Oppo Reno13 5G Review cover

Oppo Reno13 5G Review – All-rounder midrange phone with AI and a cool underwater twist

Months after the deployment of the Reno12 series, Oppo has rolled out its successor, the Oppo Reno13 series in Malaysia with a more premium Pro variant, a standard version and a more affordable F-series configuration depending on how deep your pockets go. We managed to get our hands on the standard Reno13 5G model with a fair blend of performance, price and AI capabilities for field testing. 

Oppo Reno13 5G review front

After giving it a whirl and taking it for several dips in the pool, here’s our Oppo Reno13 5G review where we share if this midrange workhorse is worth your money.

Oppo Reno13 5G review – build and design

Off the cuff, the Oppo Reno13 5G aims to be a midrange all-rounder phone with enhanced AI capabilities especially for photography along with a dedicated underwater photography mode in tandem with a robust IP69 dust and water resistance rating which is still a rarity in midrange phones. This allows it the ability to survive incoming high pressure jets of water and, according to the official literature, survive up to 2 metres of immersion in fresh water for up to 30 minutes at a time. 

Oppo Reno13 5G review side

On top of the improved IP69 water resistance, the Oppo Reno13 5G also uses aerospace-grade aluminium in the frame that offers 20% improved resistance to bending and 36% improved drop resistance while also having what they call ‘frame partition’ technology to more efficiently vent heat away from the CPU.

The display itself is also protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i that is intended for midrange phones and which is intended to survive drops of up to 1m on rough surfaces with double the scratch resistance of competing alternatives.

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@hitechcentury We check out the new Oppo Reno 13 Pro 5G that packs AI capabilities and a special underwater mode which we test with great results! #opporeno13series5g #hitechcentury #fyp #techtok #malaysia #oppo @oppomalaysia ♬ Aesthetic – Tollan Kim

Improved durability aside, Oppos’ new generation of Reno phones comes with what the brand refers to as a Plume texture with a Butterfly shadow effect in your choice of either Luminous Blue or Plume White that consists of a backplate in the designated colour crafted from a single sheet of sculpted-glass.

Our Oppo Reno13 5G review sample came in the latter Plume White colourway which works out to a semi-pearlescent satin white finish with a pronounced series of reflective streaks that flare out from the side in the manner of a butterfly’s wings or an abstracted Rorschach test. 

This does lend it a modestly classy look in tandem with its completely flat display and rounded corners though the square-shaped plasticky camera housing that surrounds its triple camera array somewhat detracts from its aesthetics.

From a more practical standpoint, the glass backplate repels fingerprints nicely though it’s a bit on the slippery side. The display itself has moderate fingerprint resistance though it does get smudges after a full day of use, necessitating a wipedown.

The sides of the phone are finished in aluminium with a power button and volume rocker on the right side. The base of the phone is densely packed with a nano SIM card tray, a USB-C port as well as grilles for one of the two speakers with a hole in the top packing the second speaker to form a stereo pair. Interestingly, the top retains an IR blaster that allows users to remote control other appliances like TVs, air conditioners and the like.

Up front, our Oppo Reno13 5G review sample gets a flat 6.59-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with 1,256 x 2,760 pixels resolution, a dynamic 120Hz refresh rate and a colour depth of 1.07 billion colours though it doesn’t have any official DCI-P3 rating. Of note here are the 1.6mm thin bezels on all sides that lend the display an impressive 93.4% screen-to-body ratio. Up top is a single punch hole for the front-facing 50MP selfie camera.

oppo reno13 5g review rear

In keeping with their prior offerings, our Oppo Reno 13 5G comes with a fairly generous assortment of kit including an 80W charger with a UK-style pin for local wall outlets, a USB-C cable, a protective phone casing as well as a pre-applied screen protector. As freebies go, this is a good assortment though the phone does get somewhat of a price hike.

Compared to its predecessor the Reno12 5G, the new Oppo Reno13 5G is somewhat pricier. The closest equivalent in price to its predecessor which only had a 12GB RAM/512GB version at RM2,199 is the Reno13 5G’s modest 12GB RAM/256GB storage variant which retails for RM2,299 while the 512GB version of the Reno13 5G goes for a somewhat higher RM2,599 – which is an RM400 increase compared to the Reno12.

Oppo Reno13 5G review – Performance and benchmarks

In terms of hardware, our Oppo Reno13 5G review sample uses the new MediaTek Dimensity 8350 chipset that’s currently in service only with the Reno13 series phones.

Built on a relatively efficient second-generation 4nm process, the Dimensity 8350 chipset seems somewhat similar to the older Dimensity 8300 with eight 3.35GHz Cortex A715 prime cores but differs in the integration of the use of a new StarSpeed Engine for improved gaming performance. 

According to official literature, the new Dimensity 8350 also has an improved NPU 780 which offers 8x faster generative AI processing, 2x faster compute task performance, has up to 10 billion parameter LLM support and has a 3.3x boost in AI performance while enjoying overall 30% lower power consumption and 20% better performance compared to the previous generation chipset.

