5 issues I admire concerning the OnePlus 13R, the brand new mid-range runner-up

When OnePlus launched its latest duo of premium smartphones earlier this yr, the higher-end 13 mannequin naturally obtained a lot of the eye. When I reviewed the 13, I praised its design, its best-in-class water and mud resistance, and its performant software program package deal. Whereas I proceed to adore the 13, I can not assist however really feel that its mid-range sibling, the 13R, deserves some love as properly.

The 13R prices a full $300 lower than the usual 13, and OnePlus has managed to hit this value level with out sacrificing the necessities. At a base asking value of $600, the 13R competes instantly with the Apple iPhone 16e, and it sits $100 above Google’s Pixel 9a , the present finest mid-ranger. After utilizing the OnePlus 13R in the actual world, listed here are 5 features of the telephone that I admire each day.

Associated

The Pixel 9a is so much better than the iPhone 16e, it’s not even close

So far as 2025 mid-range smartphones go, the Pixel 9a beats the competitors by a major margin.

1 It does not skimp out on construct high quality

The 13R is machined out of aluminum and tempered glass

In relation to cellular devices, I am keen on a well-executed exterior {hardware} design. Fortuitously, regardless of its mid-range price ticket, the OnePlus 13R includes a premium match and end, with a strong aluminum facet rail, and back and front panels fabricated from Gorilla Glass 7i.

In fact, there is not any titanium, next-gen Gorilla Glass Armor, or IP69 ingress protection to be discovered on the 13R, however that does not cease the handset from feeling and looking like 1,000,000 bucks. I am notably keen on the etched glass end on my astral path (white) unit, which catches the sunshine in all the fitting methods once I’m out and about.

0:48

Associated

The OnePlus 13 focuses on refinement, and the result is a phone I can’t help but love

With its newest Thirteenth-generation flagship smartphone, OnePlus refines the sweet bar handset type issue.

2 It options cutting-edge silicon

The 13R comes with a robust flagship Snapdragon chipset

In relation to transport its smartphones with highly effective processing packages, OnePlus continues to By no means Settle. The 13R comes with the identical bleeding-edge Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset that powered a lot of final yr’s finest Android flagships, together with the OnePlus 12 and your entire Samsung Galaxy S24 sequence.

Qualcomm has since launched the all-new Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, which supplies one more step up in efficiency, however the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 stays a performant workhorse for all however probably the most demanding of workflows. For nearly everybody on the market — myself included — the 13R provides greater than sufficient efficiency headroom to final a number of years into the long run.

Associated

OnePlus 13T design revealed ahead of April 24 launch

OnePlus has proven off the design of the OnePlus 13T, forward of its launch on April 24.

3 It does not ship with a lame macro digital camera

All three rear-facing cameras on the 13R are helpful

With final yr’s mid-range 12R, OnePlus opted to complement the rear wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle shooters with a measly 2-megapixel macro lens. We have seen this tactic earlier than: the additional optical sensor permits firms to boast of a ‘triple rear digital camera setup,’ regardless of the doubtful utility of a low-res devoted macro shooter.

Sensibly, with this yr’s OnePlus 13R, the corporate has elected to kick the unimpressive macro shooter to the curb, in favor of offering a genuinely helpful 2X telephoto lens. This new 50-megapixel f/2.0 sensor does not provide the 3X or 5X optical zoom vary that I’ve come to understand on higher-end smartphones, however it’s greater than serviceable for informal pictures.

Associated

The OnePlus 13 mini could be the ultimate Android flagship

Leaks point out that the OnePlus 13 mini may launch shortly, providing some enhancements over the OnePlus 13.

4 Its battery pack is (comparatively) large

There’s a whole lot of battery packed into the 13R’s comparatively skinny chassis

Regardless of the OnePlus 13R’s fairly svelte 0.31-inch (8 mm) thinness, the telephone manages to squeeze in a reasonably large 6,000mAh battery pack below the hood. In my expertise, this mix of {hardware} capability and software program optimizations makes for a telephone that at all times lasts me by the day, regardless of taking dozens of pictures, streaming movies, and navigating by way of GPS.

The 13R tops up faster than many higher-end telephones, too: at 80W, the telephone can cost to half capability in twenty minutes, and it may attain most capability in below an hour. By comparability, the iPhone 16e lands at round 29W, and the Pixel 9a clocks in at 23W.

Associated

With OxygenOS 15, OnePlus is banking on smoother visuals, new AI tools, and more

OnePlus is able to tackle Android 15 with its newest OxygenOS 15 — here is the whole lot new with the software program replace.

5 Its OxygenOS 15 software program pores and skin is prime notch

I am a fan of the 13R’s fluid and feature-rich Android pores and skin

Earlier this yr, OnePlus hyped up its OxygenOS 15 software pores and skin that runs atop of Google’s Android 15 working system. In line with the corporate, one of many fundamental focuses of this software program launch was to offer a smoother interface, full with extra responsive gestures and cleaner animations.

In apply, the OnePlus 13R is about as silky easy as every other premium smartphone I’ve ever encountered. Every little thing is snappy and performant, regardless of the pores and skin’s abundance of baked-in tweaks and customization instruments. In my private expertise, I discover OxygenOS to be higher balanced when it comes to its feature-to-simplicity ratio than, say, Samsung’s OneUI different.

This machine was offered to Pocket-lint by OnePlus.

Associated

The OnePlus Open 2 isn’t coming in 2025

OnePlus has introduced it isn’t releasing a foldable machine this yr.