Brands have often prioritised battery life when contemplating a new smartphone launch in the budget segment. While many have also placed emphasis on delivering on other parameters such as cameras and displays, durability has often been an afterthought for OEMs. However, this is where the Oppo K13x 5G is potentially a game-changer. It aims to shift the perception of what a budget smartphone can offer in terms of toughness, thanks to the inclusion of durability features such as SGS Gold Drop Certification, MIL-STD 810H military-grade standard, and 360-degree Damage-Proof Armour Body.
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Top to bottom: 1x vs 2x daylight camera sample (tap to expand)
Some elements in images have a decent amount of detail, although others tend to lose detail as well. The phone appears to have a weak dynamic range and colour contrast, with surprisingly flat highlights and shadows, and washed-out colours.
For example, the phone’s colour tones shifted when shot in 1x and 2x modes in low-light. Now, I don’t expect the same performance from the K13x 5G, but it should capture colours better. Here’s what it looked like.
Top to bottom: 1x vs 2x low-light camera sample (tap to expand)
On the other hand, night-time shots come out fine as long as there is more than one light source. In extremely dimly lit scenarios, you can notice the noise creep in. However, this is on par with some of its competitors and nothing to complain about.
Meanwhile, the 2-megapixel depth camera works well in daylight but is average at best in low-light situations. Edge detection is more of a miss than a hit. It often blurs out elements such as hair, whereas the skin also looks unrealistically smooth, even without any of the face tuning filters switched on.
Top to bottom: 1x vs 2x daylight portrait camera sample (tap to expand)
Moving on, the 8-megapixel front-facing camera does a similar job. It captures the skin tone fairly accurately but smoothens out the skin. This is especially evident when taking selfies in low light.
Top to bottom: Daylight vs low light selfie camera sample (tap to expand)
The Oppo K13x 5G can record videos in up to 1080p resolution at 60fps via the rear camera and 1080p 30fps from the selfie camera. The video quality is passable when shot in daylight conditions, and this is also where electronic image stabilisation works best too. Both get reduced drastically as the conditions get dim.
Oppo K13x 5G Battery: Star of the Show
- Battery capacity – 6,000mAh
- Wired charging – 45W
- Wireless charging – No
- Charger in the box – Yes
Alongside its durability, the battery is one of the biggest USPs of the Oppo K13x 5G. It has a 6,000mAh battery, which can easily deliver a usage time of up to two days even if you use it moderately. Heavy usage might see it get reduced to slightly over a day, which is still more than sufficient for a phone at its price point.
The Oppo K13x 5G supports 45W SuperVOOC charging. Charging the phone from 0 to 100 percent took 1 hour and 15 minutes on average.
The Oppo K13x 5G ships with a 45W adapter in the box
It also comes with a feature that lets you cap charging at 80 percent. Alternatively, you can enable trickle charging so that the phone charges up completely just before you need it. Both of these features are appreciable and can potentially help prolong the battery’s lifespan.
Oppo K13x 5G Verdict
The Oppo K13x 5G is a unique proposition in the entry-level smartphone market. It prioritises durability, banking on features like MIL-STD 810H military standard and an IP65 rating, which is a rare feat at its price point. Another USP is its massive 6,000mAh battery life, which can easily last almost two days with moderate usage. Its performance is adequate for daily usage and casual gaming, and you should not experience any lag, complemented by an adaptive 120Hz screen.
However, there are a few trade-offs as well. The camera system is average, and even the daylight performance can be considered just passable. There is an excessive amount of bloatware, which hampers the overall experience and can make it a tough buy for consumers who want a clean software experience.
So, should you buy the Oppo K13x 5G? If a durable build and a long battery life are two parameters that matter to you, then the handset can be an ideal purchase. However, for those seeking a more balanced experience, the Infinix Note 50X and Samsung Galaxy M16 5G might be better options to consider.
