The OnePlus 13s recently debuted in India as a compact flagship featuring the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. Given its smaller form factor and considerable price difference of Rs 15,000, it can also be considered the mini version of the top-end OnePlus 13.
However, it is not the only affordable flagship alternative from the brand, as the OnePlus 13R has already been filling that role for a while. Despite featuring the last-gen Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, it cuts no corners to deliver a true flagship experience with its upgraded telephoto lens, massive battery size, and premium design, all at just Rs 42,999.
So, the question arises: Is the OnePlus 13 worth spending extra just for the smaller form factor? Or does it make more sense to save money and adjust to a slightly larger phone with the OnePlus 13R? We thoroughly tested both devices and present a detailed comparison below.
Build and Design
The highlight of the OnePlus 13s is its small form factor, which speaks for itself when you have a quick glance. The device feels smaller and compact compared to most modern devices, but not as tiny as the iPhone 12 mini. It’s small enough to feel small, but the difference is not drastic. The device offers a premium in-hand feel with its glass back panel.
The OnePlus 13R is largely similar to the OnePlus 13 in terms of dimensions and offers an identical in-hand expression. It has the same IP65 rating, adding a decent splash resistance against fluids. Overall, both phones deliver a polished feel, which signifies their flagship presence.
While the size difference between the OnePlus 13s and OnePlus 13R is not huge, it’s enough to tip the scales in favour of the 13s. This is primarily for users who prefer and love using lighter phones.
Display
The flat-style display on the OnePlus 13s has a 6.32-inch screen size featuring an LTPO AMOLED panel. It produces excellent colours which look pleasing to the eyes. The 1.5K resolution screen feels sharp, a step up from 1080p. There’s also Crystal Shield Glass for extra durability.
The OnePlus 13R has a larger 6.78-inch display with an LTPO OLED screen. The visuals and colours are almost the same as the OnePlus 13s. This is probably because both phones use panels from the same supplier, BOE. The company does not specify it, but our experience with the displays of the OnePlus 13s and 13R was quite similar and impressive. For what’s different, the OnePlus 13R comes with Corning Gorilla 7i.
Cameras
| Specification | OnePlus 13s | OnePlus 13R |
| Primary camera | 50MP f/1.8, OIS | 50MP f/1.8, OIS |
| Telephoto lens | 50MP f/2.0, 2x optical zoom | 50MP f/2.0, 2x optical zoom |
| Ultrawide lens | – | 8MP f/2.2 |
| Video recording | 4K 60fps with OIS, EIS | 4K 60fps with OIS, EIS |
| Selfie camera | 32MP f/2.0 | 16MP f/2.4 |
The OnePlus 13s lacks an ultrawide lens but retains the core primary and telephoto lenses from the 13R. This setup is not as good as the top-end OnePlus 13, but it does a great job of providing a near-flagship experience.
The OnePlus 13s produces excellent images during daylight. Photos have ample amounts of details, and the colour reproduction has slightly boosted contrast, which is suitable for social media posts. The telephoto lens delivers the zoom with similar colours. However, the portrait mode can sometimes struggle in edge detection, and we hope this improves with future updates.
In artificial lighting conditions, the 13s continues to impress with sharp and bright images. We did not notice any lens flare while capturing a bright source of light. Overall, we were really impressed with the cameras on the OnePlus 13s, but the lack of an ultrawide lens can be a deal breaker for some users.
Coming to the OnePlus 13R, the device offers a splendid camera experience. Daylight shots are as good as they can get, with lots of details and sharpness. The colour tones are slightly cooler compared to the 13s, but you can adjust them manually.
The 13R continues to impress with its telephoto lens, and feels like a true extension of the primary sensor with excellent similarities in colours. The portrait mode also feels more refined than the 13s. The presence of the ultrawide lens adds some great flexibility. There’s no distortion in wide-angle photos, and the results are great, ready to post on Instagram.
The portrait mode on the OnePlus 13s currently needs some improvements. If cameras are a top priority, the OnePlus 13R’s versatility, with its ultrawide lens, makes it a clear winner, along with the added benefit of delivering an equivalent experience on the primary and telephoto lenses.
Performance
The OnePlus 13s is equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, the latest and greatest offering from Qualcomm. It delivers a super smooth experience in daily usage. Whether it’s juggling between multiple social media apps or aggressively scrolling through your old chats while arguing in a conversation, the device does not break a sweat.
When it comes to gaming, the OnePlus 13s supports 120fps gaming in BGMI. We experienced a stable frame rate of above 110fps in our gaming test. Sometimes, the frame rate can go down to 90fps due to thermal throttling, but the gameplay remains smooth.
The OnePlus 13R, even with its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, remains a true flagship. It can also handle heavy app usage with ease, without any lag or stutter. The device has support for 120fps gaming in BGMI, but we often found it dropping down to 90fps randomly. This could be an optimisation issue. The phone delivered a constant 90fps gaming experience.
Whether you are a normal user or even a power user, both phones are extremely capable of serving you a lag-free experience. However, if you prioritize raw power or want to future-proof your phone for gaming, then the OnePlus 13s is an obvious choice, thanks to its newer Qualcomm chip.
Software
The OnePlus 13s and OnePlus 13R both run on OxygenOS 15 based on Android 15. They also include support for Gemini AI integration and Gemini Live. The 13s has an advantage with AI Plus Mind, which categorizes top features such as AI VoiceScribe, AI Call Assistant, AI Best Face 2.0, and more.
The daily usage experience on both devices is fluid, and there are no ads in the UI. Since the OnePlus 13s has a more powerful processor, it is likely to have longer support for new AI features in the future, compared to the OnePlus 13R.
Battery and Charging
The OnePlus 13s is powered by a 5850mAh battery. It easily lasts through a complete day, even with heavy usage. The device lasted 19 hours 5 minutes in our PCMark Battery Test, beating many other flagships like the OPPO Find X8. For when it’s time to refill, it goes from 0-100% in just 42 minutes using 80W SuperVOOC charging.
The OnePlus 13R has a slightly larger 6000mAh battery. Again, we faced no troubles in squeezing an entire day of usage, and we hardly drained it down. It lasted 19 hours 38 minutes in our PCMark Battery Test, which is an impressive feat. The phone takes approximately 60 minutes to charge fully at 80W.
TLDR, you get an assured one full day of usage on either device, and they also have support for 80W fast charging in common. It’s a tie.
Verdict
The OnePlus 13s and OnePlus 13R each have their own strong suits, but your final choice should depend on what you value more in a smartphone. If you prefer a compact, lighter phone, then the 13s serves the purpose. It delivers top-tier performance with the Snapdragon 8 Elite, a gorgeous 1.5K AMOLED screen, and impressively capable cameras. Still, the absence of an ultrawide lens can be a limitation for some users. The OnePlus 13s has a significant edge in gaming and is more future-proof for advanced AI features.
On the other hand, the OnePlus 13R makes a compelling case with its all-rounder appeal. It matches the display standards of the 13s and offers a better camera experience with the additional ultrawide lens. It also cuts no corners on performance, but lags a bit in top-end levels due to the generational difference. Considering that the OnePlus 13R is priced Rs 15,000 lower, it offers more value for its money compared to the OnePlus 13s.
