Compact phones in the past used to come with compromises. Their small form factor often meant smaller batteries, thermal throttling, or both, just to keep heat and performance in check. While brands like Apple, Google, and Samsung have kept the category alive, they’ve mostly done so quietly, in the shadows of their spec-heavy, supersized siblings. Now, OnePlus has entered the chat with the OnePlus 13s, and it feels like 2025 is witnessing a revival of compact phones. I recently reviewed the OnePlus 13s, and I loved using it.
This phone reminded me why I used to love compact phones in the first place. And why maybe bigger isn’t always better.
A form factor that just makes sense
The moment I picked up the Rs 55,000 OnePlus 13s, I loved its in-hand feel. That immediate comfort in the hand. The kind of feeling you don’t get with big phones that make you work hard to reach the top corner of the screen. It’s light, it’s slim, and it doesn’t bulge awkwardly out of your pocket. It doesn’t demand attention with flashy colours or curved glass edges. It just fits.
At 185 grams and 8.15mm thick, the OnePlus 13s feels like a return to sanity. And it doesn’t compromise to get there either. There’s a ProXDR LTPO display that’s sharp, bright, and perfectly usable even under Delhi’s intense summer sun.
So no, going small doesn’t mean cutting corners. At least, not anymore.
A flagship, not a filler
It’s easy to assume a compact phone means “lite” or “mid-tier.” The OnePlus 13s throws that assumption out the window. It’s powered by the same Snapdragon 8 Elite chip you’ll find on the brand’s bigger, beefier models. Performance is as snappy as you’d expect from a 2025 flagship. Day-to-day tasks are handled without a hiccup. Gaming is smooth, thermals are under control, and AI features, while a bit hit-or-miss in usefulness, add a layer of modernity you don’t mind exploring.
Compact doesn’t mean compromise. Mostly.
The one area where you do feel a bit of that “compact compromise” is the camera system. Don’t get me wrong. The primary 50MP shooter is solid. In daylight, especially, it delivers crisp, vibrant shots with pleasing contrast. I took it on a trip to Malaysia, and the photos below speak for themselves.
But the lack of a wide-angle lens is hard to ignore. The 2x telephoto is fine, but fixed focal length in Portrait mode feels limiting. Against the Pixel 9a, the OnePlus 13s holds its own in some areas, like sharper selfies, but falls short in others, like colour accuracy and portrait versatility.
Still, for casual users, the camera experience won’t be a deal-breaker. It’s not the best in class, but it’s not bad either.
And it’s not trying too hard to be different. The design is elegant, the frame is flat and grippy, and the matte back (especially in Green Silk) looks subtly premium. You won’t catch people gawking at it from across the room, but maybe that’s the point. It’s quietly confident.
In conclusion
In a sea of ever-growing smartphones, the OnePlus 13s is a refreshing change. It made me fall in love with compact phones again, not just because it’s small, but because it’s smart about what it offers in that size. There’s power, endurance, and elegance, all wrapped up in a device that doesn’t scream for attention but wins you over anyway.
Is the OnePlus 13s perfect? No. The cameras are not versatile enough and the phone misses out on wireless charging. But if you’re tired of phones that require both hands and a table to use comfortably, the OnePlus 13s is worth a look. It reminded me that compact doesn’t mean compromise.
2025 seems to be the year compact phones make a comeback. And I’m interested to see how the upcoming Vivo X200 FE, another compact flagship phone, gives the OnePlus 13s a run for its money.
