Not even a year since Insta360’s original Flow Pro smartphone stabilizer arrived on the market, and it already has a successor in the shape of the Flow 2 Pro. The new gimbal (perhaps unsurprisingly given the timeframe) doesn’t represent a huge leap forward, however – merely a logical progression in a few key areas.
This is another compact handheld gimbal for keeping an attached smartphone level and its movements smooth, enabling the user to capture more stable and professional-looking video footage while on foot or, with the gimbal perched on a flat surface thanks to its integrated tripod, use their phone like an automated camera operator, moving around while the gimbal uses its software to track and follow their movements, keeping them in the frame.
All the key advantages of the original model either remain untouched or improved upon, thankfully. The lightweight folding design, for instance, makes the Flow 2 Pro one of the most portable smartphone stabilizers around, just like the Flow Pro. And, like the Flow Pro, it features a magnetic clamping system that makes mounting your phone and deploying the gimbal and a refreshingly quick and painless process. The clamp grips securely to the sides of your phone, accommodating devices between 64mm and 84mm wide, and then simply sticks to the gimbal arm via its strong magnet, fixing into place with a satisfying ‘thunk’.
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I think the design is even better this time around, though, because the Flow 2 Pro’s construction is tougher and more durable than that of its predecessor, even down to the built-in tripod legs being less awkward to pull out and providing a more stable platform for hands-free stabilization.
In its folded state the Flow 2 Pro is impressively small. I was even able to lug it around in my coat pocket, which isn’t something I could say for many of the other best smartphone gimbals. The basic bundle comes with a soft cloth drawstring bag for storage in such situations, but Insta360 also sells an optional hard-sided carry case with snug cut-outs for the gimbal, magnetic clamp and (also optional) fill light. This case, which comes with a removable shoulder strap and netted compartment space inside the lid for storing cables and other small accessories, is the ideal way to store the Flow 2 Pro when not in use, and I’d have liked it included in the basic package – but I suppose keeping it as an optional upgrade does hold the overall cost down for those who want to get in at the lowest price point.
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As for the smartphone stabilization itself, I have no significant complaints at all – it all works brilliantly, and the Flow 2 Pro feels much more comfortable in my hand than the original Flow Pro. The three-axis gimbal can support handsets up to 300g in weight, stabilizing them using one of three modes: Follow (which follows both the pan and tilt movements of the user but keeps the roll axis fixed); Pan Follow (similar, but keeps both the tilt and roll axes fixed); and FPV (which follows the user’s movement on all three axes).
There’s also an Auto mode, which follows tilt and pan movements and adapts its sensitivity automatically in real-time, plus the option to fix all axes in place at any time by holding down the trigger on the handle. The sixth and final mode is Active Plus, which adds extra sensitivity and responsiveness to the above modes and is engaged by tapping, then holding down the trigger.
You can also manually move the gimbal using the on-handle controls, with the thumb stick supporting tilt and pan motion and, in FPV mode, the jog wheel controlling roll axis movement. Single tapping the trigger turns subject tracking on and off, double tapping resets the phone to a level central position and triple tapping spins the phone through 180º so that it faces the opposite direction to its current facing.
The minimalist circular control setup is similar to the Flow Pro’s, albeit with a few tweaks to aid ergonomics. It’s now slightly more tactile and the four mode lights for Auto, Follow, Pan Follow and FPV are situated at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock on the circle rather than in a row at the top. The green indicator light, which pops on to tell you that tracking is in progress, is retained from the Flow Pro, as is the NFC tap point above it, which can be used for first-time one-tap pairing for both Android and Apple phones.
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The 21cm extension stick, which expands out from the handle to create extra distance between the user and the phone, is retained from the previous model but a new Free Tilt option expands the Flow 2 Pro’s repertoire of motion. It moves the arm out of the way, which allowed me to capture upwards and downwards tilting shots I wouldn’t otherwise have been able to get.
On the software side of things, the Flow 2 Pro retains its Apple DockKit support, which means it can track subjects in over 200 iPhone camera apps, including the likes of BlackMagic Camera, TikTok and the iPhone’s own native camera app. Obviously this leaves Android users feeling a little short-changed in comparison, as the only way they can track on the Flow 2 Pro is via the Insta360 app.
However, the app is great – and I think delivers by far a smoother, smarter and more responsive tracking experience than any apps that use the DockKit integration. New tracking features added for the Flow 2 Pro include the ability to track groups of people, track while zoomed up to 15x and the Pro Framing Grid, which can modify tracking to keep the subject off-center in the frame for a more pleasing ‘golden ratio’ composition.
The app also includes support for Dolby Vision and Apple ProRes video recording, a new teleprompter option to help content creators stick to the script and support for remote control of the gimbal via a second smartphone or an Apple Watch. I like the idea of a remote control but having to pull out a second smartphone isn’t really ideal – so hopefully Insta360 will take inspiration from the Hohem iSteady M7’s integrated remote control for future stabilizers.
I did get the opportunity to try out a couple of the optional accessories such as the MagSafe mount, which is a much more elegant and slick mounting option than the spring-loaded magnetic grip and the LED fill light, which slots directly onto the gimbal arm’s USB-C output (which can also be used to top up your phone’s battery) and provides either warm, neutral or cool light in one of three intensities. It’s not as flexible as the LED that comes included on the Hohem M7, but it’s powerful enough to enable night-time vlogging, and can face both forwards and backwards.
With up to 10 hours of battery life, the Flow 2 Pro delivers roughly the same amount of use on a full charge as the original model. By the standards of small stabilizers, it’s good – and significantly longer than the 6.5 hours offered by the DJI Osmo 6 Mobile, its closest rival.
Insta360 Flow 2 Pro: Price and Availability
The Insta360 Flow 2 Pro is available to order from its launch day, 16 January 2025, in two bundles and two color finishes: Stone Grey and Summit White.
The Standard Bundle costs $159.99 / £144.99 / AU$239.99, and includes the Flow 2 Pro itself plus a magnetic clamp, USB-A to USB-C charging cable and soft storage back. The Creator Bundle costs $189.99 / £169.99 / AU$289.99, and includes all of the above plus a USB-C to USB-C charging cable, a magnetic phone mount for MagSafe iPhones and the Spotlight, a small fill light that clips directly to the gimbal arm.
This launch price is slightly higher than the launch price of original Flow Pro (which arrived in July 2024); taking into account inflation, however, I’d consider it roughly the same – although I would expect the original Flow Pro to fall in price now that its successor has arrived – the Flow 2 Pro’s most established rival, the DJI Osmo 6 Mobile, has already.
Insta360 Flow 2 Pro: specs
Insta360 Flow 2 Pro: Also Consider
DJI Osmo Mobile 6 We think DJI’s small folding gimbal feels nicer in the hand than the Flow 2 Pro, but in other areas the Insta360 has it beat thanks to longer battery life and, for Apple users at least, that all-important ability to track using third-party camera apps. We’d expect the upcoming Osmo Mobile 7 (or equivalent) to up its game sharply, however.
Hohem iSteady M7 While significantly pricier and bulkier than the Flow 2 Pro, the M7’s impeccable stabilization can balance phones up to 500g in weight. Even better, it comes with app-agnostic tracking via an AI camera module that doubles as a fully customizable fill light, plus a touchscreen module that works as a remote control.
*Our Hohem iSteady M7 review is in progress
Should I buy the Insta360 Flow 2 Pro?
(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
Buy it if...
You want the best small gimbal for iPhone The Flow 2 Pro’s Apple DockKit support grants it far more utility for iPhone users than its folding, compact competitors, allowing human subject tracking for over 200 iOS camera apps.
You travel light With its folding, lightweight build, which also manages to be reassuringly sturdy, the Flow 2 Pro is the perfect stabilizer with which to document your day trips and weekend breaks. It works as a power bank, selfie stick and tripod too!
Don't buy it if...
You want the best all-round tracking gimbal Larger, pricier stabilizers like the Hohem iSteady M7 and Zhiyun Smooth 5A AI feature AI tracking modules that allow them to track human subjects with any app for both Android and iPhone.
You already own the original Flow Pro The improvements here are notable, but not so valuable that it’s worth ditching your nearly new Flow Pro for the upgrade. If you own the original, our advice would be to wait until the Flow 3 Pro (or equivalent) comes along.
How I tested the Insta360 Flow 2 Pro
One week of use
Tested with iPhone 13 and various iOS apps
Used inside and outdoors both on tripod and in hand
I used the Insta360 Flow 2 Pro in and around my home for a week, using it to record footage both on the move and with it fixed it place via its built-in tripod. I tested it with my Apple iPhone 13 and a variety of camera apps – including the Insta360 app, BlackMagic Camera and the iPhone’s own native camera – to record b-roll and vlog-style videos.
The OnePlus 13R builds on the winning formula of its predecessor, the OnePlus 12R, by delivering prolonged battery life, a dazzling display, and plenty of power in a slick, premium package.
Its price is not as competitively low as the brand’s earliest ‘flagship killers’, but if you’re after a flagship phone without the quite frankly eye-watering price tags that come with them, the OnePlus 13R delivers plenty while only compromising in a few small areas.
This is only the second time an R-Series handset has launched internationally; the initial ‘R’ branded devices (of series 9, 10, and 11) did not reach European or North American shores.
The OnePlus 13R is a less tricked-out – and thus more affordable – version of the flagship OnePlus 13 which launched alongside it. Think of this phone like Samsung’s ‘FE’ variants of its high-end S series and Google’s ‘A’ line of its Pixel phones.
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The 6.78-inch display is colorful and sufficiently bright, making it easy to use even in direct sunlight. The screen is flat, and flush with the phone’s aluminium frame, which results in a pleasing viewing experience.
Meanwhile, the sizable 6,000mAh battery lasted me two days on a single charge, and even power users will get more than a day’s use from the OnePlus 13R before needing to reach for the charging cable. But reach for the cable you will, as there’s no wireless charging.
There’s plenty of power under the hood, with the previous flagship generation Snapdragon chipset at its heart, ably assisted by 12GB of RAM. It means the 13R can handle pretty much anything you throw at it.
While the trio of cameras on the rear may not have the very latest features of the current-gen flagships, it’s a great point-and-shoot camera that holds its own in most scenarios.
Holding the 13R may be a little tricky for those with smaller hands though, as this is a large phone. And you’ll want to be careful around water, as this handset isn’t protected against submersion. It’s merely splash-proof, which does mean it’ll be okay in the rain.
The OnePlus 13R is an accomplished smartphone that borrows many of the features from the brand's previous flagship phone, while being kept just out of reach of some of the very latest tech which has been reserved for its non-R, numerical twin.
OnePlus 13R review: price and availability
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OnePlus 13R price is $599 / £679
Available with 12GB RAM + 256GB ROM in North America and Europe
India also has the option of a 16GB + 512GB variant
When it comes to buying the OnePlus 13R, things are kept simple with just one storage configuration of 256GB ROM + 12GB RAM available in North America and Europe.
For those in India, there’s a beefier 512GB + 16GB additional configuration, which may have some in Western markets looking enviably over to Asia.
The OnePlus 13R price is $599 / £679, matching the launch price of its predecessor (the OnePlus 12R) in the US, but coming in at £30 more expensive in the UK.
With the same launch price in the US as last year’s 256GB OnePlus 12R, the 13R is well positioned in the market, offering a big screen, big battery, and plenty of performance at a price point that undercuts Apple. Meanwhile, for UK buyers the £30 price increase is a little frustrating, but OnePlus has improved on its predecessor and the 13R still offers a solid all-round experience.
This price point sits the OnePlus 13R towards the top end of the ‘affordable flagship’ market, and unlike the OnePlus 12R, the US only gets the 256GB ROM + 12GB RAM. There’s no cheaper variant with 8GB/128GB of RAM and storage this time round.
That means it’s more expensive than the smaller, more palm-friendly Pixel 8a – Google’s own take on an affordable flagship – yet similarly priced to the AI-loaded Samsung Galaxy S24 FE and alternative Nothing Phone (2), although the latter is now a year and a half old at the time of writing.
One of the big draws of the OnePlus 13R will be its supreme battery life, but if battery life is the most important focus in a big-screened phone for you, then you may want to look at the Honor Magic 7 Lite. It’s a chunk cheaper and boasts an even bigger battery (6,600mAh), although it has less power and storage and isn’t available in North America.
Value score: 4 / 5
OnePlus 13R review: specs
The OnePlus 13R comes with a trio of headline specs. There’s the big, bright, and bold 6.78-inch display boasting a maximum brightness of 4,500 nits, the huge 6,000mAh battery that can keep you going for two days, and slick performance thanks to the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset as the brand’s previous generation flagship, the OnePlus 12.
There’s also a trio of cameras around the back, fast 80W wired charging, and 256GB of storage which will keep all but the most prolific power users happy.
OnePlus 13R review: design
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Wonderfully premium aluminum and glass frame
A little large for small hands, and can’t be submerged in water
The OnePlus 13R is a slick piece of hardware, with a sleek aluminum frame wrapping around the circumference of the handset, which is sandwiched on either side by glass.
The flat sides are reminiscent of Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro and 16 Pro series, as well as the Oppo Find X8 range – the latter of which shares various design cues with the OnePlus 13 series, as the two brands are part of the same overarching company.
