OnePlus 13s is a handy and powerful smartphone, powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. This phone comes with a big battery in a compact size, which makes it attractive. However, its design is different from OnePlus 13 and 13R. This is not just an unboxing, but a user experience review, which explains the aspects of the phone in three main parts.
The OnePlus 13s does not get some flagship features like ultra wide angle camera, IP68/69 rating, wireless charging, and ultrasonic fingerprint scanner. Instead, the company has done some cost-cutting, which makes the price of the phone worth noting. This phone falls in the compact phone category, but compared to Pixel 9 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro, it can be called more handy rather than completely compact.
The display is 6.32 inch AMOLED
The design of the phone is attractive, with a green matte finish and metal frame giving it a premium look. Its size is not exactly compact, but offers a handy experience. The flat frame and buttons have a good textile feel.
The dual stereo speakers are excellent in quality, and the haptic motor gives a strong vibration experience. There is an IP65 rating, which means it is splash proof but not submersible. The display is a 6.32-inch AMOLED with a 120Hz refresh rate, which is also suitable for outdoor use.
With Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and UFS 4.0 storage
The phone is quite fast in performance. The thermal temperature remains balanced and there is no excessive heat even after long use. The gaming experience is good, such as COD gets 120fps option and bgmi gets up to 90fps FPS. Although some throttling was seen, it remains quite controlled in real life.
Runs on Oxygen OS 15, which has new fast animations and AI features, as well as Android 15 and Android 4 update support.
5850 mAh and 80W fast charging support
There is a big battery of 5850 mAh, which comfortably lasts a day of normal use. The phone comes with 80W fast charging support, which again completes the charging process faster. There is a lack of wireless charging, which can be considered a wise cost-cutting decision to increase the battery capacity.
The selfie camera is 32MP
The camera setup has only two lenses: a 50MP main camera and a 2x telephoto lens, while the ultra wide camera is missing. The selfie camera is 32MP. The camera quality is good but does not give a tremendous experience. The OnePlus 13s is a balanced, powerful handy phone with some compromises on the camera, but its design, performance and battery make it special.
The zoom option of the 2x telephoto lens is limited and dependent on digital zoom, which reduces the utility. There is no option for 1x main camera in portrait mode, which may disappoint some users. Video recording is up to 4K, but there is no 8K support. Video quality is average and noise is also visible.
Prospective buyers should decide based on their priorities whether they want to increase the price for a better camera or make a statement that offers a better experience in other areas.
Also Read: OnePlus 13 Reviews After 3 Week Used
Conclusion and Recommendations
The OnePlus 13s is strong in terms of performance, battery and design, making it a good option for users who prioritize them. However, the camera is its weak side. If your use is more for the camera then the OnePlus 13 or 13R would be better options.
This phone is competitively priced compared to the Xiaomi 15 and Samsung Galaxy S25, where the Galaxy S25 is a better compact device but has a weaker battery. Overall, if you want fast performance with a handy size and better battery and don’t care much about the camera, then the OnePlus 13s will be the right choice for you.