With the Reno 13 Pro, OPPO has changed a few things around, and what easily catches the eye is the butterfly-like pattern on the back panel. Besides this, it also comes with a better chipset compared to its outgoing model. The quad-curved display also gives it a more premium appeal.
OPPO Reno13 Pro
Rs 49,999
What Is Good?
- Interesting design elements
- Daylight camera performance is extremely good
- Wider display, quad curved edges look premium
- Solid battery life
- Comfortable grip because of curved edges
- ColorOS 15 offers a smooth experience
What Is Bad?
- A tonne of bloatware apps
- Thermal management can be better
- Inconsistent edge detection in portraits
- Pricey
So, with all these upgrades, does the Reno13 Pro bring enough to the table to justify an upgrade over the Reno12 Pro? And, with the Find series back in the Indian markets, where does the Reno series stand? Let’s find out in my review.
Pricing and Availability
The OPPO Reno13 Pro is available in two variants on OPPO’s official website.
| Variant | Price |
| 12GB RAM + 256GB Storage | Rs 49,999 |
| 12GB RAM + 512GB Storage | Rs 54,999 |
Design and Display
This year, it feels wider, more premium, and retains its signature sleekness. I reviewed the Mist Lavender variant, which immediately caught my attention. The starry shimmer on the back creates a butterfly-like illusion, making the colour look even more enchanting. If given a choice, I’d pick this lavender shade any day—it has a charming, feminine appeal. The matte back finish keeps the smudges at bay. However, design-wise, the upgrade is quite subtle. Except for the butterfly-like illusion, there’s not much that stands out.
Holding the device is effortless, thanks to the subtly curved edges that enhance grip and comfort. It reminds me of my daily driver, the iPhone 16 Plus, in terms of ergonomics. Moreover, the design of the side frames closely resembles the iPhone 16 series this year.
The Reno13 Pro takes durability up a notch with IP66, IP68, and IP69 ratings, a solid upgrade from last year’s IP65. And, because of this, the underwater
The phone comes with a well-optimised underwater mode. My colleague dunked it in water multiple times, and the built-in water ejection feature made cleanup effortless. Despite all that, the device remained fully functional.
| Design | Specifications |
| Weight | 195 grams |
| Thickness | 7.5mm |
| Colours | Mist Lavender and Graphite Gray |
| IP Rating | IP66, IP68 and IP69 |
| Port and Button Placements | Bottom: Primary microphone, USB port, speaker grille, SIM tray Top: Secondary microphone, IR Blaster, speaker Right Side: Power and volume buttons |
The curved display adds a nice touch, making visuals feel like they’re spilling over the edges—subtle but stylish. Thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate, scrolling and navigation felt seamless, with no noticeable lag or stutter.
Though OPPO advertises 1,200 nits of peak brightness, our tests showed it reaching 1,628 nits. Hence, whether indoors or under harsh sunlight, visibility remains top-notch.
| Display | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Size | 6.83-inch |
| Type | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 1272 x 2800 pixels |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz |
| Peak Brightness | Claimed: 1200 nits Tested: 1628 nits |
| Minimum Brightness | 16 nits |
On Netflix, the phone supports Widevine L1 and HDR10. Squid Game looked stunning, with vibrant colours making it a visual delight.
The audio experience, however, has its downsides. Ultra-volume mode sounds muffled, and vibrations on the back make it less enjoyable. At 100 per cent volume, the audio is crisp and decent. However, every time I tried to push it to the max, I would accidentally trigger ultra-volume mode, which became annoying. The sweet spot for the best sound quality is just one step below ultra-volume mode.
Hardware and Software
The MediaTek Dimensity 8350 SoC makes its debut in the Reno13 Pro. So, OPPO gets first movers advantage and can set a benchmark with this chip.
While it did cross the million mark on AnTuTu v10, putting it ahead of the OPPO Reno12 Pro, competitors like the Xiaomi 14 CIVI delivered much stronger results in this price range. That said, it’s a commendable bump up from last year.
For day-to-day tasks, the phone performed seamlessly, handling multitasking with ease and switching between apps was fluid too. Plus, it’s important to note that high-performance mode was active during both benchmarking and daily use, which inevitably influenced the results.
