There was a time when OnePlus was shaking up the market with affordable, high-end smartphones. Today, the brand still seduces, but by playing on two tables: premium flagships like the OnePlus 13, and an R range that takes proven technologies at a moderate price. The OnePlus 13R, successor to the 12R, therefore has the difficult task of meeting this challenge once again.
The R series embodies OnePlus' original philosophy: to offer premium performance without overcharging. The 13R is no exception to the rule. It takes key elements of the OnePlus 13, while adjusting certain aspects to remain accessible. So, is the OnePlus 13R the excellent value for money that OnePlus hopes to offer us? This is what we will see in this One Plus 13R test.
Price and availability of the OnePlus 13R
The OnePlus 13R is offered in a single configuration: 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, at a price of €769. A strategic choice that simplifies the offer, but which marks a significant increase compared to the 12R, launched at €699 with 16 GB of memory. An increase that raises questions, despite notable technical improvements.
At this price, the smartphone faces formidable rivals. The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, at €669, relies on a sleek design, 3x zoom and wireless charging. The Xiaomi 14T Pro also seduces with its performance-price ratio. As for the Google Pixel 9, it remains a benchmark in photography.
To soften the bill, OnePlus included a Watch 2R smartwatch (worth €279) with the purchase of the 13R at launch. An attractive deal, but one that only partially offsets the extra cost compared to already well-established alternatives.
Design: a more resistant smartphone, but which is not really out of the ordinary
The OnePlus 13R relies on a flat aluminum chassis, combined with Gorilla Glass 7i protection on the front and back. Good news for durability, with resistance to drops and scratches superior to that of the Gorilla Glass 5 of its predecessor. The whole thing gives off an impression of solidity, accentuated by a weight of 206 grams, slightly higher than that of the 12R.
Available in two colors, here we have the Astral Trail color, a reflective silver decorated with rather subtle concentric circles. The texture of the rear window, although slightly slippery, avoids the overly impersonal “glass plate” effect.
The OnePlus 13R is entitled to IP65 certification. The smartphone is more resistant to splashes and dust than the 12R (IP54). It doesn’t rival the Pixel 8a’s IP67 or the OnePlus 13’s IP69, but a rainstorm or use in a dusty environment shouldn’t damage it, as long as you avoid total immersion.
With a 6.78-inch screen and generous dimensions (161.72 mm x 75.77 mm x 8.02 mm), the 13R is aimed at fans of large formats. Its size brings it closer to the Galaxy S24 FE, making one-handed use quite difficult for small hands. However, its reasonable weight and flat edges improve grip, despite some slippage.
The circular camera module, inherited from previous generations, stands out for its lack of a Hasselblad logo. Positioned asymmetrically, it still stabilizes the device quite well when placed on a flat surface. On the edge, the alert slider, OnePlus' signature, allows you to quickly switch between ringtone, vibrate and silent mode. A USB-C port and an IR emitter complete the connectivity, while the optical fingerprint sensor under the screen, although slower than an ultrasonic model, remains responsive.
The OnePlus 13R strikes a balance between heritage and innovation, with a design that is both functional and attractive, without excessive concessions on quality. A good point.
Screen: OnePlus knows how to do it
The OnePlus 13R's screen is undoubtedly its major asset. With a 6.78-inch ProXDR LTPO AMOLED panel and a definition of 2800 x 1260 pixels, it offers a high pixel density, vibrant colors and smooth animations thanks to its adaptive refresh rate that goes up to 120 Hz. Be careful, however, the screen is configured in FHD + by default, so you will have to go to the settings to get the most out of it.
TÜV Rheinland Intelligent Eye Care 4.0 certified, the display reduces eye fatigue. Aqua Touch 2.0 technology improves the precision of interactions, even with light gloves or wet fingers. In a test in the rain, the screen avoided “ghost presses,” although scrolling remains less pleasant on a wet surface.
OnePlus advertises a peak brightness of 4,500 nits, a theoretical figure that is difficult to achieve in real conditions. The 01Lab measured 1812 cd/m² in maximum manual brightness, which places it at the top of the table, as well as a peak brightness of 1832 cd/m² in HDR.
