We reviewed Oukitel's mid-range U20 Plus earlier this month and now we are back with its sibling U13. Oukitel's metal-clad phone comes with a pretty good configuration including 3GB RAM, 64GB in-built storage, MediaTek octa-core processor and a 3,000mAh battery.
We have been using the Oukitel U13 for over a month and here is our take on it.
Design and display:
The review unit we received had a gorgeous golden-hued body. We were particularly impressed with the high-grade metal used on the phone's shell. When held in hand, we can feel the metal and the chamfered edges give the phone extra grip.
It also comes with 2.5D glass shield on the screen, which not only protects it from cracking from accidental drops, but also added value to the design.
Also read: Oukitel U20 Plus review: Reliable mid-range camera phone
But, the rubbery white antenna lines placed on top and bottom of the side takes a little sheen off what's otherwise a beautiful design language.
The phone is 149.0 mm tall, 75.6 mm wide and 8.1 mm thick and despite the generous use of metal, the U13 weighs only just 156g.
As far as display is concerned, Oukitel's U13 sports a standard 5.5-inch screen with full HD (1920x1080p) resolution and offers good viewing experience in closed conditions, but when taken out in the street under bright sunlight, the viewing becomes a bit difficult. But, this is not a deal breaker, as we can adjust the brightness by toggling from auto to maximum mode.
Oukitel U13 boasts of a 5.5-inch full HD display with 2.5D glass shieldRohit KVN/ IBTimes India 
Oukitel U13 review: It boasts high grade metal-based cover on the backRohit KVN/ IBTimes India 
Oukitel U13 review: It houses 13MP front camera on the top of front panel with standard sensor and a speaker.Rohit KVN/ IBTimes India 
Oukitel U13 review: The device's left side houses volume rockers and a power button placed one upon each otherRohit KVN/ IBTimes India 
Oukitel U13 review: The device features 3.5mm audio jack and a IR blaster sensor on the top edgeRohit KVN/ IBTimes India
Performance:
Oukitel U13 comes with a 1.3GHz 64-bit class MediaTek (MT6753) CPU having Cortex A53 octa-cores paired with 3GB RAM and 64GB on board storage.
This is a pretty good configuration for a mid-tier phone and had expectedly scored impressive points on benchmarking tests.
The phone scored 615 and 1,574 points on single-core and multi-core tests on Geekbench v4.0 app and 37,137 points on AnTuTu 3D benchmarking app.
The only niggle is Oukitel U13 runs on a generation-old Android 6.0 Marshmallow and that too with a layer of custom UI. This might be a turn-off for some users (also yours truly), who look for pure Android experience.
Having said that, the user-interface is a subjective topic, as some people actually crave for more personalisation options.
Camera:
Oukitel U13 has a pretty decent camera hardware. On the back, it features a 16MP camera with autofocus feature and full HD video recording ability. It is also supported by a dual-tone LED flash– a rarity in its class.
We tested the U13 camera in day, evening and night conditions. It captured really good images and was able to do justice to the natural colours of the subject in question. But, once the natural light faded, the auto focus feature began to dim.
Having said that, the photo quality was up to the mark for a phone priced under €160.
On the front, it features a 13MP snapper for quality selfies. The camera lens is also wide enough to get good group selfies even if the person has a short hand.
Camera sample taken during day light with shadeRohit KVN/ IBTimes India 
Oukitel U13 camera review: Camera shot taken during eveningRohit KVN/ IBTimes India 
Oukitel U13 camera review: Camera sample taken during eveningRohit KVN/ IBTimes India 
Oukitel U13 camera review: Photo sample taken during night without LED flash supportRohit KVN/ IBTimes India 
Oukitel U13 camera review: Photo sample taken during night with the help of LED flash supportRohit KVN/ IBTimes India
Battery:
Having a 5.5-inch full HD display, Oukitel U13 comes with a standard 3,000mAh battery. During our tests, which included brief sessions of video calling, internet browsing, playing YouTube video, WhatsApp messaging, the phone held up nicely.
The U13 was able to provide a full day of usage. If used conservatively, the phone can last up to one and half days.
Verdict (3.5):
Oukitel U13 fares well in terms of build quality, camera and battery life. Yes, it's a really good mid-tier phone, but the U13 has to cope with a lot of competition in its class, which includes popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 4, Lenovo K6 Power and Moto G5, among others.
Having said that, if you are looking to buy a mid-range phone and does not want to follow the crowd, Oukitel U13 is a smart buy.
Pros:
- Excellent build quality
- Long battery life
- Decent camera hardware
Cons:
- One generation old Android Marshmallow with custom UI
