OnePlus 13 might feature Pixel-like theft detection feature, but better

OnePlus 13 is expected to launch in January 2025 in India. While the Chinese variant indicates several new features, the company is also planning to make the phone more secure.

In Short

• OnePlus 13 to feature new anti-theft protection.
• Device may support tracking when powered off
• OnePlus 13 is expected to debut in early 2025

OnePlus is reportedly planning to debut a new anti-theft feature with the OnePlus 13. Like Google Pixel smartphones, the upcoming device will also support these features, but it will be a step ahead. Google has introduced new theft protection features for Android, but there are known ways to bypass them.

One typical method is turning off the phone right away, which makes it difficult to track using Find My Device. However, the upcoming OnePlus 13 may include a built-in feature designed to address this issue.

OnePlus 13: New anti-theft feature

Last month, OnePlus launched the Open Beta of OxygenOS 15 for the OnePlus 12, followed by the stable Android 15 update earlier this week. Notably, the beta version featured a label in the power-off menu suggesting the phone could still be tracked even when powered off. However, this feature was removed in the stable release.

Despite the suggestion in the beta version, the OnePlus 12 does not actually support tracking when powered off. A OnePlus representative told Android Authority that the device lacks the necessary hardware for this feature. The OnePlus 12 uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, which doesn't support powered-off tracking.

However, the report also stated that a Qualcomm spokesperson confirmed to a tipster Mishaal Rahman that the FastConnect 7900 platform, found in the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, does support this feature, though it's up to manufacturers to implement it.

The OnePlus 13, which features the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, was recently launched in China, but it has not yet been released globally. We'll have to wait to see if it will include powered-off tracking.

OnePlus 13 to have more storage

OnePlus has introduced a fresh approach to storage management on its devices. The OnePlus 13 will offer users an additional 5GB of space for apps and files, without needing to opt for a higher storage variant.

This extra space is made possible by OxygenOS 15, the latest version of OnePlus's software, which optimises how storage is allocated, according to Android Authority. While this update frees up extra space for users, it reduces the amount reserved for system updates. However, OnePlus doesn't appear to be concerned about this change.

To begin with, OnePlus optimised storage in OxygenOS 15 by analysing and eliminating unnecessary files. This includes removing preloaded wallpapers and duplicate system resources, which can still be downloaded by users if needed.

Additionally, OnePlus reduced the size of the super partition by about 1.7GB. While this reduction may limit space for future updates, OnePlus plans to keep refining OxygenOS to make it more efficient.