iQOO 13:  A new player has landed in the Indian smartphone market in the month of December – iQOO 13. This phone directly challenges the thinking that “flagship performance is only available in expensive phones.” This time iQOO has packed tremendous power in its latest phone, including Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and in-house Supercomputing Q2 processor.

iQOO 13 was first launched in China in October 2024 and then made a bang entry in India in December. The price of this phone starts at ₹ 54,999, in which you get 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. At the same time, the price of 16GB / 512GB variant has been kept at ₹ 59,999. Now the new and stylish Ace Green edition of this phone has also arrived, which not only looks great but also leaves no stone unturned in performance.

Brute Processing Power and Massive Cooling

The heart of the iQOO 13 is the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset – which is actually the Snapdragon Gen 4, and is built on a 3nm process. That is, this chip not only gives tremendous speed, but is also economical in power consumption. Also, the company has installed its own Supercomputing Q2 chip in it, which further fine-tunes the performance.

Now if such powerful chips do not stay cool, then it does not matter. That’s why iQOO has installed a 7,000 mm² vapor chamber cooling system in it. That is, when you are playing games for a long time or doing a heavy task, the temperature of the phone will remain under control and there will be no problem like throttling.

Display That Outshines Alternatives

iQOO 13 has a 6.82-inch 2K LTPO AMOLED display, which supports a refresh rate of 144Hz and its peak brightness goes up to 4,500 nits. Meaning whether you are standing in bright sunlight or in the dark – this screen will look clear and rich in every situation.

Apart from this, this screen comes with LTPO tech, which adjusts the refresh rate as per the need and also saves your battery. Along with this, 2,592Hz PWM dimming support is also available, which has less impact on the eyes. Reviewers have considered it to be the phone with the best and brightest display under ₹ 60,000.

Battery Life and Fast Charging Reimagined

The battery provided by the company in iQOO 13 is quite different from the common batteries. This is a 6,000mAh silicon carbide battery, which stores more energy but remains thin in size. For this reason, the thickness of the phone is only 8.13mm and the weight is about 213 grams.

Talking about charging, it has 120W FlashCharge technology, which will fully charge your phone in about 30 minutes. Due to this battery and efficient thermal system, you can use it for more than a day without tension.

Cameras: Capable, if Not Class-Leading

In terms of camera, iQOO 13 is solid but if you are crazy about pro-level photography then you may need to think a little. It has a triple 50MP camera setup at the back – one main, one ultrawide and one 2x optical zoom telephoto camera. There is a 32MP selfie camera on the front.

Daytime photos are quite sharp and clear, but reviews have shown that the camera does a bit of over-sharpening in low light or in night mode. Also, it does not have the periscope zoom of the iQOO 12, which zoom lovers may find a bit missing.

Advanced Durability and Connectivity

The iQOO 13 is the first phone in this price range to come with IP68 and IP69 ratings – meaning complete protection from both dust and water.

The phone is also great in connectivity – Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, dual stereo speakers and even an IR blaster have been provided so that you can control your home appliances. Getting all this under ₹ 60,000 is really amazing in today’s time.

Software Support and Real-World Use

The iQOO 13 comes with FunTouch OS 15 based on Android 15 and the company has promised that you will get four years of Android updates and five years of security patches.

The real-world performance of the phone has also been praised in reviews – whether it is gaming, multitasking or daily use, everything remains smooth and lag-free. Android Central has called it an “underdog flagship” – meaning a phone that people pay less attention to but is actually very powerful.

Comparing the iQOO Landscape: 11, 12, and 13

If we look back, iQOO has made gradual improvements in each new phone.

The iQOO 11 that came in December 2022 had Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 5000mAh battery and good gaming experience, but was a bit weak in IP rating and brightness.

Then came the iQOO 12 which launched in November 2023 – it had a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, a periscope zoom camera and a bright screen, as well as an IP64 rating, but the battery backup was still not very long.

Now the iQOO 13 has come with the answer to all this – Snapdragon 8 Elite, SiC battery, IP68 rating, super cooling and long software support.

Who Should Buy and Why?

If you are a user who does not want to compromise on performance, cooling and battery in the phone – then iQOO 13 is made for you. This is the perfect choice for gaming lovers and heavy users.

If you want a bright and clear display that works well even in sunlight – then this phone will not disappoint you.

If you want a phone that is waterproof, feature-full, and also fits in your budget – then there are very few better options than iQOO 13 in the market at the moment.

Yes, if you are a camera lover and especially want periscope zoom or excellent output in low-light – then you can also look at phones like iQOO 12.

Final Verdict: A Flagship That Doesn’t Ask for a Flagship Price

iQOO 13 is actually a phone that gives premium flagship level performance and experience, but does not keep its price like that. Yes, it lacks some features like wireless charging and high-end camera features, but the things it has – getting them at such a low price is a big deal in itself.

With the arrival of the Ace Green edition, it has now also got a tadka of personalization and style. Overall, the iQOO 13 is a phone that proves that innovation and affordability can go hand in hand – and that too in a very good way.