OnePlus 13R Review | What's Changed Vs OP13?

Summary

The OnePlus 13R offers a more budget-friendly alternative to the flagship OnePlus 13, with some sacrifices in design, performance, and camera tech. While it lacks the premium feel, features like a matte finish, decent display, and solid battery life still make it a strong contender in the mid-range market. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset ensures smooth performance, even for gaming, and the device boasts a sizable 6,000mAh battery with fast charging. However, it falls short on features like wireless charging and a high-end camera experience, making it a good choice for users looking for value over premium features.

Takeaways

• 📱 The OnePlus 13r is a more budget-friendly version of the OnePlus 13, priced at £679 compared to the flagship's higher cost.
• 💎 The 13r lacks the premium heft, quad-curved display, and refined hand feel of the OnePlus 13, instead featuring a boxy design with flat edges and a matte back with spiral design.
• 🌊 It has an IP65 rating for water and dust resistance, making it splash-resistant but not fully waterproof like the OnePlus 13's IP69 rating.
• 🖐️ Features like gloves mode and in-display fingerprint scanning work well, though the optical sensor is less advanced than the OnePlus 13’s ultrasonic version.
• ⚡ The phone runs OxygenOS 5 on Android 15, offering four OS updates, six years of security patches, and a smooth, feature-rich user experience.
• 🎮 Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and 12GB RAM, the 13r handles gaming well with minor differences in fluidity compared to the OnePlus 13.
• 🔋 It has a 6,000 mAh battery with excellent longevity and supports 80W wired charging but lacks wireless charging support.
• 📸 The camera system is decent but pared-down compared to the OnePlus 13, with differences in primary, telephoto, ultra-wide, and selfie sensors, and fewer advanced modes like Hasselblad Master and dedicated action/macro modes.
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• 🖥️ The display is slightly smaller and less crisp (2780 x 1264) but still bright, with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support, a 120Hz refresh rate, and color customization options.
• 🔊 Audio is handled by a stereo speaker setup, which is adequate but slightly tinny and less bass-heavy than the flagship OnePlus 13.
• 🎯 Overall, the OnePlus 13r is a solid mid-range alternative with strong battery, performance, and software experience, but falls short in premium design, camera capabilities, and some advanced features.

Q & A

What is the price difference between the OnePlus 13R and the OnePlus 13?

The OnePlus 13R is priced at £679, while the OnePlus 13, being a flagship model, is considerably more expensive, typically nearing £1,000.

How does the build quality of the OnePlus 13R compare to the OnePlus 13?

The OnePlus 13R feels more budget-friendly with a boxy design and less premium materials compared to the OnePlus 13, which has a more rounded, high-end feel due to its curved display and luxurious construction.

Does the OnePlus 13R have water and dust resistance?

The OnePlus 13R has an IP65 rating, making it splash-resistant but not fully water-resistant like the OnePlus 13, which has an IP69 rating.

What display technology does the OnePlus 13R use, and how does it compare to the OnePlus 13?

The OnePlus 13R has a 2780 x 1264 pixel resolution display, which is slightly less crisp than the OnePlus 13's screen. Both phones have bright displays with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support, but the OnePlus 13 has a more premium dual-refresh rate feature.

What is the performance of the OnePlus 13R like for gaming?

The OnePlus 13R performs well for gaming, handling demanding titles smoothly with a consistent 60 FPS. However, it's slightly less fluid compared to the OnePlus 13, which has the more powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset.

How does the battery life of the OnePlus 13R compare to the OnePlus 13?

The OnePlus 13R offers excellent battery life, with a 6,000mAh battery that lasts all day under moderate use. Even with demanding tasks like gaming, it can last 7 to 8 hours before needing a recharge. The charging speed is 80W SuperVOOC, which is slightly slower than the OnePlus 13's 100W charging.

What are the key differences in the camera setup between the OnePlus 13 and 13R?

The OnePlus 13 has a more advanced camera setup with a 50MP Sony IMX808 primary sensor, a telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and Hasselblad's color tuning. The OnePlus 13R uses a 50MP Samsung GN5 sensor for both the primary and ultra-wide shooters, with a 2x optical zoom and lacks some advanced features like macro shooting and action modes.

Does the OnePlus 13R support wireless charging?

No, the OnePlus 13R does not support wireless charging, a feature that has been removed to keep the price lower. The OnePlus 13, on the other hand, supports wireless charging.

How does the OnePlus 13R handle software updates?

The OnePlus 13R runs OxygenOS 5 on top of Android 15 and is set to receive four OS updates and six years of security patches, which is quite good compared to other phones in the same price range.

How does the OnePlus 13R's fingerprint sensor compare to the OnePlus 13's?

The OnePlus 13R has a basic optical fingerprint sensor, while the OnePlus 13 features a more advanced ultrasonic sensor. The optical sensor on the 13R is still fairly reliable but may struggle with wet or dirty fingers.