For a brief moment, it looked like OnePlus might finally be ready to embrace smaller flagship phones again. The brand surprised a lot of people when it rolled out a compact high-end device outside its usual comfort zone, sparking fresh interest in a category that many thought was fading fast. Unfortunately, that momentum may already be slipping away, and fans hoping for another compact OnePlus phone might need to reset their expectations.
The renewed excitement began when OnePlus introduced the OnePlus 13s, a reworked version of the OnePlus 13T, beyond its home market. The phone stood out by delivering flagship-grade performance in a smaller body, while also undercutting rivals on price. In markets like India, it even challenged premium alternatives such as Samsung’s Galaxy S25, which you can explore further at Digital Trends’ detailed coverage of Samsung flagships. Still, despite the buzz, availability remained limited, keeping many global buyers on the sidelines.
Now, fresh claims suggest that the next step in this compact lineup may never happen outside China. According to well-known industry tipster Yogesh Brar, the rumored OnePlus 15s could be scrapped altogether or, at best, confined to select regions. Responding to a question on X about whether the device had been canceled, Brar stated there was a strong likelihood that OnePlus would pull the plug on the project.
That statement has quickly cooled hopes for anyone waiting on a smaller OnePlus flagship with a worldwide release. While leaks and rumors had already been thin, the idea that the phone might not leave China makes the situation clearer, even if it is disappointing.
The compact flagship keeps slipping further away
To understand why this matters, it helps to look at how crowded OnePlus’s flagship lineup has become. The OnePlus 13 series alone featured multiple models, including the main OnePlus 13 and the more affordable OnePlus 13R, both of which launched in the United States. Alongside them was a compact variant that carried different names depending on the region, such as the OnePlus 13T in China and the OnePlus 13s in India.
While that smaller model generated plenty of interest, it never officially reached many major markets. Instead, it stayed limited to specific regions, leaving compact phone fans elsewhere watching from afar.
Fast forward to the current generation, and OnePlus has already released the OnePlus 15 and OnePlus 15R in the US. Both phones continue the company’s trend of offering strong specs for the price, a formula that has worked well for years. Naturally, attention then shifted to the rumored OnePlus 15T, which was expected to serve as the compact option in the lineup. Many hoped its Indian counterpart, the OnePlus 15s, would finally make its way to more countries.
Based on the latest information, that scenario now looks increasingly unlikely.
Even though Brar’s comments specifically mentioned the OnePlus 15s rather than the 15T, the distinction may not matter much in practice. If the Indian or global variant is dropped, the compact model could remain exclusive to China once again, assuming it launches at all.
That would mean no small-screen OnePlus flagship for most buyers, despite earlier signs pointing in the opposite direction.
Why OnePlus may be backing off
OnePlus has not shared any official reasoning, but there are several plausible explanations behind this apparent shift. One factor could be simple demand. While compact phones have a passionate following, they do not always sell in large numbers globally. Many consumers continue to prioritize bigger displays and larger batteries, making it harder for smaller devices to justify their place in a crowded lineup.
Cost pressures may also be playing a role. Reports of rising memory and component prices have surfaced across the smartphone industry, as covered in broader tech market analysis on sites like Digital Trends. When margins tighten, manufacturers are often forced to trim products that appeal to narrower audiences.
There is also the issue of internal competition. A compact OnePlus 15T or 15s could end up priced uncomfortably close to the OnePlus 15R. That overlap might confuse buyers or reduce the appeal of OnePlus’s existing models, something the company likely wants to avoid.
Despite all this, rumors still suggest that a compact flagship with a 6.3-inch class display and a high-end Snapdragon chipset could exist in some form. If that happens, it may remain locked to the Chinese market, leaving global fans with few options.
For now, anyone hoping OnePlus would commit fully to smaller flagship phones should temper expectations. The brief return of compact models hinted at a possible revival, but the latest signs suggest OnePlus is once again prioritizing larger, safer bets in the global smartphone market.
