The iQOO 13 has big shoes to fill, following the reliable and powerful performance of the iQOO 12. It’s not a big task for the phone, considering the brand’s history of always prioritising high performance. And, to keep that narrative going, the iQOO 13 uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite as its fueling source.
iQOO 13
Rs 54,999
What Is Good?
- Display quality is excellent, 144Hz refresh rate
- Dual stereo speakers are good
- Good gaming performance
- Software features are helpful
- Halo light looks premium
- Daylight pictures are awesome
- Price hasn't increased from last year
What Is Bad?
- Design is quite similar to its predecessor
- Telephoto camera downgraded
- Gets toasty under heavy load
- Bloatware apps
Visually, the iQOO 13 leans into its premium aesthetic, sprinkling some subtle design upgrades. The addition of a beefy 6000mAh battery ups the stakes in the competition. But does the iQOO 13 actually step up, or is it just a rehash? Let’s get into my review and find out.
Pricing and Availability
The iQOO 13 is available in two variants on the company’s eStore and Amazon India
| Smartphone | Configuration | Price | Availability |
| iQOO 13 | 12GB + 256GB | Rs 54,999 | iQOO eStore, Amazon India |
| 16GB + 512GB | Rs 59,999 |
Design and Display
The iQOO 13 sticks so closely to its predecessor’s design that my colleague, with the phone right in front of him, mistook it for the iQOO 12 and asked where the new one was. There are only two notable upgrades design-wise: the addition of a halo light in the camera module and a bit of extra heft. The halo light wraps around the camera module on the back, glowing for calls and notifications. It even lets you play with colour options, which is good for customisation. This is perfect for those who prefer keeping their phone silent and flipped face-down.
Now, about the weight—it’s a bit on the chunkier side. Sure, some might not mind a heavier device, but for me, it feels just a tad too much.
The Legend colour I reviewed looks classy. The matte back panel provides a glossy feel without falling victim to fingerprint smudges.
One change I wasn’t thrilled about was the switch to a flat design. The previous model’s slight curves felt way better in hand— this one’s a bit too rigid for my liking.
| Design | Specifications |
| Weight | 213 grams |
| Thickness | 8.13mm |
| Colours | Nardo Grey and Legend |
| IP Rating | IP68 & IP69 |
| Port and Button Placements | Bottom: Primary microphone, USB port, Speaker grille, SIM tray Top: Secondary microphone and secondary speaker grille Right Side: Power and volume buttons |
With IP68 and IP69 ratings, the iQOO 13 steps up from the iQOO 12’s IP64 certification, matching the durability of the Realme GT 7 Pro. Whether it’s a gentle sprinkle or a full-on jet spray, this phone can easily handle it.
| Display | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Size | 6.82-inch |
| Type | AMOLED display |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3168 pixels |
| Refresh Rate | 144Hz |
| Peak Brightness | Claimed: 4500 nits Tested: nits |
| Minimum Brightness | nits |
I thoroughly enjoyed watching Gilmore Girls on Netflix with this phone. Normally, I’m not a fan of flat displays, but this one really changed my perspective. The bezels are super thin and perfectly proportioned. The 144Hz refresh rate adds a buttery-smooth touch to the overall experience. As for the display itself, the colours are rich and well-balanced. The stereo speakers can get loud enough and offer good clarity and depth when consuming content.
Besides this, I think the haptic feedback on the iQOO 13 is by far one of the best I have used in recent times.
Hardware and Software
The iQOO 13 is the second phone to feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC in India, following the Realme GT 7 Pro. Qualcomm had boasted that devices with this chipset would surpass 3 million points on the AnTuTu v10 benchmark. Yet, similar to the Realme GT 7 Pro, the iQOO 13 doesn’t quite hit those promised numbers. That said, the current numbers are extraordinary by themselves. Take a look at our AnTuTu score graph to see how these devices stack up.
The iQOO 13 got noticeably hot during testing. The metallic side rails absorbed the heat quite quickly, making it tough to hold the phone for longer gaming sessions. On the upside, it doubles as a handy hand warmer during winter. Jokes aside, thermal management is definitely an area that needs improvement.
| Hardware | Specifications |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC |
| RAM | Up to 16GB |
| Storage | Up to 512GB |
| Storage Test | 2678003 |
| CPU Throttling Test | 60 per cent of its max performance |
| Software Version | Funtouch OS 15, based on Android 15 |
| Connectivity Details | Tri-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.4 |
When it comes to everyday use, the phone is a smooth operator, handling daily tasks effortlessly. If your focus is on regular usage, you won’t encounter any issues here.
