OnePlus 13s Review: The Compact Flagship That’s Actually Exciting in 2025

Let’s be honest, most new phones these days feel like déjà vu with a shinier coat. But the OnePlus 13s? It’s the rare device that actually made me pause, grin, and think, “Now, this could shake things up.” If you’re tired of palm-stretching slabs and want a flagship that fits your life (and your jeans), the OnePlus 13s is gunning for your attention. But is it really the best compact phone under ₹60,000? Let’s dive in.

OnePlus 13s Review: The Compact 2025 Flagship Excitement

Our in-depth OnePlus 13s review: Is this compact 2025 flagship with Snapdragon 8 Elite, huge battery, and AI worth it? See specs, camera, and price for India

Editor's Rating:
4.2

Pros

Compact, premium build with IP65 rating

Gorgeous 1.5K AMOLED display, 120Hz refresh

Snapdragon 8 Elite delivers flagship performance

All-day battery with superfast charging

Clean OxygenOS 15, long update promise

Thoughtful AI features and programmable Plus key

Cons

Telephoto camera struggles in low light, no OIS

No wireless charging

Macro photography is just average

See Full Specifications

First Impressions: Who Is the OnePlus 13s For?

Right out of the box, the OnePlus 13s screams premium, but not in that over-the-top, look-at-me way. This is a phone for folks who want top-tier performance, a killer screen, and a battery that won’t tap out by dinner all without lugging around a mini tablet. If you’re a power user, gamer, or just want a phone that feels fast and future-ready, the 13s is absolutely worth a look.

OnePlus 13s Display and Design: Pocketable, Premium, and Practical

Okay, let’s talk about ergonomics. The 6.32-inch LTPO AMOLED display is a sweet spot big enough for immersive Netflix binges, but compact enough to actually use one-handed. With a crisp 1.5K resolution (1216×2640 pixels, 460 PPI), everything from text to photos pops with detail. The bezels are slim, the Crystal Shield Glass feels sturdy, and at 185g, it’s light without feeling cheap.

Brightness? You get up to 1600 nits peak (with a wild 4500 nits in certain HDR scenarios), so outdoor visibility is solid, even if not quite matching the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s retina-searing output. The 120Hz adaptive refresh rate makes scrolling and gaming buttery smooth, and the 2160Hz PWM dimming is a godsend for late-night doom scrolling with no eye fatigue here. IP65 water and dust resistance is a welcome bonus.

Camera System: Point, Shoot, and Mostly Smile

Here’s where things get interesting. The OnePlus 13s rocks a dual 50MP rear setup: a main sensor and a 2x telephoto. In daylight, shots are punchy, detailed, and contrasty, think vibrant social media-ready snaps with minimal fuss. The color science is generally consistent, though shadow detail can sometimes take a hit, and occasionally, images look a bit flat or low-contrast.

The telephoto lens is surprisingly capable for its class, especially at 2x and even up to 4x digital zoom thanks to clever processing, you get usable shots without the usual mushiness. But let’s not sugarcoat it: low-light performance on the telephoto is just okay, with digital zoom taking over and detail dropping off. Macro mode? Meh results are fine for casual close-ups, but don’t expect miracles.

The 32 MP front camera is a star for selfies, with autofocus that nails sharpness whether you’re solo or wrangling a group. Video? You get 4K at 30/60fps on the rear, and 4K30 on the front footage is stable and color-accurate, though the telephoto lacks OIS, so keep your hands steady for zoomed-in shots.

Honestly, for a phone at this price, I’m just not sold on the camera, especially when the lights go down. Low-light shots consistently struggle with detail, often looking soft and muddy where I’d expect crispness. And don’t even get me started on portrait mode; the depth processing feels hit-or-miss, sometimes cutting out too much or leaving awkward halos, rather than giving that smooth, natural bokeh. Plus, the skin tones often come out looking a bit off, lacking that vibrant, true-to-life warmth I see on other flagships. It’s a shame because a good camera is paramount for me, and this one just doesn’t quite hit the mark for its cost.

Performance and Software: Fast, Fluid, and Future-Proof

Under the hood, the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip paired with 12GB RAM is an absolute beast. Daily use is snappy, apps open instantly, multitasking is seamless, and there’s zero lag, even with heavy loads.

Gaming? This is where the 13s shines. Company Claims BGMI runs at a rock-solid 120 FPS with frame boost, and even demanding titles like Genshin Impact don’t make it sweat, no overheating, no frame drops. OxygenOS 15 (based on Android 15) is clean, bloat-free, and promises four years of OS updates and six years of security patches, which is huge for peace of mind.

Battery Life and Charging: All-Day Power, Lightning Refills

The 5,800mAh battery is a monster for a phone this size. In real-world use, I easily got a day and a half with heavy streaming, gaming, and social scrolling. Even power users will struggle to kill it in a single day. When you do need juice, 80W SuperVOOC charging gets you from zero to 100% in about 35 minutes. No wireless charging, though a bit of a miss at this price, but not a dealbreaker for most.

Features and AI: Smarter Than Your Average Flagship

Here’s where OnePlus is pushing boundaries. The new “Plus key” replaces the classic alert slider, a bold move. It’s a programmable button: launch your favorite app, trigger AI features, or even start a translation with a single press. The OnePlus 13s debuts a suite of AI tools: AI Plus Mind for smart info recall, AI VoiceScribe for call summaries, AI Reframe for photo composition, and AI Best Face 2.0 to fix those blink-and-miss group shots.

There’s also deep Gemini integration for on-device AI tasks, and OnePlus promises a hybrid privacy approach where sensitive stuff stays on your phone, while heavy lifting goes to an encrypted cloud. It’s not just marketing fluff; these features genuinely make day-to-day use more convenient and personalized.

OnePlus 13s Price: Flagship Value, Mid-Premium Tag

Pricing starts at ₹54,999 for the 12GB/256GB model, and ₹59,999 for the 12GB/512GB variant. For what you’re getting, the Snapdragon 8 Elite, a stellar display, big battery, and bleeding-edge AI it’s a compelling package, especially compared to rivals that push ₹70,000 and up.

OnePlus 13s vs Competition: How Does It Stack Up?

The OnePlus 13s undercuts its main rivals on price, offers a more compact form, and matches or beats them in performance and battery life. The camera is competitive, but if photography is your top priority, you might want to look at the Xiaomi 15 or Galaxy S25 Ultra. For most users, though, the 13s strikes a killer balance.

The Verdict: Is the OnePlus 13s Worth Buying?

If you want a compact flagship that doesn’t compromise on power, display, or battery and you’re intrigued by genuinely useful AI features the OnePlus 13s is a no-brainer. It’s not perfect (that telephoto camera could use OIS, and wireless charging would be nice), but for the price, it’s easily one of the best all-rounders of 2025.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely, especially if you’re tired of oversized phones or want a flagship that feels fresh. Just remember: if you’re a hardcore mobile photographer, check out the competition first.

What are your thoughts on the OnePlus 13s? Would you pick compact power over camera prowess? Drop your take in the comments below!