OnePlus 13s Blends OnePlus X Pocketability With OnePlus 13 Power

Forbes

2 days ago

OnePlus 13s in Green Silk color
The OnePlus 13s is a refreshing take on small(er) phones. With mainstream smartphones continuously growing in size, the definition of a 'compact phone' has changed over the years. It isn't iPhone 12 mini-size small. In fact, it is slightly taller than the iPhone 16 Pro but it is compact by 2025 standards. The 13s is the first OnePlus phone in seven years to feature a 6.3-inch display (the last one was the OnePlus 6 in 2018 with a 6.28-inch screen) and it does so while being 5mm smaller than the 2018 OnePlus flagship.
The OnePlus 13s borrows its DNA from the OnePlus 13 and packs it into a more pocketable form factor. That's not to say you get everything you'd want from a flagship phone. But it gets close. Here are five things you need to know about the refreshingly new OnePlus 13s.
OnePlus 13s display
The OnePlus 13s reminds me of the decade-old OnePlus X for two reasons. First, it isn't the smallest phone, but it is comparatively smaller in its era. Second, it deviates from the flagship OnePlus design. The company has gone for a bolder look with a redesigned camera module, a boxier frame with flat sides, and by replacing the iconic Alert Slider with a Plus Key.
In terms of actual numbers, the OnePlus 13s measures 150.8 x 71.7 x 8.2mm. As mentioned, it's just slightly taller than the iPhone 16 Pro (149.6mm) and 12.9mm smaller than the OnePlus 13.
It weighs significantly less than both of those flagship devices. At 185 grams, the OnePlus 13s is not only pocketable but also comfortable to hold.
OnePlus 13s with OnePlus 13 in the background
The OnePlus 13s features a 6.32-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and FHD+ resolution. It is sharp, bright, and offers an enjoyable content consumption experience.
Like other OnePlus 13 series phones, you also get Aqua Touch 2.0 tech for better usability in rain or around the pool, plus Glove Mode. However, don't submerge it in water – it's not rated for freshwater submersion, with an IP65 rating.
The 13s is powered by the same Snapdragon 8 Elite as the OnePlus 13. It is paired with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage. It does a good job at heat dissipation and doesn't overheat during gaming, unless you're pushing it to the limits for more than 30 minutes.
OnePlus 13s
The OnePlus 13s sports a dual rear camera setup led by a 50MP Sony LYT-700 sensor (same as the OnePlus 13R) and a 50MP Samsung JN5 telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom. You'll get better results than the OnePlus 13R, despite using the same sensor.
The OnePlus 13s captures vibrant photos in daylight with slight oversaturation. It also snaps good-looking photos in indoor lighting. However, there's a noticeable color shift between 2x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom.
OnePlus 13s portrait and color shift between 2x and 4x zoom.
As for portraits, you don't get the option to choose the main sensor or digital zoom—they can only be shot at 2x. Flipping things around, the selfie shooter is better than on previous OnePlus phones, thanks to autofocus.
One of the best parts about the OnePlus 13s is its battery life. You don't have to compromise on battery for pocketability. There's a 5,850mAh cell that easily lasts all day and supports 80W fast wired charging.
OnePlus 13s and iPhone 16 Pro
OnePlus is moving on from the iconic Alert Slider for a Plus Key. Like iPhone 16's Action Button, it lets you toggle certain actions with a press and hold. A new addition to that functionality is AI Plus Mind, which analyzes whatever is on your screen—notes, articles, calendar invites, etc.—and saves it to a single place called Mind Space.
The problem is, it doesn't do much beyond summarizing the on-screen information. It suggests actions based on the content, like creating a calendar event from an invite. But it misses the details. The AI feature doesn't take different time zones into account. It created a 3pm IST event for a 3pm BST invite. Like almost every other AI feature, it remains unreliable, doesn't save time, and creates a layer of doubt around everything it saves. I wouldn't rely on any kind of AI summary for an important task.
OnePlus 13s
The OnePlus 13s is an India-only phone. This means, it won't be launching in the US or UK. It is positioned between the OnePlus 13R and the OnePlus 13.
The OnePlus 13s is available in two configurations: 12GB/256GB and 12GB/512GB. The base model starts at INR 54,999 (approx. $640) and goes up to INR 59,999 (approx. $699) for the 512GB variant. It comes in Green Silk, Black Velvet, and Pink Satin color options.