The OnePlus 15R made its India debut earlier this month as the first smartphone powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5. It packs a huge 7,400mAh battery, runs the latest OxygenOS 16, offers multiple IP ratings for durability, and features a smooth 165Hz display. Priced from Rs 47,999, it stands out as a strong option for users who want flagship-grade performance without paying the premium.
We’ve already compared the OnePlus 15R with the OnePlus 13R and the flagship OnePlus 15. Now, it’s time to see how it stacks up against the OnePlus 13s, OnePlus’ compact flagship for those who prefer a smaller form factor.
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Compact design or a bigger display?
The biggest difference between the two phones is the form factor. OnePlus 13s is a compact phone with a smaller build, while the OnePlus 15R continues with the standard design. Based on just the size, it boils down to one’s preference for using a phone that’s easy to hold and use, or one that’s big enough to watch videos and play games. Durability-wise, the OnePlus 15R is stronger as it has four IP ratings, while the 13s has an inferior IP65 rating. This means that the 15R has better water and dust resistance.
Since both phones represent the new design era for OnePlus phones, you get the same square-shaped camera module, and the Plus key on the left side. Colours are different, though, with the OnePlus 15R coming in Charcoal Black, Mint Breeze, and Electric Violet; the OnePlus 13s in Green Silk, Black Velvet, and Pink Satin.
Up front, the OnePlus 15R has a 6.83-inch FHD+ AMOLED display (2800×1272 pixels) with a 165Hz refresh rate and an LTPS panel. OnePlus 13s comes with a smaller 6.32-inch FHD+ (2640×1216 pixels) AMOLED display and a 120Hz refresh rate. Although the resolution is slightly reduced, and the refresh caps at 120Hz, the 13s still has a more power-efficient LTPO display panel.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 vs 8 Elite Gen 5
OnePlus 15R debuts the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset in India. It’s based on the flagship 8 Elite Gen 5 with flagship-level performance. While it is a slightly clocked-down version of the 8 Elite Gen 5, the differences are minimal in real-world performance. The smartphone is incredibly fast and responsive for most everyday tasks, and it can easily handle casual and heavy games. The handset also has excellent thermals, making it a great choice for intensive tasks and long gaming sessions.
OnePlus 13s carries the more powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, making it very snappy to use. The smartphone is also great for gaming with high graphics and minimal heating up. Interestingly, the OnePlus 15R posted stronger benchmark scores than the 13s, which isn’t surprising as the 15R is optimised for performance. That said, you shouldn’t find any visible difference between the two phones for your everyday and heavy use alike.
Dual cameras but with different strengths
Both phones aren’t the best when it comes to photography, but they have their strengths. The OnePlus 15R houses a 50MP Sony IMX906 sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide lens at the back, with a 32MP front camera. OnePlus has skipped the telephoto lens, which is a downgrade from the 13R. Based on our usage, the OnePlus 15R takes impressive daylight shots and solid selfies. However, it isn’t the best when it comes to taking low-light shots. Also, the 8MP secondary camera is quite underwhelming.
The OnePlus 13s features a dual-camera setup with a 50MP Sony LYT-700 primary sensor and a 50MP 2x telephoto lens. What it lacks is an ultra-wide camera, which feels like a notable omission for a flagship. That said, the main camera is very capable, delivering sharp images with pleasing colours and strong contrast. Even in challenging backlit scenes, it manages good dynamic range, and the 2x telephoto lens holds on to fine details well.
In short, pick the OnePlus 15R if you want an ultra-wide camera for travel and group shots, and go for the OnePlus 13s if you prefer better portraits and sharper main camera performance with its 2x telephoto lens.
Big battery vs compact endurance
The OnePlus 15R packs a massive 7,400mAh battery, easily one of the largest in its segment. It comfortably lasts well into the next day with regular use and can still push through a full day even with heavy usage. With 80W fast charging, it takes about 49 minutes to go from 20 to 100 percent.
The OnePlus 13s, being more compact, houses a smaller 5,850mAh battery, but it still delivers solid endurance. In our usage, it lasted a full day and more with moderate to heavy use. It also supports 80W fast charging and tops up slightly quicker, taking around 42 minutes from 20 to 100 percent.
Overall, if battery life is your top priority, the OnePlus 15R is the clear winner.
Same software but one has an advantage
Both the OnePlus 15R and OnePlus 13s run OxygenOS with Android 16 features and offer AI tools like AI Scan, Writer, Recorder, Portrait Glow, and Plus Mind paired with the physical Plus Key. They also share the same long-term promise of four Android OS updates and six years of security patches.
The key difference is longevity. The OnePlus 15R ships with OxygenOS 16 out of the box, which means it will receive one extra major Android update, going all the way up to Android 20. The OnePlus 13s, which launched on Android 15, will stop one version earlier. If that extra year of updates matters to you, the 15R has the edge; otherwise, the software experience is largely identical.
Summing up
While the OnePlus 15R and OnePlus 13s sit in different price brackets, they do overlap in terms of what they offer. The 15R is priced at Rs 47,999, while the 13s retails for Rs 54,999. If raw performance, longer battery life, and extended software support matter most to you, the OnePlus 15R is the smarter buy. But if you want a compact flagship with a stronger camera setup, the OnePlus 13s is the one to go for.
OnePlus 15R Images
