OnePlus 13s Review: Answers the need of a compact flagship smartphone without skimping on anything

Any mention of the top 3 smartphone brands in India is incomplete without OnePlus. The company has rightfully earned its place in the market, and its product range supports it. Seeing the rise in interest in compact phones, OnePlus has come up with its first-ever compact flagship, the OnePlus 13s. The latest palm-fitting phone from the company is looking to shake up the 50K price segment and, to some extent, challenge its own sibling OnePlus 13R.

The phone is positioned to intrigue users with its power-packed features in a compact form. So, let’s find out what unique aspects the latest OnePlus 13s has to offer.

Design

It’s always refreshing when a major brand like OnePlus decides to go back to the compact form factor. The OnePlus 13s embraces minimalism with a sleek, flat frame and rounded corners, all packed into a lightweight body. The device stands out for being comfortably small — it’s just 8.15mm thick and weighs only 185g, with perfect 50:50 weight distribution. This compact profile received many compliments, with people even confusing it for an iPhone until they caught sight of the distinct camera layout.

The in-hand experience is excellent — the design feels balanced and premium. The size sits nicely in the same league as the Pixel 9a and Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, yet OnePlus manages to squeeze in a slightly larger display. With its ultra-thin 1.34mm side bezels and compact 71.7mm width, the phone offers a big-screen feel in a smaller footprint.

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Interestingly, the signature Alert Slider is gone, replaced by the Plus Key — a new customisable button that can be programmed to toggle sound modes, turn on DND, launch the camera, torch, screen recorder, translation tool, or take a screenshot. It’s smartly integrated into the OnePlus AI system and adds real utility. On the right, you have the power and volume buttons. The bottom houses the SIM tray, USB-C port, and speaker grille.

Display

The OnePlus 13s features a 6.32-inch 1.5K LTPO ProXDR AMOLED display with a resolution of 2640 x 1216 at 460ppi. The dynamic 1–120 Hz refresh rate ensures smooth transitions while preserving battery. It’s capable of hitting up to 1,600 nits of brightness in high brightness mode, which means excellent visibility under harsh sunlight, and dimming down to 1.1 nits for nighttime comfort.

The panel supports 10-bit colour depth, Dolby Vision, and 2160 Hz PWM dimming, delivering true flagship-grade visuals. With Aqua Touch 2.0, even wet hands won’t compromise usability, and the newly added Glove Mode further enhances interaction in extreme conditions.

OS and AI

The OnePlus 13s runs on OxygenOS 15, based on Android 15, and brings with it some serious AI capabilities — not just gimmicks, but genuinely thoughtful tools. Leading the charge is AI Plus Mind, a personal assistant that lets you save on-screen content instantly by pressing the Plus Key or swiping up with three fingers. Everything saved is organised in Mind Space, which intelligently suggests actions like adding calendar entries or offering contextual recommendations.

AI is also deeply integrated across other layers. AI Search can find documents, calendar entries, or settings using natural language, while AI VoiceScribe records and transcribes meetings or calls in real time — even translating across 20+ languages. Features like screen and camera translation, real-time call summaries, and photo AI tools (like AI Reframe, Unblur, and Reflection Eraser) all make the OS feel smart and intuitive without being overwhelming.

Performance

Performance has always been a pillar for OnePlus, and the 13s continues that legacy with the Snapdragon 8 Elite mobile platform. It’s not just any chip — it delivers a 45% improvement in CPU performance and 40% GPU performance boost over the previous gen. Paired with 12 GB LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512 GB UFS 4.0 storage, the phone ensures blazing speed and smooth multitasking.

Benchmarks validate the real-world feel: Geekbench scores hit 2862 (single-core) and 8418 (multi-core), while the GPU score is 17923. On AnTuTu, it pulls an impressive 2408425. What’s even better is the sustained performance. With a 4,400mm² 3D Cryo-Velocity Vapor Chamber and graphite-layered back cover, the phone keeps cool even under heavy loads.

The 13s shows its power in the gaming section. From BGMI at 120fps to smooth HDR visuals with pass-through charging, this compact phone is a gaming powerhouse. I also liked the network stability of the phone as it maintained consistent connection in the underground metro.

Camera

Switching to the OnePlus 13s from the OnePlus 13, I was curious if the imaging prowess would hold up. Turns out, it does. The phone sports a 50 MP Sony LYT-700 main camera, a 50 MP telephoto lens, and a 32 MP front-facing shooter — a flagship setup tailored for clarity and detail.

Images in daylight were excellent — rich colours, sharp focus, and balanced exposure. In fact, in many instances, the results were comparable to what I’d expect from the Pixel 9a.

At night, the phone’s algorithm kicks in to preserve details, and Night Mode brings out brighter, less noisy results without looking artificial.

Where the experience dips slightly is in portrait mode. While the camera delivers crisp edge detection, the framing is fixed, which feels limiting — there’s no zoom adjustment or alternate view. It makes wide portraits a challenge and reduces creative flexibility.

On the selfie front, the 32 MP sensor with autofocus delivers sharp images with natural skin tones. Whether you’re snapping selfies or hopping onto video calls, the front cam holds its own. For video lovers, the rear cameras offer 4K 60fps Dolby Vision, along with Ultra Steady support for smoother handheld shots.

Battery

Battery life is another area where OnePlus has crushed expectations. Despite its small size, the OnePlus 13s houses a massive 5,850 mAh battery. And it’s not just for show. The phone manages to last a day quite comfortably. Topping up the phone is fast too, thanks to 80W SUPERVOOC charging and Bypass Charging for cooler performance during gaming. With all these optimisations, you’re looking at all-day power with just a few minutes of charging.

Verdict

The OnePlus 13s reminds me of the OnePlus 7T — a one-of-a-kind sibling that dares to be different. It’s not just another compact phone — it’s a compact flagship. It answers the market’s need for smaller devices without skimping on power, battery, or features.

From its top-tier processor and flagship display to intelligent AI features and robust camera system, the OnePlus 13s offers a rare blend of usability and power. So yes, it does stand apart — and if you’ve been waiting for a compact phone with no compromises, the latest OnePlus 13s will be the answer.

OnePlus 13s starts at ₹54,999.