OnePlus 13R overview: Maybe simply purchase a Pixel 9A

The OnePlus 13R is a specific sort of midrange cellphone for a specific sort of individual.

It’s a pared-down model of the OnePlus 13 — which is a full-on flagship and a great one at that. And though it shares plenty of the flagship DNA, the 13R lacks peace-of-mind options current on the Google Pixel 9A, like full water resistance and new OS variations for seven years. It’s additionally not precisely low cost, with an MSRP of $599. But if all that reduces its mass enchantment, the 13R makes up for it in two key locations: battery life and display. Is it value shopping for over the $499 Pixel 9A? That will depend on the actual sort of individual you’re.

The 13R presents an enormous 6.78-inch OLED panel with a variable refresh charge as much as 120Hz, and its 1264 x 2780 decision is sufficient to hold issues sharp. You’ll have a tough time discovering one other display this huge and fancy on a midrange cellphone, at the very least one offered within the US. It’s loads vivid in direct solar, and it maintains its peak brightness nicely. The always-on show is difficult to see within the solar with out waking the display, however that’s a minor grievance.

The 13R has an IP65 score, which means it’s absolutely mud resistant and may stand up to some critical splashes. But it’s not assured to face up to full immersion in water, and loads of fashionable telephones on this value bracket are. The iPhone 16E and Pixel 9A provide IP68 water resistance, as does the pricier OnePlus 13. Most 13R house owners in all probability gained’t have an issue with this, but it surely doesn’t sit tremendous nicely with me that all the main competitors at this value presents higher water resistance.

OnePlus made compromises to maintain the 13R’s value down, however efficiency isn’t certainly one of them. It comes with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, final yr’s top-tier chipset, which continues to be a banger in 2025. There’s additionally 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage within the base mannequin. That’s loads of energy to maintain it working easily, and nothing I may throw at it in my day-to-day gave it hassle. It by no means a lot as flinched doing my little each day chores and scrolling, and it barely warmed up throughout an prolonged free roam session in Pocket City 2.

I used the cellphone with the always-on show and high-performance mode enabled, plus a beneficiant display time-out setting as a result of typically I would like to have a look at a recipe 20 occasions earlier than I keep in mind what number of teaspoons of sesame oil it requires. All these issues drain the battery sooner, however I by no means obtained decrease than 50 % by the tip of the day, even on days with lengthy bike rides tracked on Strava and prolonged TikTook scrolling periods. This is a two-day battery for most individuals, and that’s in all probability one thing that folks need proper now greater than gimmicky AI options, that are blissfully minimal on the 13R.

OnePlus has promised 4 main OS upgrades and 6 years of safety updates for the 13R, which is healthier than the corporate has executed prior to now and can in all probability be sufficient for most individuals who purchase this cellphone. But Google presents seven years of OS upgrades on the 9A on high of frequent safety updates. If you’re trying to squeeze as a few years out of your machine as doable, the 9A can be a better option, even at its $100 decrease MSRP.

Something else the 9A presents that the 13R doesn’t? Wireless charging. The OnePlus 13R presents speedy wired charging — as much as 55W with the included charger. That’s helpful in the event you want a fast high off through the day or wish to cost your cellphone when you deal with your morning routine. But you’ll get 0 in the event you drop it on a wi-fi charger stationed in your nightstand, which I did, and couldn’t determine why it wasn’t charging till I remembered. Not everybody cares about wi-fi charging, and quick charging can turn out to be useful, however for $599 you need to at the very least have the choice to cost wirelessly.

The 13R contains three rear cameras: a 50-megapixel f/1.8 stabilized predominant, 50-megapixel f/2.0 2x telephoto, and an 8-megapixel ultrawide. Photo high quality is nice general, and the 2x telephoto digicam is an enchancment over the low-res macro digicam on final yr’s mannequin. Images have a tendency towards a vivid aesthetic that I discover a little bit a lot at occasions, and superb element is fairly crunchy in the event you look shut. But in the event you give it good lighting and a photogenic topic, it’ll do them justice.

“How a lot does this cellphone price?” is a query I’m always attempting to reply. In this case, the reply is simply as difficult as at all times. The 13R’s MSRP is $599, however proper now it’s marked right down to $499 from OnePlus and Best Buy — no limited-time deal or something, only a straight up hundred greenback low cost. Is {that a} endlessly value? What occurs if tariffs really hit? Unclear!

Honestly, $499 appears like the proper value for this cellphone and $599 appears like only a bit an excessive amount of for a cellphone missing wi-fi charging and an IP68 score. The 13R presents robust battery life and an excellent display for its class, and if these are your high priorities, then it is a stable decide. But for everybody else, I feel there’s a greater possibility within the Pixel 9A.

Photography by Allison Johnson / The Verge