OnePlus 13R Review: Could Have Been Great, But…
The OnePlus 13R has the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, a 6,000mAh battery, and a flat design that feels premium. However, despite its powerful hardware, does it truly deliver a flagship-like experience?
After two weeks of daily usage, here’s a detailed review covering its pros and cons to help you decide if this phone is worth buying.
Design & Build: Flat and Premium
📌 Key Highlights:
✔ 6.7-inch flat display (no curves!)
✔ Well-balanced weight despite the large 6,000mAh battery
✔ Glass back with a matte finish (resists fingerprints)
✔ Flat edges similar to the Samsung S25 Ultra
🏆 Verdict: Sleek & modern design with good weight distribution.
Performance: Flagship-Level Smoothness
🚀 Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 + 12GB RAM (Base Variant)
✔ Zero lag or stutters
✔ Handles multitasking and everyday usage smoothly
✔ No heating issues in regular usage
📌 Verdict: Great for everyday use and power users, but not tested extensively for gaming.
Battery Life & Charging: Impressive Endurance
🔋 6000mAh Battery
✔ Easily lasts 2 days with normal usage
✔ Screen-on time (SOT):
- 9 hours 34 minutes (After 1 day 22 hours of use, 11% battery left)
- 8 hours 45 minutes (After 1 day 17 hours of use, 25% battery left)
⚡ Charging Speed:
✔ Fast 100W charging (0 to 100% in 47 minutes)
✔ PD Charging (Laptop chargers) takes longer (double the time)
✔ Charger included in the box!
📌 Verdict: One of the best battery performances in this price range.
Camera: The Biggest Weakness 😞
📸 Camera Specs:
✔ 50MP Primary Sensor (f/1.8)
✔ Ultra-wide lens
✔ 2x Telephoto lens with macro capability
Real-World Camera Performance
✔ Decent outdoor shots with good colors
✔ Selfies in portrait mode perform well
✔ Background blur looks natural in 2x mode
❌ Major Issues:
- Poor low-light photography
- Artificially downgraded video quality (No 4K recording on front camera!)
- Colors & saturation in videos look washed out
- Focus hunting issues in 4K video recording
📌 Verdict: For a ₹40,000 phone, the camera is underwhelming. If you shoot a lot of videos, this is NOT the phone for you.
Software & UI: ColorOS with a Different Name?
📌 Key Takeaways:
✔ Smooth UI experience (No lags or unnecessary notifications)
✔ OxygenOS feels fast & fluid
❌ But… it’s essentially ColorOS with a new name.
❌ Bloatware apps like Phone Manager & Theme Store are now pre-installed.
📌 Verdict: Still smooth, but OxygenOS is losing its original identity.
Haptics & Other Compromises
⚡ Weak Haptic Feedback:
- Feels very weak compared to other OnePlus devices.
💦 IP Rating & Glass Protection:
- IP65 Rating (Instead of IP68, which most ₹40K+ phones have)
- Gorilla Glass 7i (Lower than Gorilla Glass Victus, found in similarly priced devices)
📌 Verdict: Haptics & durability feel downgraded.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy the OnePlus 13R?
Pros ✅
✔ Great performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
✔ Outstanding battery life & fast charging
✔ Flat, premium design with good weight balance
✔ Smooth UI with no major software issues
Cons ❌
❌ Disappointing camera & video quality
❌ No 4K video recording on the front camera
❌ Weak haptic feedback
❌ Bloatware in OxygenOS (Similar to ColorOS now)
❌ Compromised IP rating & glass protection
Who Should Buy This Phone?
✅ If you want top-tier performance & battery life
✅ If you don’t care much about cameras & video recording
✅ If you want a flat design with OxygenOS smoothness
Who Should Avoid This Phone?
❌ If you take a lot of photos & videos
❌ If you want strong haptics & premium durability
❌ If you expect a clean OxygenOS experience (It’s becoming more like ColorOS!)
🚀 Final Thoughts: The OnePlus 13R is a solid phone in terms of performance and battery life, but the camera & video performance hold it back from being an ideal flagship killer.
💬 What are your thoughts on the OnePlus 13R? Would you still consider buying it? Let us know in the comments!
Also Read :Samsung Galaxy A56 vs A36 – In-Depth Review & Comparison!
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