For a while, compact smartphones seemed like relics of a bygone era. But trends have a funny way of looping back—just like how bell-bottom jeans have resurfaced from the ’90s and are now back in fashion, the same is happening with smaller phones. And OnePlus seems ready to ride that wave with its upcoming 13s. A completely new lineup made for cute and compact form factor phones. While there’s no official word on what the ‘S’ denotes, my bet is on ‘small’.
OnePlus 13s
Rs 54,999
What Is Good?
- Compact form factor, easily pocketable
- Extraordinary performance
- Great thermal management
- Camera performance is good
- Polished software experience
- No bloatware apps
- Good Plus Key usecases
What Is Bad?
- No ultra-wide camera
- Edge detection issue in portrait mode
- IP65 rated
Sure, brands like Xiaomi and OPPO have dipped their toes into the compact category. But crafting a small phone that gets the pricing, features, and experience just right? That’s still a challenge—and one that not many have nailed.
The OnePlus 13s aims to strike a balance between the 13R and the flagship 13, offering a mix of performance and practicality. It runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chip—the same powerhouse inside the top-tier model. It does compromise a bit, with a slightly smaller battery (150mAh less) and the absence of an ultra-wide camera.
So, does the OnePlus 13s deliver enough to claim the compact crown in India? I’ve spent some solid time with it, and here’s my honest take.
Design and Display
From the moment I picked up the OnePlus 13s, its compact charm was undeniable. In a world where women’s jeans pockets barely hold a phone, this device slipped in effortlessly and quickly earned a place as my go-to companion. The pink variant strikes a perfect balance—neither too loud nor too subtle—with a delicate rose tint on the camera bump that elevates its look beyond the usual.
This model breaks away from the design cues of the OnePlus 13 and 13R, offering a fresh aesthetic that feels like a thoughtful evolution rather than a mere iteration.
Having tried the Xiaomi 15 and OPPO Find X8, which aren’t exactly known for being compact, it’s clear that OnePlus has put extra effort into delivering a phone that feels just right in the hand, setting a new benchmark for comfort and portability in this category.
| Design | Specifications |
| Weight | 185 grams |
| Thickness | 8.1mm |
| Colours | Black Velvet, Pink Satin and Green Silk (India Exclusive) |
| IP Rating | IP65 dust and water resistant |
| Port and Button Placements | Bottom: Primary microphone, USB port, Speaker grille, SIM tray Top: Secondary microphone, secondary speakers Left Side: Plus Key Right Side: Volume buttons and power button |
The 13s ditches the traditional Alert Slider and brings in the all-new Plus Key. At first glance, it feels like Android’s version of Apple’s Action Button, but in use, it’s so much more.
Paired with the new Plus Mind AI integration, it enables you to trigger custom tasks and automations that genuinely make your day-to-day tasks feel smoother. After spending time with it, I’m convinced: it’s one of those features you didn’t know you needed until you start relying on it. Read more here.
On the durability front, the 13s keeps things familiar with an IP65 rating, just like the 13R. It’ll hold up against dust and the occasional splash, but in a world where IP68 is becoming the standard, OnePlus still has a step to climb when it comes to ruggedness.
Despite the OnePlus 13s’ slightly smaller screen compared to competitors like the Xiaomi 15, the company has made clever use of space. The ultra-slim bezels create a near edge-to-edge viewing experience, and during darker movie scenes, they practically vanish—amplifying immersion in ways you don’t usually expect from compact displays.
In day-to-day use, the display doesn’t miss a beat. The adaptive 120Hz refresh rate keeps interactions feeling snappy, whether you’re doomscrolling through Instagram reels, casually hopping between apps, or just killing time on the web. It all feels polished, responsive, and effortlessly fluid.
| Display | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Size | 6.32-inch |
| Type | Pro XDR with LTPO |
| Resolution | 1216 x 2640 pixels |
| Refresh Rate | 1-120Hz dynamic |
| Peak Brightness | Claimed: 1600 nits, Tested: 1626 |
| Minimum Brightness | 09 nits |
Indoors, the OnePlus 13s doesn’t hold back on brightness—it stays punchy and vibrant no matter what you’re doing. Step outside, and the display continues to perform well under most lighting conditions. That said, during particularly intense sunlight, you might find yourself tilting the phone a bit to cut the glare and get a clearer view.