To complete the premium package the screen and rear of the phone are covered in Gorilla Glass 7i, the first OnePlus phone to harness this new glass type, which maker Corning claims is “specifically engineered to address the need for improved drop protection and scratch resistance.”
This means the 13R should be able to resist the odd drop and knock, but during my review time with the phone, I didn’t really put this to the test.
While the aesthetics may not be entirely unique, the OnePlus 13R has a premium look and feel; it’s built solidly and outperforms its price tag.
Those with smaller hands will find the size of the device overbearing – especially for one-handed use – while I’d have liked the power and volume buttons on the right of the 13R placed lower down.
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The volume rocker especially was a stretch for my thumb, resulting in awkward shuffles in the hand to turn the volume up. If OnePlus placed these a few millimeters lower the buttons would fall naturally under the thumb, making for easier manipulation.
OnePlus’ now iconic alert slider is present on the OnePlus 13R, providing an easy way to toggle between silent, vibrate, and ring modes – although it suffers the same placement affliction as the volume and power – it’s placed just a little too high up on the left of the phone for my taste.
While this was a novel addition in the early days of OnePlus, its inclusion now feels a little superfluous as user habits have evolved over the years resulting in fewer people switching regularly between ring states. Former OnePlus co-founder, Carl Pei, even tweeted to say “most people never use it” in regards to the alert slider.
The USB-C port sits centrally on the bottom edge of the phone, flanked by the SIM tray (which supports two cards) and the speaker. On the back, the smooth, minimalist finish of my Nebular Noir-colored device is interrupted only by the enormous circular camera housing.
It’s aligned to one side of the handset – providing a small point of differentiation to the centrally placed camera bump on the Find X8 devices – which does displace the weight slightly, but isn’t an issue during daily use. OnePlus has managed to keep the weight of the 13R to a reasonable 206g, which allows it to sit comfortably in the hand.
One disappointing feature is the handset’s IP65 water resistance rating. It’s an improvement over the IP64 rating of its predecessor and protects against jets of water, but an IP68 rating (water resistance for submersion) is not uncommon in this price bracket.
Design score: 4 / 5
OnePlus 13R review: display
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The 6.78-inch display is big, bright and colorful
A peak brightness of 4,500 nits makes it great for use in the sun
OnePlus makes a big deal about the display on this phone, and the good news is it lives up to the billing. It’s big, bright and colorful.
At 6.78 inches, it’s a sizable offering, much larger than the 6.1-inch screen on the Pixel 8a, a hair bigger than the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE (at 6.7 inches), while it’s the same size as the Honor Magic 7 Lite – another big-battery competitor.
There’s plenty of real estate for apps, and the slender uniform bezels all the way around give it a premium appeal. The only interruption on the screen is the circular cutout at the top of the display for the 16MP front-facing camera.
The 1264 x 2780 (1.5K) resolution – which gives you a pixel density of 450 ppi – is par for the course. OnePlus says the 13R can deliver a maximum brightness of 4,500 nits, but you won’t actually see that level of brightness in real-world use.
In my time with the phone, the OnePlus 13R’s screen performed very well in bright light, whether indoors or outdoors. If you’re fortunate enough to find yourself in a particularly sunny climate, you can be confident you’ll be able to see what’s on-screen in direct sunlight.
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And when the weather turns and rain starts to fall, the OnePlus 13R continues to perform thanks to Aqua Touch 2.0. Taking the phone into the rain, the screen continued to respond well when my use was uninterrupted by the conditions – rain can cause issues on other phones, where the screen is confused by water droplets leading to unregistered taps or erroneous inputs.
Another nice inclusion for the OnePlus 13R is Glove Mode, allowing you to interact with the screen while wearing woolen or sheepskin gloves (up to 0.5cm thick). This mode isn’t on by default, you need to dive into the accessibility menus in the Settings apps (you can search “glove” in Settings to find the mode quicker) to enable it.
Once enabled, I was impressed by just how responsive the screen was when wearing a pair of woolen gloves. With the mode switched off, there was zero response from the screen when wearing gloves, so the difference is stark.
Interactions do require a little more force to be applied compared to non-glove use, but that’s not a surprise. OnePlus does note that glove mode does not support gameplay, so if you’re planning to have a round of PUBG while vacationing in Lapland, Finland, you may want to wait until you’re inside and gloveless before parachuting into battle. Opening and closing apps, moving around the interface, scrolling social, and tapping out messages are all easily done, however.
Display score: 4.5 / 5
OnePlus 13R review: software
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OxygenOS 15.0 offers plenty of customization options
OnePlus guarantees four years of OS updates, but rivals offer more
The OnePlus 13R is an Android 15 smartphone, with the latest version of Google’s mobile operating system underpinning the software you see on the screen.
It’s not pure Android, as OnePlus has applied its OxygenOS 15.0 interface on top, providing the handset with a familiar look and feel for users of the brand’s previous generation of devices.
What this gives you is a slightly different look and feel to the stock Android platform (found on Pixel handsets). My OnePlus 13R also arrived pre-loaded with additional apps on top of the default system offerings.
These included Netflix, Amazon Music, Booking.com, LinkedIn, Facebook, Lyft, and AliExpress. You may find some of these pre-installed apps useful, but if you don’t the good news is they can be uninstalled entirely from the phone – leaving you with more of the apps you want.
I have seen phone manufacturers pre-install many more apps than on the OnePlus 13R, and also forbid users from uninstalling them, so what OnePlus has done isn’t cause for concern.
OnePlus says it has reduced the overall size of OxygenOS 15 by 40%, meaning it takes up less of the 256GB of internal storage space, leaving you more room for apps, games, photos, videos, and more.
OnePlus’ overlay also provides a wide range of customization features, allowing you to make the OnePlus 13R personal to you. From a range of home screen widgets and the ability to tweak the size, shape, and design of app icons, to different options from the drag-down motion to access the notifications bar and quick settings – there’s plenty to explore.
The Open Canvas feature from the OnePlus Open and OnePlus Pad 2 is present here, so I could have two apps side-by-side on screen. A horizontal bar divides the screen, and I could drag it up and down to resize the two apps.
There’s also the option to open an app in a floating window, and I could move around the rest of the phone’s interface while keeping the selected app open in a small area of the screen. Useful if you’re watching a video or part of a busy group chat and want to look up information in other apps.
I could even drag and ‘pin’ up to two of these floating windows to the edge of the screen, minimizing them to a transparent app logo tucked off the side of the display. A quick tap on the logo opened it back up as a floating window.
These multitasking features work well on the OnePlus 13R, and while it’s a little fiddly to enable split screen or floating window (and to pin these), it’s impressive when you get multiple apps all working at once – especially if you have two apps on split screen and then a third in a floating window.
The OnePlus 13R comes future-proofed too, with OnePlus committing to four years of software updates and six years of security updates for the device. While this is a good offering, it’s not industry-leading. Apple has offered five years of updates for some time, while Google and Samsung offer seven years of software and security updates on their latest devices.
And this wouldn’t be a 2025 smartphone without a mention of AI. In the Photos app (the OnePlus version, not Google’s Photos app) you’ll find the AI Editor option with four tools for you to use. More on these in the camera section.
Google’s Gemini AI assistant also comes pre-loaded on the OnePlus 13R, giving you access to features such as Circle to Search and Magic Compose (for help writing text messages).
Software score: 4 / 5
OnePlus 13R review: cameras
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A capable all-round camera delivers great images in most conditions
Plenty of modes and settings for avid photographers
The OnePlus 13R packs a trio of cameras in the sizable, circular camera housing, headlined by a 50MP Sony LYT-700 main sensor alongside a 50MP telephoto sensor, providing support for the 2x zoom. The sensor array is completed by an 8MP ultra-wide sensor with a 112-degree field of view. There’s also an LED flash to help illuminate dark scenes.
On the front, you get a 16MP selfie camera, but there’s no wide-angle lens to expand the view to fit more faces. You’ll either have to press cheeks together or live with the fact some people may not make it in the frame.
The OnePlus 13R camera app loads swiftly and comes packed with features, with quick access icons for Google Lens, exposure, retouch (beautification mode), and filters ensuring you’re Instagram-ready in no time.
You can move between different camera modes by swiping horizontally above the shutter button – with smartphone staples ‘Video’ and ‘Portrait’ quickly accessible on either side of the default ‘Photo’ mode.
For those who like to fine-tune their shooting experience, ‘Pro’ mode gives granular controls for ISO, Shutter speed, exposure, focus, and white balance – plus there’s the option to shoot in RAW rather than JPG for greater editing flexibility in programs such as Photoshop.
Dive into the ‘More’ section and you’ll find further modes to choose from including night, panorama, slo-mo video, and time-lapse.
In short, the OnePlus 13R camera app gives you plenty of choice and customization options, but the good news is it takes good photos in the default setting – for those who don’t want to have to mess with settings.
In most conditions, the 13R is a very capable smartphone camera. It’s not at the same level as the best camera phones on the market, but that’s to be expected given it sits a tier below the true premium flagship offerings.
Camera score: 4 / 5
OnePlus 13R review: camera samples
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Portrait mode does an excellent job of keeping the cat in focus while blurring the sofa behind (Image credit: Future)
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Macro mode is automatically enabled when you get close to your subject (Image credit: Future)
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In bright daylight, the OnePlus 13R is a great point-and-shoot camera (Image credit: Future)
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The default 1x zoom (Image credit: Future)
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Tap to the 2x optical zoom and you’ll get closer to your subject while maintaining image quality (Image credit: Future)
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The 13R can zoom all the way to 20x digitally (Image credit: Future)
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At night, the OnePlus 13R captures detailed shots (Image credit: Future)
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And does impressively well close-up in lowlight (default shooting mode) (Image credit: Future)
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The selfie camera produces bright, clear shots – although they can be a little overexposed (Image credit: Future)
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Switch to Portrait mode when using the selfie camera and you get a more natural result and decent blurring around the subject (Image credit: Future)
As with its predecessor, the advice for those who want to take their smartphone photography seriously on the OnePlus 13R is to stick to the main 50MP camera. It benefits from both EIS (electronic image stabilization) and OIS (optical image stabilization) to improve results.
You can use the phone as a reliable point-and-shoot to capture outdoor and indoor shots, both during the day and at night. The OnePlus 13R camera particularly impressed me during a nighttime walk through a light trail, with the default settings handling the variable lighting conditions very well.
I was able to take a series of striking low-light images with minimum effort as I walked through the trail, and this is exactly what I want from a smartphone camera. Something that can quickly and easily generate great results for social and group chats.
The OnePlus 13R also offers solid editing tools, allowing you to tinker with pictures way after you’ve taken them. As mentioned earlier in this review, OnePlus has included a number of AI-powered editing tools in its own gallery (the 13R has two photo galleries, the default OnePlus app, and the Google Photos app – the latter of which has its own editing tools as well).
AI Unblur, as the name suggests, can take your blurry photographs and reduce the lack of focus. It can be applied to any image, not just ones taken on the 13R, although I found the difference made – while an improvement – was minimal.
What I found more useful was AI Detail Boost. This enhances busy images to provide better clarity and contrast throughout your shots – again, working on any image.
Then there’s AI Eraser and AI Reflection Eraser. The former you’ll likely be familiar with as it’s a tool most smartphones offer, allowing you to remove people/animals/objects from your shots. It works well here, although it can struggle with busier scenes and complex backgrounds.
Reflection Eraser takes things a step further by, yup you’ve guessed it, attempting to remove reflections on windows, glass, or screens. I tried this on a number of images, with varying success. Generally, improvements were made, but I didn’t manage to completely remove reflections in any of the images I tested it on.
In all, the AI tools are a nice addition to the OnePlus 13R, but they don’t deliver an experience that stands out over similar tools available on other phones.
Hyperboost performance settings are great for mobile gamers
The OnePlus 13R comes packed with power, ensuring it keeps up with pretty much anything you can toss its way.
While the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset isn’t the latest top-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite offering from Qualcomm, it’s the same flagship chipset that featured in the OnePlus 12. What this means is the 13R still packs a punch, backed up by a capable 12GB of RAM.
The interface flows well, and the performance along with the 120Hz displays makes for slick, smooth scrolling on social media. Apps load quickly, although for more demanding titles the OnePlus 13R doesn’t feel quite as fast under the finger as the true flagships on the market.
That’s not really an issue, and considering the price point of this phone I was more than happy with the performance I was getting, whether that was browsing social, streaming video, checking emails, doing work (including writing parts of this very review) or taking a well-earned gaming break.
I ran a number of benchmark tests from 3DMark, Geekbench, CrossMark, JetStream, and WebXPRT 4 to really push the capabilities of the OnePlus 13R. It performed admirably with flagship-level (or close to flagship) results, reinforcing the fact there’s plenty of power available in this phone.
Fire up a game and you’ll notice the handset’s Hyperboost performance settings are automatically engaged, giving you live data on the phone’s condition during your gaming session.
From the drop-down panel, you can easily keep an eye on your fps (frames per second), latency, and how hot the OnePlus 13R is getting thanks to a temperature sensor embedded under the display.
There are three modes to choose from, with ‘Balanced’ being the default setting. You can alternatively switch to ‘Low power’ which will help extend your gaming session when the battery is running low by reducing screen refresh and lowering touch response.
