OnePlus has finally unveiled its next-generation flagships – the OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R. While the premium OnePlus 13 is getting significant attention for its high-end features and best-in-class Android experience, its more affordable brother, the OnePlus 13R, is making headlines for offering flagship-level hardware at a more affordable price.

The new OnePlus 13R includes notable upgrades over its 2024 predecessor, the OnePlus 12R. The device features the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset along with improved cameras and an aluminum frame with a glass finish – while it is the first OnePlus device to feature Corning Gorilla Glass 7i. Let’s take a detailed look at what’s new in the next-generation OnePlus 13R and the five major upgrades it brings compared to the OnePlus 12R.

processor upgrade

The OnePlus 13R is powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset – the same chipset used in the flagship OnePlus 12. It is an upgrade to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 found in the OnePlus 12R. The new flagship chipset promises a significant performance boost with up to 25 percent faster CPU and GPU speeds.

Apart from the upgraded chipset, the OnePlus 13R also has faster RAM options—12GB and 16GB LPDDR5X compared to the 8GB or 16GB LPDDR5 options in the 12R. OnePlus has increased the storage option to 512GB of UFS 4.0, doubling the maximum capacity available on the OnePlus 12R.

better camera

The OnePlus 13R brings notable upgrades to its triple-camera system. It includes a 50-megapixel Sony LYT-700 main sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS). Additionally, it has a 50-megapixel telephoto lens and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera with 2x optical zoom support. For selfies, it has a better 16-megapixel front-facing camera.

big battery

The OnePlus 13R has the largest battery that OnePlus has ever included in its R series smartphone. The OnePlus 13R has a 6,000mAh battery, which is up from the 5,500mAh unit in the OnePlus 12R. However, the charging speed has dropped slightly from 100W to 80W.

oxygenos 15 software

Out of the box, the OnePlus 13R runs Android 14 with OxygenOS 15, while the OnePlus 12R launches with Android 13 and FuntouchOS 14. Additionally, the OnePlus 13R is promised an update to Android 19, while the OnePlus 12R will only receive updates to Android 19. 17. In short, the new OnePlus 13R promises four years of software upgrades and six years of security updates, giving it a long software lifecycle.

Fresh design and better build quality

OnePlus has also refreshed the design of its affordable OnePlus 13R. Compared to the curved display of the OnePlus 12R, the OnePlus 13R features a flat display and an aluminum frame with Crystal Shield glass protection on the front and back.

Adding durability to the design, the OnePlus 13R also has an IP65 rating, which offers better protection against dust and water compared to the IP64 rating of its predecessor. Additionally, the OnePlus 13R is the first OnePlus phone to feature Corning Gorilla Glass 7i on the front.