OnePlus 13s India launch teased with new Plus Key

OnePlus is doing what it does best; dropping cryptic teasers and drip-feeding specs for its upcoming OnePlus 13s. While there’s still no confirmed launch date, we now know the phone is set to arrive in India with a new feature – the ‘Plus Key’. Say goodbye to the beloved alert slider, the Action Bu… ahem, Plus Key is here.

Positioned on the left edge, the Plus Key might seem like a minor addition, but it signals a shift in how brands are rethinking physical controls in an age of ever-slicker, ever-smoother slabs of glass. The pitch? A customisable button that can do anything, from toggling DND mode to launching apps or triggering AI features. The bigger question is, will users actually take to it like they did with the alert slider?

What exactly is the OnePlus 13s ‘Plus Key’?

OnePlus has teased the upcoming launch of the 13s on X with a short video spotlighting its new Plus Key. This button replaces the beloved alert slider, a fan favourite amongst OnePlus lovers. With the 13s, the brand seems to be aligning with a broader industry trend of adopting multi-purpose buttons, much like Apple’s Action Button or Samsung’s evolution of the Side Key from Bixby.

ALSO READ: OnePlus may ditch the Alert Slider (again) for an Action Button of its own

Functionally, the Plus Key appears to mirror the customisable button seen on the OnePlus 13T in China. Users can assign it to perform tasks like launching the camera, taking a screenshot, toggling sound modes, or, if you prefer, doing absolutely nothing to avoid accidental presses.

There’s speculation that the button might integrate with OnePlus’ AI capabilities. However, details remain under wraps, and it’s uncertain if these AI features will extend beyond impressive demos.

There’s promise here. But also, a risk of redundancy. After all, Android has never lacked ways to launch things quickly. The real test will be whether this button integrates deeply into user workflows or becomes another unused widget on a long list of “nice to haves”.

OnePlus 13s: What we know so far

From what’s been teased so far, the OnePlus 13s isn’t out to reinvent the wheel. It carries over much of the OnePlus 13T’s visual language, including the 6.32-inch OLED display, which is a compact footprint by 2024 flagship standards.

That could actually work in its favour. In a market where “Pro Max Ultra” phones are pushing 6.8 inches and above, a tighter form factor might appeal to users craving one-handed usability.

The phone will launch in India in at least two finishes – matte black and a light pink. The rest of the chassis remains under wraps, but we can expect the usual OnePlus build quality and clean finish.

Performance-wise, OnePlus has confirmed the 13s will feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. The focus will also heavily be on AI performance and power efficiency, which makes sense if the Plus Key is being positioned as a gateway to smarter features. Other features and specifications are currently unknown, but they could be similar to the OnePlus 13T that launched in China recently.

ALSO READ: OnePlus 13T arrives with a compact form factor and not-so-compact battery life

The OnePlus 13s will be available for purchase via OnePlus’ e-store and some e-commerce websites. What do you think of OnePlus’ upcoming compact phone? Drop a comment below and stay tuned to Unboxed by Croma for all things tech.