OnePlus 13 vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Which one suits your needs better?

  • OnePlus 13

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    OnePlus 13

    The OnePlus 13 represents the brand's newest flagship smartphone, featuring a 120Hz AMOLED screen, the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, a 50MP camera setup, ample RAM and storage options, and an impressive 6,000mAh battery. In short, it embodies everything you would expect from a high-end smartphone in 2025.

    Pros
    • IP69 resistance
    • Snapdragon 8 Elite chip
    • 16GB of RAM
  • galaxy-s24-ultra-1

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    Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

    $1300 $1050 Save $250

    The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra represents the pinnacle of the brand's smartphone offerings, featuring a stunning 120Hz AMOLED screen, 12GB of RAM, and storage options reaching up to 1TB. It boasts an exceptional camera setup and is powered by a robust 5,000mAh battery. If you're in the market for a new phone, this model is certainly one of the best options available.

    Pros
    • Great AI features
    • Premium feel and design
    • Excellent zoom lens

Ready for a new smartphone? If so, an iPhone is always worth consideration, but top Android devices like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and OnePlus 13 are serious contenders. Deciding on something can be tough though, so which is the better overall phone?

Fortunately, we’re ready to assist you with the definitive comparison between the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the OnePlus 13.

Cost, availability, and specifications

Two high-end smartphones

Currently, you can purchase a OnePlus 13, with two available configurations: a 16GB RAM/512GB storage version priced at $1000, and a 12GB RAM/256GB storage version available for $900. Fortunately, there's a special promotion at the moment that allows you to snag the higher-end model for only $900.

In a similar vein, the Galaxy S24 Ultra can be purchased from your preferred retailer, offering three distinct storage options: 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB. The manufacturer's suggested retail prices are $1300, $1420, and $1660 respectively; however, currently, it's not hard to find these models at significantly reduced prices.


  • OnePlus 13 Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
    SoC Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy
    Display 6.82 inches, 3168x1440, 1-120Hz 6.8-inch Quad HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz refresh rate, 501 PPI, 2,600 nits peak brightness
    RAM 12GB/16GB LPDDR5X 12GB
    Storage 256GB/512GB UFS 4.0 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
    Rear camera 50MP 1/1.4" f/1.6, 50MP 1/1.95" f/2.65, 50MP 1/2.75" f/2.05 200MP main (f/1.7), 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2), 10MP telephoto (f/2.4), 50MP periscope telephoto (f/3.4)
    Front camera 32MP 1/2.74" f/2.45 12MP wide (f/2.2)
    Battery 6,000mAh 5,000mAh
    Charge speed 80W Supervooc, 50W Airvooc 45W wired, 15W wireless, 4.5W reverse wireless
    Connectivity Sub-6 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6E/7, Bluetooth 5.3
    Dimensions 162.9x76.5x8.9mm 6.39x3.11x0.34 inches (162.3x79x8.6mm)
    Weight 210g 8.22 ounces
    IP Rating IP68, IP69 IP68
    Colors Arctic Dawn, Midnight Ocean, Black Eclipse Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, Titanium Yellow
    Operating System OxygenOS 15 Android 14, One UI 6.1
    Price $899 / $999 Starting at $1,299

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Connected

The Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts enhanced AI capabilities, a slightly upgraded camera system, and a refined design, establishing it as the ultimate all-in-one smartphone.

Create and showcase

Various smartphones, various aesthetics.

There are certainly contrasting designs at work here. The OnePlus 13 features a smooth, curved aesthetic with its rounded edges and circular elements, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra adopts a more angular, boxy appearance with defined edges and a robust, industrial vibe. Nevertheless, both devices exude a sense of premium quality and craftsmanship.

When comparing weight and size, the OnePlus 13 is slightly lighter at 7.4 oz compared to 8.22 oz. However, their overall dimensions are quite similar. It's worth noting that neither of these phones is among the smallest or lightest options available, so consider this if you're looking for a more compact device.

When it comes to the display, both devices feature 120Hz AMOLED screens with nearly identical resolutions. Our evaluations of each revealed that we were quite taken with the quality of the displays, appreciating their deep contrast, vivid colors, and outstanding brightness. In short, there's not much to criticize.

