We recently reviewed the OnePlus 13R (review) and it has got some serious upgrades. The new 2x telephoto (though no OIS), a better display, a larger battery, the powerful 8 Gen 3 chip, and more software updates. But there’s a flip side: 5 downgrades that might have slipped under the radar.
1. Gorilla Glass Victus 2 to Just Gorilla Glass 7i
Let’s start with the display. The OnePlus 12R boasted Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection on the front, which is 2X more drop-resistant than the OnePlus 13R’s Gorilla Glass 7i. It’s still tough, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not as resistant as Victus 2.
ALSO SEE: OnePlus 13 vs. vivo X200: A Flagship Battle You Can’t Miss
2. Charging Speed Got Slower
On paper and in real world too, the OnePlus 13R’s battery life is stellar. A larger 6,000 mAh battery? Fantastic. But here’s the downgrade: charging speed has been cut down. It’s now 80W charging, down from the 100W found on the 12R. Another reason is that the 13R uses a single-cell battery, as opposed to the 12R, which used a dual-cell battery, leading to even slower charging.
Previously, on the 12R, you could get a full charge in under 30 minutes. Now, you’re looking at around 50 minutes to an hour to get fully juiced up. Sure, the battery lasts longer, but that charging speed is slower.
3. Fingerprint Scanner Location Is Way too Low
The 12R had the fingerprint scanner in a super convenient spot—right where your finger naturally lands. But the 13R decided to go with a lower position on the display.
It’s still an optical scanner, which is, sure, fast and secure, but it’s just placed very low. It’s strange because the OnePlus 13 got an upgrade to an ultrasonic scanner.
ALSO SEE: OnePlus 13 Review: The OPPO Find X8’s Doppelganger?
4. Bye Bye Dolby Atmos, Hello… Holo Audio?
The OnePlus 12R had Dolby Atmos for an “immersive audio experience.” However, that’s missing on the 13R. Instead, we get Holo Audio (or Spatial Audio), which… may do the trick, but it’s not quite the same experience. It’s not a deal breaker, but a downgrade nonetheless.
5. OxygenOS Joins the Bloat Train
OxygenOS was one of the reasons why we loved OnePlus phones. The 12R was clean. No App Market, no ads, no bloat. But with the 13R? Well, welcome to OxygenOS 15, where we now have an App Market, an additional Browser, ads in global search, and bloatware. It’s definitely not a pleasant experience.
Verdict
So, is the OnePlus 13R a bad phone? Definitely not. If you want top-tier performance for ₹40K, it’s still a good choice. But if you’re a camera enthusiast or someone who really values a good overall package, the 13R might not be your best bet.
Other options like the vivo V40 Pro (review) or iQOO 12 (review) are worth considering, especially now that their prices have dropped. Just don’t expect the OnePlus 13R to be perfect—it’s got some obvious downgrades that you might want to keep in mind.
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