Why the OPPO Reno13 5G felt more flagship-like than it should

OPPO’s latest midrange series, the OPPO Reno13 Series 5G, is setting a new standard in the midrange market as they jampack their devices with upgrades and design elements that almost cross over to flagship territory. From build quality, meticulous design choices, and holistic enhancements the entire series is, in a way, in a league of its own.

While we’ve already posted our full review of the base unit, the OPPO Reno13 5G, we feel that the reason this series feels very different from its past iteration, boils down to 3 key factors: structurally improved chassis that lends to a new quirky (and totally useable) feature, a holistic almost pro-photography-level experience that any novice can take full advantage of (and do so quickly), and a design language that’s mature enough to understand long-term trend-setting.

Easily Make a Splash This Summer

One of the differentiating factors of the OPPO Reno13 Series 5G is how the majority of the main features found on the Pro variant of the phone can be found on its more accessible offering (OPPO Reno13 F 5G). Perhaps the most glaring is the IP69 rating that the units have and their ability to take photos and videos underwater.

Regardless if you’re lounging by the pool on a hot summer day, or taking a dip in clear running freshwater lakes and falls, the OPPO Reno13 Series 5G can accompany you and capture as many core memories as you can possibly create.

While we’re seeing some brands release IP69-rated smartphones, OPPO was able to optimize that protective feature by creating an interface for users to actually test it on the regular – the Underwater Photo Mode.

Intuitively locking the screen on an open camera mode, you can still use your display as a large viewfinder. The volume buttons become quick shutter buttons for photos and a button to activate video-capture mode. Pressing and holding the power button once you’re on dry land activates a sonic water emission via the OPPO Reno13 Series 5G’s speakers draining the unit with excess water.

The IP69 dust and waterproof rating allows the OPPO Reno13 Series 5G to be submerged in freshwater for up to 30 minutes within 2 meters. That’s a lot of underwater photoshoots – or shenanigans that you can document. 

What we love about this particular feature is OPPO’s deliberate willingness to allow customers to submerge their phones. The fact that you built an Underwater Photo interface shows how utterly confident the brand is about their IP-rating.

Well-Rounded Photography Experience

On paper, the rear camera module of the OPPO Reno13 5G seems strikingly similar to its predecessor, the OPPO Reno12 5G. However, in actual use, the OPPO Reno13 5G presents an almost flagship-like level of photography that you don’t normally see on mid-range models.

The culprit, we feel, is the great balance between choice hardware and AI-supported software image optimization. It’s something we saw fully with the OPPO Find X8 and wonderfully amused to see it here on the OPPO Reno13 Series 5G as well.

To recap, the OPPO Reno13 5G has a 50MP wide shooter with OIS-support, an 8MP Ultra-wide camera, and a 2MP Monochrome Shooter. For immaculate and detailed selfies, the unit also comes with a 50MP front-facing camera with a wide field of vision (FOV90°). The setup also allows you to record videos up to 4K @60fps using both the rear-camera and front-facing cameras.

On paper, this setup may not look that impressive, but when you pair it with OPPO’s robust AI Photo-enhancement features, then you’ve got a winning combo.

The OPPO Reno13 5G inherits almost all the AI functionalities that we first saw over at their flagship line, the OPPO Find X8. To say that’s impressive is an understatement.

This enhancement not only makes your photos jump up and be better than before, but it also allows you the freedom and creativity to play around with your shots unhindered by pesky photo bombers, unsightly reflections, and blurred shots. There’s an AI-Photo Enhancement Feature to deal with all of that.

Add the many pre-installed features that the phone has, and you’re bound to create lasting core memories from all your trips and adventures with the phone. Personally, the default watermark frame from the device is giving us travel scrapbook vibes – and we are sooo here for it!

It’s also the new crisp, sharp, photos and videos that the phone produces that elevates the OPPO Reno13 5G from the typical midrange device to almost-flagship levels. There’s a certain polish that you normally find in flagship devices that are not seen on a midrange offering – and none of that can be seen or felt on the OPPO Reno13 5G. Everything about the unit screams high quality and excellently made – down to the OS/ UI/ UX.

And, if that’s not enough, you can throw your already excellent photos once over at OPPO’s own AI Studio App (already pre-installed) and see what OPPO’s AI can do to tweak and re-render your images. Here are some of our favorites:

New Level of Luxe

Lastly, the OPPO Reno13 5G looks gorgeous!  And we’re not just talking about the specialized plume texture that emits butterfly wing shadows on the Plume White and Plume Purple variants.

