OnePlus 13R Review: The best flagship-killer from OnePlus is here
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase from the links on this page.
OnePlus 13R Intro
The OnePlus 13R lands with a clear mission: to redefine what you can expect from a mid-range smartphone. Positioned just below the premium OnePlus 13, the 13R provides flagship-like specs without burning a hole in your wallet. But this isn’t just about cost-cutting; it’s about smart compromises and thoughtful additions.
The OnePlus 13R packs some serious hardware, including the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and a whopping 6,000mAh battery, all wrapped in a premium aluminum and Gorilla Glass 7i design. It even includes practical features like improved water resistance and AI-powered software enhancements in OxygenOS 15. Starting at $599.99 USD, the phone is a tempting option for those looking to maximize value without sacrificing performance.
But does it deliver where it counts—camera quality, display performance, and day-to-day usability? Let’s dive into every aspect of the OnePlus 13R to see if it’s worth your hard-earned money.
Table of Contents:
- Specs
- Design and Display
- Camera
- Performance
- Software
- Battery and Charging
- Audio Quality and Haptics
- Should you consider it?
Also read:
OnePlus 13R Specs
Finally, no more useless macro!
Let's start with an overview of the OnePlus 13R specs:
| Specs | OnePlus 13R |
|---|---|
| Size and Weight | 161.3 x 74.5 x 8.4 mm, 205 g |
| Display | 6.78-inch AMOLED, 2800 x 1260 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| Software | OxygenOS 15 (Android 15), 4 years of updates |
| Camerasos | Main: 50 MP Telephoto: 50 MP Ultra-wide: 8 MP Selfie: 16 MP |
| Battery Size | 6,000 mAh |
| Charging Speeds | 80W wired charge |
| Memory | 12GB/256GB, 16GB/512GB |
| Price | Starting at $599.99 USD |
On paper, the OnePlus 13R is a direct competitor to Google’s Pixel 8a, which is priced similarly but comes with a smaller 4,385mAh battery and a mid-range Tensor G3 chipset. The Pixel excels in software and camera optimization, but it can’t match the raw power of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or the OnePlus’s robust battery life.
Compared to the OnePlus 12R, the 13R boasts significant improvements, including a newer processor, better camera hardware, and a larger battery (6,000mAh vs. 5,000mAh). These aren’t minor tweaks—they’re meaningful upgrades that enhance the overall experience.
OnePlus 13R Design and Display
Polishing and tweaking
The design has improved, but that massive circular camera module is still a bit of an eyesore. | Image by PhoneArena.
OnePlus has stepped up its design game with the 13R. The flat aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass 7i protection on both the front and back give it a premium look and feel. This isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about durability. Gorilla Glass 7i offers better resistance to scratches and drops than the Gorilla Glass 5 used on the OnePlus 12R.
The phone is slightly heavier than its predecessor at 205 grams, but this added heft makes it feel solid in hand. It’s available in two colors:
The phone is slightly heavier than its predecessor at 205 grams, but this added heft makes it feel solid in hand. It’s available in two colors:
- Nebula Noir: A sleek black finish that resists fingerprints surprisingly well.
- Astral Trail: A bright, reflective silver for those who want their phone to stand out.
The jump from IP54 to IP65 water and dust resistance is a welcome addition. While this doesn’t make the phone waterproof, it does offer better protection against splashes and light dust exposure. For context, the Pixel 8a has an IP67 rating, which is slightly better, but most users won’t notice the difference in daily use.
Charger included, but no screen protector or case in the OnePlus 13R box. | Image by PhoneArena.
OnePlus is generous enough to add the 80W charging brick inside the box, which is required to charge the 13R at maximum speed. You also get a Type-A to C Cable, documentation and a SIM tray ejector.
The 6.78-inch ProXDR AMOLED display is a standout feature. With a 2800 x 1260 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, it offers sharp visuals, smooth animations, and excellent color reproduction. Compared to the Pixel 8a’s 6.1-inch OLED with a 1080p resolution and 90Hz refresh rate, the 13R clearly pulls ahead in terms of visual real estate and smoothness.
The TÜV Rheinland Intelligent Eye Care 4.0 certification ensures reduced eye strain during long usage sessions, while Aqua Touch 2.0 keeps the display responsive even with gloves or wet fingers. Brightness levels are top-notch, making the phone easy to use outdoors—even in direct sunlight.
