Oppo Reno 13 Pro review: Camera-first mid-ranger that excels

Greatest Costs At present: Oppo Reno 13 Professional

The Oppo Reno 13 Professional brings massive upgrades to one of the crucial standard mid-range telephone strains. It appears and looks like a premium system, with its aluminium and glass building, IP69-rated sturdiness, and expansive AMOLED show. Below the hood, it packs a extra highly effective Dimensity 8350 chipset, a triple-lens digicam setup that features a uncommon 3.5x telephoto, and a battery that comfortably lasts a day and a half.

However whereas the upgrades are important, so is the worth hike. Beginning at £649 within the UK, the Reno 13 Professional now finds itself in competitors with true flagship challengers such because the Poco F7 Extremely and Pixel 9 – and that undermines the worth equation that Oppo’s Reno line used to dominate.

It’s an incredible telephone, and the digicam and battery expertise are specific stand-outs, nevertheless it not looks like the plain mid-range alternative. Oppo has constructed a incredible all-rounder, however priced it out of the mid-range consolation zone.

Design & Construct

• Premium aluminium body and glass again
• IP69/IP68 mud and water resistance
• Accessible in Graphite Gray and Plume Purple

Oppo has stepped up its design sport this 12 months. The Reno 13 Professional appears and feels way more premium than the Reno 12 Professional, due to its polished aluminium body and sculpted glass again. The design is boxier and extra refined, providing a premium really feel with the Graphite Gray mannequin and a bit extra persona with the Plume Purple variant.

It’s a departure from final 12 months’s extra flamboyant look, however nonetheless engaging – and I feel I favor it. The Purple design is a specific favorite of mine.

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At 197g and simply 7.6mm thick, this mid-ranger stays light-weight and straightforward to deal with, even with its giant 6.83-inch show. The ability and quantity buttons are situated conveniently on the correct aspect, and the in-display fingerprint scanner is responsive and correct. The symmetrical quad-curve glass on the entrance feels smooth and enhances gesture navigation, though the fully flat again glass makes the telephone simpler to grip.

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The true standout is the IP69 certification – a uncommon inclusion even amongst flagships. It means the telephone isn’t solely water and dust-resistant however can face up to high-pressure water jets and even sizzling water. Oppo is clearly leaning into the rugged angle right here, particularly when paired with the underwater digicam mode. This is likely to be overkill for many, nevertheless it provides a layer of safety that few telephones provide.

What’s much less spectacular is the shortage of a Micro-SD card slot or headphone jack. These omissions are frequent in higher-end telephones, that includes totally on finances handsets. However it’s nonetheless irritating, particularly for customers who depend on wired audio or exterior storage. That mentioned, the 512GB storage needs to be greater than sufficient for many customers, and Bluetooth 5.4 supplies robust wi-fi connectivity.

Display screen & Audio system

• 6.83-inch 120Hz AMOLED panel
• 1272×2800 decision with HDR10+
• Protected by Gorilla Glass 7i

The Reno 13 Professional’s show is one in all its strongest belongings. At 6.83 inches, it gives a big canvas for every part from gaming to binge-watching. The decision of 1272×2800 delivers a pointy image, and the 120Hz refresh charge retains issues fluid and responsive. Whereas the default setting adjusts the refresh charge dynamically to protect battery life, you possibly can lock it to 120Hz when you favor fixed smoothness.

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Color replica is vivid, with deep blacks and wide-gamut help due to the AMOLED tech – it actually impressed me. HDR10+ content material appears incredible right here, particularly on streaming apps similar to Netflix and YouTube. Oppo gives a number of show modes and handbook tuning choices, however the default setting was correct and punchy with out being overblown.

Peak brightness of 1200 nits makes it greater than usable outside. Even in harsh daylight, I had no points with studying textual content on the display screen. The quad-curved edges of the glass make gesture controls really feel fluid and add to the immersive really feel of the display screen, though this development could also be falling out of style with flatter flagship shows turning into extra frequent in 2025. I do favor flatter shows, however I didn’t thoughts utilizing the Reno 13 Professional’s curved show fairly as a lot as others.

Gorilla Glass 7i gives first rate safety in opposition to scratches and drops, although it’s a small step down from the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 used on the Reno 12 Professional. The downgrade probably helps Oppo maintain the price of supplies in test, nevertheless it’s value noting for longevity.