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Then there’s ‘Pro Gamer’ which channels all power to your game resulting in increased temperature and battery drain. A pop-up even warns you to consider only using this mode during ambient temperatures.
There are even more tools to play around with in the Hyperboost menu, including tweaking the GPU settings, toggling key features on and off, and screen recording controls to capture epic battles. In short, if you’re big into mobile gaming, the OnePlus 13R has plenty to offer.
The OnePlus 13R comfortably handled Genshin Impact at 60fps and its highest graphics setting (at 30fps). Load screens took a beat longer to process compared to the high-end flagship phones, but it didn’t detract from gameplay. While the handset did get warm it never reached an uncomfortable temperature.
Something else that impressed me during testing was the performance of the biometric scanners. Located under the display close to the bottom of the screen, the fingerprint scanner is well placed for your thumb to land on it every time when unlocking.
It performs well too, with great responsiveness and no read failures experienced during my time with the phone.
You can also choose to enable face unlock. It’s quick to register your face, and in daylight, the OnePlus 13R is able to instantly recognize you and unlock, even from awkward angles such as sneakily looking at your phone from under a desk.
Performance score: 4 / 5
OnePlus 13R review: battery
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TA huge 6,000mAh battery delivers two-day use on a single charge
80W charging sees 1%-100% in 52 minutes, but no wireless charging
One of the biggest selling points for the OnePlus 13R is its huge 6,000mAh battery, providing the handset with excellent longevity and giving you the peace of mind of truly all-day battery life without the need to even consider reaching for a charger.
During our heavy-usage days, we found we’d still be getting into bed at the end of the day with the battery at least 20%, and on days where we curbed our gaming and video watching, we could easily unplug at 7am and then plug in at 11pm with 50% still left in the tank.
With slightly more thoughtful use (i.e. no gaming and videos and limited social media) the OnePlus 13R is capable of delivering two days of battery life from a single charge without the need to switch to a battery-saving mode.
The SUPERVOOC charging speed has been reduced from 100W on the OnePlus 12R to 80W on the new OnePlus 13R, as the firm looks to preserve the overall life of the mammoth power pack inside.
(Image credit: Future)
The 80W charging still delivers a good amount of juice in a short amount of time, and with the right fast-charging plug adapter (you only get a USB-C cable in the box in the UK) the OnePlus 13R can go from 1% to 100% in as little as 52 minutes.
Using a fast 60W charging block, the OnePlus 13R replenished from 15% to 31% in 15 minutes, and the battery got back to 48% after 30 minutes (increasing 33 percentage points in half an hour). Respectable top-up times, especially if you need to swiftly add charge before stepping out of the house.
These charging times will improve if you have an 80W charging block to take advantage of the maximum supported charging speed.
The only blemish in the OnePlus 13R’s battery story is the fact it doesn’t have wireless charging. This feature has been reserved for its pricier sibling – the OnePlus 13, so you’ll need a cable to top up the 13R.
Battery score: 4.5 /5
Should you buy the OnePlus 13R?
Buy it if...
You want a brilliant balance of battery power and performance With a 6,000mAh battery and punchy Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, the OnePlus 13R delivers excellent battery life along with flagship-level performance (even though the chipset is a year old).
You’re after a big screen that won’t break the bank Forget the Pro Max and Ultra devices, the OnePlus 13R delivers a big screen experience at a lower price point, and it does it really well. The 6.78-inch display is brilliantly bright and colorful, making whatever you do on it look great.
You want a slick mobile gaming machine Add together the battery life, performance, and display, and the OnePlus 13R has all the hallmarks of a fantastic gaming device. The Hyperboost performance settings are the icing on the cake.
Don't buy it if...
You’re looking for the best update longevity OnePlus has made positive strides by announcing its OnePlus 13 series handsets will receive four years of OS updates and six years of security updates, but it still lags behind the competition. Apple, Google, and Samsung all offer more years of OS updates.
You want the biggest battery for your buck If battery life is your core focus for buying a new phone, the OnePlus 13R and its 6,000mAh power pack certainly makes a good case, but the Honor Magic 7 Lite has a bigger battery (6,600mAh) at a lower price – although it’s not as powerful, and not available in North America.
You’re after proper water resistance The OnePlus 13R carries an IP65 dust and water resistance rating, which translates to the phone being able to cope with droplets and jets of water (such as rain), but isn’t protected if you were to accidentally drop it in the bath/sink/swimming pool.
OnePlus 13R review: also consider
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE The Galaxy S24 FE isn’t the cheapest of the rivals, but it comes stuffed to the brim with Galaxy AI features, excellent battery life, and decent performance.
Google Pixel 8a This Galaxy is about to be replaced, but it still hits hard with amazing cameras, the water-resistant S Pen camera remote, and tons of other features.
I used the OnePlus 13R as my daily device for more than two weeks, testing it in a wide range of daily scenarios.
From night-time photography walks around illuminated festive trails and trips to live sporting events, to hours spent playing games (including Pokemon Go, Clash Royale, and Genshin Impact) and streaming videos (via Netflix, DAZN, YouTube, and Disney+), the 13R experienced high-usage and demanding applications to push the screen, chipset and battery to their limits. I braved the storms, taking the phone outside during heavy downpours to test the screen resistance, while also chasing the sun to put the 4,500 nits display through its paces.
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There were quieter days too, where I was checking emails, scrolling social media, and listening to music without the demands of gaming or video, to get a true feeling of how the battery and interface work. I even wrote some of this very review on the OnePlus 13R, to see how it coped as a work device – as life isn’t all pleasure. At least, not for me.
Alongside daily use, I ran numerous benchmarking tests from the likes of Geekbench, CrossMark, 3DMark, and more, to find out if the OnePlus 13R lived up to its performance billing – which it certainly did.
The OnePlus 13 is extravagant and restrained. It’s a beautiful phone, sure, but OnePlus has made beautiful phones before. The OnePlus 13 is trustworthy. It’s durable, maybe the most durable phone I’ve tested that wasn’t made with military standards in mind. It’s also refined, with a look that is equally pretty and smart. It will also get four years of Android updates from OnePlus, which is longer than you’ll probably own this phone.
I highly recommend the OnePlus 13, and my biggest concern is that people won’t know what the hell phone I’m talking about. OnePlus fans know the company very well; other folks… not so much.
As I reviewed the OnePlus 13, I met more people than ever asking me what’s that gorgeous phone I’m using (sorry, embargo). I’d tell them it’s the new OnePlus, then I had to spell the name of the company because they’d never heard of it. OnePlus is a company you need to know about if you’re in the market for a premium phone.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
OnePlus had a fascinating trajectory. It started as a flagship-killer-maker, which means it made phones that gave you some of the features found on the best Samsung and best Apple phones, at a lower price. You might get a great display and amazing performance but middling cameras and no wireless charging. You’d also pay hundreds less.
That’s not true for the OnePlus 13. This phone is uncompromising in every way. It’s one of the first phones to use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, and this chipset delivers on Qualcomm’s lofty promises.
The OnePlus 13 has the best display on any smartphone* (*according to DisplayMate). It has the biggest battery and the longest battery life; and even better, it charges much faster than any Samsung or Apple or Google phone.
The OnePlus 13 has great cameras, too. It can match the best camera phones in many situations, offering just enough artistic flair to compete with the iPhone while giving you AI assistance to zoom like a Galaxy.
Missing features that used to hold OnePlus back have become its biggest strengths on the OnePlus 13. My key complaint about OnePlus phones was the lack of IP68 certification. Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy phones have been water resistant for almost a decade, but OnePlus has never officially certified any of its flagship phones for IP68 durability. This year, the OnePlus 13 takes the plunge with unbeatable IP69 certification, and it’s been the most durable phone I’ve ever tested that doesn’t look like a brick made out of a Jeep.
OnePlus phones also used to lack wireless charging, but today’s OnePlus 13 has so-called AirVOOC wireless charging at up to 50W. To compare, the Qi2 charging standard supports up to 15W, and that’s what you’ll get with iPhone and Galaxy devices. The OnePlus 13 charges faster wirelessly than the iPhone 16 Pro can charge with a USB-C cable.
A OnePlus 13 in the aramid fiber case with the AirVOOC charger attached (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
You can’t buy a OnePlus phone at your local carrier store. That’s probably why your friends or your parents haven’t heard of OnePlus. Selling a phone through Verizon or Vodafone is an expensive proposition that requires testing, free samples, and marketing money. By skipping the carriers and selling direct (mostly), OnePlus says it keeps its prices lower.
Unfortunately, that means a lot of people who would probably love the OnePlus 13 will never hear about it. It also means the OnePlus 13 is harder to afford. When you buy a new iPhone or Galaxy from your carrier, they give you a big discount if you agree to pay for it for the next three years. You don’t get the massive discount with a OnePlus phone, but you also don’t get the three-year obligation.
It’s hard to find anything I don’t like about the OnePlus 13. I don’t wish it had any more AI features now, but the lack of AI might mean this phone gets left behind when the good stuff – agentic AI – finally arrives in a couple of years.
If you’re remotely considering the OnePlus 13, just buy it, you’ll be happy. The battery life alone makes this an easy decision, and the performance, polished interface, and delightful touches throughout make this a phone that will keep you happy as long as you own it, which will be a long time, thanks to its improved durability. The hardest part might be choosing the color and the magnetic case to go with it.
OnePlus 13 review: price and availability
$899.99 / £899 for 12GB RAM, 256GB storage in black only
$999 / £999 for 16GB RAM, 512GB storage and the good colors
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
If the OnePlus 13 seems a bit expensive for a sleeper hit, that’s because OnePlus is great at making phones, but not so good at pricing them. You can ignore the list prices (below), because OnePlus offers a perpetual discount on all of its best phones that usually keeps the price lower. In the US, for instance, there is a $100 discount on the upgraded 512GB/16GB model, as well as a guarantee of at least $100 no matter what phone you trade. That means the price is effectively $799.99.
The OnePlus 13 is competing with the absolute top-tier flagship phones, but you can buy it for the price of the base model. The OnePlus 13 cameras, display, and battery life all compete handily against the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Galaxy S24 Ultra, but the phone can be purchased for the price of an iPhone 16 or Galaxy S24.
The real problem for OnePlus is where and how you can purchase the OnePlus 13. You can buy it directly from OnePlus, or you can buy it from Best Buy, but only the blue or black models, and if you walk into a Best Buy you’ll only find the black. Amazon will have the OnePlus 13 in the near future, but it’s not available on Amazon yet.
OnePlus offers payment plans in the US through third-party Affirm, but doesn’t seem to have similar plans in the UK, which means many people will have to pay up front for the OnePlus 13. That’s not how most of us buy phones, so if you’re used to paying a monthly installment through your mobile carrier, there will be some sticker shock with the OnePlus 13.
OnePlus 13 in every color: black, blue, and white (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Hang in there, though, because having an unlocked phone that you own is a huge benefit. You can shop around for any cell phone plan on any carrier, and when it comes time to sell your phone, you’ll be able to sell it without having a lien from a carrier agreement.
The OnePlus 13 is available in three colors at launch: Midnight Ocean (blue); Arctic Dawn (white); and Black Eclipse (black). My review sample was the blue color, which might be the best one, but the white is quite striking, with a bit of texture in the back that makes it stand out. Also, there’s black.
Value score: 4/5
OnePlus 13 review: specs
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Except for a couple of hardcore gaming phones, the OnePlus 13 is the first mainstream phone we’ve tested with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor inside. The chipset delivers on Qualcomm’s promises. It’s much faster than the previous generation, and it beats Apple’s latest A18 Pro-powered iPhone 16 Pro in many benchmark tests.
The wins don’t stop there. OnePlus says the display is the best that DisplayMate has ever seen, and our tests show it beats competitors in color gamut, if not average brightness. The RAM and storage are significant, and more than enough to drive all of the phone’s AI features and more.
The most impressive specs might be the 6,000mAh battery and the accompanying 80W charging. I’ve never seen a battery this big in a phone that wasn’t made for hardcore gaming. With the huge battery and Snapdragon 8 Elite, the OnePlus 13 is our new battery life champ, and it charges back to full faster than any Samsung or Apple phone, even with the larger cell inside.
OnePlus 13 review: design
Lovely vegan microfiber (aka plastic) on the dark blue
Excellent cases with magnets that make MagSafe accessories work
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
I’ve long been a big fan of OnePlus phone designs, but I had a major complaint that kept me from recommending them more often: OnePlus phones weren’t durable. They were not certified to be water and dust resistant, unlike every major Samsung phone since the Galaxy S7. That all changes with the OnePlus 13, and it changes in a big way.
For such a gorgeous phone, the OnePlus 13 is shockingly durable. Most phone makers test phones to IP68 requirements, which means they can be submerged in one meter of water for thirty minutes, and they won’t allow any dust particles inside. OnePlus turns that dial to 11 with, it claims, the first IP69 certified phone. Technically, IP69 just means IP68 plus more, and OnePlus gave this phone a lot more.
I saw OnePlus reps drop the OnePlus 13 into a clothes washing machine and run it with a full load. I saw the phone placed into a dishwasher, where it sat for a full dish cycle, including the drying. This phone doesn’t just take a dunk. It takes a dunk, a spray, and a punch to the face.
It can’t handle salt water, sadly, but that only leaves room for future improvement. But seriously, this might be the most durable phone you can buy that isn’t made for the military or deep sea drilling operations.
