Alright, let’s talk about the OnePlus 13s. In a world where phones are basically tablets that fit in your pocket, OnePlus has done something kinda brave: they’ve made a smaller phone. And after using it for a solid month, I think a lot of people are going to be really happy about that.
The first thing you notice picking up the OnePlus 13s is that it just feels… right. It’s light (only 185g!), and that matte texture on the back means you’re not constantly adjusting your grip. It’s the first phone in ages I can truly use with one hand without doing finger gymnastics.
They’ve also smoothed out the camera bump so it lays totally flat on a table—no more wobbly coffee table scrolling. Oh, and they swapped the classic alert slider for a new customizable “Plus Key.” You can set it to do pretty much anything—mute your phone, launch the camera, take a screenshot. It’s a cool little tweak that makes the phone feel uniquely yours.
The Screen is Small But Seriously Impressive
Just because the screen is smaller (6.3 inches is still plenty big, don’t worry) doesn’t mean it’s a compromise. This thing is gorgeous. It’s super smooth (120Hz, baby!), gets insanely bright so you can see it in sunlight, and watching shows on it is a legit great experience. The fingerprint reader is fast and placed perfectly for your thumb to naturally find it.
Performance: No Lag, No Sweat, Literally.
This phone is powered by the same top-shelf Snapdragon chip you find in bigger flagships. Apps fly open, and scrolling is buttery. But the real story here isn’t just speed—it’s that this thing barely gets warm.
I played Genshin Impact for way longer than I should have, and it handled it like a champ. No stutters, no frantic overheating warnings. OnePlus clearly put some serious work into keeping this compact phone cool, and it shows.
The Software is Smooth and Actually Smart
Mind Space: This is wild. It can look at a screenshot of a restaurant bill and summarize it, or pull a date from a text message and suggest adding it to your calendar. It doesn’t always work perfectly, but when it does, it feels like magic.
AI Voice Assistant: This thing can record and transcribe meetings from Zoom or WhatsApp and then give you a bullet-point summary. As someone who zones out in meetings, this is a game-changer.
Plus, OnePlus is promising years of updates, which is always good to hear.
The Battery Life is Absolutely Bananas
This is the biggest shocker. For a smaller phone, the battery life is unbelievable. I’m ending most days with 40% left, which just doesn’t happen. With normal use—social media, some photos, emails, YouTube—I was easily getting 6 to 7 hours of screen time. It’s a total game-changer and completely kills that daily “battery anxiety.”
And when it does die, the 80W charger zaps it back to 100% in under an hour. Yeah, no wireless charging is a bummer, but it’s hard to complain when it charges this fast.
Now, The Cameras… They’re Good, But…
Let’s be real. The cameras are fine. The main camera takes great photos in daylight and pretty good ones at night, though they can sometimes look a little too saturated. The 2x zoom is useful for portraits.
My biggest gripe? There’s no ultra-wide camera. For a phone at this price, that feels like a weird choice. I’d trade the telephoto for an ultra-wide any day. The selfie camera is very detailed—sometimes a little too honest, if you know what I mean!
The Bottom Line: Should You Buy It?
The OnePlus 13s starts at ₹54,999, but you can often find it for less with offers.
Get this phone if:
- You’re tired of giant, heavy phones that are hard to handle.
- You want all-day battery life without compromise.
- You love smooth software with some clever, useful features.
Maybe skip it if:
- You’re a photography pro who needs an ultra-wide lens.
- Wireless charging is a must-have for you.
Final thought: The OnePlus 13s isn’t perfect, but it’s really good. It proves you can have a powerful, premium phone that doesn’t require huge hands. If you’ve been waiting for a no-compact-compact Android, your wait might finally be over.