iQOO 13 review

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Introduction and specs

The iQOO 13 is one of the first Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered smartphones on the market, but that's not its biggest selling point. The handset is one of the most affordable solutions running Qualcomm's latest and greatest.

The device has already launched in China, and it's now making strides outside the country. In addition to the Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC, the iQOO 13 boasts impressive hardware - an LTPO OLED panel with 144Hz refresh rate, a potent set of three 50MP cameras on the back, a huge 6,000 mAh battery (6,150 mAh in regions outside of India), 120W fast charging and an ultrasonic fingerprint reader.

vivo iQOO 13 specs at a glance:

• Body: 163.4x76.7x8.0mm, 207g; Glass front (Schott Xensation Alpha), aluminum frame, glass back; IP68/IP69 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min), RGB LED light on the back.
• Display: 6.82" LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1800 nits (HBM), 6500 nits (peak), 1440x3168px resolution, 19.8:9 aspect ratio, 510ppi.
• Chipset: Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm): Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M); Adreno 830.
• Memory: 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM; UFS 4.0 or UFS 4.1.
• OS/Software: Android 15, up to 4 major Android upgrades, Funtouch 15 (International), OriginOS 5 (China).
• Rear camera: Wide (main): 50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm, 1/1.56", PDAF, OIS; Telephoto: 50 MP, f/1.9, 46mm, 1/2.93", PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom; Ultra wide angle: 50 MP, f/2.0, 1/2.76", AF.
• Front camera: 32 MP, f/2.5, (wide).
• Video capture: Rear camera: 8K@30fps, 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS; Front camera: 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps.
• Battery: 6150mAh (International), 6,000 (India); 120W wired, PPS, 100% in 30 min (advertised).
• Connectivity: 5G; Dual SIM; Wi-Fi 7; BT 5.4, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, LHDC 5; NFC; Infrared port.
• Misc: Fingerprint reader (under display, ultrasonic); stereo speakers.

The IQOO 13 is not just about performance. It shapes up to be a well-rounded smartphone at a very competitive price. Vivo's more budget-friendly sub-brand doesn't compromise on build quality either. The iQOO 13 ticks almost all flagship checkboxes, including long software support.

Still, the iQOO 13 isn't the only Snapdragon 8 Elite option on the market, so let's dive deeper to see if the 13 is worth the hype.

Too bad the handset's availability is limited to some markets, mostly Asian.

Unboxing the iQOO 13

It's refreshing to see the iQOO 13 comes with a full package - USB-C to USB-C cable for charging and data transfer and a 120W-capable charger.

There's also a transparent silicone case for extra protection.