Compact flagships are back and better than ever! OnePlus just launched the 13T in China, and it’s coming to India “soon” as the OnePlus 13s. The phone packs a massive battery for its size (even larger than that of the OnePlus 13) within a refreshed exterior. But what about other aspects? Are there better options around the same 6.3″ size? Or should you just wait for the 13s?
OnePlus India says 13s will launch “soon”, and you may have already noticed there are only two cameras on the back – no ultrawide. While this lack of UW is pointed as the big missing feature, the 2X telephoto actually feels more disappointing to me: See, there are mainly two aspects that determine the camera protrusion – the sensor size, and the optical zoom range – neither of which of the OnePlus 13T (or 13s) are notable.
It’s a 1/2.76″ sensor – same as Xiaomi 15 – but the telephoto on that phone has 2.6x magnification instead of 2x – and there is a 50MP UW too! The vivo X200 Pro mini also has a triple 50MP setup, and the 3x telephoto does have a much larger sensor – 1/1.95″ instead of 1/2.76″. The Galaxy S25? A tiny sensor for sure, but you have 3x magnification, but not the protrusion. OnePlus promises 4x lossless zoom, but it may still lag behind its competitors.
Okay, enough about the camera—let’s talk about what really stands out. Personally, it’s the design – and I have seen it’s the most important aspect for many. Aside from looks, the slight protrusion, square shape, and the placement let your finger rest below that and offer a good grip. And there’s a big battery with fast charging, respectable heat dissipation. But that’s… it.
The compact size and the 8 Elite (or a flagship Dimensity chip) aren’t exclusive to this phone, so if the camera setup has disappointed you, you can consider the Xiaomi 15, around Rs 65,000 on Amazon right now. We don’t have the official India pricing of the 13s just yet, I’ll add it as soon as it comes out.
If you’re thinking about the X200 Pro mini, it’ll likely remain exclusive to China, which makes the Xiaomi 15 a better choice if you’re not entirely after the design or want a more versatile camera. And now if you feel you need more versatility – periscope telephoto, ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, IP69 instead of 65 – OnePlus 13 isn’t actually far away!
