If you are asking the question “best compact phone?” in the current smartphone market, then the answer is probably OnePlus 13s. But when I heard about this phone myself, I thought it was just hype, but after seeing the phone, my opinion completely changed. There are some things in this phone that are quite heavy and some things you may not like and is OnePlus 13s the best compact phone? Let’s see all these things in this review.
First Impressions
The first thing I noticed when I held the OnePlus 13s was its in hand feel it gives off the same premium vibes as the iPhone 16. The design, weight, and build quality are impressive. Once in hand, it grabs attention. People will definitely ask, “Hey, which phone is that?”
Inside the box, you get:
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80W charger
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USB Type-A to C cable
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SIM ejector tool
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Transparent back case
Everything you need to get started right away!
Highlights of the phone
Oxygen OS – Super Smooth!
Oxygen OS offers one of the best user experiences. The smoothness of the system, neat icons, easy navigation the experience of using the phone is top tier. The UI overall is very user friendly.
This time, the alert slider has been removed. However, some smart AI features like Mind Space have been added. For those who use productivity apps, this is a powerful addition.
In Hand Feel – Definitely Premium
The OnePlus 13s doesn’t just look good it feels excellent too. With a metal frame, glass finish on the back, and Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, the phone feels sturdy. It fits perfectly in your hand and slides easily into your pocket very convenient on the go.
Battery – A Compact Monster
The biggest issue with compact phones is usually battery life smaller phones, smaller batteries. But this phone solves that. The OnePlus 13s packs a 5850mAh battery, which easily lasts a full day.
Thanks to 80W wired charging, you also get super fast top ups. One downside no wireless charging. For a phone around ₹50,000, this is a letdown. But overall, battery performance is excellent.
Display – Pleasing to the Eyes
The Display is another strong point of this phone. It has a 6.32 inch 1.5K Fluid AMOLED LTPO panel with over 94% screen to body ratio. With a dynamic 1-120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and up to 1600 nits HBM brightness content consumption is a joy.
Watching Netflix, YouTube, or web series feels great. The stereo speakers and Dolby Vision support make both visuals and audio truly impressive.
Performance – Powerful!
The OnePlus 13s runs on the 8 Elite processor. The Antutu score hits around 2.5 million that’s very powerful.
games like PUBG and Asphalt they run smoothly at 60FPS. It might not be the best for hardcore gamers, but for general users, it’s perfect.
Camera – A Mixed Bag
The phone has a 50MP primary sensor, a 50MP 2x portrait sensor, and a 32MP front camera. Overall, the camera is good, but a few things are lacking:
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No ultra-wide lens
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Image quality isn’t quite on par with iPhone 16, Pixel 9, or Xiaomi 15
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Doesn’t feel like a camera king like the OnePlus 13
Daylight photos are nice, but low light performance could’ve been better.
Drawbacks – What Felt Missing
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No wireless charging
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USB 2.0 – slower file transfer speeds
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No IP rating – many phones under ₹20k now offer IP68
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No ultra wide lens – a big miss for photography lovers
Connectivity
No compromises here. The OnePlus 13s supports:
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13 5G bands
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Dual 4G VoLTE
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Wi-Fi 7
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Bluetooth 6
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NFC
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Smart AI features that enhance the user experience
Price – Worth It or Expensive?
This phone is priced at ₹49,999. Some might think that’s expensive, but considering the premium brand feel, best in class battery, and excellent software experience, the pricing feels justified.
Final Verdict – Best Compact Phone?
If you’re looking for a compact, premium smartphone that:
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Feels luxurious in the hand
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Has a champion battery
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Offers a buttery smooth software experience
Then the OnePlus 13s is worth checking out.
Yes, it lacks a few things like wireless charging and an ultra-wide camera. But if those aren’t deal breakers for you, then this phone could easily be your best compact phone choice!