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

Best Prices Today: Oppo Reno 13 Pro

The Oppo Reno 13 Pro brings big upgrades to one of the most popular mid-range phone lines. It looks and feels like a premium device, with its aluminium and glass construction, IP69-rated durability, and expansive AMOLED display. Under the hood, it packs a more powerful Dimensity 8350 chipset, a triple-lens camera setup that includes a rare 3.5x telephoto, and a battery that comfortably lasts a day and a half.

But while the upgrades are significant, so is the price hike. Starting at £649 in the UK, the Reno 13 Pro now finds itself in competition with true flagship challengers such as the Poco F7 Ultra and Pixel 9 – and that undermines the value equation that Oppo’s Reno line used to dominate.

It’s a great phone, and the camera and battery experience are particular stand-outs, but it no longer feels like the obvious mid-range choice. Oppo has built a fantastic all-rounder, but priced it out of the mid-range comfort zone.

Design & Build

• Premium aluminium frame and glass back
• IP69/IP68 dust and water resistance
• Available in Graphite Grey and Plume Purple

Oppo has stepped up its design game this year. The Reno 13 Pro looks and feels far more premium than the Reno 12 Pro, thanks to its polished aluminium frame and sculpted glass back. The design is boxier and more refined, offering a premium feel with the Graphite Grey model and a bit more personality with the Plume Purple variant.

It’s a departure from last year’s more flamboyant look, but still attractive – and I think I prefer it. The Purple design is a particular favourite of mine.

At 197g and just 7.6mm thick, this mid-ranger remains lightweight and easy to handle, even with its large 6.83-inch display. The power and volume buttons are located conveniently on the right side, and the in-display fingerprint scanner is responsive and accurate. The symmetrical quad-curve glass on the front feels sleek and enhances gesture navigation, although the completely flat back glass makes the phone easier to grip.

The real standout is the IP69 certification – a rare inclusion even among flagships. It means the phone isn’t only water and dust-resistant but can withstand high-pressure water jets and even hot water. Oppo is clearly leaning into the rugged angle here, especially when paired with the underwater camera mode. This might be overkill for most, but it adds a layer of security that few phones offer.

Oppo has stepped up its design game this year – the Reno 13 Pro looks and feels far more premium than the 12 Pro

What’s less impressive is the lack of a Micro-SD card slot or headphone jack. These omissions are common in higher-end phones, featuring mostly on budget handsets. But it’s still frustrating, especially for users who rely on wired audio or external storage. That said, the 512GB storage should be more than enough for most users, and Bluetooth 5.4 provides strong wireless connectivity.

Screen & Speakers

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

The Reno 13 Pro’s display is one of its strongest assets. At 6.83 inches, it offers a large canvas for everything from gaming to binge-watching. The resolution of 1272×2800 delivers a sharp picture, and the 120Hz refresh rate keeps things fluid and responsive. While the default setting adjusts the refresh rate dynamically to preserve battery life, you can lock it to 120Hz if you prefer constant smoothness.

Colour reproduction is vivid, with deep blacks and wide-gamut support thanks to the AMOLED tech – it really impressed me. HDR10+ content looks fantastic here, especially on streaming apps such as Netflix and YouTube. Oppo offers multiple display modes and manual tuning options, but the default setting was accurate and punchy without being overblown.

Peak brightness of 1200 nits makes it more than usable outdoors. Even in harsh sunlight, I had no issues with reading text on the screen. The quad-curved edges of the glass make gesture controls feel fluid and add to the immersive feel of the screen, although this trend may be falling out of fashion with flatter flagship displays becoming more common in 2025. I do prefer flatter displays, but I didn’t mind using the Reno 13 Pro’s curved display quite as much as others.

The Reno 13 Pro’s display is one of its strongest assets

Gorilla Glass 7i offers decent protection against scratches and drops, though it’s a small step down from the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 used on the Reno 12 Pro. The downgrade likely helps Oppo keep the cost of materials in check, but it’s worth noting for longevity.