The chipset also integrates the Mali-G615 hexacore GPU which offers a 60% improvement in peak performance and 55% greater efficiency.

Our Oppo Reno13 5G review also gets a generous 12GB LPDDR5X RAM. In keeping with prior offerings, the phone also gets RAM Expansion virtual RAM with up to 12GB of assignable RAM off the onboard storage from the onboard 256GB UFS 3.1 storage.

With this array of hardware, the phone runs on Android 15 with their Color OS 15 interface. On paper, the phone gets 3 years of OS updates and 4 years of security updates which is somewhat behind the leading brands in the field that have 7 years of both firmware and security updates. Here’s how our Oppo Reno13 5G review sample stacks up on paper:

Price RM2,299 (256GB) RM2,599 (512GB)
Display 6.59-inch AMOLED, 1,256 x 2,760 pixels, 120Hz refresh rate, 1.07 billion colour depth, 460 ppi
Processor MediaTek Dimensity 8350
OS Android 15 w/ ColorOS 15
Memory 12GB LPDDR5X RAM w/ 12GB virtual RAM / 256GB UFS 3.1 storage
Cameras 50MP f/1.8 w/ OIS+ 8MP f/2.2 w/ auto focus+ 2MP f/2.4 monochrome camera[rear] / 50MP f/2.0 w/ autofocus[front]
Battery 5,600mAh w/ 80W wired charging
Size/Weight 157.9 x 74.7 x 7.2mm /181g

When subjected to benchmarks, our Oppo Reno13 5G with the maximum of 12GB RAM Expansion virtual RAM achieved the following benchmarks:

3D Mark Steel Nomad Light 1,184
3D Mark Steel Nomad Light Unlimited 1,205
3D Mark Solar Bay 4,796
3D Mark Solar Bay Unlimited 5,012
3D Mark Wild Life Extreme 2,888
3D Mark WIld Life Extreme Unlimited 2,988
Geekbench 6 Single Core 1,338
Geekbench 6 Multi Core 3,996
Geekbench 6 OpenCL 7,226
Geekbench 6 Vulkan 8,182
Geekbench AI (CPU) 2,259 quanticised
Geekbench AI (GPU) 645 quanticised
PCMark Work 3.0 12,345
PCMark Battery Life 19 hours 41 mins

In terms of benchmarks, it comfortably outpaces budget phones but is still a step behind flagships which befits its intended role as a midrange device with strong day to day performance for most tasks expected of a phone.

It does seem to cook off fast though as the Steel Nomad Light Stress test saw a low 34.6% stability score with a best loop score of 1,169 and lowest loop score of 404 with temperatures spiking to 45°C on occasion.

In overall day to day performance, our Oppo Reno13 5G review unit acquitted itself well, handling web browsing, emails and the like including gaming on default settings with the surfeit of RAM allowing for smooth performance and multitasking.

The phone also has an Adaptive Frame Booster that adds intermediate frames to selected games – namely PUBG Mobile, Free Fire and MLBB for smoother frame rates. 

oppo reno13 5g review battery life

Perhaps the biggest quibble here is the significant amount of bloatware with ColorOS 15 with a ton of apps preinstalled of dubious functionality. Straight out of the box, you get Lazada, LinkedIn and Shopee preinstalled along with a mind-boggling array of random games which may not necessarily be needed by everyone.

Oddly, you also get a parallel app store called the Oppo App Market which also has very liberal notifications and similar apps to the Google Play store. Fortunately, this can be muted in short order though the initial user experience can be overwhelming with dozens of notifications and suggestions to install all manner of apps.

On the bright side, Color OS 15 does offer a number of novel AI tools including their own baked-in Documents app that is an analogue of Google Docs that offers an AI Writer and AI Summary too. The former offers grammar checks and can help write and improve content be it emails, schoolwork or reports while the latter is able to boil down chunky articles into smaller bite-size bullet points. The phone also has additional AI features including Circle to Search by Google though the bulk are oriented towards image editing which we’ll get into later.

For those who happen to have friends who own Apple iPhones, the Oppo Reno13 5G has has a special Share with iPhone mode that lets you seamlessly share content to said device without having to handle the hassle of pairing up with Bluetooth or other onerous means of connectivity.

In terms of display quality, our Oppo Reno13 5G review sample with its 6.59-inch FHD+ AMOLED panel did not disappoint, with crisp detail and good colour rendition as well as exquisitely deep blacks. The panel also has HDR10+, Amazon HD and HDR as well as Netflix HD and HDR support for high dynamic rate content which makes it suited for binging movies. It also has fair clarity in sunlight though it’s not the brightest panel we’ve seen. The stereo speakers also offer fair sound quality.

Oppo Reno13 5G Review  display

Oppo Reno13 5G Review – The display offers fair clarity under direct sunlight with good overall colour rendition and detail

Battery life for the Oppo Reno13 5G is excellent and its 5,600mAh cell offers a comfortable two days or so of usage for light users though heavy gamers and Netflix bingers will likely get a comfortable full day out of it. Charging it is a relatively fast affair off the bundled charger that gets you from dead zero to full in about 55 minutes.