The sound output impresses with its clarity and depth. Even when played loudly, bass-driven tracks maintain richness, making watching videos and listening to music much more enjoyable.
Hardware and Software
Tucked inside this sleek compact frame is the Snapdragon 8 Elite—Qualcomm’s latest powerhouse, also found in premium flagships like the OnePlus 13, iQOO 13, Realme GT 7 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S25 lineup, and the Xiaomi 15 series. It’s clear that OnePlus isn’t pulling punches when it comes to performance.
In benchmarks, the OnePlus 13s nearly stole the spotlight. With an AnTuTu score north of 2.5 million, it nips at the heels of the OnePlus 13 and stands tall among the fastest phones in the game, right behind the Realme GT 7 Pro.
But raw numbers aside, the true charm lies in how it feels during everyday use. Whether I was juggling calls, messaging, bingeing crisp YouTube videos, or diving into my favourite streaming apps, the 13s made the whole experience effortlessly fluid. For a phone this compact, it’s got some serious muscle.
MySmartPrice’s Core Testing Team (CTT) put the OnePlus 13s through an intense thermal comparison against the Xiaomi 15 and OPPO Find X8. From 4K video recording to BGMI gaming at both extremes, battery drain, CPU throttling, and 3DMark Wild Life Extreme—we pushed these phones to their limits. The goal is to see how well their vapour chambers handle heat under real pressure in such a small enclosure.
As a result, the OnePlus 13s delivered consistently strong thermal performance. For the full breakdown, head over to our YouTube video.
This efficient thermal management was also evident in our CPU throttling test, where the 13s maintained 81% of its peak performance—impressive, especially given its compact chassis.
| Hardware | Specifications |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC |
| RAM | Up to 12GB LPDDR5X |
| Storage | Up to 512GB, UFS 4.0 |
| Storage Test | 2500724 |
| CPU Throttling Test | 81 per cent of its maximum performance |
| Software Version | Oxygen OS 15, based on Android 15 |
| Connectivity Details | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0 |
Out of the box, the OnePlus 13s ships with OxygenOS 15, built on Android 15—just like its siblings in the OnePlus 13 lineup. What really stands out is how OnePlus has refined its software experience. The charging and fingerprint animations are slick and add a nice touch of polish.
With AI taking center stage in 2025, OnePlus jumped right in with some impressive tricks. The 13s brings some standout features like AI Plus Mind—you can read more about it here. I also tried out tools like AI VoiceScribe, AI Call Assistant (which offers call summaries and live translations), AI Reframe, and AI Best Face 2.0, among others.
I especially loved the Gemini Live feature that let me share and analyse my screen during video calls. It almost felt like getting fashion advice from a close friend when I was debating which dress to choose.
AI features are deeply integrated throughout the phone, and I’ll be diving deeper into my hands-on experience with them in an upcoming article.
Overall, this phone delivers a smooth, clutter-free software experience, free from unnecessary pre-installed apps and constant notification interruptions.
Cameras
The OnePlus 13s impresses in daylight photography, delivering crisp details, balanced saturation, and a nuanced handling of natural light. Its primary sensor captures vivid, true-to-life colours without veering into oversaturation. What stood out to me was the wider-than-expected 1x field of view, which made it easy to frame expansive scenes without stepping back.
The absence of an ultra-wide lens is noticeable, especially for those who love dramatic perspectives. But the telephoto lens compensates well. Food photography in particular looked stunning—textures popped, and colours stayed authentic, even under artificial lighting. A shot of podi masala on an idli, for instance, retained the deep orangish-red hues of the spice mix without over-processing.
The 2x optical zoom holds up well, and the 4x lossless zoom continues the trend with minimal loss in quality. Capturing distant subjects felt effortless, with no visible dip in sharpness.
