Is the OPPO Reno13 5G the perfect balance between style and performance? With its eye-catching Plume White design, powerful Dimensity 8350 chipset, and a feature-packed AI camera system, this smartphone aims to cater to users who need both functionality and aesthetics. But does it truly deliver on its promises? Let’s take a closer look at this full review.
OPPO Reno13 5G Specs:
- Display: 6.59-inch AMOLED, 1256 x 2760 pixels, 120Hz adaptive refresh rate
- Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 8350
- RAM: 8GB/12GB
- Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB
- Rear Cameras: 50MP (f/1.8, OIS) + 8MP ultra-wide + 2MP monochrome
- Selfie Camera: 50MP (f/2.0, AF)
- Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC
- Other Features: IP69 water and dust resistance, Underwater Photography Mode
- OS: ColorOS 15 based on Android 15
- Battery: 5600mAh, 80W SUPERVOOC fast charging
- Colors: Plume White, Luminous Blue
Unboxing the device reveals the usual stuff you’d get from OPPO: The phone itself, documents for quick guides and warranty, the 80-watt power and charging cable, the USB-A to C cable, the travel-inspired clear TPU case, and the SIM tray ejector tool.
Design and Construction
The OPPO Reno13 5G, at first glance showcases a design that combines elegance and durability, making it far superior in terms of craftsmanship compared to its predecessor. The more you hold and touch and feel it, the more you realize that you’re looking at a phone that’s really well-made.
It features a one-piece sculpted glass back, which provides a seamless and smooth feel while enhancing grip. The Plume White variant highlights OPPO’s unique Plume Texture and Butterfly Shadow Effect. This intricate design reflects light dynamically, giving the phone a distinct aesthetic appeal reminiscent of flowing feathers.
A significant addition to the Reno13 5G is its aerospace-grade aluminum frame, which improves structural integrity and ensures a comfortable grip. The aluminum material increases the phone’s bending resistance by 20% and enhances drop protection by 36% compared to plastic frames. Moreover, the device carries an IP69 rating, making it highly resistant to dust and water, allowing underwater use at depths of up to 2 meters for 30 minutes. The sides are flat, reminiscent of current smartphone design trends.
In terms of handling, the device measures 157.90mm in height, 74.73mm in width, and a slim 7.24mm thickness, making it comfortable to hold even during long periods of use. The phone’s weight of 181g ensures it remains lightweight while still feeling premium in hand. The subtle curve along the edges further enhances grip, preventing accidental slips.
OPPO Reno13 5G Review: Display and Audio
The Reno13 5G features a 6.59-inch AMOLED display with a 1.5K resolution (1256 x 2760 pixels), providing vibrant colors and crisp details. The 93.4% screen-to-body ratio with nearly-even bezel thickness at all sides ensures an immersive viewing experience, while the 120Hz adaptive refresh rate allows for smooth scrolling and gaming performance.
With a peak brightness of 1200 nits, the screen remains legible even under direct sunlight, while its lowest brightness setting is comfortable to use at bedtime or low-light environments. The display is certified with HDR10+, delivering high dynamic range content with enhanced contrast and color accuracy. Eye comfort is also a priority, with a low-blue-light solution certified by BOE SGS, reducing eye strain during prolonged use.
In terms of audio, the device is equipped with dual stereo speakers with the call speaker acting as the pair to the bottom-firing one, offering an immersive sound experience. The Ultra Volume Mode increases sound output without distortion, and Holo Audio enhances spatial audio effects, providing a more engaging media experience. There’s no 3.5mm audio jack, so you can either use a USB-C wired headset or a USB-C to 3.5mm audio converter, or wirelessly through your preferred Bluetooth audio. Whether watching movies or playing games, the Reno13 5G delivers clear and dynamic audio that enhances the overall entertainment experience.
OPPO Reno13 5G Review: Camera
The Reno13 5G boasts a versatile camera setup, led by a 50MP main camera with an f/1.8 aperture, supported by Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) for improved low-light performance and reduced shake. The camera system also includes an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens with a 116° field of view, ideal for capturing landscapes and group shots. Additionally, a 2MP monochrome camera helps enhance depth and detail in portrait shots.