On the audio front, stereo speakers offer adequate clarity and separation. They’re fine for casual listening or video calls, but not especially rich. There’s no support for Dolby Atmos as you’d find on higher-end handsets, and audio output lacks the dynamic range of the best in class.

Specs & Performance

• MediaTek Dimensity 8350 chipset
• 12GB RAM and 512GB storage
• Pretty impressive Geekbench 6 benchmark results

The Reno 13 Pro takes a major leap forward from its predecessor thanks to the inclusion of the Dimensity 8350 chip. This chip offers a 20% CPU and 60% GPU performance boost over the 7300 Energy used in the Reno 12 Pro, and that’s immediately evident in daily use.

Multitasking is seamless, apps launch quickly, and even intensive tasks like photo editing or video rendering are handled with confidence. In gaming, it can run demanding titles like Zenless Zone Zero at stable 30fps on high settings. Pushing to 60fps leads to variable frame rates, but it remains playable – and pretty impressive for a mid-range chipset.

Compared to rivals, it holds its own. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 inside the Poco F7 Ultra offers superior raw power, but the Reno 13 Pro isn’t far behind in real-world use. Against the Pixel 9a’s Tensor G3, the Reno offers more power under the hood.

Storage and memory are generous, with 12GB RAM and 512GB storage. This is double the storage you get on many competitors at this price, and a real plus for users with large media libraries.

The Reno 13 Pro takes a major leap forward from its predecessor thanks to the inclusion of the Dimensity 8350 chip.

Benchmark scores back up this strong performance. The phone scores 1401 in Geekbench 6’s single-core test and 4269 in multi-core – they’re respectable numbers that reflect its strong daily usability.

Oppo Reno 13 Pro Benchmarks

Cameras

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

Oppo has always leaned into camera tech on its Reno line, and the Reno 13 Pro is no exception. The main 50Mp sensor uses a larger 1/1.56-inch sensor, delivering crisp, colourful results with strong dynamic range. Photos look sharp and vibrant in daylight, and low-light shots retain detail without becoming muddy or overly processed.

The telephoto lens is where the Reno 13 Pro really sets itself apart. A 3.5x optical zoom is almost unheard of in this price bracket, and it works brilliantly for portraits and far-off subjects. There’s another quick button for 7x digital zoom, which still looks pretty sharp. Oppo’s processing helps maintain detail even up to 10x digital zoom, and while results at 20x+ start to suffer, they’re still usable. Props to Oppo’s processing here!

The 8Mp ultrawide is a step down, unfortunately – detail is softer, and low-light performance is disappointing – but it does have autofocus, allowing for usable macro shots.

Round front, the 50Mp selfie camera is a standout. It’s sharp, well-balanced, and benefits from portrait mode that actually works – so your social media shots will look pretty solid. Autofocus means it nails group shots or off-centre compositions without effort.

Video performance is equally strong. This smartphone supports 4K at 60fps on the main, telephoto, and front cameras, which is excellent for this segment. Stabilisation is reliable, and the transition between lenses is smooth. It’s a step behind video from iPhone cameras, but very impressive nonetheless.

Oppo has always leaned into camera tech on its Reno line, and the Reno 13 Pro is no exception.

Special mention goes to the underwater photography mode. It leverages the phone’s IP69 protection to let you snap photos underwater using the volume button as a shutter. It’s fun, and it works – a novelty that’s more than just a gimmick. I’m glad to see this feature on a mid-ranger, and risking a £649 phone over a £1000+ phone underwater feels a little easier. That said, when I recently went on holiday I took my iPhone daily driver as it takes better photos – so the feature isn’t a compelling draw by itself.

Battery Life & Charging

• 5800mAh battery
• 80W wired, 50W wireless charging
• Reverse wired charging

A 5800mAh battery gives the Reno 13 Pro a noticeable boost in endurance. With typical use, including social media, video streaming, and light gaming, I regularly finished the day with around 40% left. Lighter users will easily get two full days on a single charge without breaking a sweat worrying where the nearest charger is.

