Compact phones are one of the “new” smartphone trends this year, and the OnePlus 13s came as the first mainstream offering in that category, followed by the Vivo X200 FE. The OnePlus smartphone is a flagship offering, with Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC, a large 5,850mAh battery, AI features, an LTPO AMOLED display, and more. It also serves as an affordable alternative to the bigger OnePlus 13.
We reviewed the 13s in June, where we said that it was the compact flagship phone to beat. We praised its performance, battery life, display, and AI features. The handset lacked in the camera department, with not much versatility compared to its peers. Three months later, we take another look at the smartphone, armed with insights gained from longer usage and experience. Here’s our OnePlus 13s long-term review.
Table of Contents
The perfect size
Let’s start with the highlight, its compact design. I’ve talked about it at length here, but I’ll say it again. After using it for almost three months, the OnePlus 13s still feels like a perfect everyday companion. Its lightweight and pocket-friendly size make it easy to carry around, and playing with larger phones only made me appreciate the 13s more.
I mostly used the phone with the bundled OnePlus protective case, which handled accidental drops well. Without the case, the phone feels even lighter and more comfortable to hold. The included case is sturdy enough for everyday protection but tends to pick up scratches easily, so you may want to keep an eye on that.
The smartphone features a 6.32-inch display, which is large enough for content consumption and gaming, and bigger than the Galaxy S25’s 6.2-inch and the iPhone 16’s 6.1-inch screens. If you’re coming from a phone with a larger display, you may notice the difference, but otherwise, the OnePlus 13s’ screen doesn’t feel too small. The FHD+ panel is bright, offering slightly soft colours which can be tweaked according to your preferences. Its 1,600 nits peak brightness is also sufficient for outdoor use. The adaptive refresh rate ranges from 1Hz to 120Hz, keeping scrolling smooth and fluid. Even at minimum brightness, the screen remains comfortable and visible, making it easy on the eyes for late-night doom scrolling.
Compact flagships have largely been limited to Samsung and Apple, but with devices like the OnePlus 13s and Vivo X200 FE, smaller phones are becoming more accessible without losing flagship-grade features. It’s a trend worth continuing, and one that more brands should expand into across different price segments.
Still fast and snappy
The OnePlus 13s launched with Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, paired with 12GB LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage on both variants. On paper, it has all the right flagship credentials, and in practice, it delivers. In our initial benchmark tests and review, the 13s held its own impressively against other Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered phones and even rivals like the Pixel 9a. That performance carried over to real-world use as well.
Months later, the 13s still feels as smooth and fast as it did on day one. My daily routine involves plenty of social media scrolling, streaming, video calls, and gaming, so the phone has been put through solid real-world tests. While I haven’t pushed it with heavy workloads like video editing, it easily handles everything an average user would do, and then some. Gaming, in particular, runs smoothly, with only mild heating after extended sessions, nothing too uncomfortable. This can be attributed to the phone’s 4400mm2 VC with a 3D cooling structure.
Three months may not be the longest test period, but it’s still reassuring to see that performance hasn’t dipped in any noticeable way.
Cameras: one area of improvement
The OnePlus 13s isn’t perfect, and if there’s one area that needs improvement, I’d say it’s the camera. The smartphone features a dual-camera setup with a 50MP primary sensor and a 50MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom and 20x digital zoom. The lack of an ultra-wide lens and the limited 2x optical zoom without dedicated portrait zoom options were key drawbacks in our review. This makes the phone less versatile for photography compared to rivals like the Vivo X200 FE (comparison), which covers most of these gaps.
We should still give credit where it’s due. The primary sensor captures excellent shots, with colour reproduction that’s slightly boosted but still pleasing and not overly artificial. I personally find the photos appealing and ready to share on social media. The 32MP front camera also delivers good detail and balanced tones, with just enough colour enhancement to look great online. Optical zoom is limited to 2x, but image quality remains sharp and detailed within that range. Quality drops beyond it, making it less ideal for capturing distant subjects.
I didn’t really miss having an ultra-wide camera, but if you’re into photography or travel often, you might. It’s fair to expect these extra camera options on a phone priced over Rs 50,000.
AI Plus key: still relevant or unnecessary?
OnePlus debuted its new ‘Plus Key’ with the 13s. This key replaces the iconic Alert Slider with a single button that serves multiple functions. The highlight here is that it’s an AI key to take screenshots and intelligently store them in ‘Mind Space’. I did try it out, but I didn’t find the feature beneficial for me. I’m still used to setting reminders or jotting down things in the Notes app, so I probably did not find much use for the Plus Key or Mind Space, for that matter. That’s just me, though… your mileage could vary.
The OnePlus 13s comes with a solid suite of built-in AI tools, including AI Eraser, AI Assistant for notes, as well as popular features like Gemini Live and Circle to Search. For users who rely on AI in their daily workflow, the 13s proves to be a very handy companion.
Small size but big battery
Despite its compact build, the OnePlus 13s doesn’t skimp on battery life. It houses a 5,850mAh unit, larger than most in its price range. In the PCMark benchmark test, it lasted an impressive 16 hours and 34 minutes, second only to the Realme GT 7 Pro’s 17 hours and 34 minutes. In our review, the phone comfortably powered through a full day, and a bit more with moderate to heavy use. Months later, the experience remains the same. On a full charge, the 13s easily lasts an entire day with a little bit more for the next morning. This is with a mix of streaming content, gaming, social media, along with Always on Display and heavily animated lock screens. Topping up is also quick thanks to 80W SUPERVOOC charging, so battery life isn’t a concern.
The OnePlus 13s launched with OxygenOS 15 out of the box and continues to receive regular updates. It’s currently on the September 2025 Android security patch. OnePlus keeps the software experience clean, with very few pre-installed apps, which is always welcome. OxygenOS 15 also runs smoothly, offering the choice between a minimal, clutter-free setup or deeper customisation to suit your style. In terms of longevity, the phone is promised four years of Android upgrades and six years of security updates. While that’s not quite on par with the iPhone 16e or Galaxy S25 FE (7+7), it’s still solid enough to keep the 13s relevant for years to come.
Still worth a buy?
After three months of use, the OnePlus 13s still holds its ground as one of the best compact flagships you can buy. It nails the essentials with top-tier performance, smooth software, excellent battery life, and a premium display, all packed into a lightweight, pocket-friendly design. The addition of AI tools makes it even more appealing for those who like to experiment with the latest features. Where it falls short is in the camera department, which lacks the versatility you’d expect at this price. The Plus Key feels more like a novelty than a must-have to me, but that isn’t a deal-breaker in any way.
The OnePlus 13s launched at Rs 54,999 but is now selling for Rs 50,999 on Amazon and the OnePlus online store as part of festive deals, making it an even more compelling option. That said, the Realme GT 7 Pro, another Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered phone, is currently priced at Rs 49,999 and offers an ultra-wide camera, a brighter display, and faster charging. The smartphone is worth considering if those features matter to you. But if you prioritise a compact, clean design along with reliable all-round performance, the OnePlus 13s remains an easy recommendation.