OPPO has packed several AI-driven features into the camera system, including AI Night Portrait, which enhances nighttime selfies with better noise reduction and sharper facial features. New modes are also introduced in the camera system including modes for stage, silhouette, and fireworks. The AI Unblur function restores motion blur, making moving subjects appear crisp. The AI Reflection Remover and AI Eraser 2.0 help eliminate unwanted reflections and objects from photos with a single tap, ensuring polished final results.
The front-facing 50MP selfie camera features an f/2.0 aperture and autofocus capabilities, ensuring sharp and detailed self-portraits. The selfie shooter benefits from AI enhancements, offering better skin tone correction and facial contouring.
The phone also introduces an Underwater Photography Mode, leveraging its IP69 rating to capture underwater shots with optimized color and contrast adjustments. AI-powered tools such as AI Livephoto also enable users to capture dynamic shots by recording 1.5 seconds before and after pressing the shutter button. The AI Best Face feature ensures users can select the most flattering expression for group shots.
For most scenarios, OPPO delivered well with its photo and video taking capabilities. We are happy to have seen crisp photos, even on portrait photos at nighttime settings. Underwater photos are also great, but do note that this only works for bodies of freshwater so avoid using it in saltwater (seas, etc) as it may corrode the phone and its parts. Here are some sample photos:
The device can capture up to 4K resolution at 60 frames per second on both front and back cameras. Video quality is just the same as what you get with photos – they are vivid, full of detail, and have reasonable depth. Here are some sample videos, in 1080p:
OPPO Reno13 5G Review: Performance and Connectivity
Powering the Reno13 5G is the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 chipset, an octa-core processor designed to balance power efficiency and performance. The CPU offers a 20% improvement in processing performance, while the GPU delivers a 60% boost in graphics capabilities, making the device well-suited for gaming and multitasking.
As such, we’ve seen games such as Honor of Kings, Mobile Legends, Pokemon Unite, Asphalt Legends Unite, and Genshin Impact all have favorable performance even at higher settings. When playing for longer periods of time, though, warm heat can be felt at the upper part of the device.
The phone runs on ColorOS 15.0 based on Android 15, which brings a refined and intuitive user experience. OPPO’s AI HyperBoost technology further enhances gaming performance by stabilizing frame rates and managing power consumption efficiently. The lone variant (12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage) would give you around 480GB of free space upon first opening the device, which leaves you plenty of storage to create content.
The Reno13 5G supports WiFi 6, offering faster data speeds and improved network efficiency. It also feature LinkBoost 2.0, optimizing signal strength in weak areas and ensuring stable connectivity with 11 antennas strategically placed around the device. Surprisingly enough, I get better signal reception when I switched to using this device. In case the signal isn’t that favorable especially during crowded areas like concerts or events, you can use the built-in BeaconLink to connect to fellow Reno users without the need for data. Additionally, OPPO’s Tap-to-Share feature allows seamless file sharing between Android and iOS devices.
OPPO Reno13 5G Review: Battery
The Reno13 5G is equipped with a 5600mAh battery, providing extended usage times for demanding tasks. OPPO claims that the battery retains over 80% of its capacity after five years of daily charging cycles. A full heavy use with two SIMs on standby, one being used for mobile data throughout the day, and constant app switching on social media, camera, calls, and SMS gave us a real-time usage of 12 hours. Light to moderate usage would equate to more hours of battery life, while constant gaming may be at around 5-6 hours. Standby from 100 to 15% with 2 SIM cards active took more than 2 days.
The device supports 80W SUPERVOOC fast charging, which can recharge the battery to 17% in just 5 minutes and fully charge it in under 47 minutes. I also appreciate the fact that OPPO phones now come with support for PD charging, so you can charge with your favorite third-party charger brands for up to 33W. Sadly there’s no wireless charging in here.
OPPO Reno13 5G Review: The Rundown
The OPPO Reno13 5G is an excellent option for users seeking a blend of premium aesthetics, powerful performance, and practical features. Whether you prioritize photography, gaming, or all-day battery life, this smartphone is designed to handle a variety of tasks effortlessly. Users might be shocked with the price increase compared to its previous generation model, butthe Reno13 5G brings in a significant, holistic approach to a more refined smartphone experience.
The OPPO Reno13 5G is part of the OPPO Reno13 Series 5G and is now available for pre-order until February 13, with select availability in OPPO stores across the country. See here for more details on pre-order details including postpaid plan selections. Pre-order the OPPO Reno13 5G on Lazada and Shopee.
