OnePlus Open Review: A Worthy Competitor to Samsung in India’s Foldable Market?
Samsung has reigned supreme in India’s foldable smartphone market for years, but OnePlus has finally launched a contender for the crown, the OnePlus Open. While OnePlus has been synonymous with aggressive pricing and flagship-level specs in the regular smartphone market, its foray into the foldable segment signifies a shift towards the premium space. But can it challenge Samsung’s reign with the OnePlus Open? And more importantly, will Indian customers be willing to invest in a foldable from a new contender, especially with the established dominance of Apple and Samsung in the premium market?
OnePlus Open Price in India
The OnePlus Open is priced at ₹1,39,999 in India, making it a direct competitor to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5, priced at ₹1,54,999. For the price, you get 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, and the device is available in two stunning finishes – Emerald Dusk and Voyager Black.
Design: A Premium and Unique Aesthetic
OnePlus smartphones are known for their sleek, premium designs, but the Open breaks this pattern. It’s a bold move away from the conventional OnePlus aesthetic, embracing a more angular design with sharp lines and a distinct, retro camera-like appearance. The Voyager Black finish, the one I reviewed, features a soft-finish metal frame and a faux leather back, giving it a unique texture and a level of grip that’s both practical and stylish.
While the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 seeks to blend in with its rounded design, OnePlus intentionally emphasizes the hinge and camera module, creating a distinctive visual identity for the Open. This makes the Open feel uniquely premium, but there are some drawbacks to consider:
- The Hinge: While polished, the hinge can feel slightly uncomfortable when held in the left hand. It doesn’t quite blend in as well as Samsung’s foldables.
- Button Placement: The button layout is unconventional for a OnePlus phone, requiring some readjustment. The volume button, placed high on the right side, can be particularly challenging to locate.
- No Wireless Charging: While Samsung and Google’s foldables offer wireless charging, the Open forgoes this feature, likely contributing to its slimmer and lighter design.
Despite these minor quirks, the design is a bold statement and delivers on the premium feel associated with high-end devices. However, some might prefer a more consistent OnePlus aesthetic with the button layout and hinge integration.
Specifications and Software: Powerhouse Performance with Open Canvas
The OnePlus Open is packed with top-tier hardware:
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC: For seamless performance and multitasking.
- 16GB RAM and 512GB Storage: Providing ample space and speed for demanding applications.
- Large 7.82-inch Main Display: A stunning AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and LTPO 3.0 for smooth scrolling and vibrant visuals.
- 6.31-inch Cover Display: Also AMOLED with a 120Hz refresh rate and LTPO 3.0, offering a more usable experience than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5.
- 240Hz Touch Sampling Rate: Ensuring lightning-fast responsiveness for gaming and other touch-intensive tasks.
Software-wise, the Open runs OxygenOS 13, which is specifically optimized for a foldable experience. While OxygenOS 14 based on Android 14 is yet to be released, OnePlus offers a unique software feature, Open Canvas.
Open Canvas is a powerful multitasking tool that allows you to run up to three apps side-by-side in a split-screen layout. Unlike Samsung’s One UI, which allocates the screen asymmetrically, Open Canvas provides a more balanced layout with the ability to adjust the size of each app window. This makes the most of the Open’s 1:1 aspect ratio, providing a truly desktop-like experience.
Other software features include a Recent Folder, which lets you quickly access and drag and drop files between apps, further enhancing the desktop-style functionality.
Performance: Smooth Multitasking & Powerful Gaming
The OnePlus Open lives up to its powerful hardware with an impressive performance:
- Smooth Multitasking: Even with multiple apps running simultaneously, there’s no lag or stuttering, making the Open a seamless multitasking powerhouse.
- Gaming: OnePlus prioritized gaming optimization, providing a slide-out gaming console with Pro Gamer Mode for unthrottled performance and a Championship Mode to minimize distractions. The Open’s 240Hz touch sampling rate also provides a significant advantage for responsive, fast-paced games.
However, some quirks affect the user experience:
- Tablet Mode: Many apps that support a tablet-like layout require the Open to be rotated horizontally to access this mode. This can be inconvenient, especially with the absence of a traditional landscape orientation for the main display.
- Aspect Ratio: While beneficial for Netflix, the Open’s squarish 1:1 aspect ratio can lead to significant letterboxing when watching wide-screen content on apps like YouTube, making the experience less optimal.
Cameras: Capable All-Round Performance with a Standout Telephoto Lens
The OnePlus Open features a versatile camera setup:
- 48MP Primary Camera (with OIS): For crisp and detailed photos in a wide range of lighting conditions.
- 64MP Telephoto Camera (with OIS): Offers 3X optical zoom and 6X in-sensor zoom for stunning close-up shots.
- 48MP Ultra-wide-angle Camera: Captures wide landscapes and group photos with a 114-degree field of view.
- 32MP Front Camera (Cover Display): For high-quality selfies.
- 20MP Front Camera (Main Display): For video calls with the main screen unfolded.
The highlight of the camera system is the powerful telephoto lens which captures stunning images with excellent detail and sharpness, even at 6X zoom. This makes the Open a formidable choice for users who enjoy the versatility of zoom photography.
Video recording features include 4K 60fps and Dolby Vision recording (limited to 4K 30fps). While image quality is commendable, Dolby Vision recording isn’t as impressive as on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. And despite the impressive hardware, low-light video capture still doesn’t reach the level of performance seen on some flagship smartphones in this price range.
Battery & Charging: Long-Lasting Power with Lightning-Fast Wired Charging
With the Open, OnePlus has defied the battery limitations often associated with foldables:
- Exceptional Battery Life: The phone easily lasts more than a day with casual use, and even with heavy use, I routinely ended up with 40% battery remaining before bedtime. This is a significant improvement over previous foldable devices and closely resembles the battery life of regular flagship smartphones.
- 80W Wired Charging: The Open supports lightning-fast wired charging that can take the battery from 0% to 67% in just 30 minutes and a full charge in 53 minutes. This surpasses Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5 charging speed and eliminates the need for prolonged charging time.
However, as mentioned earlier, the lack of wireless charging is a notable omission that might be a deal breaker for users who rely on this feature.
Verdict: OnePlus Open – Redefining the Foldable Experience
The OnePlus Open is a bold step forward for the company and a game changer for the foldable market. It challenges the established norms, defying the battery and camera limitations often associated with foldables.
Here’s why the OnePlus Open is a compelling option:
- Premium Design: The unique design, while unconventional, delivers a distinctive and premium feel that sets it apart.
- Powerful Hardware: Equipped with the latest processor, generous RAM and storage, and outstanding displays, the Open delivers flagship-level performance.
- Outstanding Battery Life and Charging: The long-lasting battery and super-fast wired charging deliver an unparalleled performance in this segment.
- Innovative Software: Open Canvas: This innovative multitasking feature elevates the foldable experience with a truly desktop-like interface.
- Competitive Price: The Open undercuts the price of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5, making it a more accessible option for premium foldable users.
The only downsides are the unconventional button placement, the lack of wireless charging, and the slightly inconsistent tablet mode experience.
Overall, the OnePlus Open is a worthy competitor to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5. It offers a unique design, powerful performance, and a game-changing foldable experience at a compelling price. This makes it a strong contender for the top spot in the Indian foldable market and a game-changer for OnePlus’ premium ambitions.
