OnePlus 13s

OnePlus 13s Review: The Small Flagship We've Been Waiting For?

So, you’re looking for a small phone in a big phone world. A device that doesn't feel like you're holding a tablet to your ear, but still packs a serious punch. Well, OnePlus might have just answered your prayers with the new OnePlus 13s. The ‘s’ here stands for small, and they are not kidding. This phone feels like a reincarnation of the beloved Zenfone 10, but with that classic OnePlus flair. But is it all hype, or is this the compact flagship to beat? Let's break it down.

Design and Build: A Breath of Fresh Air

Right out of the box, the OnePlus 13s feels fantastic. It’s got that flat front and back aesthetic that’s very in right now, and the 6.3-inch display makes it incredibly comfortable to hold and use with one hand. In a sea of massive flagships, this is a welcome change. The build quality feels solid, though OnePlus has made a couple of interesting choices here. There's no official IP rating for water and dust resistance, which is a bit of a letdown for a phone in this price range. It’s a trade-off, and one you’ll have to decide if you’re willing to make for the sake of size.

The display itself is a beauty. It’s a 120Hz LTPO panel, which means you get those buttery smooth scrolls and animations, but it can also intelligently ramp down the refresh rate to save battery. It gets plenty bright at 1600 nits for outdoor use and can dim all the way down to 1.1 nits for comfortable nighttime reading. Plus, with PWM Dimming, it’s easier on the eyes in low light.

Performance: Tiny But Mighty

Under the hood, the OnePlus 13s is rocking the brand new Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, paired with a hefty 12GB of RAM and a whopping 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage. Let's be clear, this phone flies. From everyday tasks to intense gaming sessions, the 13s handles everything you throw at it without breaking a sweat. It’s a flagship-level experience in a compact form factor, and that’s something we don’t see very often.

OnePlus AI: A Glimpse into the Future

OnePlus is also dipping its toes into the AI game with this release. There's a customizable AI key on the side, which by default, saves notes and ideas to a "Mind Space," similar to what we've seen on the Nothing phones. It's a neat idea for quickly jotting down thoughts without unlocking your phone.

The real AI magic, however, is in the camera and translation apps. The AI Editor can unblur moving objects and even erase pesky reflections from glass in your photos. It's not perfect, but when it works, it's impressive. The live audio translation for multilingual conversations is another promising feature, though it's still in its early days.

Camera: Good, But Not Groundbreaking

The camera system on the OnePlus 13s is solid, but it’s not going to dethrone the big players like the Pixel or the iPhone. In good lighting, you’ll get sharp, vibrant photos with that signature OnePlus color science. The AI enhancements do help in tricky situations, but it can sometimes feel a bit artificial.

Where it struggles a bit is in low light. The images are usable, but they can be a bit noisy and lack the detail of its more expensive competitors. For the average user, the camera will be more than enough, but if you’re a serious mobile photographer, you might want to look elsewhere.

Battery and Charging: The Two-Day Champion

This is where the OnePlus 13s truly shines. Despite its small size, OnePlus has managed to cram a massive 5850mAh battery into this phone. The result? A legitimate two-day battery life for most users. This is a game-changer for the compact phone category, and it’s a huge reason to consider the 13s.

When you do finally need to top up, the 80W fast charging will get you back to 100% in no time. The one big omission here is wireless charging. It’s a feature that’s become standard on most flagships, and its absence is definitely felt.

Price and Value: The Sweet Spot

The OnePlus 13s is priced at ₹54,999 in India, with bank offers bringing it down to a very tempting ₹49,999. For what you’re getting – a powerful processor, a great display, and incredible battery life – that’s a fantastic deal. It undercuts many of its competitors while still offering a premium experience.