After the impressive performance of the OnePlus 11R and 12R, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation for the OnePlus 13R’s arrival. The moment I saw it, I was struck by how drastically the design and form factor has evolved from the previous models. The phone’s sides now echo the aesthetics of an iPhone, while the overall flat design adds a striking sense of solidity.
OnePlus 13R
Rs 42,999
What Is Good?
- Great ProXDR display, amazing colours
- Excellent performance
- Extraordinary battery life
- Daylight captures are good
- Interactive software experience
- Selfies have good skin tones and details
What Is Bad?
- Room for improvement in low light conditions
- Bulky, uncomfortable to hold
- Inconsistent framerates on BGMI as of now
On the performance front, it’s powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the same chip that fuels top-tier phones like the iQOO 12, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, and Xiaomi 14 Ultra. Plus, it ships with ColorOS 15 based on Android 15, offering a fresh software experience right out of the box.
With such flagship-grade features packed into the OnePlus 13R, the question remains: could it be the top contender in the mid-range premium smartphone category in 2025? I’ve been using the OnePlus 13R for the past two weeks, and here’s my take.
Pricing and Availability
The OnePlus 13R is available in two variants on OnePlus’ official website.
| Variant | Price |
| 12GB RAM + 256GB Storage | Rs 42,999 |
| 16GB RAM + 512GB Storage | Rs 49,999 |
Design and Display
The first time I picked up this phone, I was genuinely surprised by how heavy it felt. It’s not just a little weighty—it has some serious heft. The completely flat 360-degree design only amplifies that feeling, making it slightly off-balance. And if you slap a cover on it? Well, say hello to your new wrist workout.
The Astral Trail colour I reviewed bears an uncanny resemblance to the iPhone’s Natural Titanium shade. Meanwhile, the camera module has been separated from the phone’s edges, unlike the one on theOnePlus 12R.
| Design | Specifications |
| Weight | 206 grams |
| Thickness | 8mm |
| Colours | Astral Trail, Nebula Noir |
| IP Rating | IP65 |
| Port and Button Placements | Bottom: Primary microphone, USB port, Speaker grille, SIM tray Top: Secondary microphone, IR Blaster, and speaker Right Side: Power and volume buttons Left Side: Alert slider |
Adding to the aesthetic, the back panel features circular patterns that wrap around the camera module, giving it a very Saturn-like appearance. The camera module itself resembles the planet, while the surrounding trails mimic its rings. One welcome improvement is the matte finish, which does a great job of keeping smudges at bay.
When it comes to design, I still prefer the OnePlus 12R. Its curved edges—both on the display and frame—gave it a more premium look. The 13R is nice, but if given a choice, I’ll take curves over flats any day. That said, some of my colleagues actually liked this year’s flat approach. Ultimately, design preference is personal. While the OnePlus 13R gets a slightly upgraded IP rating, it’s high time the ‘R’ versions also come with an IP68 rating for a more fool proof support.
| Display | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Size | 6.77-inch |
| Type | ProXDR display |
| Resolution | 1264 x 2780 pixels |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz |
| Peak Brightness | Claimed: 4500 nits Tested: 1725 nits |
| Minimum Brightness | 08 nits |
Coming over to the display, the bezels of the OnePlus 13R are so slim that they’re practically invisible, and during dark scenes, they blend in so well that I almost forgot where the screen ended. Watching The Big Bang Theory on Netflix with this phone was a treat—the colours popped, the visuals were sharp, and the brightness levels were on point. Netflix streaming is top-notch, thanks to Widevine L1 certification and HDR10 support, which improve the picture quality.
The audio experience adds to the experience—it’s loud, clear, and doesn’t sound muffled, which is good.
Hardware and Software
The OnePlus 13R is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, the same chipset found in 2024 flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, iQOO 12, OnePlus 12, and Xiaomi 14 Ultra. Take a look at our AnTuTu score graph below to see how it stacks up.
On the AnTuTu v10 benchmark, the OnePlus 13R delivers slightly better performance than the iQOO 12, which is quite impressive considering the price difference.
I juggled multiple apps at once and switched between them effortlessly. I scrolled through Instagram for a bit, streamed Netflix, and even used the camera extensively. The phone kept up without breaking a sweat.
To put the OnePlus 13R through its paces, my colleague took it for a high-intensity gaming spin. While playing BGMI on Smooth graphics with Ultra Extreme frame rates, the phone briefly hit 120fps. After a few minutes, it took a nosedive to 90fps, which isn’t exactly ideal for these settings. This phone has the potential to hit that sweet 120fps mark, but for some mysterious reason, it just couldn’t get there. Hopefully, a software update should be able to sort it out.
We turned on the built-in game mode to see if it worked some magic. This time, the phone managed to hold 120fps for about six minutes before dropping back to 90fps. On the bright side, the gameplay itself was buttery smooth—no lag, no stutters, just uninterrupted action. It did get a little warm, but nothing that would make you reach for an ice pack.
