OnePlus Unveils Compact 13T with Surprisingly Massive Battery in China
In a move that challenges the conventional boundaries of compact smartphones, OnePlus has officially launched the 13T in China — a device that may look modest in size but packs a powerhouse battery that outperforms many flagship giants. While international availability remains uncertain, the 13T is already turning heads for what it offers under the hood.
Though OnePlus refers to the 6.32-inch OLED display as “small,” the 13T is slightly larger than both Apple’s iPhone 16 and Samsung’s Galaxy S25 — and it outweighs them as well, albeit marginally. However, when placed alongside the standard OnePlus 13, the 13T maintains a noticeably more compact footprint, featuring a lighter build and a display that’s roughly half an inch smaller. By OnePlus standards, this device sits firmly in the "compact" category.
What truly sets the 13T apart is its exceptional 6,260mAh battery — a capacity that not only eclipses the iPhone 16’s 3,561mAh and Galaxy S25’s 4,000mAh units, but even outpaces the larger OnePlus 13 (6,000mAh) and Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra (5,000mAh). This impressive battery life is made possible by a next-generation version of the company’s silicon-carbon battery technology, allowing higher energy density in a slimmer form factor than traditional lithium-ion cells.
Beyond battery prowess, the 13T marks a philosophical shift for OnePlus: the iconic alert slider — a fan-favorite for years — has been dropped. In its place is a customizable shortcut button, giving users more control over notifications and app access, and potentially ushering in a new era of user interaction across the brand’s lineup. A similar button was recently seen on the Oppo Find X8 Ultra, hinting at a broader design evolution under the BBK Electronics umbrella.
Performance-wise, the 13T mirrors its flagship sibling by running on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Elite chipset, supported by up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of internal storage. The rear camera module features dual 50MP sensors — a primary and a 2x telephoto lens — housed in a refreshed design that maintains the brand’s premium aesthetic. The phone supports 80W wired charging, but wireless charging is notably absent.
With a starting price of CNY 3,399 (approximately $466), the OnePlus 13T offers a more affordable alternative to the mainline 13 while retaining much of its high-end DNA. Whether the device will make its way to global markets, including the U.S. or Europe, remains unclear. But for now, it stands as a bold experiment in how much power can be packed into a "smaller" smartphone — and how far OnePlus is willing to go to redefine that word.