What a weird setup and execution.

[TheAngryToaster]

Edit: Helps if I put the actual phone model, the OnePlus 13.

I think OnePlus might be one of those phones that really only makes sense when using them for a while.

The setup process is not straight forward coming from an iPhone. To even transfer your stuff over you have to disable things on the iPhone. In the ended up disable stolen device protection, encrypted backup and iMessage. It tells you to use the cable that came with your iPhone, but that cable doesn't work. I ended up using the one plus cable with the usb-c to usb-a adapter that comes with the OnePlus.

The one thing that drove me up the wall the most was every single feature seems to have a whole separate user agreement. Want to use the side panel, separate terms and services. Want to use the global search, separate terms and services. Would you like to use the weather widget, if you guessed a separate terms and services you would be correct. What a wild way to smash a bunch of features into an OS but give each one a different user agreement with different privacy policies on the same damn phone.

Then you have 2 sets of widget as well and 2 different ways to get to them. Then widgets don't even share the same design philosophy between the 2 sets. It's like part of the phone is OxygenOS and the other part is **** added from OPPO that are completely different. Coming from a background of iOS and Samsung. It's really jarring to see the design of a phones OS fragmented this way on a single device. Its kind of felt like android from back in the day when it was just a mashup of different apps all doing their own damn thing.

The whole bi-monthly update was a surprise to me as well. I was actually surprised that a phone I got at the end of January with an update out of the box was on only on December security patch.

The icing on the cake which is a big one for me is audio. The output isn't that good on OnePlus compared to my iPhone or any previous Samsung. I tested this using Bose quiet comfort and AirPods Pro 2. A lot of that probably has to do with both Apple and Samsung having the ability to adjust sound output based on your hearing profile. It may not seem like it's something you would notice, but all my music is consumed using AirPods Pro 2 with custom setup based on a hearing test. It was super noticeable that music just didn't sound as good or as clear.

I am not a huge camera person but the OnePlus cameras single goal above all else was to make everything single picture as bright as humanly possible. I was doing some test shoots around my apartment and I have a red blanket that is dull. Not according to OnePlus that is the most vibrant red blanket ever created lol.

I guess if you are familiar with OnePlus and have grown accustomed to the OnePlus quirks then the phone will be a sweet upgrade. Coming from outside of OnePlus, this phone is a hard sell for me. There are just to many quirks for a modern software that don't make much sense.

Guess it's back to the trust ol boring iPhone for the time being. Maybe I will pick up the next nothing phone and see how it feels.

 

[thecaringkind]

Respectfully, you definitely sound like a long time Apple user. I've used Apple and Android over the years and often it comes down to personal preference. Admittedly I didn't see many of the issues you mentioned when I transferred everything from an iPhone 15 to the OP 13. In my humble opinion just comparing the two without worrying about the ecosystem, the OnePlus 13 destroys the 15. Better screen, soc, camera, battery, build/durability, charging, the list goes on. About the sound output, I'm not an audiophile however I have several different over the ear Bluetooth headphones like the Sony XM 4, Bowers & Wilkins P X7, etc. I usually fiddle with sound settings in Apple music, (works great on the OP 13), and despite missing Dolby Atmos I have found the sound fidelity to be perfectly fine. There are many variables when it comes to sound and it can be subjective however I had no issues with set up, cameras or sound. In the end I hope you continue to enjoy your Apple experience. For the money, the OnePlus 13 is very, very hard to beat! Cheers!

 

[TheAngryToaster]

Respectfully, you definitely sound like a long time Apple user. I've used Apple and Android over the years and often it comes down to personal preference. Admittedly I didn't see many of the issues you mentioned when I transferred everything from an iPhone 15 to the OP 13. In my humble opinion just comparing the two without worrying about the ecosystem, the OnePlus 13 destroys the 15. Better screen, soc, camera, battery, build/durability, charging, the list goes on. About the sound output, I'm not an audiophile however I have several different over the ear Bluetooth headphones like the Sony XM 4, Bowers & Wilkins P X7, etc. I usually fiddle with sound settings in Apple music, (works great on the OP 13), and despite missing Dolby Atmos I have found the sound fidelity to be perfectly fine. There are many variables when it comes to sound and it can be subjective however I had no issues with set up, cameras or sound. In the end I hope you continue to enjoy your Apple experience. For the money, the OnePlus 13 is very, very hard to beat! Cheers!

I have been using android since the Droid Eris. Frequently switch between android an iPhone since the 5s.

I am glad your experience is better than mine. I just couldn't get over the 4 different design philosophies for the UI. One for OxygenOS, one for the shelf, one for the global search and one for side drawer.

For the price you do actually get a really great phone. A more cohesive design philosophy would make it that much better. Considering that is the focus of the 2 biggest OEM's in the US market.