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OnePlus makes the best looking phones you can buy, and the OnePlus 13 continues the trend. While I miss the swirly green from the OnePlus 12, which seemed like a magical object I picked up on my journey through an elfen forest, the Midnight Ocean blue is so strikingly classy that it’s undeniably a good evolution for OnePlus.
For accessories, I highly recommend buying the Aramid Fiber Magnetic case, which is not only incredibly functional, it also looks snazzy with that bright red ring around the camera bump. OnePlus is also offering the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 in a matching hue, a very nice touch.
The OnePlus 13 feels fantastic when you hold it, especially in the blue color with its soft, inviting, ‘microfiber vegan’ finish that makes me wonder why I’d ever consider a cold, glass-backed phone like the iPhone or Galaxy. The circular camera bump seems purposeful and stylish, unlike the embarrassed portholes on the iPhone 16 Pro and Galaxy S24 Ultra. Be proud of your cameras! Of course, you get the Hasselblad H stamp next to the ring, for the three people you meet who have heard of Hasselblad – they will be very impressed.
OnePlus keeps the mute switch on the side of the phone, and it’s the most useful mute switch on any device thanks to intuitive haptic feedback that clearly tells you when the phone will make a ruckus or when it will keep quiet.
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I usually ignore phone cases in my review, but OnePlus has gone above and beyond with this year’s offerings. My review sample came with the aramid fiber case (DuPont’s Kevlar is an aramid fiber), which also has magnets built in that by design line up perfectly with every MagSafe charger and attachment. With the case on, I had no trouble charging my OnePlus 13 on my Anker 3-in-1 cube, or attaching my magnetic wallet to the back – the one that came with my iPhone 16 Pro case.
The OnePlus 13 with my favorite Peak Design magnetic tripod, thanks to the magnetic case (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
If you’re considering switching from an iPhone to OnePlus, all of your MagSafe gear will work fine if you also have one of the new cases attached to your OnePlus 13. It’s an incredibly smart system that – sorry Apple – every phone maker should adopt. Let’s make magnet placement a standard across all phones. OnePlus told me that it kept magnets out of the phone itself to keep the price down, but its cases are gorgeous, and third-party options are already making an appearance.
Design score: 5/5
OnePlus 13 review: display
Fantastic display is rated tops by DisplayMate, apparently
Great colors with a slick design that is curved on all four sides
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
OnePlus points to DisplayMate, which says the OnePlus 13 earned DisplayMate’s Highest Ever Display Performance Grade of A++. Who am I to argue? Our own testing in Future Labs showed a wider color gamut than the iPhone 16 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, except when the Galaxy was boosting its color with Vivid mode turned on.
OnePlus loves to flaunt its maximum brightness numbers, but you will never see the phone reach the 4,500 nits that OnePlus claims. In our tests, the display was not as bright as the iPhone or Galaxy using HDR mode. In my real-world time with the phone, I had no trouble seeing the display even in bright sunlight, and OnePlus handed me the phone after flying me to Miami, so it was plenty bright.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
The fingerprint reader under the display was a delight, the most responsive I think I’ve ever used. I don’t remember a missed attempt in my entire three-week review period, while my Galaxy phone fails to read my thumb print on the daily.
I even like the subtle curve all around the edges of the display. It makes for a very appealing device to hold and swipe around. My fingers never caught on the edges, and it gives the phone a premium feel.
Display score: 5/5
OnePlus 13 review: software
The best-looking Android interface, with just the right features
Not as much AI as a Pixel or iPhone, for better and for worse
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
At its best, the OnePlus Oxygen OS 15 interface is delightful. It’s colorful enough to be engaging and unique, without feeling cartoonish or distracting. The OnePlus shelf is a brilliant way to handle widgets, with great designs, and the system settings and notification menus are refined and restrained. Every other Android phone maker should be following OnePlus’s lead, because the OnePlus interface doesn’t go too far, like Samsung’s OneUI, or oversimplify, like Google’s vanilla Pixel Android.
Sometimes, OnePlus gets a bit silly in its pursuit to take on Apple, but it's an earnest attempt to create the most thoughtful and appealing phone software you’ll use. There is a fake Dynamic Island on the OnePlus 13 that mimics the pill-shaped island on the latest Apple iPhone 16. Unlike the iPhone, the OnePlus Dynamic Island persists even when the phone is in landscape mode. The feature Apple created to hide the hole in its screen is now being copied to create a fake hole in the screen.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
I appreciated the attempt, and OnePlus sees utility in having a tiny little window with animations for app activity, like your Uber Eats meal approaching or your Audible audiobook playing. All around the OnePlus 13 I found thoughtful touches and flourishes. It never went too far, and OnePlus even retains its controversial Zen Space, an app that will literally lock you out of your own phone, with no way to regain access, for a period that you specify. Zen indeed.
On the other hand, not everything is perfect. OnePlus claimed that its phones could tap to share with the iPhone, which would be a huge win for an Android phone. In fact, your iPhone friends need to download special OnePlus software, then walk through a series of steps. It’s not as seamless as OnePlus made it sound, and I’d never subject my iPhone friends to this process when I can just email a photo or file instead.
Google's Circle To Search scanning for a lighthouse (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
If you’re a huge fan of smartphone AI, what you get on the OnePlus 13 won’t compete with Apple Intelligence or Google’s Pixel phones. You get a lot of Google AI features, including Google Gemini and Circle to Search, but Google isn’t handing over all of the AI magic to its Android partners. For instance, my Pixel 9 Pro will screen calls using an AI assistant, but the OnePlus 13 can’t do that.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
OnePlus also loads its phones with just a bit more first-party bloat than I’d like. There’s a Clone Phone app and that Zen Space app, and those should just be Settings options. The OnePlus Community app should be an optional download. There are sadly two Photos apps, because one is actually Google Photos and the other is from OnePlus. And why is there a strange ‘Internet’ web browser from third-party developer HeyTap? Chrome works fine.
Software score: 4/5
OnePlus 13 review: cameras
Wonderful cameras for action photos and low-light shooting
Heavy reliance on computational tools, but photos look great
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
The OnePlus 13 has three 50-megapixel cameras, but forget about the megapixels because megapixels don’t matter. What matters is the size of the sensor. The main sensor on the OnePlus 13 is the Sony LYT-808, the same sensor used on the OnePlus 12. The iPhone 16 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra each use slightly larger main sensors, but the difference is minimal: around 0.06-inches diagonally.
The OnePlus 13 has excellent cameras, and it’s one of the best camera phones you can buy. The OnePlus approach to mobile photography is going to be more and more important in the near future. Instead of packing the phone with massive sensors, OnePlus is aggressively enhancing images with computational photography techniques, to mostly excellent effect.
From the main sensor, I got photos that fell somewhere between the oversaturated, explosive colors I see from the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and the staid, film-like softness of the iPhone 16 Pro. The OnePlus 13 takes photos that are stylish and realistic, without being dull.
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In some ways, the OnePlus camera is truly remarkable, like with zoom shots and action photos. Though the OnePlus 13 gets a lot of help from AI to fix the 3x zoom long-distance pics, the result is much better than the competition. Zooming in on my kid on the football field, the iPhone left him grainy and blurred, while the Galaxy made him look cartoonish. The OnePlus 13 offered remarkable detail and sharpness without much blur, even on action shots taken in low light.
Shooting fast-action scenes gave the OnePlus 13 even more advantage. OnePlus paid for me to take a Royal Caribbean cruise with other tech media (I know, I know) to preview the OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R, and I got to photograph folks riding the simulated surfing wave. Under cloudy skies or even at night with disco lights, I got amazing shots that other phone cameras couldn’t approach.
I still think that the iPhone 16 Pro offers a better look, and the photos from my iPhone look like real photo prints, which can be charming. The OnePlus 13 offers amazing dynamic range, but it suffers from the classic camera phone problem of balancing everything too evenly. Sometimes I don’t want to see so much detail, I want a little more mystery.
Camera score: 4/5
OnePlus 13 review: camera samples
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OnePlus 13 review: performance
The fastest phone you can buy, if you need that
Android needs software to justify performance gains, besides AI
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What do you do with the fastest phone in the world? That’s the question I’m left pondering after my time with the OnePlus 13, which scored higher in important benchmarks than any other phone we’ve tested in Future Labs. It beat the iPhone 16 Pro Max handily in multi-core processing performance and on most graphics tests. Against the Galaxy S24 Ultra, the OnePlus 13 was twice as fast on some tests.
In the real world? Yes, it’s the fastest phone I’ve ever used. The interface is incredibly snappy, and OnePlus says its doing work behind the scenes to make sure that everything apps open and windows render faster on the OnePlus 13 than any other phone. Still, phones were already plenty fast, and I don’t know a single human who can perceive the difference between the fastest overall and the third, fourth, or tenth fastest phone.
The problem is that Android software, especially, hasn’t caught up to the performance benefits. Sure, I can use Adobe Lightroom or Adobe Premiere to edit photos and videos, but the software doesn’t work the same as it does on a desktop computer. Even worse, Apple has far more desktop-class applications developed for its mobile platforms, likely because it took the lead with pro software like Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro. Where is the Final Cut for Android? What apps justify the need for so much power?
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
I suspect that all of the Snapdragon 8 Elite’s processing power will be used eventually by upcoming AI features. For now, the AI story is confusing. It seems that the OnePlus 13 is offloading most of its AI work to various cloud servers. It isn’t doing much machine learning computation on the phone itself, even though that’s supposed to be the whole point of the Snapdragon 8 Elite.
Frankly, the Snapdragon will benefit Samsung more than OnePlus, because Samsung stuffs its phones full of software features like the DeX desktop environment, the Bixby assistant, and more robust edge panels and pop-up bonuses. You’ll find a useful, simpler edge panel on the OnePlus 13 by swiping in from the edge of the phone, but you won’t find a desktop computer hidden inside. I appreciate that OnePlus doesn’t overload its phones with features I’d hardly use.
Performance score: 5/5
OnePlus 13 review: battery
The longest battery life of any phone we’ve tested
Astonishing charging speeds, even charging wirelessly
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Ahhh, here’s the answer to the Snapdragon question: How does the OnePlus 13 benefit from using the Snapdragon 8 Elite? It’s the battery life, which is the best I’ve ever experienced from a mobile phone. My OnePlus 13 lasted longer than a full day of use every day I used it, and I would often forget to charge it at night in my first week of testing because I simply wasn’t worried that it would run out of juice.
In our lab testing, the OnePlus 13 lasted 15 minutes shy of 20 hours. The iPhone 16 Pro Max lasted just over 17 and a half hours, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra couldn’t last 17 hours in our testing. That’s the longest any phone has lasted, though it shouldn’t be a huge surprise because the phone to beat was the OnePlus 12R, a big battery powerhouse with an efficient Snapdragon inside.
In the aramid fiber case with the AirVOOC charger (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
In my real-world use, honestly I’m not entirely sure because charging the OnePlus 13 is very fun. It charges so fast, it’s incredible. OnePlus also gave me the new AirVOOC wireless charging puck with a cooling fan built in, and it attaches magnetically to the back of the OnePlus 13 when it’s wearing a case. Even with the wireless charger, the OnePlus 13 charges faster than my iPhone or Galaxy. But connected to a special OnePlus red cable? Superhuman (phone) speeds.
When I can charge my phone past 50% in the 15 minutes it takes me to shower, I barely worry about battery life. Or I can drop my phone onto the wireless charger and get a full charge in an hour while I catch up on work. The OnePlus 13 lasts longer than any other phone, sure, but it almost doesn’t need to last so long because, even with the huge battery, it charges faster than all the rest.
In 15 minutes, the OnePlus 13 charges to 52% full. In the same time, my iPhone 16 Pro Max reached 29%, and my Galaxy S24 Ultra hit 39%. After charging for 30 minutes, the OnePlus was five minutes from being totally topped up, while the other phones weren’t even three-quarters charged.
OnePlus even gives you a charger in the box, though it must, because no other charger will charge the OnePlus 13 that fast. You must use the special OnePlus charger. In the near future, OnePlus will be releasing an even more special charger than can charge the phone to the full 100W speed, instead of just 80W, though that big brick will cost a lot extra.
Battery score: 5/5
Should you buy the OnePlus 13?
Buy it if...
You want the best battery and fastest charging The OnePlus 13 has the best battery life of any phone I’ve tested, and it can charge to full in just over 30 minutes like a fiend.
You want a beautiful phone that is delightful to use The OnePlus 13 turns heads and makes people ask what phone I’m using. I’m happy to show them, the interface is just as pretty.
You want to switch from iPhone to Android I’m calling it: the OnePlus 13 is the phone to consider if you want to switch from iPhone to a more versatile, powerful phone with better battery life.
Don't buy it if...
All your friends have iPhones Sorry to say that OnePlus’s iPhone sharing capabilities don’t live up to the hype, and may frustrate friends more than help.
You don’t have that much cash on hand Your mobile carrier will practically give you a Galaxy or iPhone free if you sign your soul away for a few years.
You want the best camera phone The OnePlus 13 is one of the best camera phones, but the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro still take better photos in many situations.
