The new OnePlus 13s, with its recent release, has drawn attention due to its slim form factor and high-end Snapdragon 8 Elite processor. But after having experienced the device myself, I think it disappoints in a number of respects, particularly at its price.
Price: Too Expensive for What It Can Deliver
There are two variants of the OnePlus 13s, which are the 12GB + 256GB variant at ₹54,999 and the 12GB + 512GB variant at ₹59,999. When you glance at the specs for the first time, you might find such prices reasonable for a premium flagship phone. It has the new Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, big battery, and premium AMOLED screen, after all. But when you really get to experience the performance of the device and the ability of the camera, the price seems bloated.
At ₹54,999, you’re paying for a device that doesn’t live up to the expectations set by its pricing. While the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor is powerful, the overall user experience doesn’t feel as premium as some of its competitors. In my opinion, a starting price of ₹49,999 would have made this phone more competitive, considering its performance limitations. Despite having the price offered brought down to approximately ₹47,000, it still doesn’t seem like a good value compared to other flagship smartphones offered at the same price point, like those by Samsung or Apple.
When you’re spending this much on a phone, you want the best performance, flawless multitasking, and a camera system that rivals other high-end phones. Alas, the OnePlus 13s falls short of those standards, rendering it too expensive for what it offers.
Camera: Disappointing Performance
One of the flagship phone’s biggest selling features is how good a camera it takes, and in this regard, the OnePlus 13s fails. The device features a 50MP main camera with a Sony LYT-700 sensor and a 50MP telephoto camera with 2x zoom. Paper specs are great with a telecamera and high-resolution sensor. In actual use, the camera fails to deliver.
The absence of an ultra-wide lens is one major downside. Most flagship smartphones these days have an ultra-wide lens, and it brings a level of versatility to your photography. The OnePlus 13s is limited without such a lens, and you might find yourself missing the wide-angle pictures that other phones provide. For landscape or architectural photographers, this is one big miss.
The quality of images, while good in sufficient light, is far from great. Sometimes images may appear flat, with reduced contrast and detail compared to what you should get in a high-end device. The dynamic range is not high, and the camera fairs poorly when it comes to finer details in tricky shots. For instance, when in portrait mode, the subject can appear sharp, but the background blur (bokeh effect) tends to be unnatural. Additionally, under low-light settings, the performance of the camera degrades. Images are overexposed and have visible noise along with a detailless dark region.
Video recording is another place where the OnePlus 13s lags behind. Though it can shoot in 4K, the quality of the video is not smooth or lively enough as it should be for a flagship device. The video stabilization is mediocre, and shaky scenes are highlighted even at moderate panning. Lack of advanced video features like 4K 60fps or better stabilization renders the OnePlus 13s below the level of its rivals when it comes to cameras.
Not Worth the Investment
Though the OnePlus 13s provides a premium design, good display, and impressive paper performance, its steep price tag, lackluster camera, and overheating problem render it a hard sell. For ₹54,999, you want the best flagship experience, but the OnePlus 13s fails in many important departments. The camera performance is subpar, considering what else is available in the market, and the overheating problem makes it less consistent for heavy usage in hot weather conditions.
If what you want is a small flagship device with great camera capability and sustained performance, you can look elsewhere for better value. The OnePlus 13s might suit design and display advocates, but at this price point, it does not have the entire flagship package.
In conclusion, the OnePlus 13s is a stylish and capable phone, but it is not without its flaws. For those who can look past the camera and overheating issues, it may still be an option, but for the price, better alternatives are available in the market.
