Review
OnePlus 13S Review: Compact Powerhouse with Return of Stock Dialer and AI Features
OnePlus has launched its latest smartphone, the OnePlus 13s, which brings several exciting features, including the return of the much-loved OnePlus stock dialer, AI tools, and a brand-new Plus Key. After 30 days of usage, here’s everything you need to know about this compact flagship.
Compact but Powerful Design
The OnePlus 13s is a lightweight and compact phone, weighing just 185g and measuring 8.15mm thick. Despite its small size, it feels strong and premium in hand. The phone comes in three colors: Pink Stallin, Black Velvet, and an India-exclusive Green Silk. It’s easy to use with one hand and fits comfortably in your pocket.
New Plus Key Replaces Alert Slider
The traditional alert slider is gone and replaced by the new Plus Key. This smart button can do a lot more—it allows users to switch between silent, vibrate, and ring modes, launch the camera or flashlight, or trigger OnePlus Mind, an AI memory tool that helps save important info from the screen.
Return of Stock Dialer with AI Call Assist
One of the most awaited features, the OnePlus Stock Dialer, is back. It lets users record calls without any announcement or beep, and includes AI Call Assist. This can translate and summarize calls directly on the screen. While the feature currently supports only a few languages, regional language support might come soon.
Impressive Display and Audio
The phone sports a 6.32-inch LTPO display with 1.5K resolution and 1600 nits brightness. It performs well even under sunlight and supports HDR in apps like Netflix and YouTube. The stereo speakers are loud and clear, offering a good experience while watching videos or playing games.
Battery Life and Charging
The OnePlus 13S packs a 5,850mAh battery with 80W fast charging. It charges fully in about 60 minutes and gives around 8–9 hours of screen-on time, making it reliable for daily use.
Performance That Doesn’t Heat Up
Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite and backed by LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage, the phone delivers smooth performance. Thanks to its advanced cooling system, it handles heavy games like BGMI and Genshin Impact without heating up.
Latest Software and AI Features
Running on OxygenOS 15.0.2, the device will receive 4 major Android updates and 6 years of security patches. It also includes smart AI features like AI Voice Scribe, AI Translate, Circle to Search, and AI Recompose for photo editing. All data is stored locally with Private Compute Cloud, ensuring user privacy.
Dual 50MP Cameras & 32MP Selfie Shooter
The OnePlus 13S features two 50MP rear cameras (main and 2x telephoto) with excellent clarity, color accuracy, and low-light performance. The 32MP front camera supports 4K video recording, and both cameras deliver sharp and detailed photos and videos in all lighting conditions.
Top-tier Connectivity
It supports 13 5G bands, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, dual-band GPS, NFC, and more, with smart antenna systems for better connectivity even in weak signal areas.
Final Thoughts:
The OnePlus 13S is a feature-packed compact phone that combines flagship performance, AI tools, and useful additions like the stock dialer and Plus Key. It’s a great choice for those who prefer a smaller phone without compromising on power and innovation.
iOS 27 Beta 5 has started rolling out to eligible iPhone models, and this latest test build brings several small but useful changes across the system. While this is not a major feature-packed update, Apple has made noticeable improvements to Siri, screenshots, system icons, status bar behaviour and a few stock applications.
iOS 27 Beta 5 Update Size and Modem Changes
On the iPhone 17, the iOS 27 Beta 5 update weighs around 4.59GB. The update also includes a modem firmware change, moving from version 2.09.00 to 2.10.01.
This could be particularly relevant for users who have been experiencing connectivity-related problems. While the update may help with modem or network stability, its real-world impact will depend on the device and network.
Siri Gets Several Interface Changes
Siri receives some of the more noticeable changes in iOS 27 Beta 5. Apple has updated the Siri icon in different parts of the system, including the Siri settings page and interface.
The Siri interface also gets subtle animation improvements. A new pill appears towards the bottom of the Siri interface, replacing the previous “Show More” option. The animation when opening, pulling down or closing the Siri pop-up also feels slightly refined.
Apple has also changed some Siri settings. Users can now choose between Spoken Response and Silent Response, while a new Automatic Visual Lookup option has been added. The update also introduces additional suggestion controls.
More Screenshot Markup Changes
The screenshot editing interface has received another small redesign. In iOS 27 Beta 5, the Markup tools can appear inside a compact pill instead of taking up the same amount of space as before.
The pill can be moved around the screen, and positioning it in the centre expands the available controls. It is a small change, but it makes the screenshot editing interface feel cleaner.
Changes to Status Bar and Stock Apps
Apple has also changed how network information appears in the status bar. Previously, users could see both 5G and Wi-Fi information. In this build, when Wi-Fi is connected, only the Wi-Fi indicator is shown. When Wi-Fi is disconnected, the 5G indicator appears instead.
There are also minor visual changes to several Apple apps, including Safari, Settings, App Store, Preview, Remote and Siri. Some stock applications also receive updated splash screens.
Clock App Gets a Font Update
The Clock app now features slightly larger and bolder text in areas such as the Alarm and Timer sections. The difference is subtle, but it is noticeable compared with the previous build.
Overall, iOS 27 Beta 5 focuses mainly on refinements rather than major new features. Apple has made several interface adjustments that improve consistency and usability while also changing some system behaviour.