In Vivid mode, color accuracy isn't the best, with a Delta E of 3.34. For more natural colors, you'll need to switch to sRGB Natural mode, which has a much better Delta E of 1.95.
The 13R's display proves that high-end panels are no longer reserved for premium smartphones. Between its technical performance and its adaptability to outdoor conditions, it positions itself as one of the best screens in its category.
Performance: high-end without being one of the fastest
With the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the OnePlus 13R offers a smooth and responsive experience, even in the most demanding scenarios. This processor, already present on 2024 flagships like the OnePlus 12, ensures smooth management of demanding games, light video editing or intensive multitasking.
Although it does not correspond to the latest generation of chips, the Snapdragon 8 Elite being reserved for premium models like the OnePlus 13, the gap remains marginal for the majority of users. Geekbench 6 tests show a good lead over the OnePlus 12, although equipped with the same processor, while the Galaxy S24 FE and its Exynos 2400e display comparable results. On the other hand, the Pixel 8a, equipped with the Tensor G3 optimized for AI, but less efficient in raw power, is largely distanced.
The combination of 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage ensures near-instant app launches and consistent fluidity, even with multiple tasks running in the background. However, the lack of a microSD port limits expandability for those storing large files. This is a shame, especially since consumers have no choice but to opt for a single version with 256GB of storage.
On the gaming side, the 13R holds its own admirably: titles like Wild Rift, Warzone or PUBG Mobile are quite fluid, even with the graphics at full blast. OnePlus includes a customizable mode to adjust performance according to needs, even if it means sacrificing a little battery life. During long gaming sessions, the heat is felt a little on the back of the smartphone, but the cooling system manages to avoid slowdowns quite well with a maximum temperature measured at 42 degrees.
Graphics benchmarks such as 3DMark Wild Life confirm the good performance of the GPU, with a score of 17422 pts, close to the OnePlus 12 (16738 pts) and much better than the Galaxy S24 FE (13586 pts) or the Pixel 8a (8501 pts). However, stability still struggles to exceed 70%, which is still quite a shame.
The OnePlus 13R proves that you can reconcile budget and premium performance. While it doesn't outperform the absolute flagships, it comes close enough to satisfy the majority of users, including gamers.
Battery and charging: you won't end the day on the last few percent
With a 6000 mAh battery, the OnePlus 13R has a generous capacity. However, unlike its predecessor, the 12R (5500 mAh), the gain in capacity remains measured. In our tests, the OnePlus 13R lasted 21 hours and 33 minutes, surpassing the more high-end OnePlus 13 by almost 20 minutes.
The OnePlus 13R excels in charging speed. It supports 80W SuperVOOC fast charging, but you need to purchase a power adapter separately from OnePlus if you want to take advantage of this. Indeed, the box no longer contains a charger, much to the dismay of consumers. With a third-party charger, we were still able to reach 49 W peak, and recharged the device in 75 minutes. An honorable performance, since for comparison, the Pixel 8A (18 W) or the Galaxy S24 FE (25 W) seem outdated. It’s a shame, however, that wireless charging is absent, a choice made to maintain a competitive price.
The OnePlus 13R focuses on endurance and fast charging, without revolutionizing the segment. A successful balance for those who do not want to have to recharge their smartphone during the day.
Audio: a slight lack of bass
The OnePlus 13R uses a stereo configuration, that is to say a speaker on the lower edge near the USB-C port, and another one located just above the screen. We noticed that the speaker at the bottom was often a little louder than the one at the top, but that was to be expected, this is not a symmetrical sound configuration.
As for the sound, the speaker is loud enough, but some distortion can be heard at full volume. There is also a slight lack of bass, which is a shame. Some of your favorite songs could therefore disappear, unless you use wireless headphones.
Our opinion on the interface: OxygenOS is still as pleasant
The OnePlus 13R arrives with Android 15, but it is its OxygenOS 15 overlay that captivates. The interface, slightly reworked, focuses on simplicity and responsiveness. The Shelf menu, accessible by sliding your finger downwards (outside the top border), remains a practical asset for accessing customizable widgets: weather, step counter, music, etc. A reassuring promise accompanies this system: four years of software updates and six years of security patches, a clear improvement over its predecessor. However, we are still far from some competitors and their 7 years of updates.
