We gave the OPPO Reno13 Pro 5G a whirl — and here’s what we think after spending two whole weeks with the brand-new smartphone!
It has been over half a year since I reviewed the OPPO Reno12 Pro — then still a brand-new concept with the GenAI, and AI portrait photography — and I must say that while I haven’t completely warmed up to the idea of an ‘AI smartphone’, I have come to understand its perks. I’ve definitely learned to appreciate what it can do for us, especially in the realm of photography and photo enhancements.
With the new OPPO Reno13 Pro 5G (arguably the best of its kind in the brand’s Reno13 Series), I still somehow continue to be awed by OPPO’s camera capabilities. There’s no denying that you’ll always end up with a great photo no matter what. You can rest assured that with a 50MP Ultra-Clear Main Camera, a 50MP Telephoto Camera, an 8MP Ultra-Wide Camera, and a 50MP Selfie Camera, you’re pretty much all set. The Reno13 Pro comes in two snazzy colours: Plume Purple and Graphite Grey, and I was lucky (and excited!) to get my hands on the Plume Purple. Read on to find out what I think about the device!
First impressions?
It is a stunning phone. There’s really no doubt about it. At the official launch of the OPPO Reno13 Series earlier this month, I had a very brief first glance of the phone — but getting to feel it in my hand is a different experience altogether. The design of the Reno13 Series draws inspiration from the wings of butterflies, and the execution of it is beautifully done. Extending from the left edge of the phone’s back cover are the visual ripples that mimic the shape of a butterfly’s wing, and every now and then I found myself running my fingers along the grooves.
One thing that definitely stood out to me at first was just how thin the Reno13 Pro is. Shifting from a pretty hefty slab phone, it definitely took me some getting used to — and more often than not, the phone kept slipping through my fingers (whoops!). Luckily, the smartphone boasts an Aerospace-grade aluminum frame that has a greater yield strength (200% greater, to be exact) as well as an improved drop resistance of 36%. In other words, I really didn’t have much to worry about.
Setting it up, and exploring its ‘extra’ perks…
Of course, being an Android user myself, setting up the phone was a total breeze. All of my data and apps from my current phone were moved over to the new Reno13 Pro without any problems or delay. I did still proceed to create an OPPO ID to make my experience all the more seamless — especially when it came to using the App Store, Game Center, exploring different themes for the phone at the Theme Store and of course, the use of the OPPO Cloud. It was also reassuring for me to discover how simple it is, the process of creating (and, if needed, deleting) of an OPPO account.
I have already spoken at length about OPPO’s AI capabilities with the Reno12 Pro way back in my last review, but just to add to its existing features, the Reno13 Pro takes it up a level with the AI Livephoto. This was a neat feature to test out, especially when I was in the LRT as it was making a particularly sharp turn — or while I was in the passenger seat of the car, desperately trying to capture a dog poking its head out of the rear window. It was very fun watching as each frame of the live photo is actually ultra-clear and high-quality. A big, big upgrade from anything I’ve seen before.
Another huge plus with the Reno13 Pro is of course the Tap-to-Share feature that comes hand in hand with the AI Livephoto — it’s among the first few Android devices to support direct sharing of live photos with iOS devices through NFC. For any multiples of photos that I want to transfer into my work phone (an iPhone 13 Pro), it was that easy to share the photos over. AirDrop who?
But ultimately what I was most excited for, since its official launch event two weeks ago, is the exceptional protection against water. While I don’t usually spend a lot of time underwater taking photos, it is no doubt a great perk to have. Still, what really caught my attention about the smartphone is how it can be shielded against splashes of water up to 80°C, and that they can also remain completely submerged in water up to two metres deep for half an hour.
To know why this particular feature got me so excited, what you must first know is that I’m someone who can’t take an “everything” shower without listening to music. Something about the acoustics being better in the bathroom, and all that jazz. And while I have been thinking about getting myself a water-resistant Bluetooth speaker, the OPPO Reno13 Pro presented me with the perfect opportunity to test it out. What annoys me most during my mini karaoke sessions in the shower (whether it’s my Android, or work iPhone) is not being able to skip over to the next song with my hands wet. The screen starts acting up and, in a brief moment of panic, I halt whatever I’m doing to dry the phone at once. Well, I’m very happy to report that it is not the case with the Reno13 Pro. I can leave the phone at the edge of the sink while I wash my face or brush my teeth, and freely let the water splash over the phone screen without a single worry.
Another thing that I was super impressed with was the battery life. I was already pretty awed by the long-lasting battery on the Reno12 Pro, which could be charged from 0% to 100% in under an hour. This new Reno13 Pro, with its 5,800mAh battery plus support for OPPO’s 80W SUPERVOOC™ Flash Charge10 technology, does all that and more, without compromising performance. In other words, it’s built to last — by maintaining at least 80% of its original capacity after five years of use.
Speaking of performance, let’s talk about the gaming aspects. I’m not part of the Genshin Impact fandom nor do I play PUBG Mobile, but I do like to dabble in a few mobile games when I want to pass the time. I’ve made it a habit of not spending too much time playing because I noticed how quickly my phone can heat up as a result, or the game would start lagging — but that’s something I don’t have to worry about with the Reno13 Pro. With the Dimensity 8350, the Reno13 Pro offers a 20% boost in performance all while reducing peak power consumption by 30%. In short? A smoother gaming experience, high-definition graphics, rich multimedia… basically everything you can ask for in mobile gaming.
So… final thoughts?
It’s more than just a very decent smartphone, and top-of-the-line when it comes to OPPO’s Reno line. And at only RM2,999 for the OPPO Reno13 Pro (RM2,599 for the Reno13 and RM1,399 for the Reno13 F) I’d say it’s definitely worth it. Even if, like me, you’re averse to AI taking over our future phones, it’s still quite a steal for all of its other aspects.
The OPPO Reno13 Pro 5G is now available for purchase. Learn more about it HERE.
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
