Oppo’s Reno 13 Series has touched down in South Africa at a gliztly media launch event held earlier today. Well not quite the entire series as we’ve only been introduced to the Reno 13 5G and the soon-to-launch Reno 13 F 5G. But there’s a glaring omission—the Reno 13 Pro is nowhere to be seen. Oppo’s rollout strategy remains a mystery, but for now, the spotlight is on these two mid-range contenders.
Reno 13 5G: Solid Premium mid-ranger
Sitting at the top of the range (for now), the Reno 13 5G is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 8350 SoC, with configurations offering 8GB or 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage. Performance should be buttery smooth, especially when paired with its 6.59-inch AMOLED FHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate.
Battery life? A massive 5,600mAh cell puts some flagships to shame, and 80W SUPERVOOC™ Flash Charge means you won’t be tied to an outlet for long. The camera setup includes:
- 50MP main sensor
- 8MP ultrawide
- 2MP depth sensor
- 50MP selfie camera with AI-enhancements
Oppo is throwing in a suite of AI photography tools as we’ve come to expect from every smartphone launch in 2025, but more on that later.
Underwater Photography
The headline feature: Oppo claims the Reno 13 lineup is the world’s first caseless underwater smartphone. With an IP69 rating, it can withstand high-pressure water jets with temps (up to 80°C) and submersion up to 2 meters for 30 minutes—all without a protective case.
That’s a bold claim, and one that could make a real impact for adventure seekers, content creators, or anyone prone to dropping their phone in, well, unfortunate places. Liam Faurie, Oppo South Africa’s Head of Go-to-Market, calls it a “testament to Oppo’s commitment to enhancing smartphone photography.” Sounds impressive, but let’s see if it holds up in real-world use.
Now, here’s where things get interesting: the Reno 13 5G starts at R19,000 (or R800 per month on contract). Last years flagship Reno 12 Pro had a R19,500 sticker price. The Reno 13 5G is pushing into flagship pricing for what is supposed to be a mid-range device. OPPO seems to be creating a new category, that of the “Premium mid-ranger”. The Plume White and Luminous Blue color options are sleek and beautiful and the both hardware and software seems impressive from our short hands on time with the device, but is that enough to justify the cost? We will have to wait and see!
Reno 13 F 5G: A Budget-Friendly Alternative
For those who want similar ruggedness at a lower price, the Reno 13 F 5G is launching in March 2025. It retains the IP69 water and dust resistance, but cuts costs by swapping the aluminum-glass build for a more affordable material.
Despite its lower price, the 13 F 5G gets a larger 6.67-inch FHD AMOLED display (still at 120Hz) and a peak brightness of 2,100 nits—meaning better visibility in bright conditions.
Under the hood, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 takes the reins—less powerful than the Dimensity 8350, but Oppo balances that with an even bigger 5,800mAh battery and 45W wired charging. The camera setup is nearly identical to the Reno 13 5G:
- 50MP primary sensor
- 8MP ultrawide
- 2MP macro sensor
- 32MP AI selfie camera
The Reno 13 F 5G is priced at R15,000 (or R680 per month on contract), making it a more accessible option for those who don’t need the extra power.
AI Photography & Smart Features
Beyond the hardware, Oppo is leaning heavily into AI-powered photography to set the Reno 13 apart. Some key features include:
- AI Clarity Enhancer – Sharpen distant objects for clearer shots.
- AI Reflection Remover – Eliminates glare from glass surfaces.
- AI Unblur – Restores clarity to blurry images.
For content creators and casual users alike, these AI tools sound great—on paper. The real test will be how well they perform outside of a controlled demo.
Early GeekVerdict
The Reno 13 Series is ambitious, but it’s also rather expensive for a mid-range lineup. Oppo’s bet on underwater durability and AI-driven photography could pay off if users see real value in it. Would we recommend it? Well thats a question only real world testing can answer and we hope to conduct a full review soon, until then stay tuned.
