OnePlus has made a notable shift from launching “flagship-killer” smartphones, concentrating instead on high-end and mid-range devices within its number series and Nord lineup. The recently unveiled OnePlus 13s, however, shows promise as a potential flagship competitor, boasting impressive specifications such as the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and a robust 5,800mAh battery. Notably, it is also the first premium smartphone equipped with a compact 6.3-inch OLED screen, which is slightly larger than the standard iPhone 16.
In India, the OnePlus 13s comes in two configurations: the base model with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage priced at Rs. 54,999, and a higher-end variant featuring 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage available for Rs. 59,999. Our review examines whether the OnePlus 13s justifies this price tag.
OnePlus 13s Design: Compact and User-Friendly
- Dimensions – 150.8×71.7×8.2 mm
- Weight – 185g
- Colours – Black Velvet, Green Silk (this review’s focus), Pink Satin
The OnePlus 13s marks a departure from the trend of increasing smartphone sizes, as it is slightly smaller than the OnePlus 6, released in 2018, making it comfortable for one-handed use. Its design features flat edges and rounded corners, complemented by a matte finish on the rear panel that may acquire minor scuff marks during typical use, which are easily wiped away.
The rear of the device hosts a raised aluminum section for its dual-camera setup, an LED flash, and an infrared (IR) transmitter, which necessitates pointing the back of the device towards appliances when using remote capabilities. On the right side of the phone, users will find an accessible power button and volume rocker, although the traditional alert slider has been replaced with a customizable Plus Key, reminiscent of the iPhone 15 Pro’s Action Button.
At the bottom edge, the phone is equipped with a USB Type-C port, a SIM tray, and a speaker grille. The display features minimal bezels, the thickest being at the bottom, along with a centrally located selfie camera. The optical fingerprint scanner is positioned near the bottom edge, making it slightly less accessible.
The OnePlus 13s includes an 80W SuperVOOC charger, a USB Type-A to Type-C cable, and a matching TPU cover in the box, alongside a pre-installed plastic scratch protector which can be removed for direct display testing.
OnePlus 13s Software: Clean and Efficient
- Software – OxygenOS 15
- Version – Android 15
- Latest security update – April 1, 2025
The OnePlus 13s operates on the same bloatware-free version of OxygenOS 15 found in the brand’s recent devices, distinguishing it from the Nord series. This model offers a refined user experience enhanced by smooth animations and transitions, alongside several new AI capabilities included in the OnePlus AI suite that will also be adopted in future flagship models.
Using the OnePlus Dialer app instead of Google’s Phone app allows access to the AI VoiceScribe feature, which shows promise though it occasionally misinterprets spoken words. A built-in Translate app is available for text, image, and voice translations, featuring real-time screen translation and live captions in non-selectable text environments like Instagram.
The Plus Key can be programmed for functions such as toggling sound modes, launching the camera, or even taking screenshots. The OnePlus 13s introduces a new AI Plus Mind system that organizes relevant information in a central space called Mind Space, allowing for contextual suggestions based on in-app prompts.
Additional AI-powered image editing options are integrated within the Photos app, enabling features like reflection removal, object erasure, and image enhancement with mixed results. The Plus Key can also activate these powerful AI features while browsing apps, providing relevant feedback such as movie release dates with options to create calendar events.
The OnePlus 13s promises four years of Android OS upgrades alongside six years of security updates—a commendable support duration for its price bracket, although it does fall short of Samsung’s seven-year commitment for the Galaxy S24 FE.
OnePlus 13s Performance: Exceptional Output
- Processor – Snapdragon 8 Elite
- Memory – 12GB LPDDR5x
- Storage – Up to 512GB UFS 4.0
Performance-wise, the OnePlus 13s rivals other leading flagship smartphones, including the OnePlus 13. The Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset demonstrates impressive capabilities, efficiently handling demanding tasks like intense gaming and AI feature usage.
Over three weeks of daily use revealed no significant lag or hitches, aided by 12GB of RAM ensuring seamless multitasking. The UFS 4.0 storage also allows for rapid app installations. Popular games run smoothly at maximum settings without throttling, further affirming the device’s high-performance potential.
