Delhi. With 2025 just around the corner, tech enthusiasts like me are eagerly awaiting the next wave of smartphones. While Apple’s iPhone 17 is shaping up to be an exciting release, my focus is squarely on the Android space. Despite the potential of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S25 series and Google Pixel 10 series, there’s one phone from OnePlus that has caught my attention: the OnePlus 13R.
Before we dive into the OnePlus 13R, let’s take a moment to appreciate the OnePlus 12R, which has caught everyone’s attention in 2024. I reviewed it earlier in the year, and it’s still one of my favorites. Priced at $500, it not only looked premium – it felt premium too, thanks to its sleek aluminum frame, smooth glass back, and attention to detail around the camera bump. Its design stood out among budget-friendly phones. Its performance was equally impressive. The OnePlus 12R’s AMOLED display was vibrant and sharp, coming with a 120Hz refresh rate and 4,500-nit peak brightness.
Powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, it was fast, and with either 8GB or 16GB of RAM, the phone delivered great performance. Even with heavy use, the 5,500mAh battery lasted two and a half days, and 80W wired charging ensured the phone was fully charged in just 30 minutes. Although the 12R’s cameras weren’t great — its 8MP ultrawide and 2MP macro lenses were mediocre at best — it still exceeded expectations for a $500 device. The OnePlus 12R was a true value, offering features found in flagship phones at a fraction of the price.
Things look even more promising as we look towards the OnePlus 13R. OnePlus recently confirmed the existence of the phone, giving us a peek at its design and a key specification. The OnePlus 13R has moved away from the rounded edges of the 12R to flat edges, which gives it a fresh touch. The phone also features a sleek white/silver finish with a subtle wave pattern that gives it a premium look. The OnePlus 13R will have a bigger 6,000mAh battery – up from the 12R’s 5,500mAh – resulting in even longer battery life. If the 12R already lasted two full days, the 13R can deliver even more.