The OnePlus 13R shares the same display with the pricier OnePlus 13, so it is no surprise that it shows the same level of quality and performance. It is without a doubt one of the best displays we have seen on a mid-range phone so far.
The fingerprint sensor on the OnePlus 13R might not be an ultrasonic one like with the flagship OnePlus 13, but it is still plenty quick and accurate. It was good enough to avoid any annoyance on my part at least.
OnePlus 13R Camera
A much better system then ever before
The camera system on the 13R immediately tops that of its predecessor. | Image by PhoneArena.
Cameras are often the Achilles’ heel of mid-range smartphones, but the OnePlus 13R aims to change that narrative. OnePlus has ditched the macro lens from the 12R and replaced it with a 50 MP telephoto lens. The result? A much more versatile camera system that caters to both casual users and photography enthusiasts.
The 50 MP Sony LYT-700 sensor with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) is a significant upgrade. Compared to the Pixel 8a’s 64 MP main camera, the 13R offers comparable performance in well-lit conditions but edges ahead in low-light scenarios thanks to its larger sensor and better stabilization.
The addition of a 50 MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom makes the 13R stand out in its class. Portraits and close-ups look sharp and detailed, unlike the Pixel 8a, which lacks a dedicated zoom lens.
The 8 MP ultra-wide lens remains unchanged from the OnePlus 12R, but software tweaks have improved edge clarity and color consistency.
The 16 MP front-facing camera is decent, but not groundbreaking. It gets the job done for video calls and selfies but doesn’t offer the advanced processing you’d get on a Pixel.
OnePlus has added a slew of AI features, including:
The 50 MP Sony LYT-700 sensor with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) is a significant upgrade. Compared to the Pixel 8a’s 64 MP main camera, the 13R offers comparable performance in well-lit conditions but edges ahead in low-light scenarios thanks to its larger sensor and better stabilization.
The addition of a 50 MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom makes the 13R stand out in its class. Portraits and close-ups look sharp and detailed, unlike the Pixel 8a, which lacks a dedicated zoom lens.
The 16 MP front-facing camera is decent, but not groundbreaking. It gets the job done for video calls and selfies but doesn’t offer the advanced processing you’d get on a Pixel.
OnePlus has added a slew of AI features, including:
- Dual Exposure Algorithm for better dynamic range.
- AI Unblur to reduce motion blur.
- AI Reflection Eraser to remove unwanted reflections.
Swapping the 2 MP macro for a 50 MP 2X telephoto camera is probably the best decision OnePlus has ever made regarding the "R" line. The camera delivers exceptional quality not only at its optical 2X zoom range, but also at 3X, 5X, and even 15X. However, the 13R is still a mid-range phone, so don't expect the same level of performance from this camera when there is not enough light or you are shaking the phone too much.
The 50 MP main camera also does alright, but not so much at low light. The colors look natural but not bland, and there's plenty of detail in each shot. It was also quite reliable as a point and shoot, delivering consistent image quality.
The 8 MP ultra-wide camera, on the other hand, is a bit of a hit and miss. Sometimes the lack of resolution really shows and the lack of detail is apparent. It also changes to colors and oversaturates them a bit. That said, you have to keep in mind that this is not a flagship phone, and it can't all be great.
Video Quality
The OnePlus 13R camera system is held back by shaky footage due to bad stabilization. The telephoto camera is also not that great when it comes to video recording, especially at low light. It's also quite a bummer not being able to switch to the ultra-wide camera while recording 4K footage.
OnePlus 13R Performance & Hardware
Properly equipped
The 13R's performance might not be as good as the latest flagships, but it is as good as last year's. | Image by PhoneArena.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset sets the OnePlus 13R apart from its competitors. It’s a flagship-grade processor that breezes through demanding tasks like gaming, video editing, and multitasking. In contrast, the Pixel 8a’s Tensor G3, while optimized for AI and machine learning, can’t match the raw power of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
The phone comes with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage, ensuring quick load times and smooth performance. However, there’s no microSD card slot, which could be a drawback for users who need expandable storage.
The OnePlus 13R manages to completely surpass in performance one of its main competitors, the Pixel 8a. It also did noticeably better than the OnePlus 12R, its predecessor. That's to be expected though, provided that it shares the same silicon as last year's OnePlus flagship.