But this phone might not be the best fit, if intensive gaming is your priority. It heated up significantly during benchmarking, and after 30 minutes of Call of Duty: Mobile, the upper portion became uncomfortably warm.The same issue occurred during the CPU throttling test, the back panel got noticeably warm—surprising, considering Delhi’s chilly winters.
| Hardware | Specifications |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 8350 SoC |
| RAM | Up to 12GB |
| Storage | Up to 512GB |
| Storage Test | 1292792 |
| CPU Throttling Test | 79 per cent of its maximum performance |
| Software Version | ColorOS 15, based on Android 15 |
| Connectivity Details | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4 |
The Reno13 Pro runs ColorOS 15, based on Android 15, right out of the box. I really like how seamless the UI feels. Features like Share with iPhone, Aqua Dynamics, and Flux Themes improve software experience. Check out my detailed ColorOS 15 hands-on article for much deeper analysis.
But, it comes with a caveat — bloatware. The sheer number of pre-installed apps, hot apps and hot games make the interface feel cluttered. So, the first few hours of your time is dedicated to getting rid of these apps that often send spammy notifications.
Cameras
The Reno13 Pro sports a camera system similar to the Reno12 Pro, with some tweaks to the sensors and aperture.
To put its cameras to the test, a colleague took the phone to Rayong, Thailand. Here’s what we found.
Daylight shots look great, with vibrant colours and well-balanced exposure. Even in tricky backlit situations, the camera manages shadows and highlights effectively. The shutter speed is impressively fast something that’s much needed when capturing fast moving objects.
Portrait mode generally delivers pleasing background blur and accurate colours. However, in some cases, skin tones looked pale, and edge detection faltered. Occasionally, the background blended awkwardly with the subject, leading to unnatural results.
| Camera | Specifications |
| Primary Camera | 50-megapixel main, Sony IMX890 sensor f/1.8 aperture |
| Secondary Camera | 8-megapixel ultra-wide, OV08D f/2.2 aperture |
| Tertiary Camera | 50-megapixel telephoto, JN5 sensor f/2.8 aperture, up to 3.5x optical zoom |
| Selfie Camera | 50-megapixel, JN5 sensor f/2.0 aperture |
| Video Recording Capabilities | Up to 4K at 60fps |
A noticeable issue arises when switching between 0.6x, 1x, and 3.5x zoom—there’s a visible colour shift, even under consistent lighting. This inconsistency could be frustrating but should be resolved with a software update.
In low light, the camera does a solid job, capturing adequate details even in dim environments. However, lens flare is a problem, sometimes appearing unexpectedly even when the light source isn’t in the frame.
The Pro mode also helps you tweak the ISO, shutter speed, aperture, and other settings, giving you more flexibility to capture photos like these.
Interestingly, when we captured a tiger through a transparent window, the post processing cuts out the reflections. The result was a crisp and well-balanced shot.
When it comes to selfies, the Reno13 Pro doesn’t disappoint. Facial details, skin tones, and textures are well preserved in bright daylight or dim settings. However, in group portrait selfies, the third or fourth person often ends up blurry.
Battery and Charging
The Reno 13Pro has a 5,800mAh battery, while competitors like the OnePlus 13R, launched recently, feature a 6,000mAh battery. The extra 200mAh would have been nice to have, but it still manages to last an entire day even with demanding tasks like frequent camera use. For basic activities like calls, texts, and casual scrolling on Instagram, it can easily stretch beyond a day’s usage.
However, the charging performance is a highlight—this phone reached 100 per cent in just 43 minutes, which is quite impressive.
| Battery | Specifications |
| Battery | 5,800mAh |
| Charging Adapter | 80W SuperVOOC, charger in the box |
| Charging Time | 43 minutes |
| PCMark Battery Test | NA |
While we weren’t able to run the PCMark battery test to provide exact numbers, rest assured that we will conduct it and share the results here soon.
Verdict
The OPPO Reno13 Pro brings a fresh look to the Reno series with its premium design, impressive cameras, reliable battery life, and smooth software experience.
While the butterfly-illusion effect on the back is visually appealing, the rest of the design doesn’t bring anything particularly groundbreaking. When it comes to display quality, the visuals are sharp and watching content on it is enjoyable. The camera performance is strong overall, but a few minor issues could be ironed out with an update.
As for ColorOS 15, it’s a visually rich experience with smooth animations and AI-powered features that make daily tasks easier. However, the bloatware is a significant drawback, making the user interface cluttered.
With a starting price of Rs 49,999, this phone leans toward the expensive side. More importantly, if raw performance is what you’re after, it might not be the ideal pick. It breezes through everyday tasks, but push it with demanding games, and you’ll notice some hiccups. If gaming prowess is a priority, you might want to check out the iQOO 12 or keep an eye on the upcoming OnePlus 13R instead.
