Oppo Reno 13 FS review: Well-priced battery champ

Greatest Costs At present: Oppo Reno 13 FS

The Oppo Reno 13 FS is a well-rounded mid-range smartphone that leans closely into battery endurance, trendy design, and sturdiness.

With a big 5,800mAh battery that comfortably stretches into two-day territory, a vibrant and vibrant AMOLED show, and IP69-rated water resistance, it’s an interesting selection for customers who prioritise longevity and on a regular basis usability over sheer energy.

Whereas its Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset is outperformed by rivals such because the Poco X7 or Galaxy A36, it stays competent for common duties, aided by a beneficiant 12GB RAM and 512GB of storage. Oppo’s ColorOS 15 is full of helpful AI options and long-term replace assist, though the inclusion of pointless bloatware and a junk-filled App Market detracts from the person expertise.

The triple digital camera system is first rate however nothing particular, with the 50Mp primary shooter delivering stable outcomes and the 2Mp macro providing restricted worth. If you happen to’re after the quickest cellphone on your cash, you’ll discover higher choices.

But when battery life, a refined design and sturdiness matter most, the Reno 13 FS delivers a satisfying and reliable bundle.

Design & Construct

• Slim and light-weight body with a matt-finish plastic again
• IP69-rated water and mud resistance provides uncommon sturdiness
• Easy, engaging look in three color choices

At simply 192g and seven.8mm thick, the Reno 13 FS is likely one of the most manageable mid-range telephones I’ve held just lately. The matt plastic end offers it a fingerprint-resistant floor and lightweight, fashionable really feel – particularly within the “Plume Purple” colourway, which subtly shifts underneath mild.

My handset got here in black, which I additionally fairly appreciated – it seems to be quite sensible. Although clearly not glass or steel, the plastic doesn’t really feel low cost, and it helps preserve the cellphone’s weight down.

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Sturdiness is a real robust level right here. With an IP69 ranking, the Reno 13 FS exceeds most rivals in relation to water and mud safety. That makes it one of many solely telephones at this value with sufficient resistance to outlive rain, splashes, fast underwater pictures, or and even scorching water jets.

The buttons are satisfyingly clicky and positioned inside simple attain on the precise aspect, whereas the under-display optical fingerprint sensor is fast and largely dependable, if not as constant as ultrasonic options seen in pricier telephones such because the Galaxy S25 collection.

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One factor that I did discover instantly is that the vibration motor is horrible – it feels extraordinarily finicky.

Display screen & Audio system

• Brilliant, vibrant 6.67-inch AMOLED show
• 120Hz refresh price retains UI and animations clean
• Stereo audio system sound nice, however lack punch and separation

The 6.67-inch AMOLED panel on the Reno 13 FS is a particular spotlight. With a decision of 2400×1080 and assist for HDR10+, colors are wealthy and black ranges are deep, giving Netflix or YouTube content material that further pop. Indoors or outdoor, the display holds up nicely, even in vibrant circumstances. It might be brighter – different mid-range smartphones I’ve used are – but it surely’ll greater than get you by in most conditions.

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Scrolling is fluid because of the 120Hz refresh price, which additionally helps gaming and common navigation really feel slick. I’m glad to see such a excessive refresh price, as some mid-rangers max out at 90Hz, even in 2025. There’s no adaptive refresh price right here although, so the cellphone received’t scale right down to preserve battery as flagship fashions do.

Audio high quality from the inbuilt audio system is satisfactory however not spectacular. Whereas it will get moderately loud, it lacks depth and readability, particularly at increased volumes, and bass is nearly nonexistent. For informal use or voice calls it’ll do, however for music or motion pictures, headphones or a Bluetooth speaker are a should.

Specs & Efficiency

• Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset falls behind sooner rivals
• 120Hz display
• Beneficiant 12GB RAM and 512GB storage

The Reno 13 FS makes use of the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset – a 4nm octa-core processor that’s now beginning to really feel barely dated. However in real-world use, the cellphone handles each day duties simply nice. Messaging, calls, searching, and lightweight social media use are clean, and the 120Hz display hardly ever feels bottlenecked by the CPU.

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However throw any demanding video games or heavy multi-app utilization at it and the cracks begin to present. This smartphone couldn’t actually deal with any video games extra intense than Subway Surfers. If you happen to attempt to do barely extra intensive duties, you’ll start to battle.

In Geekbench 6, the Reno 13 FS scores 937 in single-core and 2679 in multi-core checks – barely under newer mid-range opponents just like the Galaxy A36 and Moto G85. Which means efficiency is ok for on a regular basis customers however not excellent for these seeking to future-proof. It’s miles behind the Reno 13 Professional, however that’s what you’d anticipate.

What helps is the beneficiant 12GB RAM and 512GB of storage – a rarity on this value tier. It offers the Reno 13 FS extra respiratory room for multitasking and media than opponents such because the Pixel 8a or Samsung Galaxy A36. There’s even a microSD slot, which many rivals now skip fully.

Oppo Reno 13 FS Benchmarks

Cameras

• 50Mp primary sensor delivers first rate daylight pictures
• 8Mp ultrawide is beneficial however comfortable across the edges
• 2Mp macro is frustratingly restricted and sometimes pointless

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Digital camera efficiency on the Oppo Reno 13 FS is a blended bag. The 50Mp primary digital camera is able to producing engaging photographs in good mild, with pretty pure color replica and acceptable dynamic vary.

It’s fast to focus and might ship crisp outcomes, particularly when scenes are evenly lit. Evening mode helps, however this isn’t a low-light champ – pictures have been missing in readability and rapidly turned fuzzy.

