Summary
- OnePlus 13 redirects its design from curves to a flat frame and mostly-flat screen, for improved grip and usability.
- A new vegan leather back, IP68/69 rating, and ultra-hard Gorilla Glass alternative enhance durability.
- Re-engineered silicon battery technology with a dual-cell design improves energy density and battery lifespan.
OnePlus has worked hard elbowing its way into the Western market, with the success of the flagship OnePlus 12 and flagship killer 12R cementing its place among Android leaders. Its powerful hardware and no-nonsense interface design have spurred significant anticipation of the upcoming OnePlus 13.
Ahead of the new high-end smartphone‘s launch, Ryan Ruan, head of the company’s Industrial Design Center, sat down with our friends at Android Central to detail how an all-encompassing design shift contributed to several notable, new quality-of-life considerations (Source).
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The OnePlus 13’s new identity
As fashionable curves start to flatline
As the industry trends away from the “curves everywhere” ethos that Samsung popularized and put to bed, OnePlus’ updated design language aims to satisfy usability concerns without completely abandoning a streamlined, comfortable build. Some of the most notable changes take aim at somewhat common criticism of the OnePlus 12‘s curved display and somewhat slippery form factor. The refined vision started with a shift from rounded sides to a more functional flat frame, and focused on balancing a secure grip with hand-friendly ergonomics.
Layered over a flat AMOLED, redesigned, 2.5D glass utilizes a “micro-curve ratio” for comfortable use without causing accidental touches or imparting a sharp feel in the hand. The design lead shared how OnePlus “invested in the refinement and validation of nearly a hundred models” before opting for the micro-curves, implying that research showed subtly transitioning curves might serve users better than mirror-flat designs used alongside today’s somewhat conflicting, extant bezels.
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Under-the-radar enhancements where they count
If the biggest knock against your flagship is a curved screen, you’re probably doing a good job, but OnePlus didn’t stop there. It’s introducing a new kind of vegan leather on the OnePlus 13’s Midnight Ocean variant. The head design honcho explained how the new material emerged to combine everyday comfort with long-term resistance to wear, while offering a softer feel than ever and avoiding interference with features like wireless charging.
Ruan extolled a decent selection of OnePlus 13 design touches that might seem minor, but together indicate a thoughtful approach to dethroning the current North American Android leaders. It paid special attention to offsetting the bulky camera array and achieving a 50/50 weight distribution, and developed a proprietary alternative to Gorilla Glass to further improve durability on devices like the already resilient OnePlus Open. The OnePlus 13 also eliminates one big concern surrounding its predecessor by sporting IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance to join the category leaders.
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Ruan arguably saved the best for last, finally discussing the upcoming flagship’s silicon battery chemistry, which uses recently perfected anode materials to improve energy density and battery lifespan. Its dual-cell design opposes competitors’ almost universal single-cell arrangement, helping it charge faster and stand up to long-term use without degrading as quickly.
The OnePlus 13 has big shoes to fill, but if it does so effectively, it could once again give the year’s most popular top-of-the-line devices a run for their money. If OnePlus’s focus on the US market intensifies and its software continues to add refined features, it stands to win followers outside its typically enthusiast-heavy user base, and gain a greater mainstream Android foothold.