For gaming, my colleagues put it through its paces with BGMI, Call of Duty: Mobile, and Genshin Impact. The first two games hit a silky 120fps, while Genshin Impact, with maxed-out settings, averaged 50fps. After an hour of play, the battery dipped from 100 per cent to 79 per cent, which is decent. However, the back panel, especially near the camera module, got uncomfortably hot. That said, the iQOO 13 never throttled or caused any issues during our gaming sessions.
This phone runs on Funtouch OS 15, based on Android 15, straight out of the box. One feature that truly stands out is Circle to Search—just long-press and circle what you want to look up. It’s such a cool little trick. I also appreciate how much I can customise this phone, from wallpapers to AI-driven features like image processing after capturing photos. The sidebar adds an extra layer of convenience. The iQOO 13 also gets four years of software updates and five years of security patches.
On the downside, bloatware makes an unwelcome appearance, with apps like PhonePe, Tile Master, Block, Snapchat, and more pre-installed.
Cameras
The iQOO 13 comes with a triple-camera setup, but the telephoto lens is a bit of a letdown compared to last year’s impressive 64-megapixel 3x zoom.
In real-world use, we gave the phone a solid test run. Under bright daylight, the iQOO 13 delivers vibrant, natural colours with impressive detail. The 1x view is nice and wide, offering plenty of flexibility for standard shots.
When it comes to ultra-wide shots, the field of view is even broader. You’ll notice a little grain around the edges, but it’s nothing to lose sleep over. However, in the heart flower shot, some flowers in the corners look a bit washed out. Plus, the people in the background appear grainy.
| Camera | Specifications |
| Primary Camera | 50-megapixel Sony IMX921 f/1.88 aperture |
| Secondary Camera | 50-megapixel ultra-wide f/2.0 aperture |
| Tertiary Camera | 50-megapixel Sony IMX816, 2x telephoto f/1.85 aperture |
| Selfie Camera | 32-megapixel, f/2.45 aperture |
| Video Recording Capabilities | Up to 8K at 60fps |
In portraits, the iQOO 13 does a solid job with skin tones and background blur. In the right picture, the man in the black t-shirt is somewhat in focus, but his head is oddly blurred, which looks a bit off. Apart from that, only a few stray hair follicles are missed in edge detection, but overall, the quality is quite good.
The telephoto lens allows me to snap photos of distant subjects without having to move a step closer, this is where I would have appreciated last year’s 3x optical zoom. Despite that, the 2x telephoto camera still produces detailed photos, especially when it comes to human portraits.
The selfie camera gets a megapixel bump this year. The skin tones, background, and colours are captured beautifully. However, in tricky lighting conditions (see photo on the right), it can process photos slightly aggressively.
In low-light conditions, the camera captures good detail, pulling in more light than you’d expect. However, the tree in the right picture shows the noticeable grain and lens flare remains an issue, as seen below.
Overall, the camera performs admirably, but there’s room for improvement that can be fixed with a small software push.
Battery and Charging
Equipped with a 6000mAh battery and a 120W flash charger in the box, this phone doesn’t hold back on power. Running a few benchmarks took the battery from 100 per cent to 78 per cent, which, considering how demanding benchmarks are, feels pretty reasonable. It manages to easily last a day, and a bit more in practical usage which usually involves scrolling through Instagram.
| Battery | Specifications |
| Capacity | 6,000mAh |
| Charging Adapter | 120W, charger in the box |
When tackling heavy games like Genshin Impact, the battery drained at a steady and manageable pace, so it holds up well for gaming. For lighter users, though, you can comfortably get through an entire day without scrambling for the charger.
Verdict
At a starting price of Rs 54,999, the iQOO 13 offers good value for money if you prioritise performance and gaming over everything else. That said, we did encounter a few bumps in this department, but that had more to do with the thermals, rather than performance.
As for the design this year, it leans a little too much into the iPhone strategy. The subtle changes do add value, but they could’ve been more thoughtfully executed.
On a brighter note, the display experience is truly impressive, and that 144Hz refresh rate elevates it even further. The camera is decent, but there’s room to improve—especially in telephoto shots, low-light conditions, and a bit more polish in portraits. The battery life on the iQOO 13 is great, and the charging speeds are exceptional, leaving you with no battery anxiety.
All things considered, the iQOO 13 isn’t the monumental upgrade I was hoping for over the iQOO 12. But again, if you are coming from iQOO 11 or any other phone, this can be a no-brainer depending on your priorities. If your bucket list for a smartphone also includes more flexibility when it comes to the cameras, but you still want the same power, the Realme GT 7 Pro might be worth a second look.
