OnePlus 13s Redefines Compact Flagship: Power, Battery Life, and Practical AI in a 6.3-inch Form

In an era where flagship smartphones are edging dangerously close to 7 inches, OnePlus is making a bold statement with the OnePlus 13s – a premium device packed into a relatively compact 6.32-inch body. While debates about what counts as “compact” rage on, it’s clear this phone caters to a sizable user base looking for high performance in a more manageable form.

The 13s is powered by the mighty Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Elite Edition and boasts a whopping 5,850mAh battery – the kind of battery capacity typically reserved for large devices. Combined with 80W SuperVOOC fast charging and bypass charging for gaming, this compact beast easily puts some of the bigger players to shame. Yes, even the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s 5,000mAh or iPhone 16 Pro Max’s 4,685mAh cells feel underwhelming in comparison.

It’s a lightweight device at just 185g and only 71.7mm wide – highly pocketable by modern standards. It runs Android 15-based OxygenOS 15 and includes the new “Plus Button,” a multifunctional hardware button replacing the iconic Alert Slider. This customizable button supports quick toggles, OnePlus’ new Plus Mind AI assistant, and can integrate with Mind Space – a handy organizational tool for notes and summaries.

Speaking of AI, OnePlus is leaning into utility over gimmicks. AI VoiceScribe offers real-time audio transcription and translation – even in apps like YouTube, WhatsApp, and Zoom – and saves them to the Notes app. Plus, the Dialer supports call transcription and summarization. These are real tools for real work or study, not just buzzwords.

The display is a top-notch 6.32” LTPO OLED with 1-120Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, 10-bit color, and 2,160Hz PWM dimming. The brightness reaches up to 1,600 nits in high brightness mode, and can drop to just 1.1 nit for late-night reading. That’s a wide dynamic range in a small space.

The rear camera setup features a solid 50MP Sony LYT-700 main sensor with OIS and a 50MP 2x telephoto using Samsung’s JN5 sensor. While some users lament the lack of an ultrawide camera, OnePlus seems to have chosen focus and quality over variety. On the front, the 32MP camera with autofocus and 4K recording is a rare gem even among higher-end flagships.

Connectivity is just as forward-looking – with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0 (supporting aptX HD and LDAC), an IR blaster, and India-ready 5.5G support. There’s also a clever new cooling system including a rear panel cooling layer – innovation that should appeal to mobile gamers and power users alike.

Yes, it’s basically a local version of the OnePlus 13T – but with meaningful tradeoffs. It skips the ultrawide lens but adds AI features, a better selfie camera, and more battery. Pricing starts at ₹54,999 for 12/256GB and ₹59,999 for the 512GB variant. It comes in three stylish finishes – Green Silk, Pink Satin, and Black Velvet.

In the end, whether you call 6.3 inches compact or not, the OnePlus 13s is proof that flagship power doesn’t need to come in an unwieldy brick. Compact is relative – and for many, this hits the sweet spot.