OnePlus Open review: an excellent foldable, with a catch

OnePlus Open

MSRP $1,700.00

“The OnePlus Open foldable is a great, new product that costs less than you might expect.”

Pros

• Compact and lightweight size
• Powerful cameras
• Beautiful screens
• Anti-glare inner display
• Opens flat easily
• Fast charging 67W
• Multitasking made intuitive

Cons

• The hinge is not firm enough
• Large camera bump
• Macro and 120x super Res are not good

Folding phones are available for several years, but have not yet gained mainstream popularity. In the U.S. market, Samsung was a dominant brand. But that has changed in recent months. OnePlus has launched the OnePlus Open, its latest foldable device.

OnePlus, a smaller brand compared to Apple, Samsung and even Google, still produces some very capable devices. We had the OnePlus 11 in the beginning of the calendar year, and then came the OnePlus Pad, the brand’s very first tablet. OnePlus has just released its first foldable smartphone, the OnePlus Open.

This is a solid foldable for the most part. However, it has one annoying quirk.

OnePlus Open: design

The OnePlus Open, like other OnePlus products has a very industrial and elegant design. This is one way the brand stands out. The OnePlus Open comes in two colors: Emerald Dusk or Voyager Black. We received the Emerald Dusk version for this review.

The back of the OnePlus Open is a matte-frosted, glass that feels incredibly good to the touch. It is smooth and silky but it is easy to get fingerprints or smudges on it. The Emerald Dusk color reminds of the Midnight Green color on Apple’s iPhone 11 Pro. However, the color changes and shimmers depending on how it is viewed. It’s a nice shade of green you don’t see very often. If you choose Voyager Black instead, the rear cover is vegan leather.

On the back, you’ll also find a large circular camera bump with Hasselblad branding. This bump is a bit large, and it adds weight to the top half of the camera, making it feel a little top heavy when used in clamshell mode. This leads to a second problem, which I will discuss in the next section.

The OnePlus Open is a pleasure to hold.

Most foldables weigh a lot, and their form factor can affect the use of the display cover. OnePlus has a good balance in the Open as the cover screen is only 6.3″. This means that using the cover screen feels like using a normal smartphone. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 has a tall and narrow cover screen.

OnePlus made the Open one the lightest folding phones around. This is because OnePlus uses a proprietary alloy of cobalt and molybdenum, instead of stainless steel as most other devices do. The OnePlus Open is only 239 grams in weight, which is roughly the same as an iPhone 14 Pro Max’s (240g). The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 weighs 253g, and the Google Pixel Fold is 283g. The OnePlus Open is lightweight and easier to use, especially when using it with one hand on its cover screen.

OnePlus has brought back the Alert slider with the OnePlus Open. You can find it in the top (or left) half of the phone when opened. The Alert Slider was redesigned to fit the compact 5.8mm folding body of the Open. If you have used an OnePlus device before with the Alert Slider, you might notice that the button sizes have been increased and the middle frame has been repositioned for easier one-handed use.

It’s my first time using the Alert Slider and it feels great. I like how much easier it is to use the Alert Slider compared to the standard iPhone 15 mute/silent switch. This is mainly because you can easily move it with one-handed.

The power button/fingerprint scanner and volume rocker are located on the bottom half of the OnePlus Open (or the right half if it is opened). The fingerprint sensor is fast and accurate.

OnePlus Open: Flexion Hinge

OnePlus developed the Flexion Hinge for the OnePlus Open. It’s built on a single-spine structure, which OnePlus claims allows for better integration of components and makes it stronger compared to other foldables that use a three-part spine. The Flexion Hinge reduces overall parts to 69, compared to 100+ in other foldables. This makes the hinge and the device lighter.

The OnePlus Open’s hinge felt a little looser than that of other foldables like the Google Pixel Fold. Once you’ve opened the device past an obtuse (maybe 135-degree) angle, the device will spring into the 180-degree position without much force. The hinge is not stiff enough to stay open at any desired angle.

I’m not certain if it’s because the Flexion Hinge has fewer components in the build or because the large camera bump makes that half a little top-heavy. If you want to use the OnePlus Open’s clamshell mode beyond 90 degrees, you will need to adjust your viewing angle. You may have to adjust the viewing angle constantly because it will just open flat.

The Flexion Hinge, on the other hand allows the OnePlus Open open completely flat with little effort. This is the opposite to the Pixel Fold where you need to apply a little force to open it fully flat.

The crease is barely visible when you look at the display from the front. If a visible crease is the bane of you existence, I’m happy that the OnePlus Open has a very minimal one. It’s visible when you view it from the sides, but you wouldn’t use it that way.

It would be a near-perfect hinge design if the hinge was strong enough to hold it open at a distorted viewing angle.

OnePlus Open: screens

Let’s move on to the displays. The displays, after all, can make or ruin a foldable, if not the hinge.

The OnePlus Open’s cover display is a 6.31″ Super Fluid AMOLED, with LTPO3.0. The resolution is 2484 x 1 16 pixels at 431 pixels per square inch (ppi). The aspect ratio is 20:09. The dynamic refresh rate is 10Hz to 120Hz. It reaches 1,400 nits HDR or 2,800 nits outdoor brightness — 400 more than the Google Pixel 8 Pro.

The inner display is a 7.82-inch Flexifluid AMOLED panel display with LTPO 3.0 that has a resolution of 2440 x 2256 at 426 ppi. The dynamic refresh rate is between 1Hz and 120Hz. It also has the same brightness levels of 1,400/2800 nits as the cover display.

The OnePlus Open Cover display uses an exclusive Ceramic Guard coat, which makes it 20% more impact resistant than the Corning Glass Victus that we see on most smartphones today. The main inner display is protected by a layer Ultra-Thin Glass and a TPU layer. The top layer is an antireflective film that not only protects your screen from wear and tears, but also reduces glare. I also think the antireflective coating helps reduce the visibility of creases.

I use foldables mostly folded. The cover display is my main screen, unless I want more space to multitask or do other tasks (photo editing for example) that require a larger screen. The cover display of the OnePlus Open is stunning. It’s bright, vibrant, and has sharp, crisp text. Scrolling is smooth and fast thanks to the dynamic 120Hz refresh rate.

I also appreciate the size of cover display. The Galaxy Z Fold series’ awkwardly tall and narrow cover screens have always been a problem for me. I find it difficult to use the keyboard because of the cramped size. The OnePlus Open is a great middle ground between the Galaxy Z Fold 5 (which is wider and longer) and the Pixel Fold (which is shorter and wider). The Open’s cover screen feels more like a modern slab phone. This makes it easier to use.

The inner display is equally stunning. The colors are vibrant and saturated even with the antireflective coating. Text is sharp and scrolling is smooth thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate. The anti-reflective screen is also a great feature, especially when using it outdoors in bright sunlight.

It was a problem with the Google Pixel Fold. So it’s great that the OnePlus Open has reduced the glare of the inner display. It’s a fingerprint magnet so you might need to wipe it frequently.

OnePlus Open: performance and software

The OnePlus Open is equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Gen 2 processor, an Adrena 740 GPU, as well as 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. OxygenOS 13.1 is OnePlus’ own custom OS based off Android 13.

Open Canvas is one of the key features in OxygenOS 13.2. This is a brand new way to multitask on the OnePlus Open. It was designed from the ground up with the goal of increasing productivity by using multiple windows on a larger display.

Open Canvas allows you to use split-screen or multi-window mode without being restricted by the size of your display. You can stretch and resize the active windows to your liking, while the secondary window slides in and out on demand.

The OnePlus open also supports three app windows to be displayed on the screen simultaneously (in split screen or floating), both in vertical and horizontal orientation. They can be moved and resized according to your preferences. You can save up nine apps that are paired together. This will save you the hassle of having them re-arranged each time.

Open Canvas in OxygenOS 13.2 also adds an desktop-like taskbar to the bottom of the display. This is a persistent Taskbar, which means it will not disappear after a short time, even when using gesture-based navigation. You can quickly access recent and preset apps in the taskbar.

Open Canvas’ multitasking interface is intuitive and easy to use. Visual indicators help you to see where you can grab windows and resize them. The persistent taskbar gives you quick access to all your apps, recents, and your most-used apps.

The OnePlus Open is a powerful device with its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 16GB RAM and 16GB internal storage. I had no performance issues during my testing period. I had several apps open simultaneously and they all worked fine. There was no stuttering or lag when switching between apps, using split screen, or floating windows.

I’ve used the OnePlus Open primarily for my usual tasks, including checking social media, emails, and work messages. I also use it to manage my schedule, stream Disney+ and music, take photos, and play Diablo Immortal. I used the OnePlus Open without any problems to create a digital invite for my daughter’s upcoming party. The phone gets a little hot when you run more resource-intensive games and apps, but never to the point that it is uncomfortable to hold.

The OnePlus Open is a powerful device.

The OnePlus Open also has a feature that allows you to expand the RAM available on the device. RAM Expansion allows you to use some of your storage space, as long as there is enough space. The setting is enabled by default and expands RAM by 4GB. You can change it to 8GB, 12GB, or turn it off.

The OnePlus Open is equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 16GB of RAM and a minimum of 32GB. It should be able to handle anything you throw at it. Multitasking and productivity is easier than ever with the Open Canvas feature.

Software-wise, the OnePlus Open is eligible for four major Android versions upgrades as well as five full years of security updates. This foldable will last a long time if you combine it with the build quality.

OnePlus Open: cameras

The OnePlus Open has a triple-lens Hasselblad array of cameras on the back. The 48MP Sony LYTIA T808 “Pixel Stacked”, 48MP ultrawide, and 64MP telephoto cameras are all capable of 3x optical zoom, 6x in sensor zoom, and 120x Ultra Res Zoom.

Due to the fact that this is a foldable phone, it also has two selfie cameras. One on the cover display, and one on the inner display. The cover display selfie is a 32MP camera, while the camera on the inner display is only 20MP. If you wish, the OnePlus Open can also take selfies using its rear cameras.

The OnePlus Open has produced some impressive photos in my testing. This is not surprising considering the specs. The colors are vibrant and bright, but not oversaturated. (I’ve had this problem with Samsung phones). Images are detailed, skin tones appear accurate, and shutter lag is minimal, making it a good choice for action shots. I was able capture some photos of a child in a swing, without it being a blur.

In my tests, the edge detection worked well with portrait mode photos taken at 1x, 2x or 3x zoom. Portraits look good with a natural-looking background bokeh that isn’t overdone. The selfies also look great, although I noticed at first that there was a slight airbrush effect. You can turn this off if you wish. Hasselblad cameras have large sensors, which allows them to produce good low-light images.

The OnePlus Open can also take macro shots. However, the results were a bit mixed. I thought the camera was focused enough to take macro shots, but it turned out it wasn’t. The result is blurry and out-of-focus. Sometimes it was clear and sharp. I’ve found it difficult to beat the iPhone 15 Pro when it comes to macros.

One thing I want to highlight is the 120x Super Re zoom. I tried it, and the results looked like a bad watercolour painting. It’s also incredibly difficult to be precise unless you use it with a tripod, because your hand is always moving even if it does not look like it. While OnePlus can boast about it, it’s not something worth using.

The cameras on the OnePlus Open have a lot to offer. Images are well balanced and detailed, and it is easy to take good action photos. But don’t expect incredible macros or usable 120x zoom shots.

OnePlus Open: battery and charging

The OnePlus Open has a 4,805mAh internal battery. This is a little more than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5 (4400mAh), but is on par with Google Pixel Fold (4821mAh). OnePlus claims the battery should last longer than a day of normal use with a single charge. In my testing, this is true.

I spent a lot time on my OnePlus Open, watching Disney+ shows. The battery didn’t even drop by 10% after an hour. I also played Diablo Immortal on my OnePlus Open for 30 minutes and the battery dropped only a few percentages, even though I didn’t have the graphics settings cranked up. Battery life will be affected more if you change the performance of certain games.

SuoerVOOC’s fast-charging capability allows the OnePlus Open to charge at speeds up to 67 watts, even if you do not use it for the full advertised day. This means you can charge your phone from 1% to 100% in less than an hr — 42 minutes to be exact.

You can go from 1% battery to 100% in less than an hr — 42 minutes to be exact.

The OnePlus Open is equipped with a large battery that can last all day and supports fast charging. However, it’s not wireless charger compatible. Unfortunately, it does not support reverse wired/wireless or wireless charging. This is a shame, considering the price.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 has both full wireless and reverse wireless. The Google Pixel Fold does not support Battery Share but it does support wireless chargers, although only at 7.5W.

OnePlus Open: price and availability

Preorders for the OnePlus Open will begin on October 19 and the public release date is October 26. You can order directly from OnePlus or through retailers like Amazon. It costs $1,700 in either the Emerald Dusk colorway or Voyager Black, and only comes with 16GB of RAM/512GB of storage.

It is $100 cheaper than its competitors. Both the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 as well as the Google Pixel Fold begin at $1,800, but both have base models with less storage and RAM. But that’s just the beginning.

OnePlus has a trade-in promotion that allows you to trade in any smartphone in any conditions to get a $200 minimum discount — bringing the OnePlus Open to at least $1500. You could receive up to $1,000 off depending on the phone that you trade in. This promotion will last throughout the entire OnePlus Open product lifecycle and is not just a limited time preorder promotion.

OnePlus Open: verdict

The OnePlus Open is a good device for OnePlus’s first foldable. The OnePlus Open is a solid device, especially considering it was OnePlus’ first foldable. The OnePlus Open could change your mind if you’ve always been put off by the weight of most foldables.

Both displays look fantastic when used. The 6.31-inch display cover is comparable to a standard smartphone, so it’s very usable. It’s also more usable, thanks to the antireflective coating on the inner screen, than other foldables like the Google Pixel Fold, which has a super-reflective interior display. This anti-reflective layer helps reduce the visibility as well of the crease.

The overall design of the OnePlus Open certainly makes it stand out. Emerald Dusk, a beautiful shade of green that sparkles beautifully, and the Hasselblad array of cameras make the phone stand out. The Hasselblad camera is also very good and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and 16GB RAM ensures that there is no shutter lag.

The OnePlus Open could change your mind about folding phones

The Flexion Hinge has a double edge. It allows the OnePlus Open, unlike the Pixel Fold, to open flat with little effort. On the other hand, using the Open in clamshell at any angle higher than 130 degrees is a bit frustrating. It’s because, at least in my experience, a slight push or bump on the top half will cause it to fully spring open. If you want to watch videos, it’s difficult to use in clamshell mode. The alternative is to use the tent mode with the display cover.

The OnePlus Open is a solid option for a foldable smartphone. It has a few quirks but overall it’s a great choice. Plus, you should get a battery life of a little more than a day and the 67W charger speeds will compensate for the lack wireless charging. It’s also $100 less than other competitors. This is worth considering if you are in the market for an affordable foldable.

The market for folding smartphones is booming, and OnePlus Open is a welcome addition.