Amidst the dominance of brands like Apple, Google, and Samsung in the West, it can be hard to pay attention to other smartphone manufacturers making phones that are pretty kick-ass. I’m not trying to say that an OEM like Oppo is unknown, but considering it produced a hit like the Find X8 Pro, I think it’s surely not getting enough attention.
Oppo just released the Reno 13 series over in the UK, comprising the Reno 13, Reno 13 Pro, Reno 13 F, and the Reno 13 FS. That’s a more stacked launch than we usually see, but it keeps things interesting, so let’s dive into everything that midrangers have to offer you.
The Oppo Reno 13 and Reno 13 Pro Sit at the Top of the Midrange Segment
The Oppo Reno 13 and Reno 13 Pro are very close to each other in terms of specs, but they bring enough differentiating factors to justify the separate models. However, they’re both the same where it counts, and that’s in the power category.
The Design
The Oppo Reno 13 series has a similar design across the board. The phones have flat back panels, a flat frame, and slightly rounded corners. They all have flat screens, with the exception of the Reno 13 Pro, which curves gently at the edges. The camera panels are mostly similar—a rounded rectangle with two vertically oriented cameras on the left side and a camera and a flash on the right side.
Both devices are IP69/IP69 certified. The Oppo Reno 13 comes in Plume White and Luminous Blue. The Reno 13 Pro comes in Graphite Grey and Plume Purple.
The Screens
The displays are similar in that they’re both 120Hz AMOLED panels with HDR10+ certification and 1,200-nit peak brightness. However, the Reno 13 Pro has a larger 6.83-inch display, and the Reno 13 is slightly downsized to a 6.59-inch unit instead.
The Hardware
Inside, where it counts, these two Reno 13 phones use the MediaTek Dimensity 8350, which is a higher-end midrange chip. The Reno 13 comes in a single 12/256GB configuration, with LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 3.1 storage. The Reno 13 Pro also gets 12GB of RAM but doubles the storage to 512GB.
Both phones have IR blasters, support NFC, have Bluetooth 5.4, and support for Wi-Fi 6 (though the Pro model supports Wi-Fi 6e to be exact).
The Batteries and Charging
The smaller phone gets a 5,600mAh battery, and the bigger one is only a little larger at 5,800mAh. That shouldn’t be enough to sway you from one to another, especially as they both support 80W fast charging. However, the presence of wireless charging, specced at 50W, on the Reno 13 Pro could be a valid reason to choose one over the other.
The Cameras
The sensor is bigger in the Pro model, but both phones have a 50MP primary camera with OIS. This is paired with an 8MP ultrawide in both cases. For a third camera, the Reno 13 chooses a 2MP depth sensor while the Pro brings more utility in the form of a 3.5x 50MP telephoto. Both devices have 50MP selfie cameras. You’ll be capable of 4K/60 recording on the front and back.
The Pricing
The Oppo Reno 13 will cost £499 and the Reno 13 Pro will cost quite a bit more at £649. For a bigger battery, wireless charging, a bigger screen, double the storage, and a better camera setup, it is up to you whether that’s worth £150 extra.
The Reno 13 F and Reno 13 FS Are For Those Who Want Midrange for Less
There’s also the Reno 13 F and Reno 13 FS, which are meant to be much lower cost, but still bring a little bit of the same value. They look similar to the main numbered models, but have to cut some corners. They maintain the IP68/IP69 certification, which is nice at their price point. You also still get a 120Hz AMOLED screen, though in this case, they’re 6.67 inches and FHD.
These phones switch to a Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 instead of looking for a MediaTek option. Storage is one major distinction. The Reno 13 F comes in 8/256GB, while the 13 FS is 12/512GB, with support for a microSD card both ways. Both devices have a 50MP primary with OIS, an 8MP ultrawide, and a 2MP depth sensor. You’ll also get a 32MP camera for your selfies. Both get a 5,800mAh battery with 45W wired charging.
The Reno 13 F and Reno 13 FS both come in Graphite Grey and Luminous Blue. The Reno 13 will set you back by £329 and the Reno 13 FS is £399.
