OnePlus 13R vs OnePlus 12R: What Are the Differences? Which One Should You Buy?

OnePlus recently concluded its big winter event, where it unveiled the OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R. While the OnePlus 13 is a full-blown flagship, the OnePlus 13R is aimed at the affordable flagship segment, prioritizing performance and battery life over cameras.

However, not much has changed in terms of specifications for the OnePlus 13R. So we decided to pit it up against its predecessor, to find out if the upgrades are worth it or not!

OnePlus 13R vs 12R Comparison: Full Specs

OnePlus 13R vs OnePlus 12R: What's the Difference?

The OnePlus 13R features a new design offering a more premium feel with the flat design, although the rounded edges ensure the phone still feels comfortable to use. While the rounded edges on the OnePlus 12R make it more comfortable to use, it does look a lot less premium.

The OnePlus 13R uses Crystal Shield Glass on the front and back, while its predecessor opts for flagship-grade Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection on the front and unspecified glass protection on the back. Both phones feature an aluminium frame and resistance to dust and water. Overall, while both phones are equally though, the OnePlus 13R features a more premium design.

Both the OnePlus 13R and 12R feature similar display specifications, incorporating LTPO OLED panels. While both phones run Android 15, the older OnePlus 12R will only get OS updates until Android 17, while the OnePlus 13R is promised the Android 19 update. Additionally, the OnePlus 13R also has two extra years of security patches.

In terms of performance, the OnePlus 13R easily outclasses its predecessor with the incorporation of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, which is anywhere between 15 to 25 percent faster than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 on the OnePlus 12R, depending on the task. The base model of the OnePlus 13R also comes with faster RAM and storage. Finally, the OnePlus 13R also packs a larger battery than its predecessor.

OnePlus 13R vs 12R: Cameras

The OnePlus 13R boasts a triple-camera setup on the back with a 50MP Sony LYT-700 primary sensor that supports OIS and an f/1.8 aperture, an 8MP Sony IMX355 ultrawide lens with an f/2.2 aperture, and a new 50MP Samsung JN5 telephoto unit with an f/2.0 aperture and 2x optical zoom. Up front, the phone opts for a 16MP Sony IMX480 selfie camera with an f/2.4 aperture.

The OnePlus 12R also features a triple-camera setup on the back with a 50MP Sony IMX890 primary sensor with OIS and an f/1.8 aperture. The main camera is backed by an 8MP Sony IMX355 ultrawide lens and a 2MP OmniVision OV02B macro unit. Up front, there's a 16MP Samsung Isocell S5K3P9 selfie camera.

In terms of optics, the OnePlus 13R gains a major advantage with the introduction of the new 50MP telephoto shooter, which is more of a dedicated portrait camera than a zoom lens. While the selfie camera has also been upgraded on the OnePlus 13R, the other sensors remain the same. The OnePlus 13R does uses an LYT-700 sensor, which is essentially a rebranded Sony IMX890 sensor.

OnePlus 13R vs OnePlus 12R: Final Thoughts

With the advantage of arriving a year later, the OnePlus 13R was undoubtedly going to emerge as the victor in this comparison. However, what's shocking is that the lack of a price cut to the OnePlus 12R, makes its successor the obvious choice. Apart from the display and build quality, the OnePlus 13R outclasses its predecessor in every area.