OnePlus 13S price drop warning: 4 reasons to buy, 2 reasons to skip the compact OnePlus flagship
The OnePlus 13S will be available with deep discounts during the OnePlus Freedom Sale, making it the perfect time for anyone looking to buy a compact flagship. But should you? Let India Today Tech help you decide.
OnePlus has announced the OnePlus Freedom Sale in India, bringing new discounts on almost its entire device lineup. The sale will begin on January 16 and will run across both online and offline channels, including oneplus.in, OnePlus Experience stores, Amazon, and key retail partners. For anyone eyeing a OnePlus upgrade, this could be one of the best windows in recent months to make the switch.
As part of the sale, the OnePlus 13S, which was originally launched at Rs 54,999 for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant, is getting a price cut of Rs 2,000 with an instant bank discount of up to Rs 3,000, taking its effective price to Rs 49,999 for a limited period. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, equipped with a compact design and a 5,850mAh battery, the 13s is a powerful compact device and offers a flagship-like experience at a relatively more affordable price.
But is it the right phone for you? You can check out our full review here: OnePlus 13S review: This little phone delivers big on every front.
But for those readers who want to take a quick look at the device, let us give you four reasons why you should buy the OnePlus 13S and two reasons why you might want to skip it.
Reasons to buy OnePlus 13s:
Reason 1: Appearance
The OnePlus 13S is the best-looking OnePlus phone you can buy right now. Duration. You could argue that current flagships follow a similar design language, but the 13s stands out with its compact form factor. With a thin 8.2mm profile and weighing only 185 grams, it feels perfectly balanced and really complements the new design direction OnePlus is going for.
Despite its compact size, the phone manages to cram a 6.32-inch display into a chassis that feels closer to a 6.1-inch device, thanks to its ultra-thin bezels. In hand, the 13s feels like a premium flagship in every way. Its soft curve, well-balanced weight distribution and subtle color options make it a phone you really enjoy holding for long periods of time.
And it’s the kind of device that slips easily into your pocket and doesn’t feel like a brick in your hand, something compact-phone lovers have been missing for years.
Reason 2: Powerpacked performance
And never mind its compact looks, under the hood this is a power-packed device. The OnePlus 13S is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, which is one of the most powerful processors. With 12GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage, this phone runs things smoothly without overheating, and handles everything you throw at it with ease.
During our review, we used the phone daily for everything from gaming and video editing to heavy multitasking and the experience felt seamless. OnePlus has also done a solid job with thermal management. The large vapor-chamber cooling system with bypass charging technology keeps the phone cool even during extended gaming sessions and charging. And then there’s the new OnePlus AI Suite, which offers useful features like call summaries, translation, and smart shortcuts via the new Plus key.
Reason 3: Long Lasting Battery
Complementing the powerful chipset is great battery life. Even though it’s a compact phone, the OnePlus 13S doesn’t compromise on longevity. It has a massive 5,850mAh battery, which really impressed us in real-world use. During our review, the phone lasted more than a day on a single charge, even with heavy usage.
Charging also happens quickly. The phone supports 80W fast charging, which takes it from zero to full in just over an hour. For users who want a smaller phone without carrying a power bank everywhere, this alone makes the 13s stand out in the compact flagship segment.
Reason 4: Gorgeous display
The 6.32-inch LTPO OLED display is another highlight. It offers smooth adaptive refresh rate and excellent color reproduction and makes everything from binge-watching to gaming immersive.
Reasons to skip the OnePlus 13s:
Reason 1: The camera makes you want more
For a phone priced close to the flagship bracket, the camera setup feels a bit weak. The OnePlus 13s uses a dual-camera system with a 50MP Sony LYT-700 primary sensor (OIS) and a 50MP 2x telephoto lens. On paper, it sounds solid, but in practice, the results are inconsistent.
Photos come out good in good lighting, but color accuracy, HDR performance and low-light shots can be hit or miss. It’s not bad – not great – and certainly not the best in its segment compared to rivals from Samsung and Apple. If camera quality is your top priority, this phone may not be for you.
Reason 2: No wireless charging
Another surprising thing is the lack of wireless charging. While most premium phones now support it as standard, the OnePlus 13S is missing the feature. Yes, 80W wired charging is fast enough, but for users who rely on a wireless pad at work or in the car, this could be a deal-breaker.
final call
The OnePlus 13S is a compact flagship that doesn’t feel like a compromise. With its powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, class-leading battery life for its size, gorgeous display and thoughtful design, it ticks many of the right boxes. However, the better-than-average camera performance and lack of wireless charging keeps it from being the best all-rounder.
If you want a powerful phone that’s easy to hold and lasts all day, the OnePlus 13S is worth buying during the sale. But if photography and premium features matter most to you, you may want to skip it altogether.