OnePlus 13R Software
A fresh new feel and going back to the roots of OnePlus
OxygenOS 15 strikes a balance between simplicity and functionality. It’s clean, fast, and packed with intelligent features like Task Prediction, which preloads apps you’re likely to use next, and real-time translations during video calls. Compared to the vanilla Android experience, OxygenOS feels more feature-rich and customizable.
As for the software support, OnePlus promises four years of Android updates and six years of security patches, which is one year more than what the OnePlus 12R got.
As for the software support, OnePlus promises four years of Android updates and six years of security patches, which is one year more than what the OnePlus 12R got.
Here are some of the standout features of OxygenOS 15:
- Task Prediction: This feature uses machine learning to anticipate your next actions and pre-load apps or features accordingly. For example, if you frequently open a specific app after checking your email, OxygenOS 15 will pre-load that app in the background to speed up the process.
- Smart Folders: The home screen folders now come with added functionality, such as allowing you to open apps directly from within the folder without needing to expand it.
- Real-Time Translations: One of the most exciting additions, this feature allows for live text translations during video calls or within messaging apps. It could be a game-changer for people who frequently communicate across languages.
- Improved Gaming Features: OxygenOS 15 introduces an updated gaming mode that prioritizes performance and reduces distractions. It can also block notifications, optimize the CPU/GPU for gaming, and offer real-time performance stats during gameplay.
- Photo Clarity Engine 2.0: This new image processing algorithm works behind the scenes to improve photo quality, particularly in low-light conditions or high-contrast scenes
Battery life? They’ve worked on that too. The update introduces smarter charging patterns to help the battery last longer and better thermal management to keep your phone cooler when it’s working hard. Overall, OxygenOS 15 feels like a good mix of AI-driven innovation and practical updates that make everyday use smoother.
OnePlus 13R Battery
Fast and enduring
The 6,000mAh battery is a beast, easily lasting a full day of heavy use. This might seem like a major improvement over the OnePlus 12R’s 5,000mAh battery but as you will see from our battery life test results below, it definitely does not mean the 13R lasts longer.
The OnePlus 12R was in our top 10 best phones with the longest battery life, and it comfortably outlasts the OnePlus 13R all of our tests. It even beats the OnePlus 13 in our Video Streaming and 3D Gaming battery life tests. So, suffice it to say, the 13R is a bit of a downgrade in this area, although still very reliable.
The 80W wired charging (100W globally) ensures you can go from 0 to 100% in under an hour. While the Pixel 8a supports only 18W wired charging, the 13R’s speeds feel almost futuristic in comparison. Unfortunately, there is still no wireless charging support, just like with the 12R.
It's hard to beat 80W wired charging, but we would have liked to see at least some wireless charging capabilities. | Image by PhoneArena.
PhoneArena Charging Test Results:
While the supported charging input of the OnePlus 13R is the same as its predecessor, it takes about twice as long to fully charge compared to the 12R because of the larger battery inside.
OnePlus 13R Audio Quality and Haptics
The stereo speakers on the OnePlus 13R deliver loud, clear, and well-balanced audio. They’re perfect for streaming, gaming, or casual music listening. While the Pixel 8a also offers stereo speakers, the sound quality on the 13R feels slightly richer. That said, there is some distortion and compression once you turn it up to the maximum.
Haptic feedback is an area where the 13R does well. The vibrations are precise and sharp, adding a tactile layer to notifications and interactions.
Should you consider it?
The OnePlus 13R is arguably in the top 3 mid-range phones you can purchase in North America. | Image by PhoneArena.
The OnePlus 13R is a well-rounded smartphone that punches above its weight class. It outperforms competitors like the Pixel 8a in areas like raw performance, display quality, and battery life, while also offering meaningful upgrades over the OnePlus 12R.
However, it’s not without its flaws. The lack of wireless charging and expandable storage might be deal-breakers for some, and the camera, while improved, still falls short of Google’s computational photography wizardry.
For $599.99, the OnePlus 13R delivers exceptional value. If you’re looking for a mid-range phone that feels anything but mid-range, this is one of the best options out there.
For $599.99, the OnePlus 13R delivers exceptional value. If you’re looking for a mid-range phone that feels anything but mid-range, this is one of the best options out there.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed: