The OnePlus Open: A Foldable Phone with “No Compromises,” Except for the Price
Full Review OnePlus Open - Perfect Size, Priced Too High
OnePlus Open review size right, price wrong
OnePlus, known for its “no compromises” approach, has released its first foldable phone, the OnePlus Open. But is it really worth the hefty price tag of $1,700? Well, there are a few factors to consider.
Let’s start with the design. The OnePlus Open flaunts sleek, flat edges that give off an iPhone vibe. It’s thin, without the chunkiness of its competitor, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. Plus, when you open it up, the crease down the middle of the inner screen practically disappears. It’s a joy to hold and use. However, it’s worth noting that the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Google Pixel Fold, priced just $100 higher, offer IP water resistance and wireless charging – features that OnePlus seems to treat as optional on their high-end phones.
The Good and the Bad
Here’s a quick summary of the OnePlus Open’s pros and cons:
The Good: – Thin and light for a foldable – Great format that feels like a normal phone when closed – Strong multitasking support
The Bad: – Lacks full water resistance – No wireless charging – Price is too high considering missing features
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Now, let’s dive into some more details.
A Delightful Design, Both Inside and Out
The OnePlus Open boasts an outer screen measuring 6.3 inches with a 20:9 aspect ratio, wider than the Galaxy Z Fold 5’s cover screen. Its 2K resolution screen (2484 x 1116) is an LTPO panel with a variable refresh rate of 10 to 120Hz. When unfolded, the Open matches the Pixel Fold’s thickness of 5.8mm. The camera bump on the back is quite a standout feature, resembling a raised circle that occupies a significant portion of the panel, complete with a Hasselblad H for style. It commands attention, but it also serves as a practical pop socket, making it easier to hold the phone with just one hand.
On the inside, the Open sports a 7.82-inch display with a resolution of 2440 x 2268. This LTPO panel offers variable refresh rates ranging from 120Hz to 1Hz. The brightness is quite impressive, reaching up to 2,800 nits in high brightness mode. It outshines the Pixel 8 and iPhone 15 Pro, which tend to dim after a few minutes to prevent overheating.
Crease? What Crease?
One of the biggest concerns with foldable phones is the crease in the middle of the screen. However, OnePlus has managed to minimize the crease on the Open. When the phone is fully open, the crease practically disappears, giving users a more seamless viewing experience compared to the Pixel Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 5.
The hinge on the OnePlus Open is less stiff compared to its competitors. You need to open it to about 45 degrees to keep it open. While this reduced flexibility may bother some, OnePlus claims that the hinge can withstand one million folding cycles, surpassing the Pixel Fold and Z Fold 5’s advertised 200,000 folds.
The Waterproof Elephant in the Room
Here’s the catch: The OnePlus Open is only splashproof, with an IPX4 rating, while the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Pixel Fold offer full immersion water resistance with an IPX8 rating. Considering the price tag of $1,700, it’s understandable that users might expect more in terms of durability. Folding phones are still relatively new, and their long-term durability remains uncertain. OnePlus’ competitors, Samsung and Google, have faced their fair share of problems, even with full water resistance. It’s a tad unsettling to carry around a $1,700 device that could potentially meet an unfortunate end if it takes a dip in a puddle or a toilet bowl.
The OnePlus Open’s Performance and Battery Life
When it comes to performance, the OnePlus Open doesn’t disappoint. It runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and boasts a hefty 16GB of RAM, ensuring smooth daily performance and effortless handling of processor-intensive tasks. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset runs cooler than its predecessor, preserving battery life effectively.
Speaking of battery life, the OnePlus Open easily lasts a full day with its 4,500mAh battery. In my testing, it effortlessly handled four hours of screen-on time, including gaming, and still had 38 percent battery left by the end of the day. The device also supports fast 67W charging, providing a full charge in under an hour.
What About Wireless Charging?
Here’s where OnePlus falls short. The OnePlus Open lacks wireless charging, which is a disappointment considering its price tag. While fast charging is still a standout feature, wireless charging has become a standard convenience feature in phones priced above $700.
An Innovative Approach to Multitasking
The OnePlus Open runs on OxygenOS 13.2, complete with four years of OS upgrades and five years of security updates. The software offers various multitasking features, allowing users to open two apps in split view and add a third app for quick access. App pairs and trios can even be saved as homescreen shortcuts. While it’s not as flexible as Samsung’s four-app multitasking, it offers more functionality compared to the Pixel Fold’s limited options. The taskbar makes jumping between apps and accessing recent documents a breeze. Additionally, floating windows allow users to position them anywhere on the screen, resize them, and minimize them to a tab on the side for easy access.
A Camera System with a Splash of Color
The OnePlus Open’s camera system is impressive, with a noticeable flair for color rendering. Equipped with a 48-megapixel main camera, a 64-megapixel telephoto lens with optical image stabilization, and a 48-megapixel ultrawide lens, the OnePlus Open’s camera carries the renowned Hasselblad branding. Hasselblad’s influence on the camera’s color science is evident, as it handles mixed lighting and embraces warm tones exceptionally well.
While the camera performance in static scenes is commendable, it struggles with moving subjects. The OnePlus Open tends to use slow shutter speeds in moderate and dim lighting conditions, resulting in soft-looking subjects. Low-light shots of moving subjects are particularly challenging. The telephoto lens offers a 6x lossless crop zoom mode that works well for still subjects but struggles with motion.
The OnePlus Open features a 32-megapixel selfie camera on the front screen and a 20-megapixel camera on the inner display for video calls. The placement of the cameras in the corners is an improvement over the under-display camera found in the Galaxy Z Fold 5. However, it can be easy to lose track of the camera’s location. OnePlus has cleverly added illumination to the camera that flashes briefly when activated, making it easier to find.
The Final Verdict: A Great Device, But with Some Compromises
The OnePlus Open has a lot to offer, providing a delightful design, strong performance, and innovative software features. It strikes a balance between the long and skinny Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the wider Pixel Fold. It feels surprisingly lightweight and comfortable to hold, even when closed. The nearly invisible crease is an impressive feat, giving users a more immersive viewing experience. However, the lack of full water resistance and wireless charging may be deal-breakers for some.
At a price of $1,700, the OnePlus Open faces stiff competition from the Galaxy Z Fold 5, which offers better water resistance and a more refined foldable software experience. It’s worth considering if you’re a loyal OnePlus fan, but the price gap between the Open and its competitors is minimal. OnePlus’ aggressive push in the foldable market should inspire Samsung and Google to step up their game and convince users that their devices are worth the extra bucks.
Phew! That was a lot of information to digest. To make it easier for you, here’s a quick summary of what we covered:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Thin and light for a foldable | Lacks full water resistance |
| Great format when closed | No wireless charging |
| Strong multitasking support | Price is too high considering missing features |
| Impressive design with minimal crease | |
| Solid performance and battery life | |
| Innovations in software multitasking | |
| Hasselblad-branded camera system |
Now it’s your turn! Would you splurge on the OnePlus Open, or do you feel that the compromises aren’t worth the price tag? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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