The compact flagship space is nearly extinct, but the OnePlus 13S is here to revive it — and possibly redefine it. With its 6.3-inch display, it sets a new bar for what we now consider “small” in 2025. For anyone mourning the death of the Zenfone 10 or craving a high-end phone that doesn’t require two hands at all times, the 13S is an instant conversation starter.
What really makes this device special isn’t just the size, though. It’s the combination of that downsized frame with specs you’d normally expect from a much bigger phone — including a flagship-level Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 (or “Elite”), plenty of fast RAM, and a display that could easily pass for a premium Android slab.
Then there’s the shocker: a massive 5,850 mAh battery inside this tiny chassis. That’s right — this compact device doesn’t just punch above its weight in performance, it obliterates expectations on battery life. Add in OnePlus’ signature smooth OxygenOS software, 80W fast charging, and brand-new AI tools, and you’ve got something unusually compelling.
However, like every OnePlus device, the 13S comes with its own set of quirks and trade-offs. No wireless charging, an arguably underwhelming camera setup, and a few interface oddities are among the compromises. But if you’ve been searching for a flagship that fits your hand and your pocket — literally and figuratively — the OnePlus 13S just might be your unicorn.
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Key Highlights
The OnePlus 13S brings flagship power to a rare breed of smartphone — the compact class. With its 6.3-inch LTPO OLED display, the phone walks a fine line between usability and screen real estate, delivering pixel-dense visuals with adaptive refresh rates from 1Hz to 120Hz. At just 6.3 inches, it joins the iPhone 16 and Galaxy S25 as one of the few small flagships that doesn’t skimp on display quality or build.
Powering it all is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 “Elite” chip, paired with 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage. That’s serious firepower in a device smaller than most mid-range phones. The bezels are symmetrical, the flat front and back are trendy for 2025, and the matte glass rear feels premium to the touch.
Then comes the wild part: a 5,850 mAh battery in this compact chassis. It’s not even a silicon-carbon cell — just a dense, well-engineered lithium-ion unit. This leads to easy two-day battery life with standard use, all topped off with 80W fast charging support.
The phone replaces OnePlus’ iconic alert slider with a new programmable “Plus” key, unlocking AI tools such as screenshot memory banks, translation tools, and an intelligent photo editor. While not entirely new to the smartphone space, these AI integrations are deeply embedded into OxygenOS 15 and bring practical everyday enhancements.
But this isn’t a perfect phone — especially if you’re camera-focused. The dual-camera system lacks an ultrawide sensor, and while the main 50MP shooter is serviceable, it’s not competitive with other flagships in this tier.
Still, the OnePlus 13S isn’t trying to be everything. It’s trying to be compact, powerful, and long-lasting — and in those three categories, it shines.
Hardware & Display
The OnePlus 13S is unmistakably compact by 2025 standards, but that doesn’t mean it compromises on materials or presentation. The aluminum frame is precision-machined and chamfered for grip, while the rear glass panel is coated in a satin matte finish that resists fingerprints and adds a soft-touch feel. It’s subtle yet elegant, feeling closer to a premium flagship than its $650 price tag might suggest.
From the front, the phone flaunts an incredibly clean aesthetic — symmetrical bezels, no distracting curves, and a flat display that’s flush with the frame. OnePlus clearly took inspiration from modern minimalism, and the result is a device that feels timeless and polished. The build is rock solid, with clicky buttons and tight tolerances throughout.
But the real star is the 6.3-inch LTPO AMOLED panel. It pushes near-QHD resolution with up to 1600 nits peak brightness and supports true 10-bit color. With adaptive refresh from 1Hz to 120Hz, it offers smooth scrolling and dynamic energy saving without manual tweaking. What’s more, PWM dimming at ultra-low brightness levels makes this one of the most eye-friendly displays in its class — perfect for night owls or low-light readers.
Color calibration out of the box is on point, and there’s support for sRGB, DCI-P3, and Pro modes for users who prefer granular control. Viewing angles are excellent, touch response is fast, and there’s no annoying ghosting or jelly scrolling — everything just feels fluid.
Surprisingly, this is not a corner-cut panel. It’s nearly flagship-tier in every metric, rivaling those found on the Galaxy S25 and iPhone 16. It even holds up under bright sunlight, thanks to impressive outdoor visibility tuning.
The only compromise? No HDR10+ or Dolby Vision certification, which might disappoint cinephiles — though for a compact phone, this is easily forgiven.
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Camera Performance: Decent, But Not a Showstopper
Main Sensor: Capable, but Unremarkable
The OnePlus 13S features a 50MP main sensor — the same Omnivision unit found in the ROG Phone 9 and Moto Edge 50. It’s optically stabilized, and in daylight, it produces detailed, well-balanced photos with good dynamic range. Colors lean slightly cool but remain natural, and sharpening isn’t overly aggressive. This camera is fine for casual photography — think pets, food, and social outings — but it doesn’t quite have the punch of flagship cameras from Samsung, Apple, or Xiaomi.
