As a tech enthusiast and someone who genuinely roots for underdog brands disrupting the market, I had high hopes for the iQOO 13. But after an extended usage for 6 months now, it's clear that the device feels more like a spec-sheet warrior than a genuinely refined flagship experience. We already know it's one of the most powerful devices in this segment.

However, here's a breakdown of the concerns, mentioned in descending order of its importance:

⚠️ Basic Feature Omissions in a "Flagship":

1.🔋 No Battery Charge Limit

For a premium device in 2025, the absence of charge limit/battery protection feature is just unacceptable. Competitor brands offer it natively (80% charging cap) even on some low end devices like an — why is iQOO 13 lagging behind?

2. 📶 No 5.5G / NR-DC Support

While competitors with the same SoC have unlocked 5.5G (NR-DC & mmWave) capabilities, iQOO 13 doesn't support it. You're using the latest Qualcomm platform & chipset (Snapdragon 8 Elite) but falling short on actual connectivity innovation - and I don't think it would be a part of iQOO 13 in future.

3. 💾 UFS 4.1? Still a Mystery on 256GB Variant

Initially, it seemed the 256GB variant had UFS 4.0, with a promised OTA upgrade to UFS 4.1. But there's no official communication or changelog confirming this. Transparency matters in the flagship segment.

4. 📸 Camera Downgrade in comparison to previous flagship

Dynamic range? Weak. Detail retention? Inconsistent. Processing? Over-sharpened or smudged. 100x periscope zoom? Not available. Compared to iQOO 12, the iQOO 13's rear camera setup is definitely like a step back, not forward.

5. 🤳 Selfie Camera = Worst in Class

Low-light selfies come out hazy, soft, and lack dynamic range. And don't even get me started on front camera video stabilization, it's basically non-existent. Poor optics and weak ISP tuning here.

6. 🔥 Fast Charging = Fast Heating

Charging often hits 45–50°C during peak summer usage — that's dangerously high. It makes using the phone while charging almost unbearable and could degrade battery health faster than expected.

7. 🎮 Game Frame Interpolation & Bypass Charging = Lag City

The hyped 144 FPS Game Frame Interpolation system is poorly optimized. It often throttles, lags, and stutters after extended gameplay. Same case with bypass charging - the device heats up or throttles after extended gameplay. The SoC is powerful, but the software doesn't harness it effectively.

8.📱 FunTouch OS Feels Outdated & Barebones AI Experience

FunTouch OS feels like it hasn't evolved in years. There's minimal UI-UX innovation, & absence of intelligent features that are becoming standard in other custom UIs. 

9. 🎧 LHDC Support = 🤷‍♂️

Even with high-end wireless earbuds, the performance of superior audio codecs is inconsistent and unreliable. Even being a flagship iQOO device worth more than 50k, we can't get LHDC. Either the codec support is broken, or there's serious Bluetooth stack mismanagement.

🧩 Quality Control History Still Haunts

Let's not forget that iQOO already has a track record of hardware inconsistencies, such as:

• ⚠️ Display gap issues (especially in iQOO 13 series)
• 🤐 Subpar thermal management in midrange devices
• 💥 Dead motherboard issues in earlier devices

🧭 Final Thoughts

The iQOO 13 could've been a true flagship killer, but it currently feels like an unfinished product relying on raw specs to win attention. If you're targeting power users, gamers, or tech-savvy customers, these things matter.

Please take this as constructive criticism — we want to see iQOO succeed and compete at the top. But right now, the experience simply doesn't justify the "flagship" label.

Sincerely,

A concerned power user & tech enthusiast