OnePlus 13 review: also consider
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Apple’s big phone gives you a Camera Control button, Apple Intelligence, and all of Apple’s unique features that only work between iPhones. Read our full Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max review.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra This Galaxy is about to be replaced, but it still hits hard with amazing cameras, the water resistant S Pen camera remote, and tons of other features. Read our full Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review.
How I tested the OnePlus 13
OnePlus flew me to Miami to give me a OnePlus 13 review sample, then paid for me to join the company and around three dozen other reviewers on a 4-day Royal Caribbean cruise. OnePlus had no say in any part of this review and did not ask for any consideration in return. I tested the OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R during that period and for two weeks after, side-by-side against all of my best phones.
I tested the phone by submerging it in water, spraying it with a hose, and generally abusing it with liquids then washing it in the sink.
I had the OnePlus 13 for around three weeks before this review was published. I used it as my primary work phone that time, including Slack, Google Meet, Vampire Survivors, and Google’s office suite. I also used Google Gemini Advanced with my own personal subscription to the service.
I used the OnePlus 13 primarily as a camera and video camera, but I also played a lot of games, listened to music, and used it for maps and navigation. I connected the OnePlus 13 to my car stereo via Bluetooth and Android Auto, and I connected to a variety of other headphones including the matching OnePlus Buds Pro 3, Sony Bluetooth headphones, Google Pixel Buds Pro, and more.
I benchmarked the OnePlus 13 using a variety of benchmarking software available from the Google Play Store. The phone was also independently tested in Future Labs by our reviews testing team.
Why you can trust TechRadar
☑️ 100s of smartphones reviewed ☑️ 15 years of product testing ☑️ Over 16,000 products reviewed in total ☑️ Nearly 200,000 hours testing tech
UGreen Nexode Pro 65W Ultra-Slim 3-Port charger review
The UGreen Nexode Pro 65W Ultra-Slim 3-Port charger is a pretty unique-looking wall plug. This super thin charger skips out on the cube-like structure favored by most of its competitors, making it ideal for use in tight spaces. Imagine you have a desk pressed close to your wall or bed for instance – this is the perfect, stealthy charger you need to juice up your devices, even if you’re short on space.
Of course, the UGreen Nexode Pro 65W Ultra-Slim 3-Port charger (quite the mouthful) has a maximum power output of… well 65W. And that will be enough for a lot of users, with USB-C Port 1 able to charge up to 65W when charging a single device or 45W with two or three plugged in at once.
When I tested charging performance, I wasn’t surprised to find that this thing got the job done, no questions asked. I charged the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE alongside the LG Tone Free T90S earbuds and FiiO M11S hi-res music player and the Samsung phone was brought back to full health from 0% in around 80 minutes – as fast as I’d expect from some of the best iPhone chargers and the best Android phone chargers.
Of course, if you want to charge three more power hungry devices, such as modern Chromebooks or Macbooks, simultaneously, this may be a little underpowered – especially as USB-C Port 2 only offers up to 20W of power in Two-Port Charging mode – but if you don’t need perfectly optimized power output, that won’t be too much of an issue.
I did find a couple of slight issues when charging, however. Firstly, this thing wasn’t the most secure when plugged in. After slotting in the UK plug adapter, I moved my USB-C cable around a bit and found the charger’s body shook a bit. This wasn’t really a big issue, but I’d prefer a more secure fit. On top of that, the model got fairly warm after 30 minutes of charging in Single Port charging mode. Again – that’s not the end of the world – and this is still a safe-to-use charger, but if you want top-tier performance with zero hiccups, you may not quite get what you want from this UGreen charger.
Having said that, this model still performs well in bringing your devices back to life. But that’s not where the good stuff ends. This plug is very nicely designed and you can really reap the benefits of its almost flat design. At just 0.6 inches (16mm) thick, it’s ideal for when you’re on-the-go and in a tight space. On top of that, this charger comes with interchangeable plugs for US, UK and EU ports – it doesn’t get much more travel-friendly than that. The only potential issue of this charger’s build is that it’s still fairly long – so if your sockets are close to a surface or the ground, it may not be the best fit – especially as the USB ports are on the bottom of the charger. But for most environments, it will slot in perfectly.
It also comes in an attractive silver color, as do the rest of the plugs in UGreen’s Pro line. One positive difference, though, is that the attached adapter looks a bit more discreet than it does on other models. Like its siblings, this model also uses GaN technology to ensure a compact, energy efficient build. The use of GaN, inclusion of three ports and fairly high power output mean you’ll have to pay a fair amount for this charger, of course. It has a list price of $55.99 / £45.99 (about AU$90), though I’ve already seen it available for less than $40 / £40 – that’s great value. Overall, there’s a lot to love about this ultra-slim charger and it’s my pick of the entire UGreen Nexode Pro line.
Should I buy the UGreen Nexode Pro 65W Ultra-Slim 3-Port charger?
Buy it if…
You want a travel charger If you’re looking for a wall charger to take on your travels, this is a fantastic option. You get interchangeable plugs for US, UK and EU use all in the box, which is a huge plus. On top of that, it’s super compact, making it ideal for taking around in a small bag, or even your pocket.
You want to charge multiple devices simultaneously If you need to get multiple devices back to life, you can with this tri-port charger, which has two USB-C and one USB-A ports. You can get up to 45W from USB-C Port 1, even with Port 2 and the USB-A slot in use too, so you’ll have enough power for most modern handsets, for instance.
Don't buy it if…
You’re looking for a powerhouse of a charger With a maximum power output of 65W, this charger will likely have enough to charge one power-hungry device. But if you want to charge two or three more demanding devices at once, this might not be the best option for you. The Anker Prime 100W GaN Wall Charger is an excellent alternative if you need a bit more power.
Your socket is close to the floor or a surface If your power socket is a little close to the ground or a separated surface, you may find that this charger is a tad long. It’s ideal if you’re in a space where the charger is close to a bed or sofa, however.
UGreen Nexode Pro 65W Ultra-Slim 3-Port charger: Also consider
UGreen Nexode Pro 65W 3-Port charger This charger is massively similar to the Ultra-Slim alternative from UGreen. It has the same maximum power output, list price and port configuration. The key difference here is form – this is a thicker, yet more cube-shaped charger, so it will be suited to different kinds of spaces to the Ultra-Slim variant. The ports face towards you, rather than being located under the charger too, which some may find preferable. Read our full UGreen Nexode Pro 65W 3-Port charger review.
If you need high-speed, multi-device charging, the UGreen Nexode Pro 100W 3-Port Charger is sure to get the job done. This is a tri-port charger – with two using USB-C and the other USB-A. It boasts a very solid maximum total power output of 100W, so is up-to-the task if you have a modern laptop or handset with significant power demand.
In fact, 100W will likely give you enough juice to fast-charge your phone, even with all three slots in use. That’s because USB-C Port 1 has a solid maximum output of 65W when triple charging, while the other two are able to provide up to 15W each. You can also use Port 1 on its own to get up to 100W of power, ideal if you have a highly demanding device, like the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch.
And luckily, the UGreen Nexode Pro 100W offered strong charging performance when I put it to the test. I plugged the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE into USB-C Port 1, the Soundcore Space One Pro into USB-C Port 2 and the Motorola Moto G55 5G into the USB-A slot. While all three of these were charging, the Samsung phone was still able to go from 0%-100% in the expected timeframe of approximately 80 minutes – exactly what you’d hope to get from some of the best iPhone chargers and best Android phone chargers.
In addition, this is a fairly compact plug – it doesn’t stick out too far out of the socket, like the default Macbook chargers, for instance, making it a strong option if you’re in a tight space. That’s partially because this model harnesses GaN technology, which delivers superior energy efficiency within a more compact body compared to typical silicon chargers. Like the 65W variant, though, this plug’s prongs aren’t foldable. That’s an issue if you want to carry it in your pocket, as you may well find the prongs poke into your body – surely no one wants that. And I’d also argue that this isn’t the most beautiful charger on the market. The charger’s body is made up of a neat looking silver cuboid, but the adapter at the front is attached in a slightly clunky looking way. That’s because there are visible lines where it’s connected to the charger’s body, making for a slightly rigid design.
Despite that, this is still a good-quality, speedy charger that makes for a decent multi–charging option. Its list price of $74.99 / £59.99 (about AU$120) is by no means cheap – especially if you consider that the UGreen Uno Charger 100W is typically $59.99 / £55.99 (about AU$80) and has an additional port as well as a display. But overall, this is a competent charger with strong build quality and you’ll almost certainly be satisfied performance-wise.
(Image credit: Future)
UGreen Nexode Pro 100W 3-Port Charger review: Price & specs
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the UGreen Nexode Pro 100W 3-Port Charger?
Buy it if…
You need a multi-device charger This charger has three ports, two of which are USB-C and one is USB-A. That means you can use various cable types and get three devices back up to speed in no time. Even if you only want to focus on one device, you can get 100W charging via USB-C Port 1, so if speed is what you need, this is a strong option.
You want a step-up power-wise A lot of phone chargers won’t be able to rival this plug’s maximum power output of 100W. If you want to charge a more power-hungry device, that means the UGreen Nexode Pro 100W is more than up to the task.
Don't buy it if…
You’re looking for a cheap option If top-tier value is what you’re after, this probably shouldn’t be your first port of call. There are cheaper triple port chargers out there and even UGreen’s own Uno Charger 100W boasts the same amount of power but with an extra port and a smaller price tag.
You want ultimate portability This thing is decently compact for a 100W charger, sure. But something that’s slightly frustrating is the exclusion of foldable prongs. A lot of competitors offer foldability, which is better if you want to pocket a charger without the fear of being poked into by pesky prongs.
UGreen Nexode Pro 100W 3-Port Charger: Also consider
Anker Prime 100W GaN Wall Charger (3 Ports) Well well well…if it isn’t UGreen’s arch-nemesis, Anker. Just kidding, I’m sure they’re friends really. Probably. Anyway, the Anker Prime 100W GaN Wall Charger is a high-calibre charger that also dons three ports. It has the same double USB-C and single USB-A configuration and maximum power output, but here’s the difference – this thing has foldable prongs. This one also uses GaN, intelligent temperature monitoring and has an excellent build quality so there’s a lot to love. Unfortunately, it’s a tad more expensive than this UGreen charger, so it may be worth picking it up in a sale. Read our full Anker Prime 100W GaN Wall Charger (3 Ports) review.
The Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G is a budget phone done the Oppo way – better-than-average specs, a great sense of style, and cost-cutting decisions that mostly land on the side of confusion rather than frustration. This is a phone that, despite its shortcomings, punches well above its weight, most obviously with its great 6.67-inch display. Though far from perfect, this is a capable budget handset that handles 90% of what we use our phones for every day without complaint.
At a fixed price point of £299, the biggest selling point the Reno 12 FS has is its excellent value for money. There are few other models on the market that offer this much utility for so little money, and a combination of 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage is almost unheard of in this price bracket.
The Reno 12 FS continues to impress with its software experience – that is, once you get clear of the awful bloatware the phone ships with. ColorOS 14 is otherwise a swift and snappy experience, with terrific customization, though slowdown can hold the phone back at seemingly random times. It’s clear that the included MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset can’t quite keep up with modern demands.
As for cameras, the Reno 12 FS struggles to keep pace with close competitors like the Samsung Galaxy A35, or even the iPhone SE. The main 50MP camera can be coaxed into producing photos that are acceptable, so long as conditions are ideal, but don’t bother with the 8MP ultrawide and 2MP macro camera. It would have been wiser for Oppo to have spent those resources on a better single-camera system.
Overall, the Reno 12 FS 5G will work for a specific type of user, and should appeal far more to media consumers than media producers. If you’re looking for a device to keep you connected, browse the internet, and watch videos, this is a solid choice – but those looking for photography power or totally impressive performance should look elsewhere.
Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G review: Price and availability
Costs £299, available in one configuration
Sole model comes with 512GB of storage
Not available in the US or Australia
The Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G marked Oppo’s re-entry to the UK market, and now forms a core part of the brand’s steadily growing phone lineup. It comes in a single model, with 12GB of RAM and a huge 512GB of storage for £299. It’s not available in Australia, where it’s missing from an otherwise fairly robust range of phones, including the base-model Reno 12 for AU$799 (about £400). Oppo doesn't sell its phones in the US, though sister company OnePlus sells very similar models.
Half a terabyte of storage and as much RAM as a Galaxy S24 for under £300 is no small feat, and while the Reno 12 FS doesn’t exactly sport a flagship chipset, it generally packs enough power for day to day use and even some gaming. That’s pretty phenomenal value for money already. Those who want a capable all-rounder for light use and the occasional session of Call of Duty Mobile won't be disappointed.
At the time of writing, the Reno 12 FS 5G sits towards the lower end of the Oppo smartphone lineup – I mention this because the Oppo phones for sale in the UK have changed continually over the last few months as the company establishes its presence once more. It walks the line between budget and mid-range tiers and aims for the best of both – with a great display and fresh design, but a lacking camera system and cheap-feeling construction. It would have benefitted from a simpler, more focused allocation of resources.
Value score: 4 / 5
Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G review: Specs
Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G review: Design
The Breathing Light on the Oppo Reno 12 FS (Image credit: Future)
Simple but solid silhouette
Breathing Light LED is a fun addition
Cheap materials that mark easily
For such a simple phone, I do quite like the design of the Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G. This is a wide, thin slab that fits a lot of screen onto a relatively efficient form factor, and has no trouble getting around bags and pockets thanks to its slim profile and rounded edges. I especially like the nearly flat camera housing, which is the subtlest I’ve seen on a smartphone this year.