Low Light Performance: Passable but Lacking Flagship Magic
At night, the sensor pulls in a fair amount of detail, and Night Mode does its best to brighten shadows and control highlights. However, there’s visible noise in darker areas, and image processing can over-smooth textures. It’s usable, but not particularly impressive — photos look better on the phone screen than they do on a monitor.
2x Telephoto: A Curious Choice
Instead of an ultrawide or a better zoom, OnePlus chose to include a 2x telephoto camera. While this is handy for portraits and some zoom flexibility, its usefulness is limited. There’s no OIS here, and in less-than-perfect lighting, sharpness takes a hit. The absence of an ultrawide sensor is notable — especially when phones half this price often include one.
Selfie Camera: It Depends on the Variant
The global version of the 13S comes with a 32MP front-facing shooter that performs reasonably well. Skin tones are handled nicely, details are crisp in good lighting, and the dynamic range is acceptable. In contrast, the China-specific model swaps this out for a smaller 16MP camera — which is slightly inferior in detail but helps save internal space to allow for a larger battery.
Video Recording: Good Enough for Casual Use
Video capture tops out at 4K 60fps on the main lens, and stabilization is decent for handheld clips. Autofocus is responsive, though it can occasionally hunt in backlit scenes. Audio pickup is clear, and the footage is suitable for casual creators — just don’t expect cinematic performance or standout HDR processing.
Pro Mode and Camera App: Solid Features, Familiar Layout
OnePlus includes a well-stocked Pro mode with access to ISO, white balance, shutter speed, and RAW capture. The interface is clean, responsive, and largely unchanged from recent OnePlus models. You also get standard filters, HDR toggles, beauty effects, and scene optimizations — all working as expected.
Final Camera Verdict
If photography is your top priority, the OnePlus 13S likely won’t win you over. It’s not bad — it just doesn’t bring anything new to the table. For casual snaps and quick video, it holds its own, but the lack of an ultrawide and the underwhelming telephoto sensor make this camera setup feel limited compared to competitors like the Galaxy S25 or Pixel 8.
AI Features and the Custom Plus Key
One of the boldest changes to the OnePlus 13S isn’t just inside — it’s right on the side of the phone. The iconic alert slider, a fan-favorite feature since the early OnePlus days, is gone. In its place is a new, customizable button called the Plus Key, designed to tie in with OnePlus’ latest AI push.
By default, pressing the Plus Key saves your current screen to a feature called Mind Flow — essentially an AI-powered memory bank that stores and organizes screenshots, images, and actions for later use. It’s similar to the “Essential Space” found in Nothing OS, allowing users to revisit saved information like concert posters or receipts with contextual suggestions and smart extraction.
The button can be remapped for various functions: launching the camera, activating an app, or running a quick command. The flexibility is welcome, even if it won’t make up for the alert slider’s absence for longtime fans.
OnePlus is also integrating generative AI tools directly into its system apps. The Photos app includes new AI editing tools that can remove background objects, reflections, or motion blur. There’s also a live translator app for real-time multilingual conversations — handy in travel scenarios.
The AI isn’t limited to gimmicks. There are subtle enhancements like context-aware text recognition in screenshots and smarter clipboard suggestions, though none of it is groundbreaking compared to what Google, Samsung, or Apple already offer.
Still, the tight integration of these tools and their accessibility through the Plus Key makes the experience feel cohesive and useful — especially for users new to AI features.
Software and UI Features
The OnePlus 13S ships with OxygenOS 15, layered over Android 15, and the experience remains one of the smoothest and most responsive on Android. Animations are fluid, multitasking is snappy, and system-wide performance feels finely tuned, even on the smaller screen. OnePlus continues to offer granular control over customization, themes, icon packs, and gestures — and nearly everything can be toggled or tailored to preference.
The phone also introduces a clever new gesture: icon pull-down. With a single swipe from the edge, all home screen icons shift toward your thumb, making one-handed use significantly easier. It’s a small touch, but incredibly effective — especially on compact devices like the 13S.
Notifications are well-managed, app launch times are swift, and background processes are smartly balanced for battery and performance. While the OS still borrows visual cues from ColorOS, OnePlus has cleaned up much of the bloat and removed unnecessary duplication.
Security features include an in-display optical fingerprint scanner — accurate, though not as fast or secure as ultrasonic alternatives — and robust app permissions management.
Updates are promised for four years of major Android versions and five years of security patches, bringing the 13S closer to the update cycles of Pixel and Samsung flagships — a major plus for long-term buyers.
Battery Life
The battery performance on the OnePlus 13S isn’t just good — it’s nearly unbelievable for a phone this size. Tucked inside the compact frame is a massive 5,850 mAh lithium-ion cell. It’s not a silicon-carbon unit, either — just a cleverly packed standard chemistry battery that defies expectations.
