Oppo Reno 13? More like OPPool Renang 13

Say what you want, but Oppo really knows how to make a splash. The Malaysian launch of the Oppo Reno 13 series saw a fashion show, a pool runway, mermaids, and butterflies.

It may come off as extra, but it’s actually thematically relevant. They all serve to highlight the flagship feature of the series – underwater photography without a waterproof case.

The Oppo Reno 13 series comes with an IP69 rating (nice!)

We liked the Oppo Reno 11 Pro in our last review, but the Reno 13 series really got us wet.

All models in the Oppo Reno 13 series are rated IP69, which provides more robust dust and water protection. What this translates to is submersion in freshwater (including swimming pools) up to 2m deep for 30 minutes. This means you can take underwater photos and videos without waterproof casings and accessories. Or fall into a swimming pool without having to put your phone into a bag of rice. That happens.

This hardware capability is also supported by software. The camera app features a dedicated Underwater Mode with independent color tuning for distortion-free, lifelike shots, and physical button control for effortless underwater operation.

Lastly, holding down the power button enables a vibration-based drainage mechanism that expels water from the device with a satisfying spurt.

Camera-wise, the Reno13 Pro 5G boasts a 50MP Ultra-Clear Main Camera (Sony IMX890), a 50MP Telephoto Camera with 3.5x optical zoom, an 8MP Ultra-Wide Camera, and a 50MP Selfie Camera.

On the Reno13 Pro 5G and Reno13 5G, both the front and rear cameras support 4K Ultra Clear video recording. This results in footage four-times as clear as standard 1080P video and filled with richer details, according to Oppo.

Buttery-smooth performance and butterfly-inspired design

While a fashion runway show inspired by fish would have been interesting, Oppo went the oppo-site direction and took to the skies with butterfly wings.

The Reno13 Series draws inspiration from butterfly wings. Particularly, the Plume Purple and Plume White models feature a sculpted glass back cover that’s actually reminiscent of a butterfly when the light hits it just right.

Our favorite is the Luminous Blue and Graphite Gray, which curves the glass in a way that illuminates the camera bump with natural lighting. It’s understatedly elegant, and you might initially mistake it for and LED light strip.

The Oppo Reno13 Pro 5G and Reno13 5G also use an aerospace-grade aluminum frame that provides improved resistance to bending and drop resistance while still maintaining an optimal balance in weight. The Reno13 Pro 5G weighs 195g with a 7.55mm profile, while the Reno13 5G weighs 181g with a thickness of 7.24mm for Plume White and 7.29mm for Luminous Blue.

Both the Reno13 Pro 5G and Reno13 5G feature a 1.5K OLED display with support for a 120Hz refresh rate.

Reno13 Pro 5G and Reno13 5G are equipped with a custom MediaTek Dimensity 8350 mobile platform optimized in collaboration with MediaTek. The Dimensity 8350 chip enables exceptional performance with high power efficiency, a smoother gaming experience, high-definition photography, and support for advanced AI features.

For battery and charging, the Reno13 Pro 5G and Reno13 5G have 5,800mAh and 5,600mAh batteries respectively; plus support for OPPO’s 80W SUPERVOOC Flash Charge technology. According to Oppo, the batteries are designed to offer extended lifespans, maintaining at least 80% of their original capacity after five years of use.

ColorOS 15 and AI enhancements

Through the Tap-to-Share feature, the phones are among the first few Android devices to support direct sharing of Live Photos with iOS devices

Another brand-new feature on the Reno13 Series is AI Motion, which uses generative AI to transform still images into vibrant three-second videos with near-2K quality. By adding effects or animations to still photos, AI Motion can turn any photo into a dynamic Live Photo.

The Reno13 Series’ AI Editor introduces a suite of tools that can post-enhance your photos. What we’re excited to try is AI Unblur, which is apparently very useful for taking pictures of camera-shy pets.

And of course, there’s everyday life and work. AI features like Documents can summarise, edit text or even extract charts for editing directly on the document. Meanwhile, the upgraded AI Toolbox 2.0 offers real-time spell checks, translations, text rewriting, and suggestions in multiple languages.

The Reno13 series also introduces AI LinkBoost 2.0 to enhance signal reception. Alongside eleven strategically placed antennas placed around the phone, the system dynamically adjusts network priority to keep you connected in busy and crowded environments. The updated AI LinkBoost includes a Wi-Fi Positioning feature that guides you to place your phone in optimal positions to secure a strong connection even in difficult spots.

The Oppo Reno 13 series is up for pre-order (with rewards!)

Here are the prices for each variant in the Reno 13 series:

Up til January 10th 2025, you can preorder the phones and get rebates and gifts worth up to RM2,266.

For the Oppo Reno 13 Pro 5G, an upfront deposit of RM50 will get you:

• 1 Year Oppo Care Plus Liquid Protection Plan worth RM1,099
• 1 Year Oppo Care Plus Screen Protection Warranty worth RM599
• Multi Region Warranty worth RM169
• Oppo Enco Air4 worth RM249 (while stocks last)
• RM150 Instant Rebate

For the Reno 13 and Reno 13 F, an upfront deposit of RM20 will get you:

• 1 Year Oppo Care Plus Liquid Protection Plan worth RM1,019
• 1 Year Oppo Care Plus Screen Protection Warranty worth RM499
• Multi Region Warranty worth RM169
• Oppo Enco Buds2 worth RM129 (while stocks last)
• RM80 Instant Rebate

Preorders are available at Oppo brand stores, My Oppo Space, authorized dealers, and chain store partners. You can also preorder online via Oppo’s Official Online Store, authorized online stores, and selected e-commerce partners.