top contenders in the market, setting a high bar for these upcoming releases. Both phones are anticipated to be available worldwide before the end of the year or early January.

Bryan M. Wolfe
Bryan M. Wolfe has over a decade of experience as a technology writer. He writes about mobile.
The OnePlus 13 is coming on January 7 — along with a surprise
The OnePlus logo on the back of the OnePlus Open Apex Edition.

It's official: the OnePlus 13 will launch on January 7, 2025. Preempting the anticipated event by several weeks, OnePlus has officially confirmed the date we’ll see its next major smartphone release outside of China. Additionally, it has revealed some key features and news of a surprise new launch to go along with the phone.

OnePlus will release the OnePlus 13 in three different colors — Black Eclipse, Arctic Dawn, and Midnight Ocean. It’s the latter that is likely to be the model to have, as it is wrapped in a material called micro-fiber vegan leather, which is apparently corrosion and scratch-resistant but still luxurious to the touch. For the Arctic Dawn phone, the glass will have a special coating to give it a silky-smooth finish. It’s likely these are the same colors offered in China, where the phone has already been announced, just with different names.

Read more
OnePlus Open 2 specs leak reveals camera and charging upgrades
Hinge of the OnePlus Open Apex Edition.

The OnePlus Open is an excellent foldable that received four out of five stars in its Digital Trends review, but the time is coming for a new version. While OnePlus hasn't officially announced the OnePlus Open 2, there have been hints about the Oppo Find N5, a device that is expected to be rebranded to the OnePlus Open 2 once it hits global markets.

The Oppo Find N5 has entered its testing phase, and we have an idea of what the internals might look like. The N5 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite, is IPX8 waterproof, has better battery life, and supports wireless charging. According to Digital Chat Station on Weibo, it might just be the only Android flagship phone that folds.

Read more
5 phones you should buy instead of the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
A person holding the open Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

This was a big year for Google thanks to the arrival of the Pixel 9 lineup. Not only did we get the return of the XL size, but Google also launched the second generation of its foldable, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

Though it was late to the foldable game, Google’s second iteration of a folding phone is a huge improvement over the original Google Pixel Fold. It’s thinner, opens flat without issue, is ergonomic, and has a fantastic inner screen and a redesigned camera module. It just feels great overall.

Read more