OnePlus 13S Review: Buy or Not?
OnePlus has introduced the OnePlus 13S, a device that builds on its legacy of offering premium hardware at a competitive price. But does it deliver enough value to deserve your attention—and your money?
This in-depth OnePlus 13S review explores its design, performance, camera capabilities, battery life, and more to help you decide if it’s a good buy or not.
1. Design and Build Quality: Sleek, Durable, and Premium
OnePlus has always prioritized aesthetics, and the OnePlus 13S is no exception. The phone features a refined matte finish, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection on both sides, and an aerospace-grade aluminum frame. It’s slim (just under 8mm thick) and lightweight, yet feels sturdy in hand.
OnePlus continues to embrace minimalism with a centered punch-hole front camera and a rear camera module that doesn’t feel overly bulky. The device is IP68-rated for water and dust resistance—great for durability.
2. Display: QHD+ AMOLED That Impresses
The 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display supports QHD+ resolution and a dynamic 120Hz refresh rate, making it one of the best screens in its class. Whether you’re streaming content, gaming, or just scrolling through social media, the visuals are crisp, vibrant, and extremely smooth.
With peak brightness exceeding 3000 nits, visibility under direct sunlight is no problem. The 13S also supports HDR10+, delivering richer contrast and better detail when watching supported content on platforms like Netflix and Prime Video.
3. Performance: Powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 4
Under the hood, the OnePlus 13S is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 processor, paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage. As expected, performance is nothing short of flagship-level.
Multitasking is smooth, high-end games like Genshin Impact run at high settings without thermal throttling, and OxygenOS (based on Android 15) keeps the interface snappy and bloat-free. AI-based system optimizations also help improve battery efficiency and app load times.
Benchmark scores:
- Geekbench 6: 2250 (Single Core), 6600+ (Multi-Core)
- AnTuTu: Over 1.7 million
4. Camera System: Capable but Not Perfect
The OnePlus 13S packs a triple-camera setup:
- Primary: 50MP Sony LYT-808 sensor with OIS
- Ultra-wide: 48MP
- Telephoto: 32MP 2x zoom with portrait enhancements
Daylight photography is fantastic—images are sharp, colors are well-balanced, and dynamic range is impressive. Night photography has improved thanks to better AI processing and larger sensor size, although there’s still some inconsistency in white balance and detail retention.
The 32MP front camera takes excellent selfies and handles video calls with ease, offering natural skin tones and good dynamic range.
5. Battery Life and Charging
The OnePlus 13S includes a 5500mAh battery, a slight upgrade from its predecessor. On moderate use, it easily lasts a full day and a half. With the 100W wired charger included in the box, it goes from 0 to 100% in about 27 minutes.
There’s also 50W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, which is great for topping up accessories like earbuds or a smartwatch.
6. Software: Clean, Fast, and Customizable
OxygenOS remains one of the best Android skins. It’s clean, bloat-free, and offers a wealth of customization options. Features like Zen Mode, Smart Sidebar, Advanced Privacy Controls, and AI-assisted battery optimization add real value.
The OnePlus 13S ships with Android 15 and is promised 4 years of major updates and 5 years of security patches, keeping it future-ready.
7. Connectivity and Features
The OnePlus 13S is fully loaded:
- 5G support (global bands)
- Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC
- In-display fingerprint scanner
- Dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos
The haptic feedback is precise, and the alert slider (a fan favorite) makes a welcome return.
8. Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Stunning QHD+ AMOLED display
- Top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 performance
- Fast and wireless charging
- Clean software experience
- Flagship-level design and materials
Cons:
- Telephoto camera lacks 5x or 10x zoom
- No microSD card slot
- Premium pricing approaching Samsung and Apple territory
9. Verdict: Should You Buy the OnePlus 13S?
If you’re looking for a well-rounded flagship phone that delivers on performance, display, battery, and design, the OnePlus 13S is a compelling option in 2025. While it’s priced a bit higher than older OnePlus models, it still undercuts most rivals with similar specs.
However, if long-range zoom photography or microSD expandability is important to you, you may want to explore other alternatives.
Final Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐
Verdict: Buy if you want a balanced Android flagship in 2025 with speed, style, and smarts.
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