The cameras therein may not be amazing (more on that later), but having a phone that almost lays flat on a table feels like some kind of nostalgia trip, especially compared to the awkwardly rocking iPhone, Samsung, and OnePlus flagships we’ve gotten used to. The ports and buttons are as basic as they come but the Reno 12 FS isn’t trying to be much more than usable, and at this price point that’s all I’d expect.
The circular camera module holds another secret, however. Around this housing lies a ring of LEDs, which Oppo calls the Breathing Light. This refers to the light’s ability to react to different sources of sound and information. It’ll flicker in time with music, for example, and fill up as the phone charges.
The Breathing Light is a surprisingly fun addition that adds a lot to what is otherwise essentially just a thin ingot. It’s not made of the most premium materials, with a rear panel that creates a weird amount of friction in the hand and plastic rails that pick up nicks and dents easily. The creatively titled Black Green color is the only option, and luckily exactly to my taste, but if you’re into other colors you’re out of luck.
The camera module follows the Xiaomi 14T school of thought by giving the flash its own lens-sized ring. I’m not opposed to the symmetry this provides, but it feels slightly like an effort to make the Reno 12 FS 5G seem more premium than it actually is. The same could be said for the phone’s curved bezels, which actually hold up a flat screen. It would be more reassuring to see a simpler design and more investment in performance: nobody is expecting a work of art at this price point anyhow.
Design score: 3.5 / 5
Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G review: Display
(Image credit: Future)
1080 x 2400 resolution
120Hz refresh rate
Peak brightness of 2100 nits
The Oppo Reno12 FS 5G comes equipped with an excellent 6.67-inch FHD+ OLED display, with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is easily the phone’s biggest selling point after its bargain price. For the money, this is a beautiful panel that’s ideal for games, watching videos, or simply scrolling through posts and articles.
With a maximum local brightness of 2100 nits, the Reno 12 FS gets plenty bright, and can just about hold its own in direct sunlight. In fact, I’d recommend using it at higher brightness levels most of the time, as colors can lose contrast and saturation towards the darker end of the slider. Colors are noticeably deeper here than on other displays, which will be a knock or a boost depending on taste.
The display feels responsive to use, which pays off during gaming sessions. Oppo is very good at shaving unnecessary milliseconds off of everyday tasks, and this display works in tandem with the smoothness of ColorOS to provide a genuinely nice experience when the hardware can keep up. It even comes fitted with a screen protector! There are panels with richer colors and sharper images, but for £299 this is one of the best you’ll get.
Display score: 4 / 5
Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G review: Software
(Image credit: Future)
Android 14 with ColorOS 14
Absolutely full of bloatware
Otherwise solid with great customization options
The software experience on the Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G makes the most of the phone’s limited hardware. ColorOS is fast becoming my favorite implementation of Android thanks to its swift navigation, easy-to-use settings, and exceptional customization options. However, as with other Oppo phones, what could be an entirely slick experience is marred by an unfortunate amount of bloatware.
Though the Reno 12 FS isn’t exactly a fast phone, ColorOS is generally responsive and loaded with useful options. There is some unpredictable slowdown in the UI, though, which is either down to hardware limitations or poor optimization. The phone comes loaded with Google Gemini, but not Circle to Search, and the pre-installed Oppo apps are fine, though most users will defer to Google’s options instead.
On the topic of apps, the amount of bloatware here really is an issue. Switching on the phone for the first time almost felt like I’d picked up someone else’s handset by mistake, with the pages of the homescreen taken up by apps and games I'd never heard of. The most offensive of these are the ones that are blatant advertisements – this robs the setup experience of its sheen and the user of a sense of proper ownership.
Some of that ownership can be reclaimed with the stellar customization options on the Reno 12 FS. ColorOS has some of the best wallpapers and theme settings of any phone OS I’ve used, Android or no, and they really bring the Reno12 FS to life. There are uniquely generated lock screens, wallpapers that react to your taps, and plenty of font options.
As a side note, The Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G is also the only phone I’ve ever used that has a 300% volume option. Pushing the volume past the normal maximum adds a menacing red “300%” to the top of the bar. The next time someone tells you “it goes up to 11”, you can tell them your phone goes up to 300.
Software score: 3 / 5
Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G review: Cameras
(Image credit: Future)
50MP wide camera
8MP ultrawide camera
2MP macro camera
The cameras on the Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G are, frankly, not great. Even holding the phone steady in brightly-lit conditions will produce images that range from just serviceable to unimpressive. It’s honestly disappointing that a 50MP main camera could produce pictures that are so lacking in detail – a reminder that resolution isn’t everything.
Using the camera app is no chore as it comes replete with plenty of options and modes, but the viewfinder consistently displays a grainy and unattractive image. The phone can produce decent final images if you give it a lot of light, but even these show a huge disparity from the preview, which leads me to believe there’s some very active post-processing going on. This theory is somewhat confirmed by the blurriness you’ll see in tree branches and grasses.
I don’t want to come down too hard on the Reno 12 FS, because it is firmly a budget phone, but some of the best cheap phones offer more in this department (the Samsung Galaxy A35 comes to mind). The secondary cameras on the Reno 12 FS – an 8MP ultra-wide and 2MP macro camera – are especially rough, to the point that I question why they were even included.
Still, for capturing home photos and videos, scanning documents, and the occasional holiday snap, the Oppo Reno 12 FS will manage. The selfie camera is also fine, but again doesn’t seem to live up to its 32MP resolution, and video recording at 1080p 60fps is serviceable. The Reno 12 FS doesn’t offer an offensively barebones experience, but those who care about photography should definitely look elsewhere.
Camera score: 2 / 5
Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G Camera Samples
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(Image credit: Future)
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Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G review: Performance
(Image credit: Future)
MediaTek Dimensity 6300
GPU: Mali G57 MC2
12GB of RAM
The Oppo Reno 12 FS is something of an oddball performance wise. I’ve managed to get smooth 30fps gameplay from it when booting up Call of Duty Mobile, even in extended sessions, and yet it’ll stutter randomly when swiping into the discover tab or opening YouTube. It's bothersome, but the slowdown isn’t prevalent enough to ruin an otherwise usable device. Calls are clear and messages are delivered without issue.
The Reno12 FS runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset and comes equipped with a very healthy 12GB of RAM. That’s a reasonable handful of silicon at this price, and I’m especially impressed by the large amount of memory on offer. It shows in the phone’s surprising capacity for multitasking; I’ve yet to have an app crash on me.
Coming from a premium handset, the Reno 12 FS is noticeably slower to open apps, scroll through web pages, and complete searches. I can quite easily get the phone to stutter while switching between apps, too. From a more neutral perspective, the phone is powerful enough for 90% of what people use their phones for, and again I have to consider the price point. The Reno 12 FS finds a reasonable balance.
Performance score: 3 / 5
Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G review: Battery
(Image credit: Future)
Excellent battery life with monstrous standby times
Confidently an all-day phone
5,000 mAh capacity
The Oppo Reno12 FS 5G has a truly excellent battery life, bolstered by absolutely ridiculous standby times. I tested the Reno12 FS intermittently over the course of multiple weeks, and was frequently surprised by picking up a still-charged phone after a week or two away. In daily use, the efficient MediaTek chipset sips at the battery, never dropping by an alarming amount when browsing the web or social media. A 5,000 mAh cell powering a 1080p display is bound to last a while, but the Reno 12 FS still manages to impress.
In normal use, the Reno 12 FS offers a reassuring amount of battery, but when put to one side, the Reno 12 FS just refuses to run out of power. I appreciate standby times aren’t always at the front of buyer’s minds, but I’d be remiss to not mention it in this case – the phone seems to take up between 5% and 10% of its charge per day in standby.
When it does eventually come time to top up, the Reno 12 FS isn’t so impressive. The phone charges via USB-C and doesn’t support wireless charging. An official charging speed isn’t listed, but when plugged in to my 80W SUPERVOOC brick the phone says it's charging at 45W - a solid power draw by any measure.
Battery score: 4 / 5
Should you buy the Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G?
Buy it if...
You're on a budget
At £299, there are few phones that offer this much for so little. Not every feature is as refined as the display or operating system, but this is still a very capable phone for the price.
You want something stylish
From the classy Black Green colorway to the fresh new Breathing Light, the Reno 12 FS 5G is pure Oppo style. The software customization is top notch, too.
You want a large display
The 6.67-inch display fitted to the Reno 12 FS 5G is a big and bold green flag, and obvious evidence of the phone's value for money.
Don't buy it if...
You need strong performance
The Reno 12 FS 5G can handle the basics, but is prone to stuttering. It doesn't ruin the experience, but I wouldn't pick it for critical tasks.
You're a shutterbug
Photographers should look elsewhere - our list of the best cheap phones has plenty of options with much better camera systems than the misguided triple-camera setup on the Reno 12 FS 5G.
Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G review: Also consider
Samsung Galaxy A35
The Samsung Galaxy A35 brings similar value for money to the Reno 12 FS 5G, but with a more sophisticated camera system and the power of Samsung's platform. If you prefer to stick with well known brands, then this is a suitable swap.
If you can stretch your budget, the iPhone SE will be more consistent and powerful than the Reno 12 FS at every turn. The camera performance is notably much better than the Reno, and you get the benefit of accessing the Apple ecosystem.
I used the Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G intermittently over the course of several weeks. Over this time, I used the phone for everyday tasks, as well as more specific tests designed to push the handset’s performance. As mentioned, the phone only comes in one model, and as such my test unit came with 512GB of storage, 12GB of RAM, and the dashing Black Green colorway.
In terms of my everyday usage, I made phone calls, sent messages, and scrolled through articles on Chrome. I watched videos on YouTube and listened to music via Spotify (including testing the quirky 300% volume feature in person). I was able to get a sense of how the Reno 12 FS serves to keep users connected to others and the latest news.
I undertook more specific tests to determine the performance limits of the Reno 12 FS. These included extended play sessions on Call of Duty Mobile, a popular demanding mobile game, and stepping out in various weather conditions to test the phone’s camera system. I also observed battery levels throughout my usage.
After gathering this real-world experience, I applied my in-depth knowledge of smartphone specs and the wider phone market, as well as my journalistic training, to assess the value and performance of the handset, and help you decide whether the Reno 12 FS is for you.
Oppo is back! The new Find X8 series is the company's return to form, at least in regions like the UK and Europe, where patent disputes and the like led to a two-year absence for the company. No longer.
The Find X8 line is Oppo's latest flagship phone family; it promises the best smartphone hardware the company can muster, paired with its latest Android-based ColorOS user experience.
While the Oppo Find X8 Pro is the headline-grabbing entry now topping the company's current smartphone portfolio, it launches alongside the more modest – but still unquestionably potent – standard Oppo Find X8. Despite a true global rollout for the X8 Pro, however, the base X8 is proving a little harder to come by outside of key Asia Pacific markets, at the time of writing.
If you can get your hands on one, though, you'll be pleased you did, as hardware-wise, it sports the same exceptional MediaTek chipset as the X8 Pro, the same cutting-edge silicon-carbon battery tech, the same rapid 80W charging, and a like-minded flagship-class display and camera setup.
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
There are some great details throughout the experience served up by the Find X8: a physical alert slider, newfound compatibility with an ecosystem of magnetic accessories, and hardier IP69-certified protection against water compared to your average high-end handset, to name a few key features. This is also one of the first and only Android phones that supports wireless file transfers directly with iPhones, AirDrop-style (at the time of writing).
Depending on your conscience, Oppo's clear 'appreciation' for Apple's famed smartphones runs unapologetically deep within the Find X8. Beyond the new MagSafe-like upgrade, ColorOS 15's Live Alerts capsule looks to be a direct lift of the iPhone's Dynamic Island, and you'll find wallpapers that look as though they came straight out of iOS.
Provided that doesn't put you off (or you see it as a bonus), the Find X8 otherwise presents itself as an incredibly well-rounded smartphone brimming with style, features, power, and camera prowess that should have similarly-priced rivals worried.
Oppo Find X8 review: Price and availability
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Priced from equivalent to $980 / £770 / AU$1,520
On sale from November 21, 2024
Limited international availability compared to rivals
Perhaps the most challenging aspect of the Oppo Find X8 is that in spite of its clean design and promising hardware and feature set, you'll struggle to find the phone on sale outside of Oppo's retail channels across the Asia Pacific region. You'll readily find the X8 on sale in markets like China, India, Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines, but if you're anywhere else, you'll have to consider importing.
In the likes of the UK, Europe, and Australia, it's only the pricier Find X8 Pro that's available, while Oppo's presence in the US is outright non-existent.
Using the Find X8 Pro's UK pricing and the standard X8's Indian pricing for guidance, the more modest of Oppo's latest duo starts at equivalent to $980 / £770 / AU$1,520 for the 12GB RAM / 256GB storage model. Internationally, there's also a 16GB / 512GB variant, which based on Indian pricing is about 12.5% more expensive.
Pricing places it in line with the non-Pro iPhone 16, Pixel 9, and base Galaxy S24, which considering the hardware on offer, makes it a compelling alternative.