The 8Mp ultrawide sensor is welcome for becoming extra right into a shot, however there’s a noticeable drop in sharpness, particularly across the edges of photographs. Color consistency with the primary sensor is first rate, although distinction and noise management aren’t fairly as tight.

And the 2Mp macro? It’s simply there. Like so many telephones on this mid to finances vary, it’s included extra for advertising than operate. Focusing is fiddly, pictures are sometimes washed out, and getting usable element is hard. I by no means as soon as discovered myself wanting to make use of the lens outdoors of testing the system.

The 32Mp front-facing digital camera fares significantly better. Selfies are sharp and detailed in daylight, and AI beautification instruments will be adjusted or disabled fully. It’s one of many higher selfie cameras on this tier, so your social media pictures received’t disappoint.

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Battery Life & Charging

• Large 5800mAh battery
• 45W SuperVOOC charger included in field
• Simply lasts two days with reasonable use

Battery life is the place the Reno 13 FS shines. The 5800mAh cell is bigger than most opponents, and the outcomes communicate for themselves. Whereas testing this cellphone, watching Netflix or YouTube, the cellphone dropped simply 2% after an hour. It’s among the finest outcomes I’ve seen on this value bracket, and is an efficient step in direction of the handset lasting by means of all the day.

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Even with heavy use, the Reno 13 FS simply stretches to a day and a half. Average customers can probably get two full days with out plugging in. That form of longevity is a big benefit, particularly for customers who journey or don’t wish to carry a charger all day.

Talking of which, Oppo features a 45W SuperVOOC charger within the field – one other more and more uncommon transfer that even the Professional model of this cellphone skips. It’s proprietary tech, so that you’ll want to make use of the bundled brick and cable for greatest outcomes, but it surely juices the cellphone as much as 44% in simply half-hour and a full cost takes underneath 90 minutes.

Software program & Options

• Runs ColorOS 15 based mostly on Android 15
• Oppo guarantees 5 years of updates, and 6 years of safety
• An excessive amount of pre-installed bloatware, particularly in Oppo’s App Market

ColorOS 15 runs easily over Android 15 and is one in all Oppo’s extra polished current efforts. That stated, it feels similar to iOS. As an iPhone person, I benefit from the familiarity, however at occasions it appears like a really blatant copy.

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The interface is vibrant, snappy, and full of AI options together with reside translation, sensible gallery organisation, and Oppo’s cross-device file sharing instruments. Whereas not everybody will use them, they don’t get in the best way both.

It’s nice to see Oppo commit to 5 years of OS updates and 6 years of safety patches. That’s on par with Pixel and Galaxy gadgets, and it bodes nicely for long-term assist.

The primary disadvantage? Bloatware. The Reno 13 FS comes preloaded with a batch of third-party video games and redundant instruments. The App Market, Oppo’s different app retailer, aggressively recommends suspiciously titled apps equivalent to “Explosion of the Month” and “Going Balls”. Fortunately, most of this may be uninstalled, but it surely leaves a foul first impression. Bloatware is one in all my greatest smartphone gripes, so I’m disillusioned to see it on one more Oppo smartphone.

Worth & Availability

The Oppo Reno 13 FS is on the market now within the UK. It has an RRP of £399 for the configuration with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. That’s a aggressive value on paper, particularly contemplating that the system consists of a big battery, high-resolution AMOLED show, and IP69-rated safety.

You should buy the cellphone from Amazon, the place it’s at the moment accessible for less than £314.99, and Oppo’s web site for £329, with color choices together with Graphite Gray, Luminous Blue, and Plume Purple. A silicone case and Oppo’s 45W SuperVOOC charger are included within the field.

In comparison with rivals, the Reno 13 FS sits in the identical value bracket because the Samsung Galaxy A36 and the Poco X7, each of which supply higher uncooked efficiency however lack this stage of battery capability. If you happen to worth lengthy battery life and water resistance greater than processing energy, the Reno 13 FS presents stable worth – however energy customers could wish to take into account these options as a substitute.

You’ll be able to see all our high mid-range suggestions in our round-up of the perfect mid-range telephones we’ve examined.

Must you purchase the Oppo Reno 13 FS?

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The Oppo Reno 13 FS is a story of two priorities. If what you care about is battery life, this is likely one of the greatest telephones in its class. It lasts ages on a cost, ships with a quick charger, and delivers a giant, vibrant AMOLED display to get pleasure from all day lengthy. The glossy design and IP69 ranking sweeten the deal for customers who need a trendy and sturdy cellphone with out going premium.

Nonetheless, the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 is holding it again. It’s merely not as quick or future-proof as equally priced opponents such because the Galaxy A36, Poco X7, and even the Moto G85. The cameras are serviceable however not standout, and the macro lens appears like wasted area.

Nonetheless, for customers who worth endurance, model, and ease over uncooked energy, the Reno 13 FS makes a powerful case – simply go in with an consciousness of its limitations.

Specs

Display screen: 6.67-inch AMOLED, 2400×1080 decision, 120Hz
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1
Reminiscence: 12GB RAM
Storage: 512GB (expandable through microSD)
Rear Cameras: 50Mp (f/1.8, OIS) + 8Mp ultrawide (f/2.2) + 2Mp macro (f/2.4)
Entrance Digital camera: 32Mp (f/2.4)
Battery: 5800mAh
Connectivity: 45W SuperVOOC wired charging
Software program: Android 15 with ColorOS 15
Dimensions: 162.2 x 75.05 x 7.82mm
Weight: 192g