OPPO Reno13 5G Review | Geek Lifestyle

The OPPO Reno13 5G is here and to say that we enjoyed tinkering with this loveable marvel of a midrange device is an understatement. As the latest addition to the dynamic Reno series, this smartphone promises to be more than just a pretty face—it’s a tech powerhouse crafted for the modern lifestyles. Whether you’re a fashion-forward trendsetter, budding content creator, an entertainment enthusiast, or all three, the OPPO Reno13 5G has features that cater to your needs on the design, hardware, software, and AI experiential-level. So, let’s dive into what makes this device a standout in the crowded smartphone market.

Geek-sthetic

Taking a page from the success of their flagship release, the OPPO Find X8, the OPPO Reno13 Series 5G shares similar design cues from their flagship device. For the OPPO Reno13 5G specifically, the size and build of the device almost mirrors the Find X8. While not necessarily a compact smartphone, its size makes it super easy to use with one hand.

Build quality, the OPPO Reno13 5G feels sturdy to the touch and that’s thanks, in part, to its flat aerospace-grade aluminum size bezels that give the phone a good amount of weight.

With the Reno Series, OPPO has always tried to push their design ethos as much as they can. In fact, the Reno has traditionally been the series where interesting printing techniques are applied to. The OPPO Reno13 Series 5G is no exception, especially with the color that we had: Plume White.

The matte sturdy polycarbonate case is infused with a special laser-etched printing method creating Plume Textures that in turn generate delicate Butterfly Shadow effects when exposed to light. The new visual look is unlike anything we’ve seen on a smartphone before – and a welcome break from the quiet minimalist aesthetics of 2024.

The Rimowa-like ribbed clear jelly case adds extra glam to an already luxe-looking smartphone.

Flipping the phone over, the OPPO Reno13 5G hosts a superbly thin bezel giving the device a 93.4% screen-to-body ratio, again, like that of the OPPO Find X8. These design choices by the brand truly elevate the Reno Series further, cementing it as a trendy lifestyle companion for those that are a bit more fashion-conscious.

Binge-Watching Factor

Despite its size, the OPPO Reno13 5G packs an immersive 6.59” FHD+ (1256x 2760) display. The super thin 1.6mm bezels gives the device 93.4% screen-to-body ratio. Colors are rendered beautifully with sharp contrasts as well thanks to its AMOLED screen.

For better immersion, the OPPO Reno13 5G is packed with dual speakers that produce crystal-clear audio that’s not that intrusive to others even at louder volumes. It can fill the room once you boost it up to Ultra Volume Mode, though. Whether you’re watching just for yourself or want to fill a small space with the latest beats and jams on your Spotify or YouTube Music, the OPPO Reno13 5G can easily be your main source of entertainment.

Gaming Prowess

The OPPO Reno13 5G is powered by a custom 4nm MediaTek Dimensity 8350 chipset that will be first utilized by the Reno13 Series. This new chipset enhances gaming, AI neural processing, and optimized imaging performance (which we’ll see later on). It’s also coupled with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 3.1 internal storage.

The OPPO Reno13 5G is said to include an AI Multi-Cooling System on an expanded Vapor Cooling Chamber. The AI Algorithm allows for variable temperature control depending on the game that you play (and the setting that you put it in). At default graphic settings, games like Genshin Impact, Mobile Legends:Bang-Bang and other favorite mobile games tend to adequately well without scarily increasing internal temperatures. Of course, if you overclock the system, it’s a different story.

Still, the 4nm MediaTek Dimensity 8350 allows for more optimized power management – which also helps to manage your internal battery better.

At default, Genshin Impact, arguably still the most resource-hungry popular mobile game we’ve played, clocks in at medium graphics at 30fps. Even if you clock it at 60fps, the system can still handle the workload (you’ll end up increasing thermals, though, but not to the level where its unplayable).

The AI Hyperboost and the 120Hz Adaptative refresh rate on the OPPO Reno13 Series 5G also helps ensure that your games can be as lag-free and stutter-free as possible. OPPO’s gaming HUD is one of the best we’ve used as it allows you to lock screen orientation, prevent notification pop-ups, improves touch optimization and even network usage. It also quickly gives you pertinent information like GPU/ GPU usage, temperature, and current FPS.

There’s hardly any compromises when playing your favorite games on the OPPO Reno13 5G – truly giving you flagship gaming experience even if the phone technically isn’t a flagship device.

Geek Photoshoot Capabilities

The Reno has always been a mixed-bag of features but through the years we’re seeing a gradual shift for the unit to house great camera modules to capture your everyday adventures with. The OPPO Reno13 5G takes this up a notch by not only including a robust set of shooters, but also incorporating all the wonderful AI Photo-editing wizardry that we loved with the OPPO Find X8. Regardless if you go Pro or stick to the base model, you’ll have a host of AI Photo-editing features at your disposal right away.

While the OPPO Reno13 Series 5G doesn’t have the Hasselblad brand and partnership on the cameras, images shot on the OPPO Reno13 Series 5G (especially with the Pro model) come out superbly crisp and full of life. Even with the base model, colors are on-point while portrait images are brimming with details.

The OPPO Reno13 5G’s rear camera module consists of a 50MP f/1.8 shooter with OIS support, an 8MP f/2.2 ultrawide shooter, and a 2MP f/2.4 Monochrome Camera. For those that love selfies, the device offers a large 50MP front-facing shooter as well – something that’s usually reserved for flagship devices.

The Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) helps establish great shots even in low-light environments and the AI on the device allows for the OPPO Reno13 5G to enhance images even further. Make sure to update your phone to the current ColorOS version to maximize your photo-taking and video-taking experience.