Value score: 4 / 5
Oppo Find X8 review: Specs
Oppo Find X8 review: Design
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Straight sides, flat display
Physical alert slider
IP68/69-certified against dust and water
The Find X8 Pro is all pillowed glass and rounded metal, which stands in stark contrast to the standard X8. At certain angles, you'd be forgiven for mixing up the Star Grey Find X8 (pictured) with an iPhone 15 Pro or 16 Pro rendered in Natural Titanium. There's definite aesthetic overlap, with both phones sporting flat displays and straight sides, plus just enough rounding along the edges to ensure they don't feel too sharp in the hand.
The X8 stands out with its prominent 'Cosmos Ring' circular camera module, which gives the impression of four cameras on the phone's back (one simply houses autofocus sensors), so as to better tie-in with the quad-camera-toting X8 Pro's design.
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Tolerances are tight (the phone boasts symmetrical 1.45mm bezels around the display), and the metal buttons along the right side of the frame have the perfect amount of give and click. The phone's available colorways are tasteful in their execution; I particularly liked the Shell Pink finish.
Not only does the Find X8 look and feel like a beautifully crafted piece of kit, but it's got some tricks up its sleeve too. For one, it continues Oppo's use of the three-step physical alert slider we were initially introduced to on OnePlus phones; this lets you toggle between ring, vibrate, and silent sound profiles.
The X8 range is also the first to support the new Oppo Mag accessory line, which allows the MagSafe-style attachment of new magnetic accessories, like a 50W AirVOOC wireless charger and a 5,000mAh power bank; both are enabled by way of a new Oppo Mag case (sold separately). Original? No. Convenient? Yes.
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Durability-wise, the promise of not only IP68, but IP69 certification, means the X8 is built to withstand more than your average smartphone. When it comes to water ingress, it can handle up to 1.5m of water for 30 minutes, as well as pressurized jets of water up to 80ºC.
Add to that Gorilla Glass 7i on the front and back (creator Corning's newest mid-range toughened smartphone glass), and "Swiss SGS and Military Grade certification, tested to whole-phone drop resistance and MGJB 150.18A MIL-STD impact standards," to quote Oppo's press release, and despite its premium finish and good looks, the Find X8 is also built to be a tough nut to crack.
Design score: 4.5 / 5
Oppo Find X8 review: Display
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Similar viewing experience across Find X8 range
Great colors, contrast and detail
LTPS, rather than LTPO means less dynamic refresh rate
It's nice that, beyond size, you're not really getting an inferior viewing experience by opting for the more modest Find X8 over the Pro model. Unlike Apple – who maintains a 60Hz refresh rate cap on its non-Pro iPhones – the Find X8 packs in similar ProXDR AMOLED tech as on the full-fat X8 Pro.
An impressively high 460ppi (pixels per inch) means the X8 delivers sharper visuals than the Pro model, outstanding panel-wide brightness of 1,600nits, and a whopping peak brightness of 4,500nits. Paired with the vibrancy and contrast afforded by OLED tech, not to mention Dolby Vision support, this is a great display on which to enjoy HDR content, and it copes well against bright conditions.
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From a practical standpoint, Oppo's Splash Touch helps iron out erroneous screen taps, whether your fingers are wet or you're using the Find X8 in the rain, while the in-display optical fingerprint sensor is pleasingly responsive, if a little too close to the bottom bezel, from a comfort standpoint.
As far as customizing the X8's viewing experience goes, be sure to enable 'High' resolution mode to leverage the panel's native pixel count; otherwise, everything is rendered in Full HD+ out of the box. You also have the option to force 120Hz at all times (or lock things down to 60Hz), but I found that the Find X8's Auto mode wasn't afraid of prioritizing super-smooth 120Hz visuals most of the time anyway, stepping down for apps like Spotify, Instagram, and some games.
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The phone's display settings include three preset color space profiles, as well as a fine-grain color temperature control. There's also automated (TÜV Rheinland-certified) eye comfort adjustment (which includes 3,840Hz PWM dimming below 70nits, beating out equivalent tech from the likes of the OnePlus 12 and Xiaomi 14 series), as well as image resolution and color upscaling, as part of Oppo's 'O1 Ultra Vision Engine'.
The only real fly in the ointment, display-wise, is the use of LTPS tech, in place of the more advanced LTPO panel used by the X8 Pro. The main effect of this is less dynamic refresh rate adjustment; moving in steps between 60Hz, 90Hz and 120Hz, where the Pro model can scale more gradually between 1Hz to 120Hz, which is designed to help improve battery performance.
Display score: 4.5 / 5
Oppo Find X8 review: Software
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5 years of OS & 6 years security updates
Launches with ColorOS 15 atop Android 15
AirDrop-like wireless file transfer support with iPhones
The company's latest ColorOS 15 (running atop Android 15) is arguably one of the snappiest user experiences around, thanks to some smart behind-the-scenes technical refinements; not to mention it's brimming with neat tricks that you won't find anywhere else.
'Share with iPhone,' as the name suggests, adds AirDrop-like wireless file transfers with the latest and best iPhones; something we haven't seen from any other Android phone maker to date. The feature is also set to become more seamless, with NameDrop-style proximity-based initiation coming in a future software update.
Speaking of updates, Oppo is promising five years of OS and six years of security update support across the Find X8 series, which, while not industry-leading, is decent, and helps up the Find X8's long-term value too.
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Oppo's Theme Store is there to help redress ColorOS, with system-wide themes, as well as more granular alterations; including new fonts and wallpapers (some are paid). There's also deeper control over the look and feel of everything, from app opening speed to whether a swipe down on the home screen grants access to quick settings and notifications, a global search bar or The Shelf: a dedicated widget dashboard, cribbed from OnePlus' user experience.
The company's desire to emulate Apple's famed smartphones is a little too heavy-handed in places, though. While undeniably useful and elegant, the Live Alerts capsule is a carbon copy of the Dynamic Island introduced on the iPhone 15 Pro line, and even the default wallpapers look as though the development team copied iOS 14's homework.
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Google's Gemini is the AI assistant of choice on the Find X8 series, however, Oppo offers up its own AI tool set too; with a focus on productivity and image manipulation.
Provided you're happy to use Oppo's own Documents and Notes apps, the inbuilt AI Assistant serves up one of the most comprehensive skill sets of its kind and, in testing, the results generally impressed.
You have a suite of options, like formatting rough notes, cleaning up rambling prose, refining the tone of your copy (similarly to Samsung's Galaxy AI), continuing or expanding upon your existing copy, and the option to make it more succinct too. It's not foolproof but it's a great starting point that's only going to improve with time.
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Dive into the native Photos app and you'll find the AI Editor, which can upscale images, do a competent job when tasked with object removal, and has a handy reflection removal feature (which has its uses but could be better). Perhaps most impressive of all, the AI Editor also has an unblur option to rival that of the best Pixel phones.
Just note that, depending on the feature, you will need to be comfortable with off-device cloud processing.
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We've also been seeing an uptick in AI image-generation tools on smartphones from the likes of Xiaomi, Google, and, most recently, Apple, with the arrival of Apple Intelligence. The Oppo Find X8 features the company's AI Studio app.
Arguably a more locked-down experience than the text-to-image generation of Google's Pixel Studio, for example, Oppo's AI Studio gives you a range of pre-defined portrait or scene scenarios to remix your images with, using AI. The former requires you to upload a photo of a person (or persons) from your camera roll, before spitting out four results at a time, while the latter simply dresses any image you give it in the trappings defined by the prompt.
It takes a few minutes to process each request and your usage is limited by an in-app currency called 'Stars'. You accrue more Stars through actions like consecutive daily logins but right now, at least, Oppo isn't charging an additional subscription or the like for any of its devices' AI functionality.
There are some fun and interesting options in there, and the results generally hit their mark. It serves as a great way to introduce people to the concept of AI image generation and the fact that it's siloed from the rest of the phone's AI-based tools feels like a considered move too, but I suspect this is just the beginning for Oppo's AI efforts.
Software score: 4 / 5
Oppo Find X8 review: Camera
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50MP main, ultra-wide & 3x telephoto cameras
32MP front-facing camera
Hasselblad image tuning and exclusive features
Across both the Find X8 and X8 Pro, you're getting the same 50MP ultra-wide and 3x telephoto (with a compact triple-prism design and optical image stabilization, or OIS) cameras, as well as the same Sony-made 32MP front-facer. Beyond the absence of a 6x telephoto, the standard X8 also uses a smaller primary 50MP Sony LYT700 sensor, in place of the larger LYT808 leading the Pro model's camera array.
Even with the technical downgrade, the Find X8 still proves to be an impressively competent and versatile camera phone in its own right.
Oppo Find X8 camera samples
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Oppo knows how to make exceptional camera phones, most notably with last year's Oppo Find X7 Ultra; one of the best camera phones of the moment. The company's partnership with famed camera brand Hasselblad continues on the Find X8's HyperTone system too; with custom image processing, portrait mode tuning, and the brand's signature ultra-wide X-Pan capture mode.
There's a consistency across the rear sensors that grants confidence when shooting with the Find X8, which isn't guaranteed from certain rival devices. Low noise, impressive low light performance and solid dynamic range (even from the ultra-wide), mean you're unlikely to find fault with stills captured in most conventional shooting scenarios.
White balance did sometimes wobble, but colors were otherwise faithfully captured; with nice skin tones and excellent subject separation in portrait shooting (you can also adjust the virtual aperture after capture, to alter the amount of bokeh on display).
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The ultra-wide takes over when capturing macro shots, while the AI Telescope Zoom feature activates between 10x and 60x, filling in the holes in image data competently, especially in well-lit scenes. The only confusing aspect of the X8's zoom is that the interface still gives you a 6x magnification button, even though results are simply cropped; unlike on the X8 Pro, with its 6x secondary telephoto sensor.
The 32MP selfie snapper is functional, with that HyperTone Image Engine doing a lot of the heavy lifting for what is otherwise an uneventful sensor. Front-facing Portrait mode does, at least, demonstrate the same great image segmentation around a subject's hair and clothing, for example.
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Oppo augments the photography experience with extras like Lighting Snap; its take on an advanced 7fps burst mode, where every shot captured when you hold down the shutter button gets run through the full HyperTone imaging pipeline, delivering far less blur than you'd get from the likes of Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra under the same conditions.
If you're looking for a phone that captures good video, the Find X8 also boasts great 4K 60fps recording in Dolby Vision across all of the phone's sensors (including the selfie snapper).
Camera score: 4 / 5
Oppo Find X8 review: Performance
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3nm MediaTek Dimensity 9400 chipset
Up to 16GB LPDDR5X RAM + RAM Expansion up to 12GB
Up to 512GB UFS 4.0 storage (outside of China)
The production timeline of the Oppo Find X8 series meant that both phones were ready for market before Qualcomm's newest flagship mobile chipset – the Snapdragon 8 Elite – was ready to be integrated into the phones' development cycle. Instead, Oppo opted for MediaTek's latest Dimensity 9400 SoC, paired with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of fast storage, and the results are pretty stellar.
In artificial benchmarking, the Find X8 proves to be one of the highest-performing entrants I've ever tested, across the likes of Geekbench 6 and GFX Bench. Real-world multitasking and gaming performance are understandably excellent too, with titles like Zenless Zone Zero defaulting to 'high' graphical settings. That said, the phone's comfortable being pushed much further.
Although the official numbers state that TSMC's second-gen 3nm process grants the Dimensity 9400 35% faster CPU performance and 40% greater CPU efficiency, 42% faster GPU performance and 44% greater GPU efficiency, and 35% greater AI efficiency, the tangible benefits are that the Oppo Find X8 is equipped to handle anything and everything today's mobile experience asks of the average smartphone with aplomb, whilst also being incredibly well future-proofed.
Oppo reportedly worked with MediaTek on its Trinity Engine to better optimize how the chipmaker's hardware interfaced with its devices' user experience and features.
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What's more, a revised cooling system, which includes a new thermal gel between a reworked graphene sheet and vapor chamber, means sustained performance – especially when gaming – is superb. In a 30-minute session against an otherwise similarly-specced Snapdragon 8 Elite device I had to hand, the Find X8 delivered the more consistent performance, with less heat build-up and fewer stumbles.
While hard to test for, Oppo also promises that the X8's triple antenna design has optimized for high-performance gaming over WiFi.
Performance score: 5 / 5
Oppo Find X8 review: Battery
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5,630mAh battery
80W wired + 50W wireless charging
The latest silicon-carbon battery technology
From a technical standpoint, the Find X8's battery is pretty state-of-the-art. Switching from traditional lithium-polymer to silicon-carbon (or Si-C) has allowed Oppo to install a significantly more dense power plant than would otherwise be possible within the phone's dimensions. The result is a whopping 5,630mAh cell in what remains an impressively unobtrusive sub-200g device.
With a battery capacity larger than the likes of the mighty Galaxy S24 Ultra's – well on its way to Asus ROG Phone levels of capaciousness – a consistent peak screen-on time of 7 hours provides more than a day's use without breaking a sweat, even if that is less than expected, going by the sheer amount of power the battery promises to hold.
Where Oppo's phones stand apart from usual suspects, like Apple, Google, and Samsung, is with fast charging. The Find X8 can refill from zero to 65%, charge in 30 minutes flat, and fully replenish in under 55 minutes, thanks to support for the included 80W 'SuperVOOC 2.0' charger; that's almost twice the wattage of the next-fastest charging phone from that aforementioned trio (at 45W).
