Oppo finally unveiled the Reno 13 series in China earlier this week. These are the brand’s latest mid range models and bring various improvements over its predecessors. So now, here’s a list of every upgrade that the base Reno 13 brings over the Reno 12.
1. Oppo Reno 13: New Compact Display
Back in May 2024, the Oppo Reno 12 was announced in China with a tall 6.7-inch OLED display with a 1.5K resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, up to 1200 nits of peak brightness, and 2160Hz PWM dimming. This was a decent display for its price point, but Oppo has made some notable changes to Reno’s latest vanilla model.
The Chinese company has made the Reno 13 more compact than its predecessor. So the Reno 13 sports a slightly smaller 6.50-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a 1.5K resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a higher 3840Hz PWM dimming. In other words, this device is not only easier to carry around and use with one hand, but it also strains users’ eyes even less.
2. Newer Chip
Just like the screen, the chipsets are also getting a refresh. The Reno 12 arrives with the MediaTek Dimensity 8250 SoC, which is paired with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. On the other hand, the Reno 13 is equipped with the Dimensity 8350 chip, which runs on a higher 3.35GHz clock speed. It also has a custom X1 network acceleration chip for improved connectivity. Although, the storage configurations remain the same between the two generations.
3. Bigger Battery
Oppo has bumped the battery capacity of both the Reno 13 and Reno 13 Pro. The former is now powered by a massive 5,600mAh battery pack, which supports 80W wired fast charging. Meanwhile, the older Reno 13 has a respectable 5,000mAh battery that also supports 80W wired fast charging. But the higher capacity and newer chip should offer better battery life.
4. Slimmer & Premium Design
Oppo’s Reno series has always aimed at offering decent overall performance with an attractive design on a budget. The Reno 12 measured a slim 7.6mm in thickness and weighed just 177 grams. However, the Reno 13 is now thinner than before, measuring just 7.2mm, despite its larger battery pack. It does become marginally heavier at 181 grams, but thanks to the new glass back and aluminum alloy frame on the sides. This makes it feel a lot more premium than its predecessor.
5. But is it an upgrade?
Thankfully, the pricing between the two models has remained unchanged. It still has a 2,699 Yuan price tag (roughly 272 US Dollars) for the base model despite its various improvements. However, there was corners cut to achieve the identical pricing. The Reno 13 skips the telephoto shooter unlike the Reno 12. So if this sensor is something you often use, Reno 12 might be a better deal. But in nearly every other regard, the Reno 13 offers decent upgrades. I won’t call it a true sequel but it is slightly more than a simple refresh.