Also Read: OPPO Find X9 Ultra Long-Term Review: Why ColorOS Became My Favorite Android Experience
OPPO Find X9 Ultra has impressed me after almost two months of real-world use, but surprisingly, the biggest highlight has not been its camera or battery. Instead, ColorOS has become one of the main reasons I enjoy using this flagship smartphone every day.
ColorOS Makes a Strong Impression
Coming from OxygenOS, switching to ColorOS was an interesting experience. After using the OPPO Find X9 Ultra as a primary phone, ColorOS now feels like one of the most polished Android interfaces available.
The animations are extremely smooth, particularly when opening and closing apps, switching between applications, and interacting with widgets. The lock screen also offers Live Capsule support, including live activities on the always-on display.
OPPO has packed the software with useful AI features as well. Mind Pilot brings multiple AI services together, while Mindspace can capture information from the screen and organize useful details. The gallery also includes tools such as AI Recompose, AI Eraser, Portrait Glow, Unblur and Remove Reflections.
Premium Design and Excellent Display
After two months without using a case or screen protector, the review unit remained in excellent condition. The flat design, textured rear panel and centrally positioned camera module give the phone a premium appearance while also making it comfortable to hold.
The 6.82-inch Quad HD+ LTPO AMOLED display is another major strength. With a 144Hz refresh rate, vibrant colors, deep blacks and high brightness, scrolling, gaming and watching videos feel highly immersive.
The Camera Is the Biggest Highlight
The OPPO Find X9 Ultra camera system is arguably its strongest feature. The setup includes a 200MP primary camera, 200MP 3x telephoto camera, 50MP ultra-wide camera and a 50MP 10x optical zoom camera, along with a dedicated spectral sensor.
In real-world photography, the cameras consistently delivered sharp details, natural colors and strong dynamic range. The 10x optical zoom was particularly impressive, producing detailed images while also performing well for portraits.
Video recording is equally capable, with support for 8K at 30fps and 4K at up to 120fps. However, prolonged outdoor camera usage did result in noticeable heating, which could potentially be improved through future software updates.
Battery and Performance
Battery life is another standout feature. The large 7,500mAh battery easily lasted through heavy daily usage, with the review achieving close to two days of use in lighter scenarios. Charging from empty to full took around 50–55 minutes.
Performance was equally reliable. Whether multitasking, gaming or using demanding applications such as BGMI and Genshin Impact, the phone handled everyday workloads smoothly.
Final Verdict
After almost two months, the OPPO Find X9 Ultra has proven to be more than just a camera-focused flagship. Its excellent ColorOS experience, impressive cameras, long battery life, premium design and strong performance make it a highly capable all-round smartphone.
For me, the biggest surprise has been ColorOS. After years of preferring OxygenOS, the OPPO Find X9 Ultra has completely changed my opinion of the software experience.
OxygenOS
OxygenOS 16.1 July Update: Every New Feature, Eligible Devices, and Missing Features Explained
The OxygenOS 16.1 July Update has started rolling out to several flagship OnePlus smartphones, introducing a range of new AI features, UI refinements, camera improvements, and gaming enhancements. While the update delivers noticeable improvements across supported devices, not every OnePlus smartphone receives the same set of features.
OxygenOS 16.1 July Update Brings Several New Features
OnePlus has introduced a refreshed experience with the July update. One of the most noticeable additions is the Contact Poster feature, allowing users with the OnePlus Dialer to create customized caller images with depth effects and adjustable positioning. Devices using Google’s Phone app will not receive this functionality.
Notification management has also improved. Users can now simply swipe down on supported notifications to expand them instantly without opening the application. In addition, Quick Settings tiles now automatically switch to a darker appearance whenever Dark Mode is enabled, creating a more consistent user interface.
AI Features Expand Inside the Photos App
The Photos application now includes a dedicated Create section that houses several AI-powered tools. These include AI Portrait Glow, AI Eraser, AI Detail Boost, AI-powered collage recommendations, video editing tools, and slow-motion playback suggestions.
Another useful addition is App Call Identification, which can identify unknown callers from supported third-party applications. However, this feature is only available on devices using the OnePlus stock dialer.
Camera and Gaming Receive Meaningful Upgrades
The Camera app now introduces two new filters—Prime Rose and Bold B&W. However, these filters are limited to select devices including the OnePlus 13, OnePlus 13S, and OnePlus 15, while the OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 15R miss out on them.
Gaming enthusiasts also receive improvements. Depending on the device, users can access Gaming Filters for enhanced visuals, Sound Boost for better footstep detection, and Equalizer controls for supported games such as BGMI. Feature availability varies between different OnePlus models.
Device-Specific Limitations
While OnePlus has added customizable fingerprint icons, fingerprint animations, PC Unlock support, and Backup Face recognition to several devices, not every smartphone receives the complete package.
The OnePlus 12, for example, does not receive the Backup Face feature or the latest gaming enhancements. Meanwhile, older devices including the OnePlus 11 series and Nord lineup continue receiving July security updates but do not receive the OxygenOS 16.1 feature set.
Final Thoughts
The OxygenOS 16.1 July Update is one of the most feature-rich monthly updates from OnePlus in recent months. Although feature availability differs depending on the device, supported smartphones gain several quality-of-life improvements, smarter AI tools, camera enhancements, and better gaming capabilities. Users should verify their device eligibility before expecting every feature included in the latest rollout.
Also Read: OnePlus ColorOS Update: Everything OnePlus Users Will Gain and Lose After OxygenOS