Good news for OnePlus 13: All versions will have the same high-level water resistance

The OnePlus 13 is set to make its global debut on January 7 during the company’s Winter Launch Event. This includes its much-anticipated arrival in the US. While the phone has been available in China for a few months, OnePlus traditionally waits before releasing its flagship to international markets.

One of the standout features of the OnePlus 13 is its IP69-certified dust and water resistance, which is a notable improvement over the OnePlus 12’s IP65 rating. The company has confirmed that this enhanced certification will also apply to the international models.

Historically, OnePlus hasn’t consistently pursued high-level IP certifications for its devices. For example, the OnePlus 9 in 2021 had an IP68 rating, but only for models sold through T-Mobile. The unlocked versions lacked the certification. A similar approach was taken with the T-Mobile variant of the OnePlus 10 Pro, which also had an IP68 rating, while other versions did not.

More recently, the OnePlus 11 was released with an IP64 rating, and the OnePlus 12 followed with a slight upgrade to IP65. Now, with the OnePlus 13, the company is finally raising the bar to IP69, marking a big step forward.

The difference between IP68 and IP69 lies in their levels of protection. While IP68 focuses on water submersion, IP69 also ensures the device can withstand high water pressure and temperature.

This makes the OnePlus 13 one of the few phones currently offering such robust resistance straight out of the box. For those interested in the exact technical standards, more details can be found on the IEC website.

This new certification gives OnePlus a competitive edge over flagship models like the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Pixel 9 series, both of which only feature IP68 ratings. However, it remains uncertain if Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S25 Ultra, expected to be announced on January 22, will match the OnePlus 13’s IP69 standard.

Meanwhile, the OnePlus 13R, known as the OnePlus Ace 5 in China, will continue to offer the older IP65 rating, sticking to the previous benchmark.

The global release of the OnePlus 13 with its advanced durability features is sure to draw attention and set a new standard in flagship smartphones.