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OnePlus faces another setback in its quest to launch a standout phone from China in the US market. The company has unveiled a compact flagship device, generating anticipation among consumers, but has officially dashed hopes for American and European fans.
Marketing leads Celina Shi and Spenser Blank confirmed to The Verge that the OnePlus 13T will not be available in these regions. Interestingly, the device is set to launch in India under the name OnePlus 13s in the upcoming weeks.
What makes it special?
The OnePlus 13T marks the company's return to smaller phone designs after a decade, following the OnePlus X. While it is categorized as small by Android standards, it remains just slightly bulkier than the iPhone 16, measuring 71.7mm in width versus the iPhone's 71.6mm and 8.15mm in thickness compared to the iPhone's 7.80mm.
Despite its compact size, the OnePlus 13T is packed with impressive specifications that exceed those of its competitors. It features a robust 6,260 mAh battery with 80W fast charging capability and a 6.32-inch OLED display, outshining the iPhone 15 with a 120Hz refresh rate and peak brightness of 1,600 nits. Additionally, it boasts a dual-camera setup of 50-megapixel lenses on the back and a 16-megapixel front camera for selfies.
Why isn’t it coming to the US?
Although OnePlus has not provided a detailed explanation for the OnePlus 13T's absence from US shelves, market dynamics likely influenced this decision. Recently, the company increased the price of its OnePlus Watch 3 from $330 to $500 due to tariff issues, only to revise it back down to $350 for US consumers.
OnePlus's budget-friendly Nord series has faced similar challenges, as most of its models are primarily sold in Asian markets, with only a select few making it to the US.
The situation with the OnePlus 13T is disappointing but not entirely out of the ordinary. Prior to committing to the Indian market, OnePlus released a report with Counterpoint Research highlighting a significant demand for compact, high-performance smartphones.
Furthermore, the US market's carrier-first sales approach and the popularity of established brands like Apple and Samsung create challenges for new entrants. Competing against smaller models from these giants, such as the iPhone 16 and Samsung Galaxy S25, proves to be a tough task for OnePlus.
Carrier packages, trade-in offers, and steep discounts further complicate matters for newcomers like OnePlus, despite the competitiveness of their devices. It will be interesting to see if the company reassesses its strategy in the future.
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