Oppo Reno 13 Pro Review: Like a Fish in Water

The Oppo Reno 13 Pro brings a premium feel and an excellent camera setup to a wide audience, although Oppo charges a bit extra for the original design. This device focuses more on lifestyle than pure performance.

Oppo has maintained a high tempo of Reno launches since the company re-embraced the European market. The Reno 13 Pro saw the light of day barely six months after the launch of the Reno 12 Pro, which in turn hit the shelves in the wake of the Reno 11F.

For the Reno 12 Pro, Oppo relied too much on the lifestyle aspect. The device looked good, but the specifications could hardly justify the price. For the Reno 13 Pro, Oppo isn’t radically changing course. Reno remains a brand aimed at the larger and fashion-conscious audience. Those who want ultimate performance should turn to Find.

Our Oppo Reno 13 Pro is equipped with the following specifications, for a recommended price of 799 euros:

• 6.83 inch AMOLED screen (120 Hz, 1,271 x 2,800 pixels)
• MediaTek Dimensity 8350
• 512GB storage (UFS 3.1)
• 12 GB RAM
• 5,800 mAh battery
• 80 W charging (SuperVooc)
• Main camera: f/1.8, 50 MP, OIS
• Telephoto 3.5X: f/2.8, 50 MP, IOS
• Wide angle: f/2.2, 8 MP
• Selfie: f/2, 50 MP
• IP69

(Half) Butterfly

However, the most striking feature of the Oppo Reno 13 Pro is its appearance. The device is thin and feels pleasant in the hand. The back is matte but shows variations in light that are meant to resemble the shadow of a half butterfly. On our purple device, the effect is visible without becoming gaudy. Oppo deserves praise for trying something different. A black version without butterfly wings exists for those who prefer a more business-like look.

Oppo opts for an IP69 certification, implying that you can take the phone underwater. As is customary, any water damage is not covered by the standard warranty, but Oppo is confident that the phone is suitable for use in the pool.

Not a Performance Monster

The internals were the major weakness of the Reno 12 Pro, and it’s clear for the Reno 13 Pro as well that you’re paying 799 euros for something other than performance. The MediaTek Dimensity 8350 is not a powerful processor, but the phone is much more performant than its predecessor.

The performance is on par with the Google Pixel 9a (549 euros, with Tensor G4). A OnePlus 13R with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is significantly more powerful, despite the comparable recommended price of 749 euros. The Samsung Galaxy S25 is much more powerful, but also more expensive (899 euros).

In our opinion, Oppo has reached the minimum threshold with the Reno 13 Pro where the Reno 12 Pro still fell short. In daily use, this is a smooth smartphone, partly thanks to the 12 GB RAM.

On the graphics side, we have to tell a similar story. The Oppo Reno 13 Pro is even slightly more powerful here than the Google Pixel 9a, but is outclassed by the OnePlus 13R and other devices with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 on board.

Compared to the Oppo Reno 12 Pro, this phone makes a big and much-needed leap forward. This is not a device for gamers, but one that is adequately equipped for daily use.

We also see this when we look at a wide variety of usage scores, which give an idea of the performance for different devices. The Oppo Reno 13 Pro is never the best, but the device does compete and outclasses its predecessor in several important categories.

Good Battery

Improvements over the previous generation are the norm. The phone lasts significantly longer on a single charge. During our tests, we notice that especially active use is more efficient. Other smartphones do better, but not the Samsung Galaxy S25.

We easily get through the day with normal use, which includes chatting, browsing, navigating, and taking photos. When it’s time to charge, we don’t need much patience. In 18 minutes, you can fully charge the Oppo Reno 13 Pro again.

As is customary with Oppo, no charger is included, even though the Reno 13 Pro charges fastest via Oppo’s own SuperVooc charger. With USB-C Power Delivery, the figures are fortunately also very decent. Wireless charging is also possible, for those who find it important.

50 MP Toppers

For this device, the camera selection is the most important. Oppo provides two 50 MP sensors. Both the main camera and the 3.5x zoom deliver very good images. The colors are similar, as is the quality.

Oppo integrates AI into the camera, just like in the Find X8 Pro. Smart algorithms work together with the 50 MP sensor to enable strong zooming. Up to 14x, we see usable images; after that, the AI influence becomes stronger and the results more artificial.

Superfluous wide-angle

Oppo also integrates an 8 MP wide-angle into the device, and we wonder why. In good lighting conditions, it delivers adequate images, but as soon as the lighting becomes more challenging, the quality drops significantly. Moreover, the main camera already has a wide field of view.

The photos with the main camera and telephoto lens are also qualitative in lower light conditions and retain their details. You can even zoom in further. The photo with the wide-angle lens only looks good on a small screen and immediately falls apart when you zoom in a bit: details disappear into a blurry pixel soup. Click on the photos below to see the difference in full screen.

Manufacturers are increasingly putting subpar wide-angle cameras in their devices to increase the number of lenses. In our opinion, this is unnecessary: the added value is very small. The addition of the 8 MP wide-angle even detracts from the otherwise impressive quality of the camera module.

Underwater photography

The cameras also work underwater. Oppo integrates a special photo mode that allows underwater operation via the volume buttons. Sound vibrations shake the device dry again when you step out of the pool.

Again, AI algorithms play a role. They ensure that underwater snapshots are clear and contain correct colors. During our brief test, this all worked very well.

Furthermore, Oppo gives a lot of love to the selfie camera. This is immediately useful for those who want to video call with their smartphone. Algorithms detect a multitude of scenes for optimal results, just like in the Find X8 Pro. It all works well.

The photos also look good on the AMOLED screen, which appears sharp with its 1,272 x 2,800 pixels. The 120 Hz refresh rate contributes to a smooth experience, but the maximum brightness is a bit modest. If you take photos in sunny conditions, you can see them at 535 cd/m², but not as well as with many other devices that can handle a peak brightness of 1,000 cd/m² or more.

Bloatware

We noticed it during the preview and repeat it here: right out of the box, the Oppo Reno 13 Pro is full of bloatware. Oppo actively seeks a new low point with a mountain of bloatware that cannot be justified at this price point.

Think of things like Temu or AliExpress, something called ReelShort, a game called Block Blast, TikTok, Solitaire, Vita Mahjong, and more. Fortunately, the app to playfully order a carburetor for your car, as on the Find X8 Pro, is missing. If you buy this device, start with a big cleanup so that all these data-collecting advertising applications don’t accidentally remain installed.

Verdict

The cameras (except for the wide-angle) are THE reason to buy this Oppo Reno 13 Pro. Oppo integrates top-notch (software-driven) photography into this device, resulting in beautiful photos in numerous circumstances. The telephoto lens provides flexibility and also allows you to take very nice portraits.

The underwater capabilities are a nice bonus. We wouldn’t take this device into the sea, but we dare to take it into the pool for some vacation photos. In terms of performance, the Oppo Reno 13 Pro is not a champion and scores worse than other phones in the same price range, but that can be forgiven. This time, the smartphone is fast enough for daily use, and the battery also lasts long enough.

The Oppo Reno 13 Pro is an excellent smartphone for those who want a more original device and don’t lose sleep over hardware performance. Photography should be the main motivator for this purchase. In that case, the Oppo Reno 13 Pro can just justify its price, although we think Oppo is asking a bit too much. Remove the wide-angle lens, knock 100 euros off the recommended price, and we would readily recommend this device.

And remove the bloatware Oppo, you’re crossing the boundaries of decency.

Oppo Reno 13 Pro – 799 euros including VAT, 5 years of Android updates, 6 years of security updates.