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

By Bryan M. Wolfe Published October 16, 2024

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.

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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.

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.

Former Mobile and A/V Freelancer

Bryan M. Wolfe has over a decade of experience as a technology writer. He writes about mobile.

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5 phones you should buy instead of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

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It's an undeniable fact that smartphones have gotten larger and larger over the years. Samsung is trying to turn back the years with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, a smartphone that embraces everything we love about modern phones, but tries to make it just that little bit more svelte. The result is a phone that's just 5.9mm thick, making other flagships look like lumbering brutes.

The Galaxy S25 Edge's slimness is going to mean compromises, of course — chiefly, the battery size is smaller than its competitors, and while the build is thinner, there's a worry that could make the phone easier to damage. All of this is pure supposition until we get chance to review the phone, of course, and if you're considering buying the S25 Edge, we'd recommend waiting until our final review until you make a decision. But that doesn't change the fact that there are a number of strong smartphones out there that can do the S25 Edge's job well, and sometimes, better. Here are five phones you should buy instead of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge.

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3 reasons I’m excited for the upcoming OnePlus 13S

OnePlus 13T depicted in white color.

When the OnePlus 13T launched in China last month, I was intrigued as it packed more battery capacity than the OnePlus 13 in a smaller form factor. Now, the company has teased a new phone called OnePlus 13S, which looks similar to the 13T and carries the tagline “Powered up. Sized down” on its teaser poster.

The “sized down” part doesn’t mean we’re getting an iPhone mini-esque phone. If it is indeed the OnePlus 13T, it’ll sport a 6.3-inch display, which is far from the iPhone 12 mini’s 5.42-inch screen. But in 2025, where the largest iPhone display stretches to 6.9 inches, a 6.3-inch phone does qualify as compact in comparison.

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The hopes of a standout phone from the East, making its way to the US market, have received yet another blow. OnePlus recently introduced a compact flagship phone in China and sparked some wishes across the oceans, but the company has shattered those expectations for enthusiasts in the US and Europe.

Celina Shi and Spenser Blank, marketing officers for the company’s Europe and US operations, respectively, have told The Verge that the OnePlus 13T won’t be making its way to these regions. Notably, the company is gearing up to launch the phone in India as the OnePlus 13s in the coming weeks.