Planning to buy a flagship but don’t want to exceed the Rs 1,00,000 limit? Then devices like the Galaxy S25 Plus, OnePlus 13, and the iPhone 16 Plus might already be in your mind. However, picking one amongst these three is quite a task, as these devices are meant for different classes of users. With a similar price tag, these are clearly some of the best smartphones under a lakh, but only one of these three devices could be the right choice for you.
Three phones, three different screens
The OnePlus 13 has several AI tricks up its sleeve. (Express Photo)
Amongst the three, the OnePlus 13 has the bigger and slightly better 6.82-inch 2K 120Hz LTPO screen with quad-curved glass protection, while the Galaxy S25 Plus also has a 2K resolution 120Hz display, which is slightly smaller at 6.7 inch, and the iPhone 16 Plus’s 6.7-inch has a lower FHD+ resolution and 60Hz refresh rate.
The Galaxy S25 Plus and the OnePlus 13 also have a higher screen-to-body ratio with a punch-hole cutout, while the iPhone 16 Plus has a pill-shaped cutout that packs all the necessary sensors for Face ID. All three phones have very narrow and uniform bezels, which make them look very premium.
Depending on personal preference, go for the OnePlus 13 if you fancy a slightly curved display, or choose the Galaxy S25 Plus for a flat screen. If you are choosing the iPhone 16 Plus, the display will definitely be one of the major drawbacks, especially among these three models.
Built like flagships, with minor nuances
The latest OnePlus 13 is powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. (Express Photo)
The OnePlus 13, Galaxy S25 Plus, and the iPhone 16 Plus have a premium glass-metal sandwich design. While the Galaxy S25 Plus and the iPhone 16 Plus have an IP68 rating against water and dust resistance, the OnePlus 13 goes a step ahead and offers an IP69 rating, which will protect the device against high-pressure and high and low-temperature water.
While the iPhone 16 Plus offers an extra pair of buttons – an action button and a camera control, the OnePlus has an alert slider, while there isn’t anything exclusive on the Galaxy S25 Plus. No matter which one you pick, all three devices will deliver a premium and sturdy build.
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Cameras that cater to different audiences
Galaxy S25 series
On paper, the triple camera setup of the OnePlus 13 sounds superior to the Galaxy S25 and the iPhone 16 Plus. In the real world, while there are some advantages to the OnePlus 13 with its high-resolution 50 MP ultra-wide angle and telephoto lens, Galaxy S25 Plus also offers a solid triple camera setup, and the iPhone 16 Plus’s dual camera setup is also quite capable, especially in terms of videography.
Although the OnePlus 13 and the Galaxy S25 Plus can record up to 8K resolution video, the 4K 60fps output from the iPhone 16 Plus offers better colours, stability, and more consistent footage with fewer glitches or frame drops, and it can also shoot 3D videos (spatial videos), which can be played back on Vision Pro.
If you are someone who loves taking portrait images, the OnePlus 13 can be a better pick, which also has an AI Zoom feature that enhances details and boosts clarity even at a higher zoom range. Whereas the Galaxy S25 Plus is better as a whole package, the iPhone 16 Plus also manages to offer good photography and videography experience in almost any lighting condition.
Performance and software experience
The iPhone 16 model will be capable of running Apple Intelligence. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
The A18-powered iPhone 16 Plus is easily one of the most powerful smartphones in the world, and amongst the three, it is also the only smartphone that can handle actual console-grade AAA titles. This combined with iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence, the iPhone 16 Plus is clearly ahead of the curve. And if you already are an iPhone user, I don’t see any reason not to upgrade to the iPhone 16 Plus rather than the OnePlus 13 and the Galaxy S25 Plus.
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However, the Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered OnePlus 13 and the Galaxy S25 Plus are also very capable, minus the AAA gaming capabilities. Both phones offer top-of-the-line CPU, GPU, and NPU performance, and can handle any app or game that you throw at it. In fact, OxygenOS 15 on the OnePlus 13 and OneUI 7 on the Galaxy S25 Plus offer a smooth and refined software experience.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus will also get seven years of OS upgrades, while the iPhone 16 Plus is likely to get five major OS updates, and lastly, the OnePlus 13 will get four years of major OS updates.
OnePlus 13, the value champ
The latest OnePlus 13 is powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. (Express Photo)
Amongst the three, the OnePlus 13 is the most affordable model with a starting price range of Rs 69,999. The iPhone 16 Plus costs Rs 79,900, while the Galaxy S25 Plus is the most expensive of the lot with a starting price of Rs 99,999 for the base model with 12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage.
Do note that, with additional bank offers and discounts, all three phones can be bought for a slightly lower price. Also note that the base variant of the iPhone 16 Plus just offers 128 GB of internal storage, while the OnePlus 13 and the Galaxy S25 Plus start at 256 GB of storage. If you are considering a phone in this price range, we recommend getting a model with at least 256 GB of storage, and the iPhone 16 Plus with 256 GB will cost Rs 84,900, which is still cheaper than the Galaxy S25 Plus.
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On top of that, if you want a phone with a terabyte of storage, the OnePlus 13 is the only choice, and the 24 GB RAM, and 1 TB variant of the OnePlus 13 costs Rs 89,999.
Three phones, meant for different users
Amongst the three, the OnePlus 13 seems to offer everything that one expects from a flagship smartphone, including a big 6,000 mAh battery with 100W charging support, the iPhone 16 Plus seems to deliver an excellent software experience and performance, while the Galaxy S25 Plus sits between the two.