If you do need to adjust your photos, again, OPPO’s very robust AI Editor is there to lend a hand. Remove unwanted reflections and people instantly? Check. Enhance images further or remove blur on images? Easy! In fact, with the wide array of filters especially on the OPPO Reno13 5G, the device encourages you to play around and experiment with your shots again and again and again.

More than the individual AI editors or photo and video filters, what I love about the OPPO Reno13 5G’s camera system is how easy it is to encourage you to be creative. Finding the various Portrait Photo Mode and applying filter is intuitive and easy. Choose between Misty, Glowy, or Dreamy to enhance portrait photos and add more drama to your photos. The Dreamy mode as the name implies, adds a dream-like effect to otherwise mundane photos. Take these as example:

from L-R: Misty, Glowy, Dreamy

Lastly, one of the two new cool features of the OPPO Reno13 Series 5G is its ability to take underwater photos and videos with ease. Having an IP69 dust and water resistance, the OPPO Reno13 Series 5G makes the case for being one of the first smartphones to support caseless underwater photography and videography.

Once you choose this mode, the phone locks the screen while you use the volume buttons to either shoot photos or enter video recording mode. Once you’re done and you’re up on dry land, simply exit the Underwater mode and the device ejects water out of your phone via the speaker grills. Pat to dry and voila, you’re good to go again.

Do take note that the IP69-rating only allows you 2 meters of water and up to 30 minutes of usage. Do also take note that the IP69-rating is meant for the phone to go through fresh water only. DO NOT, under any circumstances, try this on salt water. It’s not that kind of device.

Still, the ability to do underwater shots even on pools or lakes, gives you more room for creativity – and capturing funny moments like, um, this.

Sorry, Ram of Gadget Pilipinas.net, we simply had to share this.

Here’s a sample video as well of the OPPO Reno13 5G going under a lake and a pool.

The second cool new feature of the OPPO Reno13 5G is its ability to take AI Livephotos – a feature that captures your memories in stunning fashion more than a still frame can. What it does is capture a video footage for up to 1.5 seconds before to 1.5 seconds after the shutter pressed. The phone converts the file from 1080p to 2k-level video stream and chooses a perfect key frame to showcase the photo. You can save it as is, and share it like a gif of sorts, or you can extract the key image and edit it to your liking.

Overall, we’re very happy with the device in terms of capturing moments. The fast shutter also allowed us to take quick moments like these images of OPPO KOL’s and celebrities when the brand invited us to their launch event in Siquijor.

When I was taking these shots, the KOL’s were doing their own photoshoot so I didn’t want to intrude and direct them to pose for me. And yet, I’d say the shots aren’t half-bad.

The experience shooting with the OPPO Reno13 5G reminded me of my time with the OPPO Find X8, minus the large 50MP telephoto and monster zoom capabilities. But hey, you’re also not paying above 50 grand for the unit.

Everyday Reliability

The OPPO Reno13 5G in Plume White and Luminous Blue

For such a handy device, the guys at OPPO was able to fit the OPPO Reno13 5G with a large 5600mAh internal battery with an 80W SuperVOOC wired Fast Charging capability. OPPO has been developing SuperVOOC for years now and has perfected the technology to ensure that their devices receive fast but safe charging tech.

Aside from battery, OPPO added a lot of nifty upgrades on the device like the AI LinkBoost 2.0 that fires up all 11 Antennas of OPPO Reno13 5G and intelligently switches to the best network possible for uninterrupted stable connection.

In fact, the OPPO Reno13 Series 5G is also equipped with a custom X1 Chip for better Network management and WiFi boosting capabilities. With these improvements in play, the series allows for ultra-low latency when playing with your friends online.

Lastly, with the ColorOS 15, the OPPO Reno13 5G gives you access to AI functions that should help with your productivity. Whether it’s easily summarizing documents, or having OPPO’s AI help you write or rewrite documents, the latest OPPO smartphone allows you to do so out of the box.

Final Geek Lifestyle Verdict

Gone are the days when Chinese branded devices were seen as cheap alternatives. OPPO has meticulously crafted a premium brand, now evident with the dazzling OPPO Reno13 Series 5G. Combining exceptional craftsmanship, eye-catching design, and flagship-level functionality, the Reno13 Series 5G delivers a truly luxurious experience.

Retailing at Php 34,999, it marks a substantial leap from its predecessor, echoing the flagship feel of the Find X8 Series. With features like seamless iOS and Android connectivity, sharing photos and documents is a breeze.

For those considering the OPPO Reno13 5G, the premium price is justified by its advanced design, enhanced hardware, and comprehensive AI integration. Pre-orders from January 31 to February 13, 2025, come with attractive discounts and exciting freebies, making it a worthwhile investment for a top-tier smartphone experience.

The OPPO Reno13 5G is available to pre-order from OPPO’s official Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop as well as partner offline shops and telco partners like Globe and Smart.

For more on the OPPO Reno13 5G, follow OPPO’s official Facebook page.

OPPO Reno13 5G Specs:

• 6.59-inch FHD+ display (93.4% screen-to-body ratio), 120Hz refresh rate
• MediaTek Dimensity 8350 processor
• Arm Turse G615 GPU
• 12GB LPDDR5X RAM
• 512GB UFS 3.1 storage
• Rear cameras: 50MP main f/1.8 (5P lens) OIS + 8MP f/2.2 ultrawide + 2MP f/2.4 triple rear camera setup
• Front camera: 50MP f/2.0 (5P lens)
• 5G, LTE – Dual SIM
• Under-display Fingerprint scanner, USB Type-C port
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, Bluetooth 5.4
• 5600mAh battery with 80W SUPERVOOC wired Fast charging
• Android 15 with ColorOS 15.0
• Plume White, Luminous Blue
• Price: PHP 34,999