The OnePlus 13s has delivered competitive results in synthetic benchmarks against peers like the OnePlus 13, iPhone 16e, and Oppo Find X8, showcasing its prowess.
| Benchmarks | OnePlus 13s | Oppo Find X8 | OnePlus 13 | iPhone 16e |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geekbench Single | 2,874 | 2,787 | 2,964 | 3,229 |
| Geekbench Multi | 8,741 | 8,391 | 9,081 | 7,888 |
| PCMark Work 3.0 | 14,491 | 12,868 | 14,431 | N/A |
| PCMark Work 3.0 Battery | 24h 59m | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| AnTuTu v10 | 24,49,859 | 23,50,546 | 22,59,761 | 13,86,440 |
| GFXB T-rex | 60 | 60 | 60 | 59 |
| GFXB Manhattan 3.1 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 59 |
| GFXB Car Chase | 60 | 60 | 60 | 59 |
| 3DM Slingshot Extreme OpenGL | Maxed Out | Maxed Out | Maxed Out | N/A |
| 3DM Slingshot | Maxed Out | Maxed Out | Maxed Out | N/A |
| 3DM Wild Life | Maxed Out | Maxed Out | Maxed Out | Maxed Out |
| 3DM Wild Life Unlimited | 23,593 | 23,225 | 25,427 | 13,146 |
This model features a 6.32-inch LTPO OLED display, which offers vibrant brightness for outdoor use while being sufficiently dim to alleviate eye strain in low-light conditions. With a peak brightness of 1,600 nits, it falls short of competitors like the Galaxy S25 and OnePlus 13, yet remains adequate for streaming high-resolution content, supporting Widevine L1.
The display refresh rate adapts between 1Hz and 120Hz, providing a responsive experience during gameplay. Like past OnePlus devices, the built-in Photos app includes a ProXDR mode to enhance image colors, though it is recommended to disable this for more accurate representations across different devices.
OnePlus 13s Cameras: A Competent Setup
- Primary camera – 50-megapixel (f/1.8), PDAF, CAF, LDAF, OIS, records up to 4K/60fps
- Telephoto camera – 50-megapixel (f/2.0), EIS, offers 2x optical zoom
- Selfie camera – 32-megapixel (f/2.0), EIS, records 4K/30fps
The phone’s primary camera, featuring a 1/1.56-inch Sony LYT-700 sensor with OIS, performs well in daylight, capturing sharp images promptly. The device also incorporates a dual exposure algorithm from the OnePlus 13 to improve image quality for moving subjects.
Fitted with a 50-megapixel telephoto lens, also built with the Samsung JN5 sensor, the OnePlus 13s provides vibrant, albeit less color-accurate photos than its primary lens. Outdoor portraits are especially strong, but indoor lighting can compromise image clarity.
The omission of an ultrawide camera, attributed to space restrictions, means wider shots will require stepping back, potentially limiting group photos.
Low-light shooting is supported by the built-in night mode, with the primary camera outperforming the telephoto lens in most challenging scenarios. Selfies from the 32-megapixel camera are generally clear, though low-light conditions may lead to some softening of details. Video recording quality is notably better from the primary rear camera, using OIS, while both cameras also offer a reliable Ultra Steady mode.
OnePlus 13s Battery: Exceptional Longevity
- Battery Capacity – 5,850mAh
- Wired Charging – 80W SuperVOOC
The OnePlus 13s packs a significant 5,800mAh battery that ensures more than a day and a half of usage on moderate tasks. Average screen-on time ranged from 10 to 12 hours, with activities including web browsing, social media, gaming, and streaming.
In controlled tests, it demonstrated impressive endurance, lasting 24 hours and 59 minutes in the PCMark battery benchmark, along with over 32 hours during video playback tests. Users can expect about 78 minutes for a full charge using the included 80W SuperVOOC charger, and reverse-wired charging is supported to power up other devices on the go, although wireless charging is not included due to the phone’s compact design.
OnePlus 13s: Final Thoughts
The OnePlus 13s stands out due to its Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and substantial battery, delivering performance comparable to its pricier counterpart, the OnePlus 13. The camera quality is an area where OnePlus has made concessions to maintain a competitive price.
However, for users prioritizing ultrawide capabilities or a more advanced telephoto lens, it may be worth exploring alternatives like the iQOO 13 or the Realme GT 7 Pro. Alternatively, the iPhone 16e or older iPhone 15 models are viable options for those preferring iOS within the same price range.
Ultimately, the OnePlus 13s embodies solid performance with a reliable display, effective chipset, commendable battery life, and a generally pleasing software experience. It delivers comparable performance to higher-priced devices, establishing itself as a strong recommendation for prospective buyers seeking a smartphone under Rs. 60,000.
