OnePlus 13s Blasts Into Indian Market: Premium Power Meets Compact Design

OnePlus 13s Blasts Into Indian Market: Premium Power Meets Compact Design

Introduction

In a market where innovation often chases trends rather than setting them, OnePlus has returned to form with the India launch of its highly anticipated OnePlus 13s. Launched on June 5, 2025, the smartphone is a fresh entry into the flagship segment—strategically designed to meet the demands of premium smartphone buyers in India who desire power, style, and value.

With a compelling price tag of rs 54,999 for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant, and high-end specifications like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, dual 50MP cameras, a 6.32-inch AMOLED display, and a 6260mAh battery, the OnePlus 13s is making waves. But is it all just hype, or does the device truly redefine the flagship killer moniker OnePlus once pioneered?

Let’s dive deep into the OnePlus 13s story—features, performance, software, camera results, market competition, and early user impressions.

Design & Build Quality: Premium in Every Curve

The OnePlus 13s doesn’t shy away from flaunting its flagship badge. The phone’s exterior design draws a refined line between modern minimalism and ergonomic precision. Featuring a matte-frosted glass back with subtle curved edges, it comes in three attractive finishes: Stellar Silver, Emerald Mist, and Carbon Black.

The chassis is made of aerospace-grade aluminum alloy, lending it both strength and elegance. The phone feels solid in hand yet surprisingly lightweight for a device with a 6260mAh battery.

Highlights:

• Weight: 190g
• Thickness: 7.8mm
• Build: Aluminum frame with Gorilla Glass Victus 2
• Water & Dust Resistance: IP65-certified

In short, the OnePlus 13s looks like a flagship and feels like one too.

Display: Visual Delight in Every Frame

The OnePlus 13s sports a 6.32-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 2640 x 1216 resolution and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. The screen supports LTPO 3.0 technology, which allows it to scale from 1Hz to 120Hz based on content, significantly improving battery efficiency.

The brightness peaks at 1600 nits, ensuring visibility even in direct sunlight. With HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support, colors pop, blacks are deeper, and motion remains ultra-smooth.

Display Features:

• Size: 6.32-inch AMOLED
• Resolution: 2640 x 1216
• Refresh Rate: 120Hz (adaptive)
• Peak Brightness: 1600 nits
• Protection: Gorilla Glass Victus 2

Whether you’re gaming, binge-watching, or editing photos, the screen delivers crisp clarity and smooth touch response.

Performance: Powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite

Under the hood, the OnePlus 13s is fueled by the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, branded here as the "Snapdragon 8 Elite". It’s built on a 4nm architecture and pairs with the Adreno 750 GPU, making it a performance powerhouse.

Coupled with 12GB of LPDDR5x RAM and UFS 4.0 storage, the phone handles multitasking, high-end gaming, and video editing without breaking a sweat.

Benchmark Results (approx.):

• AnTuTu Score: 1,650,000+
• Geekbench (Single/Multi-core): 2300 / 7100
• 3D Mark Wild Life Extreme: 4250

Apps open instantly, animations are fluid, and background tasks don’t slow the system down. It’s flagship-grade speed, through and through.

Camera: Photography Reimagined

OnePlus is serious about optics this time. The OnePlus 13s features a dual 50MP rear camera setup:

1.    Primary: 50MP Sony IMX906 with OIS

2.    Telephoto: 50MP Samsung JN5 with 2x optical zoom (up to 20x digital)

The IMX906 sensor captures detailed and vibrant images across lighting conditions. The telephoto lens enhances portrait shots, offering good separation and depth.

Camera Features:

• 8K Video Recording @ 30fps
• Ultra Night Mode
• AI Scene Recognition
• Pro Mode with RAW support
• Dual-View Video Mode

Front Camera: 16MP shooter that supports 4K video, face unlock, and beautification.

Sample shots reveal excellent dynamic range, great color accuracy, and low noise even in dim environments. OnePlus has finally bridged the gap with its camera-centric competitors.

Battery & Charging: Long Life, Lightning Refill

The OnePlus 13s houses a large 6260mAh battery. Despite the powerful specs, it easily lasts over a day of heavy usage. For moderate users, it stretches to nearly two days.

Charging is handled by an 80W SuperVOOC fast charger, included in the box—a rare sight in today’s flagship arena.

Charging Speed:

• 0% to 100% in ~39 minutes
• USB Power Delivery supported (45W)

No wireless charging here, but the speed of wired charging is enough to forgive its absence.

Software: Android 15 with ColorOS 15

Out of the box, the OnePlus 13s runs on Android 15, skinned with ColorOS 15—a UI that merges the best of OnePlus OxygenOS and OPPO’s ColorOS.

The result? A clean, customizable interface with smooth animations, less bloatware, and meaningful features like:

• Smart Sidebar
• Advanced App Freezing
• Private Safe 3.0
• Game Toolbox 3.0
• IR Remote App

OnePlus promises 3 major Android updates and 4 years of security patches, making it a sound long-term investment.

Connectivity & Extra Features

• 5G Support: Yes (15 Bands)
• Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 7
• Bluetooth: 5.4
• USB Type-C 3.2
• IR Blaster
• Stereo Speakers with Dolby Atmos
• In-Display Fingerprint Sensor
• Face Unlock

The addition of an IR blaster and enhanced audio makes the phone not just smart—but intelligent.

Pricing and Variants

As confirmed during the launch event, the OnePlus 13s comes in two variants:

• 12GB RAM + 256GB Storage: rs 54,999
• 12GB RAM + 512GB Storage: rs 59,999

Availability:

• Online: OnePlus India website, Amazon.in
• Offline: Reliance Digital, Croma, and OnePlus Experience Stores
• Launch Offers: rs 3,000 bank discount, no-cost EMI up to 9 months, free OnePlus Buds Z2 for first 1,000 buyers

Market Competition: How Does It Stack Up?

Against iQOO 12: While both have Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and similar performance, the OnePlus 13s wins with its display brightness and better secondary camera.

Against Samsung Galaxy S24: Samsung offers better brand prestige and UI optimization, but OnePlus wins on value for money, charging speed, and battery life.

Against Pixel 9: The Pixel may win with computational photography, but OnePlus 13s is the better all-rounder—faster, sleeker, and more versatile.

Early User Reactions & Verdict

Initial user feedback has been largely positive. Tech influencers and early buyers are praising:

• The screen quality and refresh rate
• The near-zero bloat software
• Camera results, especially night photography
• Super-fast charging and long battery life

Areas for improvement:

• No wireless charging
• No expandable storage
• ColorOS might feel unfamiliar to OxygenOS loyalists

Final Thoughts: OnePlus 13s—The Return of the Flagship Killer?

With the OnePlus 13s, the brand has found its balance again—offering top-tier specs, appealing design, and a price that undercuts its competition while offering comparable (or better) features. It’s a smartphone built not just for performance, but for experience.

For rs 54,999, you get:

• Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 power
• Dual 50MP flagship-grade cameras
• Long-lasting battery with blazing-fast charging
• A display that stuns in clarity and responsiveness
• Premium design and useful extras like Dolby Atmos, IR blaster, and IP65 rating

In Conclusion:

If you’re looking for a flagship phone under rs 60,000 in 2025, the OnePlus 13s should be at the very top of your list. It’s not just a return to roots for OnePlus—it’s a reminder of what smartphones can be when built with purpose.