OnePlus 13R Review: Great Phone Nice Price

Affiliate Disclosure: In obedience to the Federal Trade Commission’s guide (FTC), 
and to avoid any misinterpretation of our visitors on freefundas.in, 
it is to inform you that we may earn some commission at no extra cost to you(the visitor)
when you(the visitor) buy any of the services or products listed on our website like 
mobile phones, Gadgets, Laptops, etc. from their merchant site.

A new year, 2025, has arrived, bringing with it the latest series of OnePlus smartphones. The OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R were launched in India in early January, featuring cutting-edge hardware and an attractive design. Additionally, OnePlus has successfully kept the pricing highly competitive.

[the_ad id=”99″]

Despite its competitive pricing, the OnePlus 13R appears to be an excellent offering, at least on paper. I have been using the 13R for nearly two weeks to assess whether this new mid-range flagship represents a significant improvement over the previous OnePlus 12R.

The OnePlus 13R is priced at Rs. 42,999 for the 12GB + 256GB storage variant, while the 16GB + 512GB version is available for Rs. 49,999. It comes in two color options: Astral Trail and Nebula Noir.

OnePlus 13R Design: Elegant and Flat

• Dimensions – 161.7 x 75.8 x 8 mm
• Weight – 206g
• Colors – Astral Trail and Nebula Noir, IP Rating – IP65 certified

This year, the OnePlus 13R showcases a refreshed design characterized by a flat frame and a level display. The device retains its identity as a OnePlus smartphone, highlighted by the left-aligned circular camera module on the back, a design element that has become synonymous with the OnePlus 11. However, the 13R features a slightly altered version of this module, as it is no longer integrated with the side frame.

The 13R undoubtedly exudes a premium feel, enhanced by its glass back panel that boasts a textured matte finish.

Located at the bottom of the device is the SIM card tray, accommodating dual SIMs, alongside a loudspeaker, dual microphones, and a USB Type-C port. Additionally, a third microphone is positioned at the top, accompanied by another speaker and an IR blaster.

OnePlus 13R Display: Enhancements for User Experience

• Size and Type – 6.78-inch LTPO 4.1 AMOLED, 1.5K Resolution
• Refresh Rate – 120Hz
• Protection – Gorilla Glass 7i

The OnePlus 13R features a flat display that incorporates the latest LTPO 4.1 AMOLED technology. While the specifications remain consistent with previous models, it boasts a 120Hz refresh rate, 1.5K resolution, a 19.8:9 aspect ratio, HDR10+ support, Dolby Vision, 10-bit color depth, and full Display P3 coverage.

This display is particularly well-suited for video viewing and streaming content on platforms such as Netflix. It achieves impressive brightness levels, with a claimed high brightness mode of 1,600 nits and a peak brightness of 4,500 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. The viewing angles are commendable as well. Additionally, the display supports Aqua Touch 2.0 and Glove Mode.

The color accuracy of the device is remarkably lifelike, particularly in the Natural color mode, and it offers various profiles including Vivid, Cinematic, and Brilliant. Users can select between standard and high screen resolutions, with the latter consuming more battery power. For refresh rates, options include auto (ranging from 1 to 120Hz), 60Hz, and 120Hz.

[the_ad id=”99″]

The screen features a punch hole cutout positioned at the top center for the front-facing camera and includes an under-display fingerprint scanner of the optical type. The performance of the scanner was satisfactory throughout the review.

OnePlus 13R Software: Clean with AI Capabilities

• OS – Android 15
• UI – OxygenOS 15

The OnePlus 13R is equipped with the latest version of OxygenOS 15, which is based on Android 15 and offers significant improvements over its predecessors. The operating system is nearly devoid of bloatware, providing a seamless experience with smooth animations during user interface navigation.

While a few pre-installed applications, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Netflix, are included, these are widely used applications that many users would download regardless. Notably, OxygenOS 15 is reported to be 40 percent lighter than earlier versions, allowing for increased storage capacity for applications and data.

Additionally, OnePlus has integrated several artificial intelligence features into the device. The Photos application includes AI-enhanced functionalities such as AI Detail Boost, AI Unblur, AI Eraser, and AI Reflection Eraser. Other AI features include Circle to Search from Google, Google Gemini, an AI Assistant for Notes, PassScan in Google Wallet, and Magic Compose for text rewriting.

Although some features like AI Detail Boost and AI Unblur may not be particularly impressive, the AI Eraser, Reflection Eraser, Magic Compose, and AI Assistant for Notes prove to be quite beneficial.

Furthermore, a new Share with iPhone feature facilitates easy file sharing with friends who use iOS devices. OnePlus has also introduced the Open Canvas feature to enhance multitasking capabilities.

OnePlus 13R Performance: Impressive

• CPU – Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
• RAM – 12/16GB LPDDR5X
• Storage – 256/512GB UFS 4.0

OnePlus smartphones are recognized for their impressive performance, and the 13R is no exception. Equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, a top-tier chipset from the previous year, users can be assured of its capabilities. The device excelled in all our synthetic benchmark evaluations, demonstrating no lag or stutter during both routine and intensive usage.

[the_ad id=”99″]

The device operates at a relatively low temperature, and I encountered minimal heating issues throughout the review period. This can be attributed to the 9,925mm square vapor chamber, which effectively dissipates heat even during intense gaming sessions. It is undoubtedly a commendable choice for gaming enthusiasts.

Additionally, the device is equipped with dual speakers that produce a robust sound with a commendable bass response. Furthermore, the earpiece and microphone performed adequately during phone calls.

OnePlus 13R Cameras: Good to Better

• Main rear – 50-megapixel Sony LYT-700, f/1.8, OIS, Autofocus
• Telephoto – 50-megapixel Samsung S5KJN5, 2x Optical zoom, f/2.0, Autofocus
• Ultrawide – 8-megapixel, f/2.2, 112 degree FoV
• Front – 16-megapixel, f/2.4, Fixed focus

The OnePlus 13R boasts an enhanced camera configuration. The manufacturer has ditched the 2-megapixel depth/macro sensor, replacing it with a more practical 2x optical zoom camera. The primary camera has received updates, although the ultra-wide sensor remains unchanged. Overall, the smartphone benefits from significant improvements.

The camera application is user-friendly and offers various modes, such as Time-lapse, Hi-Res, Long Exposure, and Pro. Additionally, it includes dedicated Portrait and Night modes.

In daylight, the front camera of the OnePlus 13R captures commendable photos, showcasing good detail and accurate skin tones. However, its performance in low-light situations is subpar, resulting in noticeable noise and a lack of sharpness in selfies taken in dim environments.

The OnePlus 13R is capable of recording videos at resolutions up to 4K at 60 frames per second, and it features optical image stabilization, which is effective only at 1080p 60fps. Videos recorded with the main camera in 4K display a commendable level of detail, accompanied by slightly enhanced colors.

In low-light conditions, video quality diminishes, revealing increased noise and deeper shadows. While stabilization is effective in Ultra Steady video mode at 1080p, some shakiness and abrupt movements may occur during running or panning.

[the_ad id=”99″]

OnePlus 13R Battery: decent in all ways

• Capacity – 6,000mAh
• Charging speed – 80W
• Charger – 80W (In the box)

The OnePlus 13R, although equipped with a larger 6,000mAh battery compared to the 12R, maintains a slimmer profile. During regular use, the device reliably provided more than 7 hours of screen-on time. In our HD video loop assessment, it achieved a remarkable duration of approximately 32 hours.