On the audio entrance, stereo audio system provide sufficient readability and separation. They’re high quality for informal listening or video calls, however not particularly wealthy. There’s no help for Dolby Atmos as you’d discover on higher-end handsets, and audio output lacks the dynamic vary of one of the best in school.

Specs & Efficiency

• MediaTek Dimensity 8350 chipset
• 12GB RAM and 512GB storage
• Fairly spectacular Geekbench 6 benchmark outcomes

The Reno 13 Professional takes a significant leap ahead from its predecessor due to the inclusion of the Dimensity 8350 chip. This chip gives a 20% CPU and 60% GPU efficiency increase over the 7300 Power used within the Reno 12 Professional, and that’s instantly evident in every day use.

Multitasking is seamless, apps launch shortly, and even intensive duties like picture enhancing or video rendering are dealt with with confidence. In gaming, it might run demanding titles like Zenless Zone Zero at steady 30fps on excessive settings. Pushing to 60fps results in variable body charges, nevertheless it stays playable – and fairly spectacular for a mid-range chipset.

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In comparison with rivals, it holds its personal. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 contained in the Poco F7 Extremely gives superior uncooked energy, however the Reno 13 Professional isn’t far behind in real-world use. Towards the Pixel 9a’s Tensor G3, the Reno gives extra energy beneath the hood.

Storage and reminiscence are beneficiant, with 12GB RAM and 512GB storage. That is double the storage you get on many opponents at this value, and an actual plus for customers with giant media libraries.

Benchmark scores again up this robust efficiency. The telephone scores 1401 in Geekbench 6’s single-core check and 4269 in multi-core – they’re respectable numbers that mirror its robust every day usability.

Oppo Reno 13 Professional Benchmarks

Cameras

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• Triple rear cameras: 50Mp fundamental, 50Mp 3.5x telephoto, 8Mp ultrawide
• 50Mp front-facing selfie digicam with autofocus
• 4K 60fps on all besides ultrawide

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Oppo has all the time leaned into digicam tech on its Reno line, and the Reno 13 Professional isn’t any exception. The principle 50Mp sensor makes use of a bigger 1/1.56-inch sensor, delivering crisp, vibrant outcomes with robust dynamic vary. Pictures look sharp and vibrant in daylight, and low-light photographs retain element with out turning into muddy or overly processed.

The telephoto lens is the place the Reno 13 Professional actually units itself aside. A 3.5x optical zoom is nearly unprecedented on this value bracket, and it really works brilliantly for portraits and far-off topics. There’s one other fast button for 7x digital zoom, which nonetheless appears fairly sharp. Oppo’s processing helps preserve element even as much as 10x digital zoom, and whereas outcomes at 20x+ begin to undergo, they’re nonetheless usable. Props to Oppo’s processing right here!

Video efficiency is equally robust. This smartphone helps 4K at 60fps on the primary, telephoto, and entrance cameras, which is superb for this section. Stabilisation is dependable, and the transition between lenses is clean. It’s a step behind video from iPhone cameras, however very spectacular nonetheless.

Oppo has all the time leaned into digicam tech on its Reno line, and the Reno 13 Professional isn’t any exception.

Particular point out goes to the underwater pictures mode. It leverages the telephone’s IP69 safety to allow you to snap photographs underwater utilizing the quantity button as a shutter. It’s enjoyable, and it really works – a novelty that’s greater than only a gimmick. I’m glad to see this characteristic on a mid-ranger, and risking a £649 telephone over a £1000+ telephone underwater feels slightly simpler. That mentioned, once I not too long ago went on vacation I took my iPhone every day driver because it takes higher photographs – so the characteristic isn’t a compelling draw by itself.

Battery Life & Charging

• 5800mAh battery
• 80W wired, 50W wi-fi charging
• Reverse wired charging

A 5800mAh battery provides the Reno 13 Professional a noticeable increase in endurance. With typical use, together with social media, video streaming, and lightweight gaming, I repeatedly completed the day with round 40% left. Lighter customers will simply get two full days on a single cost with out breaking a sweat worrying the place the closest charger is.

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Talking of, charging on this handset is quick. 80W wired will get you from 0–50% in 28 minutes, or to full in beneath an hour. You’ll want to purchase a appropriate SuperVOOC charger individually, although, as you don’t get one included within the field.