Speaking of, charging on this handset is fast. 80W wired gets you from 0–50% in 28 minutes, or to full in under an hour. You’ll need to buy a compatible SuperVOOC charger separately, though, as you don’t get one included in the box.

Wireless charging is another great addition – 50W is rapid for a mid-range phone and easily outpaces many pricier rivals. The only downside is that the camera bump can get in the way of wireless pads, but once aligned, charging is smooth and stable.

With typical use, including social media, video streaming, and light gaming, I regularly finished the day with around 40% left

Reverse wired charging is also available, letting you top up your earbuds or another device from the phone – it’s a nice extra for a mid-range phone.

Software & Features

• Ships with ColorOS 15, powered by Android 15
• Advanced AI features including AI Speak and AI Eraser
• Too much bloatware

ColorOS 15 continues Oppo’s trend toward feature-rich, customisable software. Based on Android 15, it’s fast, slick, and surprisingly clean-looking. As you might have seen in jokes online, it feels very similar to iOS. As an iPhone user, I enjoy the familiarity, but at times it feels like a blatant copy. Animations are smooth, and navigation feels quick.

Oppo still hasn’t fixed its bloatware problem

You’ll find lots of visual tweaks, from always-on display options to custom themes and icon packs.

The real standout is the suite of AI tools. “AI Speak” is actually pretty useful, reading aloud articles and webpages in a natural voice – perfect for multitasking or accessibility needs. The AI image editing tools are also excellent: Eraser, Deblur, and Reflection Removal all work reliably and match similar features seen on Pixel and Galaxy devices.

However, Oppo still hasn’t fixed its bloatware problem. The phone arrives with dozens of pre-installed apps, including third-party games, duplicate tools, and Oppo services you may never use. It’s frustrating to see this on a £649 phone, and cleaning it up takes time and effort. It’s one of my biggest smartphone gripes, so I’m disappointed to see it on a phone with “Pro” in the name.

At least Oppo has improved its software support promise: five years of Android OS updates and six years of security patches. That’s a notable upgrade over previous Reno phones and puts it in line with many flagship-level update commitments.

Price & Availability

The Oppo Reno 13 Pro is available now in the UK and Australia, though, as with many Oppo phones, it won’t see an official US release. It’s available to order directly from Oppo or from Amazon.

Its £649 price tag puts it at the upper end of the mid-range segment, and significantly above the £499 starting price of the Reno 12 Pro. It’s disappointing to see, since many brands are starting to lower year-on-year prices rather than raise them. However, at the time of writing, Oppo is offering £70 off.

But if you don’t get it on offer, it’s a tough sell next to rivals like the Google Pixel 9a or Xiaomi 14T, both of which offer comparable – and in some cases superior – performance or camera capabilities at lower prices.

Should you buy the Oppo Reno 13 Pro?

The Oppo Reno 13 Pro is a polished, powerful phone that gets a lot right. Its display is excellent, battery life is long, charging is fast, and the camera setup is versatile and genuinely useful. Software feels mature and AI features are a real bonus for productivity and creativity alike.

But that £649 price tag looms large. The Reno 13 Pro may technically be a mid-range device, but its pricing pushes it into flagship territory, and competitors at this level – particularly the Poco F7 Ultra – offer compelling reasons to look elsewhere.

Still, if camera performance, a big screen, and AI smarts matter most to you, the Reno 13 Pro has plenty to offer. Just don’t expect the killer value of previous Reno models.

Specs

Display: 6.83-inch AMOLED, 1272×2800 resolution, 120Hz
Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 8350
RAM: 12GB
Storage: 512GB (non-expandable)
Rear Cameras: 50Mp (main), 8Mp (ultra-wide), 50Mp (3.5x telephoto)
Front Camera: 50Mp, autofocus
Video: Up to 4K at 60fps (except ultra-wide)
Battery: 5800mAh
Charging: 80W wired, 50W wireless, reverse
Audio: Stereo speakers, Bluetooth 5.4, no 3.5mm jack
OS: Android 15 with ColorOS 15
Dimensions: 162.8×76.6×7.6mm
Weight: 197g