The Reno Series has always been OPPO’s way of showcasing the latest painting technology made available to them. In past OPPO Reno offerings, we’ve seen countless shimmering, cosmic, and otherwise futuristic paint applications done on the Series’ respective hero variants.

The latest iteration from the Reno Series follows that tradition but also takes the form of the smartphone into consideration.

For the OPPO Reno13 5G specifically, it recalls a lot of design DNA directly from their latest flagship line, the OPPO Find X8. Having almost the same built and candy bar approach with flat size bezels, the overall form of the OPPO Reno13 5G exudes quiet luxury with a modern twist.

Beyond the chassis itself, the ColorOS 15 (based on Android 15) is one of our favorite iterations of OPPO’s UI. Clean, snappy, sophisticated, the ColorOS 15 is also very intuitive. Pertinent functions are easy to find and access, and you can easily split your screen as well for more multitasking moments.  

And sure, the phone may remind you of the latest iPhone device, but OPPO not only (maybe) took inspiration from this, but they also want to ensure that there is a seamless transition and communication between devices. In fact, a lot of the file-sharing aspects of the OPPO Reno13 5G somehow mimics that of the iPhone experience – down instantaneous large photo & video sharing.

A League of Its Own?

Ever since the first Reno was introduced, OPPO Philippines has been hard at work to pivot the brand from just offering value-driven commodities to that touching a premium lifestyle segment. It hasn’t been smooth sailing and it took the brand several years, but it seems that with the release of the OPPO Reno13 Series 5G, the brand has achieved that which they sought: they’re now quite aspirational – and the price-point of the series is a major indication.

Is the OPPO Reno13 Series 5G costly? Yes. Is it expensive? Well, that depends on who you talk to. I reframe this conversation on pricing the way Hermes’s Artistic Director Pierre-Alexis Dumas reframed the question asked to them by CBS journalist Sharyn Alfonsi during her interview at 60 Minutes.

According to Dumas, costly is “the actual price of making an object properly with the required level of attention so that you have an object of quality”. Expensive on the other hand, “is a product, which is not delivering what it’s supposed to deliver, but you’ve paid quite a large amount of money for it, and then it betrays you.”

Does the OPPO Reno13 5G deliver on all its promised features? Sure. Did it go beyond what we expect from the typical midrange phones? Most definitely.

Given as well that the phone has a massive 5600mAh battery and a fast charger that could easily top this up in an hour, additional AI enhancements that make productivity faster and more optimized (AI note summary, AI transcribing), and a level of refinement that we often see on flagship devices, we’ll say that the OPPO Reno13 Series 5G may be costly – but expensive, through the definition above, it is not.

For more on the OPPO Reno13 5G check our full review here.

The OPPO Reno13 5G currently retails for Php 34,999 for the 12GB/512GB variant at all authorized OPPO stores nationwide and on OPPO’s official stores in Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop.

Choose the perfect partner for your discovery and exploration:

• The OPPO Reno13 F 5G is available for Php 22,999 (12+256GB) or PHP 25,999 (12+512GB) and comes in Plume Purple, Luminous Blue, and Graphite Grey.
• The OPPO Reno13 5G is priced at Php 34,999 in Plume White and Luminous Blue.
• The OPPO Reno13 Pro 5G is available for Php 43,999 in Plume Purple and Graphite Grey.

The OPPO Reno13 Series 5G is also available for purchase through your preferred operators, with additional benefits.

Home Credit and Credit Cards

Flexible installment payment options are also available for the OPPO Reno13 Series 5G via Home Credit and Credit Cards.

Home Credit offers installment plans of up to 18 months at 0% interest with lowest monthly payment for each device:

• Php 979 for the OPPO Reno13 F 5G (12GB + 256GB)
• Php 1,109 for the OPPO Reno13 F 5G (12GB + 512GB)
• Php 1,489 for the OPPO Reno13 5G
• Php 1,859 for the OPPO Reno13 Pro 5G

You may also opt to purchase your OPPO Reno13 Series 5G device via select credit cards, available in 6- or 12-month installments at 0% interest.

Get ready to redefine how you capture, create, and connect with the OPPO Reno13 Series 5G! For more details and updates on the OPPO Reno13 Series 5G, MyOPPO App benefits and OPPO Care plans, visit OPPO Philippines’ official website at https://www.oppo.com/ph/ or OPPO Philippines’ official social media pages on Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.