iQOO 13 review: One true Android flagship killer of the year
The decision to buy a flagship or luxury product is often driven more by brand value than the product's true value, a phenomenon known as brand bias. As a result, we may choose a less superior option even when better alternatives are available at a better value. In the smartphone industry, iQOO stands out as a brand that focuses on delivering exceptional value that some might overlook.
Over the years, iQOO has been consistently releasing flagship Android smartphones that outperform the competition while being much more affordable, and their latest model, the iQOO 13, continues this trend. It offers incredible value without compromising on the key features essential in a flagship device today.
The iQOO 13, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite, has been my primary smartphone for over three weeks, and here are my observations, which could help you decide if the iQOO 13 should be your next smartphone.
Practical and highly refined design
The smartphone has a premium construction. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)
The iQOO 13 looks almost identical to the iQOO 12. However, when you look closely at the iQOO 13, you will notice several nuances that give the iQOO 13 its own character, which includes a ‘floating light' ring around the camera island, which a user cannot see but the world can. In fact, the one major use case of this light for me was the charging indicator, where the LED ring will turn blue once fully charged, and despite its massive 6,000 mAh battery, the device just takes a few minutes over half an hour to fully charge using the bundled 120W charger.
Like any flagship, the iQOO 13 is constructed using glass and metal, and considering its battery size, the device feels light with good weight distribution. Despite its boxier look and a big display, the iQOO 13 feels very comfortable due to the slight curvature in the back panel, and the legend variant that I have been testing has an almost satin-like finish, which also makes the phone feel smooth and also helps hide smudges and fingerprint marks.
iQOO has also managed to add an IP68 rating and an IP69 water and dust resistance rating against high-pressure, high-temperature water, making it a rugged smartphone, which can take accidental splashes, rain, and even water from the shower. It also has a true stereo speaker setup that offers loud and clear audio output.
My favourite smartphone display
The display is sharp and fast. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)
The iQOO 13, hands down, has one of the best screens I have ever used on a smartphone, and I say this for multiple reasons. The 6.82-inch flat OLED panel on the iQOO 13 is sharp with 2K resolution, fast with a 144Hz refresh rate, and it also has an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, which feels much faster than the optical fingerprint sensor on the Oppo Find X8 Pro (review) that I recently tested. In fact, I continued using the phone while taking a shower and right after that, and the screen continued to remain responsive.
However, by default, the resolution is set to 1080p to save battery, but I suggest anyone getting this phone change it to 2K to get the best possible experience, and you definitely won't feel much difference in the battery life. It also has wet hand control technology, where you can use the touchscreen even if the screen or your fingers are wet, a feature that brands like Apple and Samsung should quickly implement.
If you are a binge movie/web series watcher, you will appreciate the high resolution, and if you are a gamer, you will applaud the higher refresh rate. As this is a flat screen, there are no issues like ghost touch, a common problem on phones with curved screens.
Cameras that expand your horizon
The phone has three 50 MP cameras at the back. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)
The iQOO 13 has three 50 MP cameras at the back, which include a dedicated ultra-wide and a 2x telephoto lens. However, when compared to the iQOO 12's 3x periscope zoom lens, the telephoto camera feels like a bit of a letdown, especially for someone like me, who loves clicking long-range shots. Other than that, the cameras are really good at taking pictures in almost any lighting situation, and two of those cameras can also shoot up to 8K resolution videos at 30fps or 4K video with up to 60fps. However, the ultra-stabilization is limited to 1080p 60fps, where it shoots videos that are as stable as ones shot from an action camera.
Here are some samples straight from the iQOO 13's camera:
iQOO 13 camera samples. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)
iQOO 13 camera samples. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)
iQOO 13 camera samples. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)
iQOO 13 camera samples. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)
iQOO 13 camera samples. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)
iQOO 13 camera samples. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)
iQOO 13 camera samples. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)
iQOO 13 camera samples. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)
iQOO 13 camera samples. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)
iQOO 13 camera samples. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)
Most powerful Android smartphone
The iQOO 13 is clearly one of the most powerful smartphones in the world. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip with up to 16 GB of LPDDR5x RAM and 512 GB UFS 4.0-based internal storage, with respect to benchmark figures like AnTuTu, the iQOO 13 scores 2.7 million points, making it the most powerful smartphone, which even outperforms the MediaTek Dimensity 9400 powered Oppo Find X8 Pro, which costs twice as much as the iQOO 13.
Benchmark figures. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)
And there is literally no video game that the iQOO 13 cannot handle. Games like Genshin Impact, Asphalt 8, Diablo Immortal, and COD: Warzone Mobile can be played at the highest graphics settings. While the phone does get a bit hot with continuous gaming, there is nothing to worry about, as the temperatures will quickly come down.
If you are a creator who edits videos on the smartphone using apps like VN, the iQOO 13 can also do that much more quickly, and it can render short videos in less than half the time when compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2-powered Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Runs Android 15, offers some AI features
The device ships with the latest version of Android. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)
The iQOO 13 ships with Android 15-based FunTouchOS 15 out-of-the-box. The overall user experience is well optimised and it also has some AI features, including Google Circle to Search and image editing tools. iQOO has promised four years of major OS updates and five years of security updates to the iQOO 13. However, when compared to skins like ColorOS 15 and OxygenOS 15, the FunTouchOS 15 looks a bit blunt and basic.
Guaranteed all-day battery life and more
The phone supports Google Circle to Search. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)
When I started testing the iQOO 13, I wasn't really confident about the battery life, considering how powerful the Snapdragon 8 Elite is, but this device proved me wrong. The iQOO 13 delivers one of the best battery life on a phone of this class. I have been consistently getting 7 to 8 hours of screen-on-time per charge, and the 120W fast charging also comes in handy when it's time for a recharge of the 6,000 mAh dual-cell carbon silicon battery. Unlike most flagship smartphones of this class, the iQOO 13 misses out on wireless charging.
Verdict: Sets the benchmark for upcoming flagship smartphones
A true flagship killer. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)
The iQOO 13 with its feature set, performance, and pricing sets a new benchmark in the world of Android smartphones. This device proves that flagship smartphones don't have to cost an arm and a leg, and it is possible for brands to offer high-performance and practical high-end smartphones at competitive pricing. And despite having much better cameras, a bigger battery, and a more premium design (can be subjective), the iQOO 13 is cheaper than the Realme GT 7 Pro, which again proves that the iQOO 13 is the one true flagship killer of not just 2024 but also 2025.
| iQOO 13 | |
| Pros | Cons |
| Exceptional Value: Top-tier specs at a competitive price, undercutting competitors. |
Telephoto Lens: Downgraded from iQOO 12's periscope zoom.
|
| Powerful Performance: Snapdragon 8 Elite chip delivers best-in-class performance for gaming and demanding tasks. |
Software: FunTouchOS 15, while optimized, lacks the polish of some competitors' skins.
|
| Stunning Display: 6.82-inch 2K OLED with 144Hz refresh rate, wet hand control, and an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. |
No Wireless Charging: A feature missing compared to other flagships.
|
|
Long Battery Life: 6,000 mAh battery with 7-8 hours of screen-on time.
|
|
|
Fast Charging: 120W fast charging for quick top-ups.
|
|
|
Durable Build: IP68 and IP69 water and dust resistance.
|
|
|
Great Cameras: Triple 50MP camera system with excellent image quality in various conditions.
|
|
|
Future-Proof Software: 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security updates.
|
|
|
True Stereo Speakers: Loud and clear audio output.
|
You want to be the smartest in the room.
You want access to our award-winning journalism.
You don't want to be misled and misinformed.