Overall, gaming on this phone was a blast. If you want the full breakdown—including how it handles BGMI and Call of Duty: Mobile—head over to our YouTube channel for the complete gaming test.
| Hardware | Specifications |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC |
| RAM | Up to 16GB |
| Storage | Up to 512GB |
| Storage Test | 2124569 |
| CPU Throttling Test | 87 per cent of its max performance |
| Software Version | OxygenOS 15 based on Android 15 |
| Connectivity Details | Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.4 |
The OnePlus 13R runs on OxygenOS 15, built on Android 15—just like its elder sibling, the OnePlus 13.
This year’s user interface is a delight. From flashy charging and fingerprint animations to Live Alerts, Flux themes, Circle to Search, Private Safe, and even Share with iPhone, there’s plenty to love. I’ve written a detailed article on OxygenOS 15’s features—go ahead, give it a read! If I ever had to switch from an iPhone to an Android, OxygenOS would be my pick without hesitation. It’s smooth, polished, and refreshingly clutter-free.
I found only two pre-installed apps: Facebook and Netflix. Honestly, that saved me a few taps since I’d have installed them anyway. There was no unnecessary bloatware, no spammy notifications, and just a clean, hassle-free experience.
Cameras
The OnePlus 13R comes with a camera setup that’s pretty much a sibling to the OPPO Reno13 Pro. And while the OnePlus 12R had its own set of cameras, this new version steps up with a 50-megapixel telephoto camera and 2x optical zoom. Sadly, the Hasselblad colour tuning is exclusive to the OnePlus 13.
In daylight, the main camera does a great job, delivering vibrant photos with plenty of detail. The ultra-wide shots don’t suffer from edge distortion, which is a win in my book. The field of view is wide, and the colours, dynamic range, and overall quality are spot on.
The 2x optical zoom was a lot of fun to use, whether in bright daylight or low light. A few food shots were so appetising that I almost wanted to eat my phone. Thankfully, the zoom didn’t lose any detail, especially the colour.
| Camera | Specifications |
| Primary Camera | 50-megapixel main, Sony LYT-700 f/1.8 aperture |
| Secondary Camera | 50-megapixel telephoto, S5KJN5 f/2.0 aperture, 2x optical zoom |
| Tertiary Camera | 8-megapixel ultra-wide, f/2.2 aperture 112-degree Field of View |
| Selfie Camera | 16-megapixel |
| Video Recording Capabilities | Up to 4K at 60fps |
Things get a little tricky in low-light conditions. Most of the time, the details were pretty sharp, and the camera didn’t let me down. Interestingly, lens flare wasn’t much of a problem when shooting directly into light sources. That said, I did notice some noise and a slight lack of detail in a few shots, though these cases weren’t the norm.
Selfies were a breeze—skin tones, pores, blemishes—all captured with accuracy. Whether in bright daylight or dimly lit settings, the shots were consistently impressive.
Battery and Charging
The OnePlus 13R comes with a mammoth 6,000mAh battery, and trust me, you can feel it—this phone’s got some serious thickness. Now, in the PCMark battery test, the OnePlus 13R lasted a jaw-dropping 20 hours. For regular use, it’ll easily get you through a full day of moderate to heavy tasks. If you’re a light user, you might just get to live the dream and go a day and a half without charging. Hence, this phone didn’t leave me scrambling for a charger every time I wanted to go out.
| Battery | Specifications |
| Battery | 6,000mAh |
| Charging Adapter | 80W SuperVOOC, charger in the box |
| Charging Time | 1 hour |
| PCMark Battery Test | 19 hours and 38 minutes |
Speaking of which, it comes with a charger in the box, which is a pleasant surprise in a world where chargers seem to be as rare as winters in Mumbai. Charging it from zero to 100 per cent took exactly one hour, which is pretty decent.
Verdict
So, at a starting price of Rs 42,999, should the OnePlus 13R be your next phone in 2025? The answer is a resounding yes.
The software is refreshingly clean, with snazzy animations and almost no pre-installed bloatware. When it comes to design, I’d say the OnePlus 12R had a more premium look thanks to its curved design and display. But hey, it’s all about personal taste.
The display is a fun ride. It offers immersive audio and brightness levels that hold up, even in direct sunlight. The camera snaps crisp shots in daylight, and the new telephoto lens is a welcome bonus. Sure, low-light photography is a bit hit or miss, but it’s nothing to lose sleep over.
As of now, this is the only device with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 at this price. So, if you need that kind of performance, your next option is the iQOO 12, which will cost you a little more.
Considering the price bump from last year, OnePlus still manages to pack in some fantastic features. The OnePlus 13R continues to reign supreme, just like its predecessors. Sure, releasing a phone every year is easy, but improving it each time—that’s where OnePlus flexes.