What's more, the X8 supports up to 50W wireless charging with a compatible charger too.
Battery score: 4 / 5
Should you buy the Oppo Find X8?
Buy it if...
You want an Android that behaves like an iPhone Oppo isn't being all that subtle about some of the inspiration behind the Find X8's design and features, but at least it's an incredibly good imitation, with bonus functionality you don't get from Apple's phones.
You want an understated gaming phone Top-tier performance that doesn't buckle under pressure (or extended use) makes the Find X8 a pretty great phone for gaming, even if it lacks some of the features and trappings associated with this particular smartphone sub-category.
Don't buy it if...
You aren't willing to import it For as good a phone as the Find X8 is, it's hard to come by, outside of a select run of Asia-Pacific markets, so unless you're willing to import, you'll likely go for a more accessible device in your region.
You want that secondary telephoto sensor The Find X8 has a great camera that relies on AI to grant a zoom range beyond its physical means, but the X8 Pro gets that fourth telephoto sensor for superior optical zoom.
Oppo Find X8 review: Also consider
Apple iPhone 16 The Find X8 takes a lot of cues from Apple's iPhones, but the newest iPhone 16 comes in a broader range of colors, supports a far larger accessory ecosystem and is more widely-available, globally; with a similar price and similar performance.
Google Pixel 9 Google's latest 'non-Pro' entry packs a brighter display, protected behind tougher Gorilla Glass, whilst also offering up a cleaner user experience with longer software support.
How I tested the Oppo Find X8
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Review test period = Three weeks
Testing included = Everyday usage, web browsing, social media browsing, video streaming, gaming, photography
I used the Oppo Find X8 as my main device for almost a month. It was my main camera, my means of checking social media, and my go-to phone for gaming for the duration of the review period.
I used a gamut of industry-standard benchmarking apps to test qualities like CPU and GPU performance, while also keeping tabs on battery drain (with timed tests for things like streaming Netflix and gaming at a fixed brightness), and screen-on time too.
I used the included in-box charger as the sole means of recharging the phone, and tried all the AI-supported features that Oppo has added here, plus all the key features found within the wider ColorOS user experience.
As a reviewer with 13 years of experience, and having reviewed Oppo phones for years, I felt confident assessing and scoring the Oppo Find X8 relative to other phones out right now, and in the context of the wider smartphone market.
The ESR Qi2 Mini Wireless Charger is available at a list price of $24.99 / £22.49 / AU$37.49 on the official ESR website, but at the time of writing it has a lower list price at Amazon, so it's worth checking in there in case there's a saving to be made.
This ESR charger is a similar price to the Anker MagGo Wireless Charger Pad, which was more comfortable to hold when attached to the back of my phone but lacked the reinforced cable that the ESR Qi2 Mini Wireless Charger possesses.
Due to its light weight, the ESR Qi2 Mini Wireless Charger naturally moves about on surfaces if knocked or the cable is pulled. However, its flat base provides a bit more stability than the curved base of the Anker MagGo Wireless Charger Pad. The downside of this flatter design with sharper edges, in contrast to the Anker MagGo Wireless Charger Pad, is that it isn't as comfortable to hold as the curved shape of the Anker charger. Despite this, it was still easy to handle, even with my smaller-than-average hands, and makes a nice alternative to a bulky power bank.
However, the ESR Qi2 Mini Wireless Charger has the advantage over many of the best wireless chargers when it comes to cable integrity. It features a reassuring length of reinforcing cable cover where it meets the charging pad and braided nylon around the wiring. I'm not really a fan of integrated cables: I prefer one that I can remove to make a charger easier to pack away, but at least the robust-looking cable gives me some confidence that it isn't going to get easily damaged in my overnight bag. The magnet strength was also reassuring, passing the dangle test with ease when I hung the pad by the wire with an iPhone 13 Pro attached.
It took the ESR Qi2 Mini Wireless Charger two hours and eight minutes to fully charge an iPhone 13 Pro, which is near enough the same amount of time it took for the Anker MagGo Wireless Charger Pad to do the same.
In summary, this isn't the charging pad I'd choose if my priority was comfort as I continue to use my phone. However, if I planned to take it between locations regularly, the ESR Qi2 Mini Wireless Charger would be my top choice due to the reinforced cable design. The charging time was good for the price, and a teeny bit quicker than the comparable Anker charging pad, so aside from the not-so-comfortable design, the ESR Qi2 Mini Wireless Charger would definitely be my pick of the two.
If you're not certain that a wireless charging pad is the best format for your needs, we have a range of other options to check out in our guides of the best wireless chargers and best iPhone chargers.
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ESR Qi2 Mini Wireless Charger review: Price & specs
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Should I buy the ESR Qi2 Mini Wireless Charger?
Buy it if…
You want to save space One positive of wireless charging pads over a charging station is that it won't take up room on your desk or nightstand, and can easily be picked up and placed whenever you need to use your phone.
You need reinforcement One downside to integrated power cables is that they can take a battering when placed in bags or drawers, causing the cable to deteriorate over time. But with the robust sleeve and braided cable on this ESR charger, it's likely to deal with a lot more stress than an unreinforced alternative.
Don't buy it if…
You don't want cables to get in the way If this isn't going to be your main charger and you're just looking for something easy to hold so you can use your phone as it's charging, a wireless power bank may prove a more convenient option.
You want your phone to stay put This charging pad doesn't possess the weight or anti-slip elements it needs to hold its own on a busy desk. If you want your phone to stay in one place then a wireless charging stand might be a better choice.
ESR Qi2 Mini Wireless Charger review: Also consider
Anker MagGo Wireless Charger Pad If you regularly use your phone while it's charging, then you might be interested in this more ergonomic charging pad. The design isn't quite as robust as the ESR charger, but I could forgive this as it was really comfortable to hold, even in my smaller-than-average hands.
ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Halolock) review
The ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Halolock) costs a reasonable $39.99 / £35.99 / AU$59.99 and is available direct from ESR, or at Amazon. This is cheaper than many alternatives I've tested, which may give it an edge over other models.
As per many other in-car chargers, the ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Halolock) is available in black on the ESR website, but at Amazon (US only) it also comes in grey and titanium colors, curiously. The front face of the charger is 3.1 x 3.1 inches / 80 x 80mm, which felt a little oversized considering I've tested slimmer alternatives that held just as well. Even so, it's not visible past the edges of an iPhone 12 Pro, or an iPhone 13 Pro; it's perhaps just personal preference that I'd rather have something smaller that isn't so obvious when a phone isn't in situ. I wasn't a fan of the shiny circular MagSafe charging area either; I didn't like that it could reflect light, plus it gathers dust.
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The ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Halolock) comes with two attachment options. It has a sticky pad to apply it to the dashboard, and a separate clip-on attachment so it can be fixed onto the air vents. I found this to work well; the clip is stiff to open but I managed to open it enough to slide it on. It has a handy little stability arm that folds down, stopping it from bouncing about while I drive, which even some of the best iPhone chargers for in-car usage don't offer. The charger comes with a USB-C cable, which I powered through an adapter in my car's cigarette lighter.
As was the case with the Pitaka MagEZ Car Mount Pro 2 Qi2 I tested, the hanging cable proved a bit obtrusive as it comes from the bottom of the charging pad, meaning it hung in front of the dash controls and proved an occasional irritation as I shifted gear. As I already had the Pitaka in place, I simply hoiked the ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Halolock) over that to get it out of the way, but in the long term, I would look to use some stick-on cable tidy clips.
Something I noticed – which I also encountered with the similarly designed ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Watch Wireless Charging Set – is that the phone gets warm while it charges. This may explain why ESR has released another of these charging sets with CryoBoost, for an additional cost.
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Speaking of warm things: my commute to work is a bit of a trial by fire for the in-car accessories I review, with an obstacle course of potholes and some aggressive speed bumps to contend with. The ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Halolock) proved a worthy adversary to these challengers, however, keeping a tight hold on my phone and holding its position valiantly.
The ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Halolock) charged an iPhone 13 Pro from 0% to 40% in half an hour, meaning that in that time frame it charged the phone an extra 10% compared to the Pitaka MagEZ Car Mount Pro 2 Qi2.
Overall, despite the dustiness and the fact it warms the phone while charging, this is a fast-charging and reliable in-car charger. If you're looking for recommendations on other variants of MagSafe chargers to use at home or on the go, why not check out our pick of the best wireless chargers.
ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Halolock) review: Price & specs
Should I buy the ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Halolock)?
Buy it if…
You want a reliable holder Even through turbulent commutes, this ESR wireless charger kept a tight grip on my iPhone – and it didn't have an easy ride. Miles more efficient than a standard phone cradle, it stays where you want it as it charges your phone.
You want versatility The two included attachment mounts give peace of mind when ordering, as you have another option if one mount doesn't provide the ideal placement for your phone. The air vent clip was my personal favorite, but it's great to have the option to stick it on too.
Don't buy it if…
You don't want a dust magnet This is only a minor negative, which may not bother some, but I didn't like how much dust the protruding circular charging area collected, and its reflective surface proved to be a bit of a dust magnet too.
You don't want to get cable-tied This will vary depending on the position of the charger and your car, but I found the cable proved obtrusive at times, getting in the way of the radio controls and occasionally proving irritating when shifting gears.
ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Halolock) review: Also consider
Pitaka MagEZ Car Mount Pro 2 Qi2 If you'd prefer a slimmer and more subtle profile, and you're willing to spend a little more, then I highly recommend this Pitaka hook-on car charger. Attached to your air vents, it offers a strong hold and easy repositioning on the move. Check out the full Pikata MagEZ Car Mount Pro 2 Qi2 review to learn more.View Deal
Ugreen MagFlow 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station review
The Ugreen MagFlow 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station is a budget-priced iPhone and AirPods charger, with a list price of $39.99 / £29.99 / AU$59.99 at Amazon. This is the cheapest MagSafe charging stand I've tested to date, albeit the majority of these wireless chargers have charged three devices rather than two. It's certainly nice to have a 2-in-1 option available though, if you're yet to be tempted by an Apple Watch.
In terms of design, the Ugreen MagFlow 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station is simple but has some attractive little details. Aside from the charging pad and the top of the base, it has a slightly metallic charcoal grey finish, with dark mirrored sections at either end of the pencil-thin post. The only thing that lets it down aesthetically is the cheaper-looking black plastic finish of the top face of the base.
I was pleased that the circular charging pad sits on a robust-feeling hinge, so I could change the viewing angle easily. Some chargers lack this ability, such as the ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Watch Wireless Charging Set (HaloLock), despite it being around double the price – though this extra expense is reasonable enough considering the much faster charging speeds and added Apple Watch charger.
The charger proved suitably heavy and sturdy despite the compact circular base and skinny charging post. The charging pad has a soft matte finish that collects dust, but other than that it looks and feels nice. The base of the charger has a USB-C input for the included USB-C cable, and there's an inset AirPods charging area towards the front. There's also a small indicator light to indicate the charger has been powered on, and to act as a status light for AirPods or other compatible wireless earbud case charging.
The Ugreen MagFlow 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station can charge iPhones 12 to 16, and AirPods 2 to 4. Unfortunately, it has been one of the slowest MagSafe chargers I've tested to date, taking three hours to fully charge an iPhone 13 Pro, making it over an hour slower than the average charging speed of the many wireless chargers I've tested. That being said, it's the cheapest charging stand I've reviewed so far, and by some margin, so if you're looking for a more budget-friendly option, perhaps slow charging can be forgiven.
Overall, the Ugreen MagFlow 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station is an option worth considering if you're keen to get your hands on a MagSafe charging stand without breaking the bank, or if you don't need an Apple Watch charger. If the Ugreen MagFlow 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station isn't quite ticking your boxes, we've got a bunch of other recommendations over in our best wireless charger guide, and it's worth checking out our pick of the best iPhone chargers too.
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Ugreen MagFlow 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station review: price & specs
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Should I buy the Ugreen MagFlow 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station?
Buy it if...
You want a compact charging station Some charging stations like to make a statement, and take up room while doing it, but this Ugreen 2-in-1 charger has a satisfyingly small footprint while remaining reassuringly stable.
You only want to pay for what you need There are a bunch of 3-in-1 MagSafe chargers out there, so it pays to have a cost-effective charging option designed to juice up just the devices you own.
Don't buy it if...
You don't like to be kept waiting There's no denying it, this is far from the fastest MagSafe charger out there. It was left straggling behind the other wireless chargers I tested, taking a leisurely three hours to fully charge an iPhone 13 Pro.
You want a high-end finish The design of this charger is by no means cheap and nasty, but the budget-looking black plastic finish at the top of the base plus the dust-collecting and slightly poor-fitting charging pad surface doesn't exactly scream premium quality.
Ugreen MagFlow 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station review: also consider
Mous MagSafe Compatible 3 In 1 Portable Charger If cheap and compact are a priority in your quest for a new wireless charger, then this Mous charger might just be of interest. For a bit more investment you can get this charger that has the benefit of Apple Watch charging capability, plus it folds down to a satisfyingly small size, so it's effortlessly easy to carry with you on the go. You can check out the full Mous MagSafe Compatible 3 In 1 Portable Charger review here.
