TechRadar Verdict
The OnePlus 13R delivers in three big ways.
First, the sizable 6.78-inch display is bright and colorful, which results in a great viewing experience.
Next is the massive 6,000mAh battery that gets you two days on a single charge.
(Image credit: Future)
Finally, the 13R boasts performance to handle the most intense games.
The cameras are solid, but not market-leading.
The OnePlus 13R is a less tricked-out and thus more affordable version of the flagshipOnePlus 13which launched alongside it.
Think of this phone likeSamsungs FE variants of its high-end S series andGoogles A line of its Pixel phones.
The 6.78-inch display is colorful and sufficiently bright, making it easy to use even in direct sunlight.
But reach for the cable you will, as theres no wireless charging.
(Image credit: Future)
It means the 13R can handle pretty much anything you throw at it.
And youll want to be careful around water, as this handset isnt protected against submersion.
Its merely splash-proof, which does mean itll be okay in the rain.
(Image credit: Future)
Theres no cheaper variant with 8GB/128GB of RAM and storage this time round.
OnePlus 13R review: specs
The OnePlus 13R comes with a trio of headline specs.
One disappointing feature is the handsets IP65 water resistance rating.
(Image credit: Future)
Its big, bright and colorful.
My OnePlus 13R also arrived pre-loaded with additional apps on top of the default system offerings.
These included Netflix,AmazonMusic, Booking.com, LinkedIn, Facebook, Lyft, and AliExpress.
(Image credit: Future)
A quick tap on the logo opened it back up as a floating window.
While this is a good offering, its not industry-leading.
The sensor array is completed by an 8MP ultra-wide sensor with a 112-degree field of view.
Theres also an LED flash to help illuminate dark scenes.
Something that can quickly and easily generate great results for social and group chats.
AI Unblur, as the name suggests, can take your blurry photographs and reduce the lack of focus.
What I found more useful was AI Detail Boost.
This enhances busy images to provide better clarity and contrast throughout your shots again, working on any image.
Then theres AI Eraser and AI Reflection Eraser.
It works well here, although it can struggle with busier scenes and complex backgrounds.
I tried this on a number of images, with varying success.
What this means is the 13R still packs a punch, backed up by a capable 12GB of RAM.
There are three modes to choose from, with Balanced being the default setting.
Then theres Pro Gamer which channels all power to your game resulting in increased temperature and battery drain.
A pop-up even warns you to consider only using this mode during ambient temperatures.
Portrait mode does an excellent job of keeping the cat in focus while blurring the sofa behind(Image credit: Future)
In short, if youre big into mobile gaming, the OnePlus 13R has plenty to offer.
The OnePlus 13R comfortably handled Genshin Impact at 60fps and its highest graphics setting (at 30fps).
While the handset did get warm it never reached an uncomfortable temperature.
Macro mode is automatically enabled when you get close to your subject(Image credit: Future)
Something else that impressed me during testing was the performance of the biometric scanners.
It performs well too, with great responsiveness and no read failures experienced during my time with the phone.
you’re able to also choose to enable face unlock.
In bright daylight, the OnePlus 13R is a great point-and-shoot camera(Image credit: Future)
With slightly more thoughtful use (i.e.
Respectable top-up times, especially if you better swiftly add charge before stepping out of the house.
The only blemish in the OnePlus 13Rs battery story is the fact it doesnt have wireless charging.
The default 1x zoom(Image credit: Future)
Should you buy the OnePlus 13R?
The 6.78-inch display is brilliantly bright and colorful, making whatever you do on it look great.
The Hyperboost performance options are the icing on the cake.
Tap to the 2x optical zoom and you’ll get closer to your subject while maintaining image quality(Image credit: Future)
Apple, Google, and Samsung all offer more years of OS updates.
At least, not for me.
The 13R can zoom all the way to 20x digitally(Image credit: Future)
At night, the OnePlus 13R captures detailed shots(Image credit: Future)
And does impressively well close-up in lowlight (default shooting mode)(Image credit: Future)
The selfie camera produces bright, clear shots – although they can be a little overexposed(Image credit: Future)
Switch to Portrait mode when using the selfie camera and you get a more natural result and decent blurring around the subject(Image credit: Future)
