iQOO 13 Review: A Flagship Smartphone Built For Speed And Power

iQOO 13 BMW Motorsport Edition
(Last Updated On: February 11, 2025)

Key Highlights

  • Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset
  • 50MP triple rear camera setup
  • 6,000mAh battery
  • 120W fast charging support

The iQOO 13 is here, and trust me, it’s a beast. After using it for a few weeks, I can confidently say this phone doesn’t just aim to impress, it dominates. With the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite under the hood, a super bright display, and a bigger battery, iQOO has packed in everything a power user could ask for. Whether it’s gaming, multitasking, or just scrolling through social media, this phone shines. Starting at Rs. 54,999, the smartphone is giving some serious competition to other flagships. But is it the best? Well, let’s dive in and see if the iQOO 13 truly ticks all the boxes.

Also Read | iQOO Neo 6 Long Term User Review: Performance Beast In Its League

ProsCons
Snapdragon 8 Elite for top-notch performanceNo wireless charging
6.82-inch 2K AMOLED displayBloatware present
Massive 6,000mAh battery 
IP68 rating for dust and water resistance 

What’s Inside The Box?

iQOO 13 Box Content
  • iQOO 13 handset (Legend)
  • 120W Charger
  • USB Cable
  • Phone case
  • Eject tool
  • Warranty card
  • Quick start guide

Design

The iQOO 13 is a visual treat, especially the Legend variant that I’ve got for review. With its white matte finish, subtle BMW Motorsport stripes, and minimal branding, this phone oozes premium vibes. The moment I held it, it felt just right. It is lightweight yet solid, elegant yet sporty.

iQOO 13 Design Review

The phone features a satin-finished glass back, chamfered edges, and a flat aluminum frame that adds to the aesthetics. While the rear panel is smooth and a little slippery, the glossy metallic frame offers a decent grip and resists fingerprints.

The smartphone features RGB LED strip on the camera module, which is called Monster Halo. It acts as a notification light and gaming enhancer, subtly glowing when needed. It’s not blindingly bright but adds a cool factor. iQOO also comes with an IP68/IP69 rating. That means it can handle dust and water like a champ.

iQOO 13 Side

Now, let’s talk about the button placements. The power and volume rockers sit comfortably on the right, while the SIM tray, USB-C port, speaker, and mic are at the bottom. The top houses another speaker, mic, and even an IR blaster, a small but useful addition.

Overall, the iQOO 13 nails the design. It is premium, stylish, and practical. It’s got all the right elements for a flagship experience.

Display

The display of the iQOO 13 is a showstopper. This 6.82-inch Q10 AMOLED panel is a treat for the eyes. It features a 2K resolution and an ultra-smooth 144Hz refresh rate. Whether you’re gaming, scrolling, or binge-watching, everything looks silky smooth and incredibly crisp.

iQOO 13 Display

The smartphone gives you 4,500 nits peak brightness. Even under harsh sunlight, visibility is no issue. And if that’s not enough, the High Brightness Mode bumps it up by 1,800 nits more, making it one of the brightest smartphone displays out there.

Coming to its color accuracy, it’s spot on. With 10-bit color depth and HDR10+ support, the display delivers rich, vibrant, and true-to-life colors. Whether you’re streaming high-quality content or just flipping through Instagram, the visuals remain sharp, polished, and immersive. In short, iQOO 13’s display is flagship-grade.

Also Read | iQOO Z6 Pro 5G Long-Term User Review: Is It A Hit Or A Miss?

Performance

The iQOO 13 is an absolute powerhouse. Using this smartphone feels like having a supercomputer in your pocket. Powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, this phone breezes through everything, from everyday multitasking to heavy-duty gaming. With 16GB RAM and 512GB storage, it ensures buttery-smooth performance.

iQOO 13 Bottom

We pushed it to the limits. We launched multiple apps at once, switching between them rapidly, and running demanding games like BGMI and Asphalt at max settings. And guess what? No lags, no stutters, just pure, uninterrupted performance. The 7,000mm vapor chamber cooling keeps thermals under control, though the frame gets slightly warm after long gaming sessions, but nothing alarming.

Coming to the audio. It’s another win. Dual stereo speakers provide loud, crisp, and bass-heavy sound, enhancing both gaming and media consumption. It has flawless. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC connectivity, everything worked great in our testing.

iQOO 13 Display Review

Now, onto the software. The iQOO 13 runs on Funtouch OS 15, based on Android 15, offering a mostly clean experience. You get 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security patches, which is great. While a few pre-installed apps exist, they’re easily removable, keeping bloatware minimal.

The smartphone also got some cool AI-powered tools. The Gallery app’s AI Erase and AI Enhancement features work well for removing unwanted objects and reducing image blur. You also get Google’s Circle to Search and Dynamic Light controls for the Monster Halo LED strip at the back.

Overall, the iQOO 13 sets a new benchmark for Android performance, making it an easy recommendation for power users and gamers alike.

Camera

iQOO 13 Camera

The iQOO 13 packs a triple-camera setup. The 50MP Sony IMX921 main sensor delivers sharp, vibrant images with great dynamic range. Colors look natural, and even in low light, the phone manages to retain impressive detail without excessive noise.

iQOO 13 Camera Sample

The 50MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom ensures crisp close-ups with minimal loss of quality. It has also got the 50MP ultrawide sensor that captures expansive shots without edge distortion. Whether it’s landscapes or group shots, the ultrawide lens keeps colors consistent and details intact.

iQOO 13 Camera Sample
iQOO 13 Camera Sample
iQOO 13 Camera Sample

For portraits, the iQOO 13 shines. Edge detection is on point, and the background blur looks natural, making shots look almost DSLR-like. The AI-powered features, such as AI Erase and AI Enhancement, let you tweak and refine images effortlessly.

iQOO 13 Camera Sample
iQOO 13 Camera Sample
iQOO 13 Camera Sample
iQOO 13 Camera Sample
iQOO 13 Camera Sample
iQOO 13 Camera Sample

On the front, the 32MP selfie camera is a solid performer. It captures realistic skin tones and doesn’t overdo the beauty filters, keeping shots authentic whether in bright light or dim settings.

Battery

The iQOO 13 packs a massive 6,000mAh battery. During my usage, the phone lasted a full day of intense use. I used it for gaming, streaming, social media, and calls, with power left for another half-day of light use. The Snapdragon 8 Elite’s power efficiency plays a huge role here. This makes sure that the battery doesn’t drain rapidly, even with the high refresh rate and ultra-bright display.

iQOO 13 Charging

Now, let’s talk charging speed. With 120W FlashCharge, the iQOO 13 rockets from 20 percent to 100percent in just 40 minutes. Even a quick 10-minute charge gives you hours of backup.

The only downside I found was it lacks wireless charging. If you’re someone who relies on it, you might feel its absence. But honestly, with 120W wired charging, you’ll barely miss it.

Also Read | iQOO 12 Flagship Gaming Phone: Upgrades We Can’t Overlook

Giznext’s Final Verdict

iQOO 13 Design

The iQOO 13 is an absolute powerhouse. It offers top-tier performance, a great display, and a massive battery. While the lack of wireless charging and some bloatware might bother some, the fast charging, IP68 rating, and premium design more than make up for it. A solid flagship choice.

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About Shweta Srivastava

Say hello to Shweta, a tech fan who's hooked on keeping up with all things tech. When she's not exploring the latest gadgets, she's diving into a good book, clicking photos as an amateur photographer, or enjoying classic movies and music. With her love for both tech and creativity, Shweta adds her own touch to tech news in a way that's easy to understand and enjoy.

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