The compact flagship space in India has been buzzing. Xiaomi’s 15 arrived in March, delivering top-tier hardware in a sleek, pocket-friendly form. OnePlus has now countered with the OnePlus 13s, which launched earlier this week, promising similar performance at a more aggressive price, along with its own hardware upgrades and signature design elements.
Both phones rely on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and sharp 1.5K OLED displays. Beyond that, though, their approaches start to diverge. We have taken a close look at the specs, features, and overall value of each device to help you decide which one might suit you best.
Design and Build
Xiaomi has refined its compact flagship formula with the Xiaomi 15. It measures 152.3mm tall and 71.2mm wide, with a thickness of just 8.08mm and a light 181g body. The aluminum frame is flat and sharp-edged, but the rounded corners and narrow profile make it very comfortable for one-handed use. The Liquid Silver variant in particular stands out with a 3D hot-bent glass finish that shimmers and waves when touched.
The OnePlus 13s is slightly smaller, at 150.81mm tall, and about the same width at 71.7mm. It is a touch thicker at 8.15mm and slightly heavier at 185g. Where OnePlus has really focused is weight distribution and grip. The phone’s 50:50 balance combined with a curved 2.5D glass back makes it feel very planted in your palm. The India-exclusive Green Silk finish is also a fresh and premium take, with a soft Velvet Glass texture.
Both phones are well-built, but the Xiaomi 15 feels more industrial and angular, while the OnePlus 13s feels more organic and ergonomic. Pick based on what kind of aesthetic you prefer in your daily carry.
Display
Both phones are working with premium LTPO AMOLED panels that deliver flexible refresh rates from 1Hz to 120Hz and crisp 1.5K resolution.
The Xiaomi 15 uses a 6.36-inch M9 OLED with a peak brightness of 3200 nits, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and 1920Hz PWM dimming for flicker-free low-brightness use. Its bezels are impressively thin at 1.38mm uniformly, and Xiaomi’s Shield Glass should offer some added durability.
The OnePlus 13s sports a slightly smaller 6.32-inch LTPO AMOLED that peaks at 1600 nits, again with Dolby Vision support. It doesn’t get as bright as Xiaomi’s panel, and that will matter outdoors in direct sunlight. Still, it is a sharp, color-accurate display with good tuning out of the box.
For sheer screen performance, the Xiaomi 15 takes the edge here; its brightness and uniform bezels give it a visual clarity that is hard to beat.
Performance
Both devices are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, paired with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM. The Xiaomi 15 comes with 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage as standard, while the OnePlus 13s gives you a choice between 256GB and 512GB.
Thermal management is an area where both companies have put in effort. Xiaomi 15 uses the IceLoop Wing-Type System for triple the performance of traditional VC cooling. The OnePlus 13s employs a 4,400mm² Cryo-Velocity Vapor Chamber with an additional graphite layer on the back cover.
Software
Xiaomi ships the 15 with HyperOS 2 based on Android 15, while OnePlus runs OxygenOS 15 atop Android 15. Xiaomi also matches OnePlus on long-term software support, with four years of major OS updates and six years of security patches. That puts both phones on equal footing for longevity.
That said, the software experience is a different story. OxygenOS is still regarded as a cleaner, more fluid interface, closer to stock Android in spirit. HyperOS has improved a lot but can still feel heavier at times with more pre-installed apps. If you value simplicity, OnePlus still has a slight edge in software polish.
Camera
Xiaomi has thrown its full Leica-backed imaging system at the 15. It sports a 50MP 1/1.31″ main sensor with f/1.62 aperture, a 50MP ultra-wide, and a 50MP 2.6x telephoto, all tuned via the Xiaomi AISP 2.0 computational photography platform. You also get 8K video recording and a 32MP front camera capable of 4K 60fps video.
OnePlus takes a more streamlined approach with the 13s: a 50MP Sony LYT-700 main sensor and a 50MP 2x telephoto, but no ultra-wide camera. The front camera is a 32MP unit with autofocus and up to 4K 30fps recording.
Xiaomi clearly wins on versatility here. You simply get more camera options, better computational tuning, and a more complete package. The lack of an ultra-wide lens on the OnePlus 13s is a notable omission for a flagship in 2025.
Battery and Charging
The OnePlus 13s pairs its large 5,850mAh battery with 80W SuperVOOC wired charging and adds support for Bypass Charging. This is especially useful for gaming, as it lets you power the phone directly from the charger while keeping the battery cool and avoiding unnecessary charge cycles. It is a thoughtful feature that will appeal to power users and gamers alike.
The Xiaomi 15 features a smaller 5,240mAh battery but supports faster 90W wired and 50W wireless charging, plus 10W reverse wireless. You also get Xiaomi’s Surge P3 and G1 chips for optimized battery health and smart charging.
Both phones will last a full day comfortably. OnePlus gives you a larger battery and Bypass Charging for better gaming endurance, while Xiaomi offers a more flexible overall charging setup with wireless options.
Other Features
Xiaomi finally moves to an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor, which is a big improvement over optical ones for reliability and speed. The OnePlus 13s still uses an optical fingerprint scanner.
Both phones have IP-rated durability, though Xiaomi 15 offers IP68 while OnePlus only hits IP65. Xiaomi also uses USB 3.2 Gen 1 versus OnePlus’ slower USB 2.0 port.
On connectivity, both phones support Wi-Fi 7, dual 5G, NFC, and the usual GPS standards. The OnePlus 13s does add a dedicated Wi-Fi enhancement chip and an 11-antenna system, which might give it the edge for network performance in crowded environments.
OnePlus also introduces the new Plus Key, a customizable hardware button that replaces the old Alert Slider. It can be mapped to sound modes, AI features, or other functions, and adds a small but useful layer of control.
Pricing and Value
This is where things get really interesting. The Xiaomi 15 starts at Rs. 64,999 for the 12GB + 512GB model. The OnePlus 13s undercuts it with a starting price of Rs. 54,999 for the 12GB + 256GB version, or Rs. 59,999 for 12GB + 512GB.
That makes the OnePlus 13s nearly Rs. 5,000 cheaper for the same top-end configuration. It is delivering similar core hardware and better battery life for less money, which is hard to ignore.
Final Thoughts
If you want the most complete flagship experience in a compact phone, the Xiaomi 15 (full review) is the better choice. It offers a brighter and more advanced display, more versatile cameras with Leica tuning, better protection (IP68), and superior charging options.
The OnePlus 13s (full review) is a very good value, especially if you prioritize battery life, smooth software, and a lower price. It will appeal to those who want a clean software experience and solid core hardware but are okay sacrificing the ultra-wide camera and wireless charging.
For most users looking for an uncompromising flagship in a small size, the Xiaomi 15 edges out as the superior device, though the OnePlus 13s remains an excellent value pick.
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The post Xiaomi 15 vs OnePlus 13s: Which Compact Flagship Is Better? appeared first on Gizmochina.
