OnePlus 13s Review: A compact flagship with a 5850mAh battery and Snapdragon 8 Elite. But is it worth the compromises? Read our full verdict on its camera, performance, and value.
For years, flagship phones have been getting bigger and bigger, leaving users with smaller hands (or just a love for one-handed use) out in the cold. While most people seem to love a giant screen, the “compact flagship” category has been desperately underserved.
Other companies have caught on, and now, it’s OnePlus’s turn.
Meet the OnePlus 13s, the company’s first-ever compact flagship. OnePlus claims it has flagship power with minimal compromises. But at a starting price of ₹51,999, some serious cuts had to be made.
We’ve spent a week with the 13s, and it’s a fascinating, powerful, and deeply compromised device. Let’s find out who this phone is actually for.
OnePlus 13s 5G: Specs at a Glance
| Feature | Specification |
| Body | 150.8×71.7×8.2mm, 185g; Aluminum frame; IP65 (splash resistant) |
| Display | 6.32″ LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, 1600 nits (HBM), 1216x2640px |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 830 |
| Memory | 12GB LPDDR5X RAM; 256GB/512GB UFS 4.0 Storage |
| OS | Android 15, OxygenOS 15 |
| Rear Cameras | Main: 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS Telephoto: 50 MP, f/2.0, 2x optical zoom (No Ultra-wide Camera) |
| Front Camera | 32 MP, f/2.0, 21mm (wide), Autofocus |
| Video | Rear: 4K@60fps (Dolby Vision) Front: 4K@30fps |
| Battery | 5,850mAh |
| Charging | 80W wired (charger in box) (No Wireless Charging) |
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 7, BT 5.4, NFC, IR port |
| Misc | In-display optical fingerprint reader, Stereo speakers, USB 2.0 |
Design: “Compact,” Not “Small”
Let’s get one thing straight: the OnePlus 13s isn’t “small” like an iPhone 12 mini or a Zenfone 10. It’s “compact” in the same way the Samsung Galaxy S25 or standard iPhone 15 are. At 71.7mm wide, it’s comfortable to hold in one hand, but it’s still a bit of a stretch to reach the top.
The build quality feels premium, with its flat aluminum sides and soft “Velvet Glass” back (on the pink and green models). But this is where we hit our first big compromise: the phone is only IP65 rated. That’s fine for rain or a splash, but it cannot survive being submerged in water like an IP68-rated flagship.
The ergonomics are mostly great, but the optical fingerprint sensor is placed terribly low on the screen. And at 185g, it’s surprisingly hefty for its size.
Performance: Snapdragon 8 Elite on a Leash
This is where the “flagship” claim holds up. The 13s uses the same Snapdragon 8 Elite chip as its bigger, more expensive siblings. In daily use, this phone is blazing fast. Apps open instantly, and OxygenOS 15 is fluid.
However, to manage heat in a smaller body, OnePlus used a much smaller vapor chamber (4,400mm²) compared to the full-size OnePlus 13 (9,925mm²).
What this means for you: In benchmarks and very long, intense gaming sessions, the 13s will throttle its performance more aggressively than the 13. For 99% of real-world use, however, it’s still a top-tier performance chip that handles everything you can throw at it.
Battery & Charging: The 5,850mAh Beast
This is, without a doubt, the phone’s killer feature. Fitting a 5,850mAh battery into a phone this size is an incredible engineering feat. For comparison, it’s significantly larger than the battery in a Galaxy S24 FE. As you’d expect, the battery life is phenomenal. This is an easy two-day phone for most users.
You also get an 80W SUPERVOOC charger in the box (at least in India), which fully charges the phone in about an hour.
But here comes the next major compromise: there is no wireless charging. For a phone marketed as a flagship in 2025, this is a very un-flagship-like omission.
The Controversial Camera: Goodbye, Ultra-Wide
This is the biggest shock. The OnePlus 13s does not have an ultra-wide camera.
Instead, OnePlus opted for a dual-camera system:
- 50MP Main Camera (OIS): A solid performer, delivering vibrant, detailed images with punchy contrast.
- 50MP 2x Telephoto Camera: This is a surprisingly good lens, matching the main camera’s color profile and providing sharp 2x shots. The 4x digital zoom is also very usable.
OnePlus says they ditched the ultra-wide because users prefer a telephoto. We’re not so sure. While the two cameras here are good, the lack of any ultra-wide lens feels like a massive step back and severely limits your creative options.
On the bright side, the 32MP front camera is the first on a OnePlus phone to feature autofocus, and it’s a huge upgrade for vlogging and selfies.
Software, Speakers, and the “Plus Key”
- OxygenOS 15: This is a mixed bag. The OS is fast and has great multitasking features. But it’s also full of annoyances, including bloatware (two browsers, two photo galleries), spammy notifications, and an incredibly aggressive background app-killer that shuts down apps too quickly.
- The “Plus Key”: The iconic Alert Slider is gone. In its place is the “Plus Key,” which is a less-functional, press-and-hold copy of the iPhone’s Action button. It’s a clear downgrade.
- Speakers: Another compromise. The stereo speakers are loud but sound tinny and lack any real bass. OnePlus also removed Dolby Atmos support.
Our Verdict: A “Flagship Killer,” Not a Flagship
The OnePlus 13s is not a true flagship. It’s an ill-conceived RPG build, blowing all its points on two stats (Performance and Battery) while ignoring the rest.
This phone is built almost entirely around the concept of putting a big chip and a massive battery into a compact body. To achieve that, OnePlus compromised on build (IP65), charging (no wireless), speakers (tinny), and, most bafflingly, the camera (no ultra-wide).
So, the flagship claims don’t hold up. But at a starting price of ₹51,999, it’s also not priced like one.
If you can live without an ultra-wide camera and wireless charging, and what you really want is a one-hand-friendly phone with flagship speed and two-day battery life, the OnePlus 13s is an incredible value proposition.
It’s a phone that’s easy on the pocket, both literally and figuratively.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the most controversial feature of the OnePlus 13s?
The OnePlus 13s does not have an ultra-wide camera. It features a dual-camera system with a 50MP main lens and a 50MP 2x telephoto lens.
2. Does the OnePlus 13s have wireless charging?
No, the OnePlus 13s does not support wireless charging. It only supports 80W wired charging, with the charger included in the box (in India).
3. What is the battery capacity of the OnePlus 13s?
The phone has a massive 5,850mAh battery, which is one of its biggest selling points and provides outstanding battery life for its size.
4. Is the OnePlus 13s waterproof?
No. It has an IP65 rating, which means it is dust-tight and resistant to low-pressure water jets (like rain or splashes). It cannot be submerged in water.
5. Did the OnePlus 13s remove the Alert Slider?
Yes, the iconic Alert Slider has been removed and replaced with a new “Plus Key,” which functions as a single programmable button, similar to the Action Button on an iPhone.