Portrait mode is a mixed bag. While colours and background blur are pleasing in good lighting, edge detection could use refinement. In several shots, the post processing struggled to separate the subject cleanly from the background, leading to slightly awkward results.
| Camera | Specifications |
| Primary Camera | 50-megapixel Sony LYT-700 camera with OIS, f/1.8 aperture |
| Secondary Camera | 50-megapixel S5KJN5 Telephoto Camera with 2x optical zoom and an f/2.0 aperture |
| Selfie Camera | 32-megapixel, f/2.0 aperture |
| Video Recording Capabilities | Up to 4K at 30fps |
Low-light performance is generally dependable. In well-lit nighttime scenarios, the camera preserves detail and contrast nicely. Only in very dim conditions did the image quality slip, with softness creeping into the edges. Still, colours like red and yellow retained their integrity, and direct light sources didn’t introduce distracting lens flares.
As for selfies, the front camera doesn’t hold back—it captures everything, including skin texture and imperfections. While the detailing is impressive, I noticed a subtle reddish tint around the cheeks and lips, particularly when I didn’t apply any skin product.
All in all, the OnePlus 13s delivers a refined and capable camera experience that punches well above its weight. A few trade-offs are there, but if you can look past the missing ultra-wide, it’s a solid all-rounder.
Battery and Charging
At first glance, the OnePlus 13s may seem like it’s making a compromise on battery size compared to the OnePlus 13. With a 5,850mAh unit, it’s also noticeably smaller than the 6,260mAh battery in the China-only OnePlus 13T. But don’t let the numbers fool you—this phone delivers endurance that punches well above its weight.
OnePlus has gone with a more traditional lithium-ion graphite battery here instead of adopting the newer silicon-carbon tech, and that likely explains the reduced capacity.
In our battery test using PCMark, the phone ran for 19 hours and 5 minutes, a stellar result for a device this compact. It’s a notch below the Xiaomi 15 but comfortably outperforms the OPPO Find X8 by nearly two hours.
| Battery | Specifications |
| Battery | 5,850mAh |
| Charging Adapter | 80W SUPERVOOC, charger in-the-box |
| Charging Time | 42 minutes |
| PCMark Battery Test | 19 hours and 5 minutes |
In daily use, the 13s had no trouble lasting from morning to night, and with moderate use, it stretched even further. So, battery anxiety is not a thing with this one.
While the OnePlus 13 supports 100W charging, the 13s dials it down slightly to 80W—likely a strategic move to keep thermals in check and the price in balance. Still, OnePlus deserves credit for including the 80W SUPERVOOC charger in the box, something that’s become a rarity. And with a full top-up in just 42 minutes, it hardly feels like a compromise.
So, while the numbers may not shout “big battery,” the experience speaks volumes.
Verdict
So, is the OnePlus 13s worth considering at Rs 54,999? For those seeking a compact smartphone that doesn’t compromise on flagship essentials, the answer leans confidently towards yes.
The OnePlus 13s delivers a rare blend of performance and portability, powered by Qualcomm’s most advanced chipset to date—shared by several 2025 premium-tier smartphones. It houses a generous 5,850mAh battery, features a thoughtfully compact design, and introduces the Plus Key, offering a suite of genuinely useful AI features.
Positioned strategically between the OnePlus 13R and the standard OnePlus 13, the 13s strikes a well-calculated balance. It borrows performance strengths from the higher-end model while maintaining a more approachable size and form factor. Most importantly, it defies the long-standing notion that compact phones are built for compromise. Even its pricing sits comfortably in the middle, making it a fitting choice for those who want a flagship experience without the premium price tag.
In real-world use, the 13s proves itself to be both powerful and practical, delivering excellent thermal management, dependable battery life, a high-quality display, and versatile camera performance. While it skips the ultra-wide lens and a few top-tier flourishes, what it offers feels more deliberate than lacking.
For users looking to escape the bulk of larger flagships without giving up on premium features, the OnePlus 13s makes a strong case for itself as one of the most well-rounded compact smartphones currently available.
