OnePlus 13R offers a budget-friendly alternative to the OnePlus 13, featuring a refined design, a durable aluminum frame, and Gorilla Glass 7i protection. It boasts a 6.78-inch OLED display with impressive brightness and color accuracy, and runs on the new Oxygen OS 15 with enhanced AI functionalities. With an IP65 rating and promises of extended software support, the OnePlus 13R combines practicality and aesthetics, making it a compelling choice for budget-conscious users.
OnePlus 13R: A Smart Choice for Budget-Conscious Users
The latest addition to OnePlus’s flagship lineup, the OnePlus 13R, provides an impressive alternative to its more advanced sibling, the OnePlus 13. With slightly less advanced technical specifications, this smartphone comes at a more budget-friendly price. But does it still deliver the value you expect? Let’s dive into our comprehensive review.
Design Evolution with Practical Enhancements
At first glance, the OnePlus 13R’s design closely resembles that of the OnePlus 12R, featuring a round camera module housing three lenses and a flash. Available in two stunning colors—Nebula Black (the model we tested) and Astral Trail (a white variant with concentric circle patterns)—the latter replaces the previous year’s Cool Blue option. However, upon closer inspection, some notable differences emerge.
While the smartphone retains its rounded corners, its edges have been revamped to a flatter, angular design, reminiscent of devices like the Samsung Galaxy S24 and Google Pixel 9. Additionally, the matte back now boasts a refined texture with a more subtle hue. The OnePlus logo has been made less prominent, and the unattractive inscriptions seen on the OnePlus 12R have been eliminated, enhancing the overall aesthetics.
The OnePlus 13R’s back provides a pleasant tactile experience and is resistant to fingerprints. The device features an aluminum frame for added durability. One significant improvement is the introduction of Gorilla Glass 7i protection on both the front and back, which offers comparable durability to the original Gorilla Victus coating, making it an excellent choice for mid-range smartphones. Priced at €769, it is still positioned in the higher-end segment, a slight downgrade from the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the OnePlus 12R.
Measuring 16.2 x 7.6 cm with an 8 mm thickness, the OnePlus 13R has undergone a minor slimming, though it weighs in at 206 grams—just 10 grams more than the Samsung Galaxy S24+. The iconic Alert Slider button remains on the left side, allowing users to swiftly switch to vibrate or silent modes.
Additionally, the OnePlus 13R is now certified with an IP65 rating, a step up from the IP64 certification of its predecessor, meaning it can withstand splashes and brief exposure to water, making it suitable for use in rainy conditions. However, caution is advised to avoid full immersion.
Stunning Display Quality
The OnePlus 13R features a striking 6.78-inch OLED display, mirroring the specifications of the OnePlus 12R. It supports a maximum resolution of 2780 x 1264 pixels (450 ppi), with an option to lower the resolution to 2376 x 1080 pixels to conserve battery life. An automatic mode adjusts the display quality based on the application in use.
With a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz, the display can dynamically adjust between 1 and 120 Hz in adaptive mode, optimizing battery performance. The screen also supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+, with OnePlus claiming it can reproduce 100% of the DCI P3 color gamut—an assertion confirmed through testing with CalMAN Ultimate software. It also covers 149% of the BT 709 gamut and 67% of the BT 2020 gamut.
In terms of brightness, OnePlus maintains the same values as the previous model, reaching up to 1600 nits with peaks of 4500 nits. Our measurements showed that the OnePlus 13R’s display is significantly brighter than that of the OnePlus 12R, achieving nearly 1200 nits in both SDR and HDR settings, compared to 792 nits in SDR and 855 nits in HDR for its predecessor. Although these figures are respectable for mid-range devices, they fall short of the brightness capabilities of some flagship smartphones.
When using the Cinematic color profile, the display offers excellent color accuracy with an average Delta E below 3. The color temperature remains neutral at 6439 K, and users can manually adjust the temperature to suit their preferences.
Oxygen OS 15: A Feature-Rich Experience
Running on Android 15, the OnePlus 13R showcases the revamped Oxygen OS 15, which offers a fresh interface and enhanced performance. The system is quicker, featuring a Shelf menu that provides immediate access to customizable widgets like clock, photos, music, and weather, simply by swiping down on the screen.
OnePlus promises four years of operating system updates and six years of security updates, offering an extended lifespan compared to the OnePlus 12R. This improvement allows users to enjoy their device longer before considering an upgrade.
Artificial intelligence plays a key role in the OnePlus 13R’s functionality, notably with the introduction of Gemini, which takes over from the traditional Google Assistant. AI tools are also integrated for photo editing, enhancing the overall photography experience.
Additional features include the Circle to Search function for Google Chrome and an AI assistant for the OnePlus Notes app that simplifies various tasks. Overall, the OnePlus 13R not only retains the brand’s commitment to quality but also introduces exciting advancements that cater to both aesthetic preferences and practical usage.