OnePlus seems to be in reinvention mode with the 13s — right from its refreshed design to a slew of AI-led features that go beyond gimmicks. With a premium ProXDR display, a promising dual 50 MP camera setup, and smart touches like the new multifunction Plus Key and Mind Space, the 13s feels like a device built for both flair and functionality. I spent a few days with the Pink Satin variant, and here’s everything that left me impressed.
Design
OnePlus has overhauled the back panel design for the new OnePlus 13s. The camera module is now rectangular with soft rounded corners, and is slightly reminiscent of the tones and build quality of the Pixel flagship devices in the nicest way.
The smartphone is only 8.15 mm thin and weighs about 185 grams, but somehow feels lighter in hand. There are three colour variants — Black Velvet with a metallic sand finish, Pink Satin, with a Velvet Glass material finish (the one I have for review) and an India-exclusive Green Silk version. The Pink Satin variant looks classy, elegant and fun.
Display
The OnePlus 13s sports a 6.32-inch ProXDR display with up to 1,600 nits in high brightness mode. Visuals really pop on the display and both gaming and watching TV shows have been great on the device.
New Plus Key
The familiar Alert Slider on the left side now doubles up with multiple other functions. A long praxis still lets me toggle through the usual ring, vibrate and silent modes. And now, I can choose to have it as a shortcut for functions such as opening the camera, live-translation, or flashlight. OnePlus has also created a virtual space called ‘Mind Space’, which “stores” information that you might need access to later. If I’m looking at flight information, I can either press the Plus Key or swipe up with three fingers, to save that information to Mind Space.
There’s also an improved Intelligent Search capability, which the brand says uses both on-device and cloud-based AI via Google Gemini models to extract specific information from within files on the device. OnePlus Dialer’s integrated AI now offers real-time call translation and summarisation capabilities. The feature, available exclusively in India, can come handy when you’re travelling across States and calling local restaurants from reservations or speaking in the vernacular with cab drivers.
There’s also Al VoiceScribe which can record, summarise and translate calls, meetings and videos within third-party apps including WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, Snapchat, Zoom and YouTube. These summaries are automatically stored in Notes, and real-time translations are displayed as on-screen subtitles.
The device also brings on Gemini Live with Camera, which means I can point it at an object — say a plant — and ask for the smartphone to identify it, or ask if it’s toxic to my dog.
Camera
The OnePlus 13s sports a 50 MP Sony LYT-700 flagship sensor and a 50 MP telephoto lens.
The front camera has a 32 MP sensor and an autofocus lens for sharper selfies. We’re still in the process of trying out the camera, so check out our detailed review in the next week’s edition of Technophile.
A new OnePlus Snapshot feature finds its way into the Camera app. This uses a dual-exposure algorithm to captures a short exposure that freezes motion and a long exposure that improves image quality. These two frames are merged in real time for clearer shots.
The smartphone houses AI editing tools such as AI Detail Boost, AI Unblur, AI Reflection Eraser, and AI Eraser, and the new AI Reframe. This one is said to analyse elements such as objects, subjects, lightings, and colour tones and then suggest different composition options.
Tech Specs
The OnePlus 13s runs on the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform. The unit I reviewed has 12 GB RAM, making multitasking fast and seamless on the smartphone.
The brand says they’ve improved the 3D Cryo-Velocity Vapor Chamber for faster heat dissipation and added a cooling layer on the back cover to reduce surface temperatures.
The smartphone also includes the unique Smart Link System that makes sure network coverage stays consistent even when you’re in the subway, or in an elevator or entering the metro station.
There’s also the ‘Share with iPhone’ feature in O+ Connect, which lets users easily transfer files between their OnePlus device and Mac/Windows PCs and directly view phone files on their computers without having to download them.
Battery
The OnePlus 13s packs in a sizeable 5,850 mAh battery, and easily kept me company through a workday with browsing, clicking photos, playing games, streaming music and watching reels for longer then I’m supposed to.
Verdict
The OnePlus 13s is not only an impressive departure aesthetically from the brand’s earlier design language, but also packs in enough and more software functionality to make life genuinely easier. Coupled with a fairly powerful and capable processor, this translates into a device which can deliver smooth and consistent user experience with little room for complaints. While we’re still in the process of trying out the camera and a few other details of the device, the OnePlus 13s has managed to make a really good first impression as a device that stands out both with its good looks and functionalities.
Price
₹54,999 (12 GB + 256 GB)
₹59,999 (12 GB + 512 GB)