Artificial intelligence is getting into everything. Gemini replaces the Google Assistant, while four photo tools use this technology:
- AI Erazer removes unwanted elements (people, objects) in one gesture.
- AI Detail Boost enhances the sharpness of photos.
- AI Unblur tries to fix blurry photos, without miracles.
- AI Reflexion Eraser reduces parasitic reflections
- The Surround to Search function is also there, as on the Pixel and the latest Galaxy S25.
AI slips into the Notes application, generating summaries or modifying the style of a text… only in English. Same constraint for the AI Summary of the smart sidebar, which also allows voice reading of web pages. This bar offers quick access to favorite apps and assistance tools. On the multitasking side, the split view (activated via the bar or a three-finger swipe) proves useful, even if it is more suited to foldable screens.
OxygenOS 15 excels in customization. Between dynamic wallpapers, folders with modular design or drop-down menu layout options, each user can shape the interface as they wish. An iOS-inspired Dynamic Island even appears during music playback.
Despite its qualities, the system suffers from the presence of pre-installed applications. While duplicates (clock, gallery) are tolerated, the inclusion of Booking, LinkedIn or TikTok seems more linked to commercial agreements than to the user experience. A choice that could explain a contained price, but at the expense of a bloatware-free experience.
OxygenOS 15 marks an excellent balance between innovation and practicality, despite linguistic limitations and some marketing concessions. An overlay that confirms OnePlus' DNA: efficient, customizable, but not perfect.
Photo and video: it's simple, maybe too much
With its triple rear module, the OnePlus 13R focuses on diversity: a 50 Mpx main sensor, a 50 Mpx telephoto lens (2x optical) and an 8 Mpx ultra-wide-angle. This trio aims to cover a wide range of scenarios, from tight portraits to expansive landscapes and close-up details.
Grand-angle
At the heart of the system, the 50MP Sony LYT-700 sensor, equipped with optical stabilization (OIS), impresses with its ability to capture light. During the day, the shots display vivid colors and precise details, with a tendency to amplify the hues for dynamic renderings. Contrasting areas benefit from a double exposure algorithm, preserving both highlights and shadows.
In low light, the sensor stands out thanks to improved digital noise management. Night scenes retain a certain clarity, even if some details fade in poorly lit areas. Light sources, such as garlands or signs, are well controlled, avoiding excessive overexposure.
Ultra wide angle
The 8 Mpx lens, inherited from the previous model, relies on software adjustments to correct distortions and homogenize colors. Ideal for landscapes or groups, it captures spacious scenes, even if the modest resolution is noticeable as soon as you try to enlarge a photo. The hues, sometimes saturated, give a lively character to skies or plants, too far from reality. This is clearly the weak link in this photo configuration.
Telephoto and digital zoom
The replacement of the macro lens with a 50MP telephoto lens (2x optical) is good news. In portrait mode, the sensor automatically selects 2x zoom, isolating the subject with a natural background blur. AI algorithms then work to refine contours and preserve textures, such as hair or complex patterns.
Beyond optical zoom, digital zoom increases up to 4x with a dedicated option without excessively degrading the image. Details remain acceptable at 4x, in particular thanks to effective anti-noise processing. However, in motion or in low light, the limits appear: textures soften and colors lose precision.
Selfies
The 16 Mpx front sensor produces decent selfies, with a portrait mode capable of distinguishing the contours of the face. However, some details, such as beards or fine locks of hair, can be partially absorbed by the blur. Backlighting management remains basic, often favoring the subject to the detriment of the background.
Video
In 4K definition, the OnePlus 13R delivers detailed sequences, but suffers from improvable stabilization. Sudden movements generate jerks, especially with the telephoto lens. Another downside: the inability to switch to ultra-wide-angle during 4K recording, limiting flexibility. In low light, noise becomes noticeable, although the colors remain quite good.
The OnePlus 13R offers a balanced photo system for its segment, but we would have really liked a better ultra-wide-angle sensor. The telephoto lens brings real added value, while the main sensor excels in abundant light.
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