Remember how phones used to be small enough to carry around easily? OnePlus does, and they’ve just launched the OnePlus 13s – their first proper compact flagship. After years of increasingly large phones, OnePlus finally comes to deliver flagship performance in a comfortable, ergonomic design.
The OnePlus 13s features the same Snapdragon 8 Elite processor as the larger OnePlus 13 but comes in a more compact 6.32-inch size that’s easier to handle. At INR54,999 (about $660/€610), it’s trying to prove that small doesn’t mean settling for less. But does it actually deliver, or is this just another “mini” phone with major compromises?
OnePlus 13s Review: Design & Build
First impressions matter, and the OnePlus 13s nails them. At 185 grams and just 71.7mm wide, this phone feels like a throwback to when smartphones didn’t require a gym membership to carry around. It’s genuinely comfortable for one-handed use – something you can’t say about most flagships these days.
The build quality feels premium throughout. OnePlus offers three finishes: Green Silk with a soft Velvet Glass back (exclusive to India), Pink Satin also with Velvet Glass, and Black Velvet with a metallic sand texture. The Green Silk version I tested has this nice olive-inspired hue that looks way more sophisticated than the name suggests.
The phone feels solid without being chunky. Sure, it’s not as thin as some ultra-premium flagships, but at 8.15mm thick, it strikes a nice balance between durability and pocketability.
OnePlus 13s Review: Display
The 6.32-inch LTPO OLED screen is genuinely impressive with Dolby VISION HDR+. OnePlus managed to pack flagship-level display tech into this compact form factor, and it shows. Colors pop without looking oversaturated, and the 1,600 nits peak brightness means you can actually see what’s happening even in bright sunlight.
The 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling through Instagram and Twitter feel buttery smooth. It automatically adjusts from 1Hz to 120Hz depending on what you’re doing, which helps save battery life. Watching Netflix or YouTube on this screen is a joy – the 10-bit color support and Dolby Vision make everything look vibrant and detailed.
Feels noticeably smoother than the iPhone 15 when scrolling through social media, though Samsung’s Galaxy S24 still has a slight edge in overall brightness.
OnePlus 13s Review: Performance
Here’s where the OnePlus 13s really shines. The Snapdragon 8 Elite processor delivers flagship performance without compromise, and paired with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM, this little phone absolutely flies.
Apps open instantly, switching between Chrome with 15 tabs open and video calls happens without a hiccup, and even demanding games like BGMI run at a consistent 120fps. OnePlus claims their vapor chamber cooling system keeps things running smoothly, and in my testing, the phone never got uncomfortably hot even during extended gaming sessions.
No lag switching between WhatsApp and YouTube – even with Spotify running in the background and GPS navigation active.
OnePlus 13s Review: Camera
Rear Camera
The dual-camera setup is where OnePlus made some interesting choices. The main 50MP Sony LYT-700 sensor takes excellent photos in good lighting. Colors look natural, skin tones are accurate, and the optical image stabilization helps keep shots sharp.
There’s also a 50MP telephoto camera with 2x zoom. It’s decent for portraits and getting closer to distant subjects, but honestly, most people would probably prefer a dedicated ultra-wide camera instead. The camera samples show solid performance in daylight conditions, but it struggles in low light compared to Google’s Pixel phones.
- Camera: 50MP main (f/1.8, OIS) + 50MP telephoto (2x zoom, PDAF)
- Video: 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, OIS, Dolby Vision
Front Camera
The 32MP selfie camera is surprisingly good. It captures sharp details outdoors and the autofocus feature (rare on front cameras) ensures your selfies are always in focus. Video calls look crisp, though like the rear cameras, it loses some detail in dimmer lighting.
Selfies look natural and sharp outdoors, but indoor shots can appear a bit soft and lose detail.
- Camera: 32MP (f/2.0, 21mm)
- Video: 4K@30fps
OnePlus 13s Review: Battery
This is where the OnePlus 13s really impresses. That massive 5,850mAh battery in such a compact phone is genuinely remarkable. The battery easily gets you through a full day, and if you don’t use it much, it can last up to two days.
In real-world testing, I got about 7-8 hours of screen-on time with mixed usage – social media, video streaming, photography, and some gaming. The 80W SuperVOOC charging is blazing fast too. A 20-minute charge during lunch gives you roughly 60% battery, and you can go from zero to full in about 40 minutes.
OnePlus 13s Review: Software
The phone runs OxygenOS 15 based on Android 15, and it’s mostly a clean experience. OnePlus has toned down the bloatware compared to earlier versions, though you’ll still want to uninstall a few pre-loaded apps.
The new Plus Button replaces the classic Alert Slider, and it’s actually quite useful once you get used to it. You can customize it to switch sound profiles, enable Do Not Disturb, or launch the AI assistant. The AI features like VoiceScribe (which records and transcribes meetings) work well, though they’re not groundbreaking.
OnePlus offers four years of Android updates and six years of security fixes, matching what Samsung and Google provide.
OnePlus 13s Review: Audio & Haptics
The stereo speakers are loud enough for Netflix binges, though they lack the depth of premium phones like the iPhone or Galaxy S series. Haptic feedback feels precise during typing and gaming, though it’s not quite as refined as Apple’s Taptic Engine.
The in-display fingerprint sensor is fast and reliable, unlocking the phone almost instantly.
OnePlus 13s Specs At a Glance
| Specs | Details |
|---|---|
| Body | 150.8 x 71.7 x 8.2 mm, 185g, glass front, aluminum frame, IP65 dust/water resistant |
| Display | 6.32″ LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR Vivid, 1600 nits, 1216x2640px, 460ppi |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm), Octa-core (2×4.32GHz + 6×3.53GHz), Adreno 830 |
| Memory | 12GB LPDDR5X RAM, 256GB/512GB UFS 4.0 |
| OS/Software | Android 15, OxygenOS 15 |
| Rear camera | 50MP main (f/1.8, OIS) + 50MP telephoto (2x zoom, PDAF) |
| Front camera | 32MP (f/2.0, 21mm) |
| Video | Rear: 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, OIS, Dolby Vision; Front: 4K@30fps |
| Battery | 5,850mAh, 80W wired, 33W PPS, 18W PD/QC, 5W reverse wired |
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 7, BT 5.4, aptX HD, LHDC 5, NFC, IR, USB 2.0 |
| Extra | Under-display fingerprint, stereo speakers, Circle to Search, Aqua Touch 2.0 |
OnePlus 13s Price & Availability
| Region | Price (Approx) |
|---|---|
| India | INR54,999 (12GB + 256GB) (about $660/€610) INR59,999 (12GB + 512GB) (about $720/€670) |
| Global | Not yet announced |
Launch Offers (India):
• INR5,000 instant discount with SBI credit cards
• Up to INR5,000 exchange bonus on select devices
Final Verdict
The OnePlus 13s is exactly what the compact phone market needed – a device that doesn’t make you choose between size and performance. It’s perfect for people who want flagship specs without needing cargo pants to carry their phone around.
If you value pocketability and one-handed use but refuse to compromise on performance, this is your phone. However, if camera versatility is crucial or you’re outside India, you might want to wait for broader availability or consider alternatives.
It offers genuine flagship performance at this price. For the compact phone market, this feels like a breath of fresh air.
Also Read | OnePlus 15: Early Specs Leak Highlights Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 and Periscope Camera