Oppo Reno13 5G review – Cameras

Our Oppo Reno13 5G review sample comes with a relatively modest camera setup that consists of a 50MP primary camera with OIS, a secondary ultra wide angle camera and a 2MP mono camera as an afterthought. This camera setup allows for 2x lossless zoom and up to 20x digital zoom along with up to 4K@60gps video capture with up to 10x digital zoom. Up front, you get a single 50MP camera for selfies and up to 4K@60fps video capture.

Oppo Reno13 5G Review  camera

Shots in daylight offer surprisingly good detail and lifelike colours with excellent results out to 2x lossless zoom. In dim light, shots from the ultrawide camera don’t quite match the main camera in terms of colours and dynamic range but both nonetheless look fairly pleasant for social media use with best results if you stick to under 2x zoom.

Oppo Reno13 5G Review   colours

Oppo Reno13 5G Review   colours 2

Oppo Reno13 5G Review   skin tones

The Dimensity 8350’s NPU gets put to work here with an improved version of AI Eraser 2.0 that is smarter and more intuitive with more effective deletion of unwanted photo bombers or items from an image. You also get an AI Livephoto mode that captures footage 1.5 seconds before and 1.5 seconds after you press the shutter to create vivid semi-animated photos. While the AI Eraser 2.0 is certainly effective, AI Livephoto is more of a novelty for creating the odd whimsical montage of shots or two for personal consumption.

Oppo Reno13 5G Review  AI eraser

There is also an AI Clarity Enhancer feature for cleaning shots in post but its algorithm seems to work best on scenery and when subjected to people, signage or urban shots, it did not offer a substantial difference in results. The phone also has an AI Portrait and AI Reimage feature that offers aesthetic twists and is able to reimagine existing shots too.

Oppo Reno13 5G Review  AI eraser

Oppo Reno13 5G Review – AI eraser is able to intelligently remove people from a shot. Note the people in the background

Oppo Reno13 5G Review  AI eraser 2

Oppo Reno13 5G Review – The robust algorithm is able to remove bystanders in the background and replace it with furniture in a seamless fashion

Selfies from the front camera benefit from the large 50MP sensor which is significantly larger than even leading flagships which makes for good selfies with good detail and detail.

Oppo Reno13 5G Review   low light ultrawide

Oppo Reno13 5G Review low light ultrawide

Oppo Reno13 5G Review   1x low light

Oppo Reno13 5G Review – 1x in low light

Oppo Reno13 5G Review   2x low light

Oppo Reno13 5G Review – 2x in low light

Oppo Reno13 5G Review   20x low light

Oppo Reno13 5G Review – 20x in low light

The Oppo Reno 13 5G also has a novel underwater mode to capture video and snaps in up to 2 metres of freshwater for up to 30 minutes at a time, relying on the volume rocker and power buttons for input while disabling input from the touchscreen.

Oppo Reno13 5G Review  underwater photography 1

Oppo Reno13 5G Review  underwater photography 2

While it’s certainly not something intended for everyday use, it does have its moments especially if you’re a prolific water park or swimming pool goer. Shots need to be captured in daylight conditions and you’ll need to be fairly close to a subject for best results but look surprisingly good, more so for the fact that the camera accounts for distortion from the water while the phone itself can do this without the need for a protective case.

Oppo Reno13 5G Review ultrawide angle daylight

Oppo Reno13 5G Review – ultrawide angle daylight

Oppo Reno13 5G Review 1x daylight

Oppo Reno13 5G Review – 1x daylight

Oppo Reno13 5G Review 2x daylight

Oppo Reno13 5G Review – 2x daylight

Oppo Reno13 5G Review 20x daylight

Oppo Reno13 5G Review – 20x daylight

Should you buy the Oppo Reno13 5G?

The Oppo Reno13 5G bridges the gap between midrange and flagship phones, offering solid day-to-day performance, a versatile set of AI tools for productivity and photography, and a capable camera system. However, its shorter Android and security update lifespan, bloatware and slightly higher price tag compared to competitors are something to consider before buying.

Hitech Century Silver award

Despite this, it’s a well-rounded device that stands out by including a full set of accessories in the box—a rarity these days.

oppo reno13 5g review angled

Oppo Reno13 5G review sample courtesy of Oppo Malaysia. For more details please visit https://www.oppo.com/my/smartphones/series-reno/reno13/

Oppo Reno13 5G
3.8
  • Display
  • Performance
  • Cameras
  • Battery Life
  • AI Capabilities
  • Value

Oppo Reno13 5G

The Oppo Reno13 5G bridges the gap between midrange and flagship phones, offering solid day-to-day performance, a versatile set of AI tools for productivity and photography, and a capable camera system. However, its shorter Android and security update lifespan, bloatware and slightly higher price tag compared to competitors are something to consider before buying.

Pros

AI Livephoto lets you share shots easily to iPhones

Novel AI photography features

Dedicated underwater photography mode

Decent performance

Good battery life

Cons

OS and security updates not as long as competing brands