iQOO 13: If there’s one brand that has been disrupting the flagship space while not making your wallet cry, that’s iQOO.
And with each subsequent version, they’ve been pushing the limits — quite literally with the iQOO 13.
This phone doesn’t merely shout performance, it sings it. But is it all sunshine and speed? Let’s break it down.
Design & Build: Flashy but Familiar As for the design, it’s flashy, but also very familiar.
DesignAt first sight, the iQOO 13 looks stunning with its edgy looks. It’s got that premium touch — glass back, polished aluminium frame, and sleek all-camera module, which definitely takes some inspiration from the big boys in the block (looking at you Samsung and Apple!).
The device has a nice feel in hand and doesn’t feel too heavy, despite carrying some serious hardware weight.
And yes, it’s finally IP68-rated — so a splash of water won’t have you desperately sprinting toward a bag of rice.
If you’re looking for something that’s significantly new and different from what came before, though, you may find yourself just a tad deflated. The design changes are minor, nothing groundbreaking.
Display: Simply Stunning
iQOO 13 is equipped with a 6.78-inch 2K AMOLED LTPO display with 144Hz refresh rate for the smoothest viewing experience.
It’s splashy and pops with bright colors, blacks are black as they should be, and at peak brightness (over 3000 nits) it’s absolutely visible under direct sunlight.
Whether you’re binge-watching a Netflix series or lost in an endless scroll on Instagram, this display is a delight. Touch response is snappy, and gaming on this bad boy? An absolute dream.
As a performer: Beast Mode engaaaaaage!
Under the hood, there’s the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 processor (yep, the same one everyone’s being talking about), alongside up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 1TB of speedy UFS 4.0 storage.
Translation? This phone eats heavy games, multitasking and productivity apps for breakfast. Call of Duty, Genshin Impact or resources-fungry AI tools, everything runs without a single stutter.
And now with an enhanced vapor chamber cooling system, it holds it cooler than ever during long gaming sessions. iQOO totally didn’t hold back on performance for once.
Software: FunTouchOS Is Still A Work In Progress
The iQOO 13 boots Android 14 with FunTouchOS overlay on top. It’s fast and configurable, but it still has a few nitpicks: some bloat here and there, an occasionally cluttered UI, and inconsistent notifications.
Though iQOO has promised users four years of Android updates and five years of receiving security patches, which is such a huge positive!, the general sheen of the software is not up there yet with rivals like Samsung’s One UI or Google’s Pixel Experience.
Camera: A Sight That’s Sharper but Will Still Develop
It is accompanied by the same 50MP primary sensor with OIS, a 64MP periscope telescope and a 13MP ultra-wide lens. The primary camera takes fantastic detail with good color balance and dynamic range.
Low-light, too… is significantly better than last gen—thanks to AI optimization and improved ISP.
But the ultra-wide lens doesn’t capture as much detail and the color tuning’s not always identical across the three sensors. Selfies off the 16MP front cam are fine, but not stunning.
It’s a flexible setup — but if you hope to prioritize camera quality, there are better flagships that will deliver for around the same price.
Battery and Charging: Fast and Furious
The iQOO 13 is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery, so it can easily last a full day without breaking a sweat, even with heavy usage. And the 120W fast charging? It’s a game-changer.
You can practically go from 0 to 100% in about 20 minutes. Still no wireless charging, however — which may be a downer for some.
Pros:
Lightning-fast performance thanks to Snapdragon 8 Gen 4
Stunning 2K AMOLED 144Hz display
Great battery life + stupid fast 120W charging
Premium construction with IP68 rating
Flagship value, without the flagship price
Cons:
No wireless charging
Ultra-wide and selfie cameras aren’t the best
FunTouchOS is still a work in progress
Slightly repetitive design
No expandable storage
iQOO 13:
Last Updated On November 25th, 2019Final Verdict: Should You Purchase One?
If performance, a gorgeous display and superfast charging rank highest on your wishlist this year, the iQOO 13 ticks all those boxes — and a few more.
It’s a phone designed for serious gamers, heavy-duty users and, really, anyone who wants flagship-level hardware without breaking six figures.
That said, if software polish, camera consistency or wireless charging are deal breakers for you, you might want to search elsewhere.
Ultimately, the iQOO 13 isn’t making a play for perfection. It knows its strengths — and it plays them.