In real-world use, the battery delivers solid two-day endurance. With auto brightness, LTPO refresh scaling, and moderate use of apps, streaming, and photography, it easily crosses the 8-9 hour screen-on-time mark. Even heavy users pushing high brightness and gaming will struggle to kill this phone in a single day.
Charging is equally impressive. The 13S supports 80W wired charging, juicing the device from near-empty to 100% in around 35 minutes. No wireless charging here — a classic OnePlus omission — but with such efficient wired speed, it’s hard to complain.
For compact flagship seekers, this is arguably the longest-lasting phone available. OnePlus clearly prioritized endurance, and it pays off in daily reliability and peace of mind.
Availability
The OnePlus 13S is currently exclusive to the Chinese market, with no confirmed plans for a global or U.S. release. That’s a disappointment for fans of compact flagships worldwide, especially in North America, where devices under 6.3 inches are virtually extinct.
Importing the device is possible through select online retailers, but it comes with caveats: limited 5G band support, lack of warranty, and no official software updates tied to global rollout. U.S. buyers in particular may experience inconsistent network performance, especially on Verizon or AT&T.
The Chinese model also differs slightly from what a potential global version might have included — most notably, it swaps the 32MP selfie camera for a 16MP sensor but includes a slightly larger 6,260 mAh battery, thanks to saved internal space.
There’s no word yet on whether a rebranded or tweaked version of the 13S might reach international markets, but for now, it remains a China-first device, primarily targeted at fans of the OnePlus brand and compact design ethos.
Price and Value
At a starting price of around ¥3,699 CNY (~$650 USD equivalent), the OnePlus 13S delivers outstanding value for what it offers. For this cost, you’re getting a Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 flagship chip, 12GB of RAM, UFS 4.0 storage, a high-end LTPO display, and that massive 5,850 mAh battery — all in a compact, premium chassis.
Compared to other flagships in its weight class, there’s little competition at this size and price point. The Galaxy S25 starts closer to $800, the iPhone 16 is even more expensive, and neither offer battery life as impressive as the 13S. The 80W charging support and long update commitment only sweeten the pot.
That said, some compromises do factor in: no wireless charging, no ultrawide camera, and limited U.S. availability. For users outside of China, importing adds complexity and potential trade-offs in network performance and service.
Still, for enthusiasts or compact phone fans willing to go the extra mile, the OnePlus 13S offers a spec-to-price ratio that’s incredibly hard to beat in 2025.
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Conclusion
The OnePlus 13S isn’t just a compact phone — it’s a rare breed. In a world where most flagships continue to get bigger, this device redefines what “small” can still mean in 2025. It doesn’t compromise on power, display quality, or battery life — and that alone makes it standout.
With a stunning 6.3-inch LTPO display, Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 performance, and an almost absurd 5,850 mAh battery packed into a lightweight shell, this phone is perfect for those who prioritize one-handed usability without sacrificing flagship specs.
It’s not perfect. The lack of wireless charging, a missing ultrawide camera, and no official U.S. launch are all notable shortcomings. But what it offers — especially in battery life, software polish, and build quality — makes it one of the most balanced compact phones we’ve seen in years.
For international users, it’s more of a tech enthusiast’s collectible than a mainstream recommendation. But if you can live with the trade-offs and manage the import, the OnePlus 13S is arguably the most practical “small” flagship in the Android world today.
Is the OnePlus 13S coming to the U.S. or global markets? What is the screen size of the OnePlus 13S? How is the battery life on the OnePlus 13S? Does the OnePlus 13S support wireless charging? What processor does the OnePlus 13S use? What cameras does the OnePlus 13S have? What is the Plus Key on the OnePlus 13S? How much does the OnePlus 13S cost? How long will the OnePlus 13S receive software updates? Is the OnePlus 13S good for photography?
Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
Looking for Alternatives? Here Are 3 Strong Compact Flagship Options
While the OnePlus 13S shines in size, performance, and battery life, it’s not the perfect fit for everyone — especially if you’re outside China or prioritize camera versatility. Here are three top-tier alternatives worth considering:
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Samsung Galaxy S25
With a 6.2-inch display, triple-camera setup (including ultrawide and 3x zoom), and full global 5G support, the Galaxy S25 is the best all-around compact flagship available globally. You also get wireless charging, IP68 water resistance, and One UI’s robust ecosystem. Buy it on Amazon now!! -
Apple iPhone 16
At 6.1 inches, the iPhone 16 remains one of the smallest true flagship devices. It offers class-leading performance, superior video recording, tight app integration, and the longest software support in the industry — ideal for those embedded in the Apple ecosystem. Buy it on Amazon now!! -
Xiaomi 15
Just a hair above 6.3 inches, the Xiaomi 15 delivers Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 power, Leica-backed cameras with advanced imaging features, and global variants with competitive pricing. It’s arguably the most direct competitor to the OnePlus 13S, with added photography credibility. Buy it on Amazon now!!
