Hello everyone, Rupnath here. In 2025, two top Android smartphones shine: the OnePlus 13 and the Samsung Galaxy S25. The OnePlus 13 has a more attractive price, while Samsung launched the S25 at a premium. However, cashback offers often appear within a few months. So, which phone gives you the best value? Should you trust the Galaxy S25’s reliability, or is the OnePlus 13 worth a try? Let’s explore this comparison and find the answers.
Design and Build
Comparing the OnePlus 13 and Samsung Galaxy S25 was a fascinating experience. The OnePlus 13 is the “big boy” smartphone. It weighs over 200g. In contrast, the S25 has a compact, almost delicate design. It fits perfectly in my pocket and is a joy to hold.
Both phones have design features from earlier models. However, OnePlus has improved its build quality and design. The OnePlus 13 offers a classic glass back or a premium microfiber vegan leather option. A big plus for OnePlus is the IP68 and IP69 ratings. These show strong dust and water resistance, surpassing the S25’s IP68 rating.
Display
Both phones deliver excellent displays. The OnePlus 13 impressed me with features missing from the more expensive S25 Ultra.
-
Dolby Vision support: Enhancing video playback with vibrant colors and dynamic range.
-
216Hz PWM dimming: Minimizing eye strain and headaches during extended screen use.
-
AquaTouch technology lets you use the screen with wet hands. It’s great for shower singers like me!
Let’s talk about the green line issue. OnePlus recognises past problems and now provides a lifetime screen warranty. They also offer free replacements for affected OnePlus 13 devices. Their promise of careful testing and R&D investment creates trust. This trust suggests that future models will be more reliable.
OnePlus has now added an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, similar to the S25’s tech. The OnePlus 13 claims to have higher peak brightness, but I found the S25 is easier to see outdoors. This is due to its steady 1400 nits across the display.
Samsung’s display skills really stand out in the S25. The colour reproduction, especially for skin tones, is impressive. The S25 has Victus 2 glass, which gives it an edge over the OnePlus 13’s Ceramic Guard glass. I like the S25’s flat display, but the gentle curves on the OnePlus 13 didn’t affect my gaming experience.
Where the OnePlus 13 Takes the Lead
The OnePlus 13 outperforms the Galaxy S25 in four key areas:
-
The OnePlus 13 has much louder and richer sound than the S25.
-
Haptics: The OnePlus 13 offers crisp, sharp haptic feedback. It’s well integrated across the UI and system apps. This ranks among the best I’ve felt.
-
Battery Life: This is where the S25 falters significantly. The 4,000mAh battery managed only 6 hours of screen-on time. In contrast, the OnePlus 13’s large 6,000mAh silicon-carbon battery gave 9 to 10 hours easily. The silicon-carbon technology is a game-changer, and I hope Samsung (and Apple) take note.
-
Charging Speed: The OnePlus 13 charges significantly faster, both wired and wirelessly. The 100W power brick is a great bonus. You won’t need to buy a separate charger.
Performance
Both phones use the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, along with top memory and storage. The S25 has slightly overclocked CPU cores, but this difference is hard to notice in daily use. Both devices perform tasks quickly. The OnePlus 13 feels a bit more responsive due to OxygenOS 15’s smooth animations. However, the S25’s One UI 7 provides a stunning and cohesive experience. Redesigned icons and a quick settings panel give it a fresh, modern touch. Samsung’s “Nowbar” feature is inspired by Dynamic Island. It adds a fun and useful element to the user experience.
The S25 excels in software updates. Samsung offers seven years of support, far more than OnePlus’s four years. Plus, OnePlus provides six years for security updates. This means the S25 could get three more Android versions, possibly up to Android 22. That’s a big win for long-term users.
Both phones have great AI features. They offer writing help, photo editing tools, and integration with Gemini. You can activate Gemini by long-pressing the power button. Samsung stands out in the AI race with unique features like AI Select. This allows you to select text, download images, and create GIFs with a simple tap and hold. Another handy feature is conversational search. It helps you search the gallery and settings more easily. Both phones can handle AI tasks, but Samsung does it better. This is especially true for tough jobs like generative editing.
Gaming
Both phones have similar frame rates for tough games like Genshin Impact and PUBG. The OnePlus 13 stands out for its improved thermal management and power efficiency. The S25 used more power and heated up a lot during long gaming sessions. In contrast, the OnePlus 13 stayed cool and kept its performance steady.
Camera
I recently looked at the OnePlus 13. I was impressed by its camera, especially for still photos. The new 50MP ultrawide and 50MP 3x telephoto lenses are major upgrades. Samsung’s image processing gives the S25 an edge, despite using the same camera as the older S22.
Both phones gave similar results in different situations. The OnePlus 13 sometimes overexposed images. This helped when shooting against the sun, but it also led to less appealing shots at times. The S25 often lost shadow details, especially with the ultrawide lens. I’ve seen this issue with the S25 Ultra too. The OnePlus 13’s telephoto lens does a great job of keeping exposure, sharpness, and focus on subjects. It even takes impressive macro shots.
In low light, the OnePlus 13 often took cleaner images. It had better highlights, contrast, and exposure. The S25 used longer exposures of 4-5 seconds in very dim settings. This led to brighter and more detailed shots.
Portraits look much better on the S25. It handles skin tones, contrast, highlights, and focus roll-off exceptionally well. This performance consistently earns praise from subjects. Selfies also favour the S25, mainly because the OnePlus 13 lacks autofocus.
Both phones support video recording up to 4K at 60fps from all lenses. However, the S25 consistently provides better video quality. It offers superior colour, dynamic range, and stabilization. The OnePlus 13 shows noticeable wobble, even in ultra-steady mode. The S25 shines in cinematic portrait videos. While the OnePlus 13 has a wider field of view for selfies, its highlight processing needs work. In low light, the OnePlus 13 performs better, though it has slightly higher contrast.
The S25 offers several compelling video features absent in the OnePlus 13:
-
Log video recording: Allowing for greater flexibility in post-production color grading.
-
Virtual aperture control: Enabling adjustments to depth of field after capturing the shot.
-
Audio Eraser: This Google feature helps you isolate, adjust, or remove background noise in videos.
-
Slow-motion conversion: A simple tap and hold converts regular video into slow motion.
-
Photographic styles: This feature, inspired by the iPhone 16 series, lets you customise filters to adjust your photos.
The OnePlus 13 is a great point-and-shoot camera, especially for the price. However, it doesn’t have the polish and optimisation of Samsung’s camera software.
Conclusion
After a week of testing, I’m surprised by the results. I believed the OnePlus 13 would come out on top. Its design, battery life, charging speed, gaming performance, and value impressed me. But the Galaxy S25 showed its strength. Even with a few upgrades, the S25 is still a strong compact flagship. It offers better camera performance and software features.
Your choice hinges on what matters most to you. Both phones deliver great performance and features. The OnePlus 13 stands out in battery life, charging speed, and gaming capabilities. In contrast, the S25 excels in camera quality, software features, and long-term support. The best phone for you matches your specific needs. It’s that straightforward.
Read Also: