iPhone 17e vs OnePlus 13

The iPhone 17e and the OnePlus 13 come at the same question from different worlds. The 17e is Apple's most affordable iPhone, offering the iOS experience for less. The OnePlus 13 is a full Android flagship that packs in top-tier hardware for the money. There is only about £100 between them, so this is really a choice of operating system — and of how much raw hardware you want for your money. Here is how they compare, drawn from independent expert reviews of each, with current UK prices.

At a glance

The iPhone 17e (around £599.00) keeps things simple: Apple's A19 chip, a single 48 MP camera, a 4005 mAh battery and up to 512 GB of storage, all running iOS. The OnePlus 13 (around £699.99) is the hardware heavyweight: a flagship Snapdragon chip, a triple Hasselblad camera, a much bigger battery and a large, very bright screen. For about £100 more, the OnePlus gives you far more on paper — but the iPhone offers iOS and a more compact body.

Check the iPhone 17e price on Amazon · Check the OnePlus 13 price on Amazon

Operating system

This is the first and biggest decision. The iPhone 17e runs iOS, simple and consistent, with tight links to other Apple devices. The OnePlus 13 runs Android with OxygenOS, one of the cleanest and fastest Android skins, and far more open to customisation. Choose the ecosystem you already use — it shapes daily life with the phone more than any single spec. Both are supported with updates for years to come.

Design and build

The two are sized very differently. The iPhone 17e is the smaller, simpler phone, built around a 6.1-inch display in an aluminium body just 7.8 mm thick. The OnePlus 13 is a much larger flagship at around 213 g, built around a 6.82-inch screen, and it adds tough IP68 and IP69 water resistance. Both feel well made; the iPhone is the more pocketable and easy to use one-handed, the OnePlus the bigger-screened and more rugged of the pair.

Screen

Here the OnePlus pulls well ahead. The iPhone 17e has a good 6.1-inch OLED, but it runs at a standard 60 Hz and peaks at around 1200 nits. The OnePlus 13's 6.82-inch panel is larger, sharper at 2K, runs at a smooth 120 Hz and hits a much higher 4500 nits of peak brightness. If the screen matters to you — for scrolling, gaming or outdoor visibility — the OnePlus is a clear step up; the iPhone's display is perfectly good, but plainer and slower.

Performance

Both are quick, but aimed differently. The iPhone 17e runs Apple's A19 chip with 8 GB of RAM, which handles everyday tasks smoothly. The OnePlus 13 runs the flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite with up to 16 GB of RAM, putting it among the fastest phones on the market. For everyday use both feel responsive; for gaming and heavy multitasking the OnePlus's flagship chip and extra memory give it a clear advantage over time.

Cameras

The OnePlus offers far more versatility. The iPhone 17e has a single 48 MP rear camera, backed by a 12 MP front camera — a good setup for everyday photos, but with no ultra-wide and no telephoto. The OnePlus 13 has a triple 50 MP system co-engineered with Hasselblad, including a 73 mm telephoto, covering wide, ultra-wide and zoom shots. The iPhone takes fine pictures for casual use, but the OnePlus's three lenses and real zoom reach make it the far more capable camera phone. If photography matters to you, the OnePlus wins comfortably.

Battery and charging

This is another big OnePlus win. The iPhone 17e carries a 4005 mAh battery and charges relatively slowly, with 15 W MagSafe charging. The OnePlus 13 packs a much larger 6000 mAh battery and charges at a blistering 100 W wired plus 50 W wirelessly. Both will get through a day, but the OnePlus lasts noticeably longer and refuels far faster; on endurance and charging speed it is in a different league.

Price and verdict

At the time of writing the iPhone 17e is around £599.00 and the OnePlus 13 around £699.99, so the OnePlus costs about £100 more.

Buy the iPhone 17e if you want iOS and Apple's ecosystem in the most affordable, most compact form: the A19 chip, a solid single 48 MP camera and a good 4005 mAh battery, for the lowest iPhone price. It is more than enough for most people who simply want an iPhone.

Buy the OnePlus 13 if you want the most hardware for your money and are happy with Android: a bigger, brighter 120 Hz screen, a versatile triple Hasselblad camera, a huge battery with the fastest charging and flagship power — for only about £100 more. Decide your operating system first; if you lean Android, the OnePlus gives you dramatically more phone for the money.