Oppo Reno 13 5G review: quintessential AI smartphone

The Oppo Reno 13 5G is a quintessential Artificial Intelligence (AI) phone that carries all the traits of a flagship smartphone.

There is little the Oppo Reno 13 5G doesn’t do well. With robust and sleek build quality and design, it feels comfortable in the hand.

It also has a snappy performance and a stunning display on its side.

Oppo’s latest Reno builds on the lineup’s foundation and delivers a fantastic mid-ranger.

I had fun reviewing the Reno 13 5G, especially the AI features, which are all the rage in smartphones from Samsung, Huawei, Honor, Vivo, and Apple.

AI

Oppo has introduced its own AI features, which I had to try.

While I am not a scuba diver and can barely swim, maybe I should call South Africa’s most decorated Olympian, Tatiana Schoenmaker, for some lessons. One AI feature that stands out from other mobile brands is the “Underwater Photography Mode.”

This is particularly useful if you are a scuba diver or underwater cave explorer, among other water-related activities.

I loved the AI Reflection Remover. We all have that issue when window shopping, and the item in the window is blurred by the reflection.

The AI Reflection Remover eliminates unwanted glass reflections, making capturing clear shots through windows easy.

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Sharing

Another feature I enjoyed was the ability to share photos across Android and iOS devices with a new share button.

Oppo has paid sufficient attention to the phone’s durability. The sides are reinforced with a high-quality aerospace aluminum frame, which should absorb some pressure in case of a fall (I haven’t tried it).

Features

The Reno 13 features a 6.59” 2760 x 1256 resolution AMOLED display, which can do up to 120Hz refresh rate and 1,200 nits of peak brightness, but was choppy while gaming.

Oppo Reno 13 5G features a 50MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, and a 2MP monochrome camera – a decent setup for the price, but I was disappointed with the camera performance.

Battery

The Reno 13 houses a 5,600mAh battery, with an 80W SuperVOOC charger providing 50% charge in under 25 minutes and a 100% charge in under 50 minutes.

I was pleased with the overall battery life, which consistently delivered at least 1.5 days of uptime and a full day of charge during heavy usage.

The Oppo Reno 13 comes in two colourways: the Plume White with a unique butterfly effect on the one-piece sculpted glass rear panel, which shines brilliantly under the sunlight, and the Luminous Blue variant – the one I received – which is far more understated with an anti-glare matte finish.

The Oppo Reno 13 5G runs Android 15, customised as usual with Oppo’s own ColorOS UI, which sometimes feels like an homage to Apple’s iOS. Oppo also loads it up with a surprising amount of bloatware, which clutters the home screen.

Oppo says the handset will receive five years of Android OS updates and six years of quarterly security patches, which is good compared to many Android handsets.

Verdict

The Oppo Reno 13 5 G offers an interesting mix of design, performance, and features. It has good looks, fast charging, and exceptional battery life. However, it has bloated software and a camera that struggles with low-light performance. If you want a decent mid-range smartphone, consider the Reno 13 5G, but do not buy it without checking out the competition.

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