In summary, the OnePlus is more lightweight, and its curved design tends to offer a more comfortable grip compared to the sharper edges of the Galaxy. Additionally, the OnePlus boasts an IP69 rating, which the Galaxy lacks, and its peak brightness surpasses that of the Galaxy, giving it a slight edge in this aspect.

Champion: OnePlus 13

Equipment and efficiency

An upgraded Snapdragon processor on the OnePlus

Galaxy S24 Ultra in grey standing upright

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It's important to note several significant hardware distinctions. To begin with, the S24 Ultra is equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, while the OnePlus 13 features a Snapdragon 8 Elite. The Elite variant offers enhanced core clock speeds and improved efficiency, resulting in a noticeable increase in processing power. Additionally, the OnePlus 13 can be configured with up to 16GB of RAM, whereas the S24 Ultra is limited to a maximum of 12GB. On the storage front, the S24 Ultra provides an option for 1TB, compared to the OnePlus 13's maximum of 512GB.

Both smartphones come equipped with AI functionalities. The OnePlus offers well-known AI capabilities such as AI Unblur, AI Detail Boost, and AI Notes, which we found to be practical, though not revolutionary. On the other hand, the Galaxy features comparable technology but takes it a step further with advanced generative AI tools, including superior photo editing that surpasses the Detail Boost feature.

While the additional storage and AI capabilities of the Galaxy are impressive, the superior RAM and enhanced processing power of the OnePlus 13 stand out in our evaluation. This makes it our preferred choice for hardware and performance, even if the difference isn't extremely significant.

Champion: OnePlus 13

Camera

Samsung continues to leave a lasting impression.

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In 2025, flagship smartphone cameras have become a major focus, and these devices truly deliver impressive performance.

With the OnePlus 13, you're looking at a trio of 50MP sensors in its primary array, while you're also getting a 32MP selfie camera. In our review of the OnePlus 13, we had a solid experience with its cameras, particularly during daytime, but its low-light performance didn't wow us, especially when capturing motion. Not a terrible performance by any means, but it wasn't best-in-class.

For the Galaxy S24 Ultra, there's a beefy 200MP main sensor, 15MP UW sensor, 10MP telephoto sensor, and 50MP periscope telescope sensor, in addition to a 12MP selfie cam. In our Galaxy S24 Ultra review, we called it "the most capable camera phone in North America" at the time, noting it had no major shortcomings compared to any other phone from a brand with a major presence there.

If you're only looking to take a few casual photos, the OnePlus 13 will serve you well. However, if you have ambitions of becoming a serious photographer, we believe the Galaxy S24 Ultra would be a superior choice.

Champion: Galaxy S24 Ultra

Battery longevity

No reasons to grumble.

OnePlus 13-2

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We have evaluated both of these smartphones, so the battery performance is well understood.

The news is positive on this front as well: both smartphones easily manage to last a full day on a single charge. The OnePlus features a slightly larger battery, which could give it an advantage in certain situations, but we experienced no issues with either device. Naturally, if you're gaming at high framerates continuously, your experience may differ, but for the average user, running out of battery shouldn't be a concern. Regardless of which phone you choose, you can expect solid battery performance.

Result: Draw

Champion of the competition: OnePlus 13

A narrow escape

With its sleek design, advanced chip technology, ample RAM, and a competitive price, the OnePlus 13 takes the top spot in our rankings, though the competition is quite fierce.

It's important to remember that the S25 series is just about to be released as of this writing. If you're eager to invest more than $1000 in a smartphone, it might be wise to hold off and see what Samsung has in store. However, if you're looking for a great option right now, the OnePlus 13 stands out as an excellent pick.

Champion

OnePlus 13

$900 $1000 Save $100

The OnePlus 13 represents the brand's newest flagship smartphone, featuring a 120Hz AMOLED screen, the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, a 50MP camera setup, ample RAM and storage options, and an impressive 6,000mAh battery. In short, it embodies everything you would expect from a high-end smartphone in 2025.

Second place

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

$1300 $1050 Save $250

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra represents the pinnacle of the brand's smartphone offerings, featuring a stunning 120Hz AMOLED screen, 12GB of RAM, and storage options reaching up to 1TB. It boasts an exceptional camera setup and is powered by a robust 5,000mAh battery. If you're in the market for a new phone, this model is certainly one of the best options available.