Wi-fi charging is one other welcome addition – 50W is fast for a mid-range telephone and simply outpaces many pricier rivals. The one draw back is that the digicam bump can get in the way in which of wi-fi pads, however as soon as aligned, charging is clean and steady.

With typical use, together with social media, video streaming, and lightweight gaming, I repeatedly completed the day with round 40% left

Reverse wired charging can also be out there, letting you high up your earbuds or one other system from the telephone – it’s a pleasant further for a mid-range telephone.

Software program & Options

• Ships with ColorOS 15, powered by Android 15
• Superior AI options together with AI Communicate and AI Eraser
• An excessive amount of bloatware

ColorOS 15 continues Oppo’s development towards feature-rich, customisable software program. Primarily based on Android 15, it’s quick, slick, and surprisingly clean-looking. As you may need seen in jokes on-line, it feels similar to iOS. As an iPhone person, I benefit from the familiarity, however at instances it looks like a blatant copy. Animations are clean, and navigation feels fast.

Oppo nonetheless hasn’t fastened its bloatware downside

You’ll discover plenty of visible tweaks, from always-on show choices to customized themes and icon packs.

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The true standout is the suite of AI instruments. “AI Communicate” is definitely fairly helpful, studying aloud articles and webpages in a pure voice – good for multitasking or accessibility wants. The AI picture enhancing instruments are additionally glorious: Eraser, Deblur, and Reflection Elimination all work reliably and match comparable options seen on Pixel and Galaxy units.

Nevertheless, Oppo nonetheless hasn’t fastened its bloatware downside. The telephone arrives with dozens of pre-installed apps, together with third-party video games, duplicate instruments, and Oppo companies you could by no means use. It’s irritating to see this on a £649 telephone, and cleansing it up takes effort and time. It’s one in all my largest smartphone gripes, so I’m upset to see it on a telephone with “Professional” within the identify.

No less than Oppo has improved its software program help promise: 5 years of Android OS updates and 6 years of safety patches. That’s a notable improve over earlier Reno telephones and places it according to many flagship-level replace commitments.

Value & Availability

The Oppo Reno 13 Professional is out there now within the UK and Australia, although, as with many Oppo telephones, it gained’t see an official US launch. It’s out there to order immediately from Oppo or from Amazon.

Its £649 price ticket places it on the higher finish of the mid-range section, and considerably above the £499 beginning value of the Reno 12 Professional. It’s disappointing to see, since many manufacturers are beginning to decrease year-on-year costs reasonably than increase them. Nevertheless, on the time of writing, Oppo is providing £70 off.

However when you don’t get it on provide, it’s a troublesome promote subsequent to rivals just like the Google Pixel 9a or Xiaomi 14T, each of which provide comparable – and in some instances superior – efficiency or digicam capabilities at decrease costs.

Must you purchase the Oppo Reno 13 Professional?

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The Oppo Reno 13 Professional is a sophisticated, highly effective telephone that will get so much proper. Its show is superb, battery life is lengthy, charging is quick, and the digicam setup is flexible and genuinely helpful. Software program feels mature and AI options are an actual bonus for productiveness and creativity alike.

However that £649 price ticket looms giant. The Reno 13 Professional could technically be a mid-range system, however its pricing pushes it into flagship territory, and opponents at this stage – significantly the Poco F7 Extremely – provide compelling causes to look elsewhere.

Nonetheless, if digicam efficiency, a giant display screen, and AI smarts matter most to you, the Reno 13 Professional has lots to supply. Simply don’t anticipate the killer worth of earlier Reno fashions.

Specs

Show: 6.83-inch AMOLED, 1272×2800 decision, 120Hz
Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 8350
RAM: 12GB
Storage: 512GB (non-expandable)
Rear Cameras: 50Mp (fundamental), 8Mp (ultra-wide), 50Mp (3.5x telephoto)
Entrance Digital camera: 50Mp, autofocus
Video: As much as 4K at 60fps (besides ultra-wide)
Battery: 5800mAh
Charging: 80W wired, 50W wi-fi, reverse
Audio: Stereo audio system, Bluetooth 5.4, no 3.5mm jack
OS: Android 15 with ColorOS 15
Dimensions: 162.8×76.6×7.6mm
Weight: 197g